The Indian Air Force (IAF) carried out ceremonial sorties of its MiG-21 fighters at Nal Air Base in Bikaner, Rajasthan, as the service prepares to formally retire the ageing fleet after nearly 60 years of operation. Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, joined pilots in one of the final flights, calling the Soviet-designed aircraft the IAF’s "workhorse" since its induction in the 1960s. The MiG-21 became one of the world’s most widely produced supersonic fighters and formed the backbone of India’s air defences for decades. IAF spokesperson Group Captain Jaideep Singh noted the aircraft’s combat record, citing the downing of Pakistani F-104 Starfighters during the 1971 war and a Pakistani F-16 in a more recent engagement, underscoring its relevance across generations of aerial combat. The home-grown Tejas light combat aircraft, conceived as a MiG-21 replacement, will take over frontline duties as the legacy jets are phased out.