Another incident of the crash of MiG-21 aircraft, popularly known as Flying Coffin (Udta Coffin) in the Indian Air Force has come to light. On Thursday night, a MiG-21 crashed in Barmer, Rajasthan, and once again the country has lost two talented pilots. On various social media platforms, people are once again questioning the reliability of MiG-21 aircraft and asking why the Air Force is using these aircraft even after such a high number of crashes.
First, know some special things about MiG-21
This aircraft was manufactured by Russia's Mikoyan Company around the year 1955. Inducted into the Indian Air Force in the year 1963. India had inducted a total of 874 MiG-21 aircraft into its fleet. At present, the Air Force uses its upgraded version MiG-21 Bison. India's Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) upgrades this aircraft under license. However, these planes have become victims of accidents hundreds of times, and hundreds of pilots have also lost their lives. This is the reason that questions have been raised many times about the use of these aircraft which are almost 6 decades old.
The main reason is the lack of squadrons
The MiG-21 is the oldest in the fleet of fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force. The main reason why it is still in use is the reduction in the number of Air Force squadrons. Simply put, in the Air Force, a squadron is called a group of aircraft. There are about 16 to 18 aircraft in a squadron. Four squadrons of MiG-21s (estimated at 64 aircraft) are available with the IAF.
China-Pakistan double threat
There is China on one border of India and Pakistan on the other border. Both of these threaten India. Wars and other border disputes have proved this point on various occasions. Therefore, to deal with this double threat, it is necessary for the country's Air Force to remain strong. The Air Force needs at least 42 squadrons to deal with this threat. However, at present, we have only 32-33 Squadron. If four of these MiG-21 squadrons are retired immediately, this number will come down to 30. Which will not be of any advantage to us strategically.
One squadron to retire in September
According to the report of news agency ANI, a squadron of MiG-21 Bison will be retired from the Air Force on 30 September this year. At the same time, all the squadrons of this aircraft will be retired by the year 2025.
These aircraft will replace MiG-21
After retiring the MiG-21, it will be replaced by the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft Tejas. Let us tell you that last year the Air Force has ordered 83 Tejas aircraft to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) under a deal of 48 thousand crores. However, there is still a lot of time left in their delivery. Aircraft like Jaguar, and Mirage-2000 have also become obsolete now. He too will be retired after some time. To meet this shortfall, the IAF is planning to buy 114 fighter jets under the MRFA deal worth about Rs 1 lakh crore. Apart from this, modern aircraft of the fifth-sixth bench AMCA are also being manufactured. However, even after all these purchases and constructions, it remains difficult to take the squadron numbers to 42 in the coming decade.
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