He noted that the agreement between India and the USSR to procure the MiG-21 was signed on August 22, 1962. “The MiG-21 fighter aircraft has been retired from service today.
File Photo: IANS
As the MiG-21 fighter aircraft, a stalwart of the Indian Air Force, was on Friday retired from service, marking the end of an era, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh took to social media to reflect on the aircraft’s history, highlighting the pivotal role it played in India’s defense sector.
He noted that the agreement between India and the USSR to procure the MiG-21 was signed on August 22, 1962. “The MiG-21 fighter aircraft has been retired from service today. It was on August 22, 1962 that India and the USSR signed the MiG-21 pact,” Ramesh wrote.
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Ramesh cited K Subrahmanyam, a renowned strategic affairs expert, who credited V K Krishna Menon for his foresight in choosing the MiG-21. “K Subrahmanyam wrote that VK Krishna Menon had virtually forced the choice of MiG-21 on the Indian Air Force but that in retrospect Mr Menon was right in doing so,'” Ramesh said.
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Ramesh highlighted the significance of the Soviet acceptance of India’s conditions for local manufacture by HAL and technology transfer, which influenced the choice of the Soviet aircraft over its competitors from the UK, US, France, and Sweden.
The MiG-21 has been a mainstay of the Indian Air Force for decades, playing a crucial role in various military operations. Its retirement marks the end of an era, but its legacy will continue to be remembered.
The MiG-21 pact was a significant milestone in India’s defense cooperation with the USSR, paving the way for deeper ties between the two nations. The aircraft’s retirement is a testament to the evolving nature of India’s defense capabilities, as the country continues to modernize its military assets.
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