Latest news with #MiG-29s
India Today
a day ago
- General
- India Today
Six decades of MiG-21: How IAF's crown jewel became flying coffin
As an Antonov-124 cargo aircraft unloaded three desert-camouflaged advanced multi-role attack AH-64E Apache helicopters for the Indian Army on Tuesday, news of another aviation behemoth was about to make waves across the Soviet-era MiG-21s, also India's first supersonic jet, long regarded as the workhorses of the Indian Air Force and guardians of the nation's skies for over six decades, were officially announced to take their final flight by September warplane is set to be formally retired with a ceremonial send-off in Chandigarh. It will be replaced by the indigenous Tejas Mk1A fighter jets. For anyone who has ever heard the aircraft roar to life during take-off or ripping through the skies mid-flight, that deafening sound is unforgettable – enough to give you goosebumps. One can only imagine the fear it instilled in the enemy ranks as it thundered overhead. But as the aircraft aged, a grim moniker began to overshadow its legacy – it earned the name "flying coffin".Except for Operation Meghdoot to secure the Siachen Glacier in 1984, where MiG-23s and MiG-29s played a more pivotal role in high-altitude airbases, the MiG-21 participated in nearly every war or conflict India has faced since 1963, when it was inducted in IAF: the 1965 and 1971 India-Pakistan wars, the 1999 Kargil War, the Balakot airstrikes in 2019, and most recently, Operation was this third-generation Soviet fighter jet that Group Captain (then-Wing Commander) Abhinandan Varthaman was flying during the Balakot airstrikes' aftermath, when Pakistani F-16s were about to cross into Indian airspace. In the dogfight, the MiG-21 Bison downed a far more advanced fourth-generation US-made F-16 before itself being shot down, with Varthaman captured and later returned from Operation Safed Sagar – IAF's support to the Indian Army's Operation Vijay during the 1999 Kargil War – the MiG-21 flew alongside Mirage 2000s, MiG-29s, MiG-23s, MiG-27s, and Jaguars, delivering punishing strikes in the world's harshest combat terrain in the WARHORSE THAT OUTLIVED ITS GLORYThen-Union Defence Minister AK Antony said in 2012 that 482 of 872 MiG-21 jets had crashed since its induction. Since 2010, there have been over 20 such crashes resulted in the deaths of over 170 fighter pilots of the fact, the fighter aircraft reportedly saw two crashes in its very first year of induction into the in July 2022, a trainer variant of the MiG-21 went down, resulting in the death of both pilots 2021, five MiG-21 Bison aircraft were lost in accidents, with three pilots losing their of the most recent accidents occurred in May 2023, when a MiG-21 crashed during a routine training mission near Suratgarh in Rajasthan. The pilot survived, but the debris struck a house in Hanumangarh district, claiming the lives of three IAF grounded the entire MiG-21 fleet after that the years, the crashes have been attributed to different reasons, including mechanical failures, human errors, bird strikes, and in some cases, spatial disorientation experienced by the warplane, designed by the Soviet Union's Mikoyan-Gurevich Design Bureau in the 1950s, was a technological marvel when inducted into the its use beyond its intended service life, combined with design limitations and maintenance challenges, led to frequent many aviation and defence enthusiasts regard it as one of the finest fighter jets of its time. The fact that an Air Force as large as India's continued to operate it for nearly 63 years speaks volumes about its a big reason the phasing out of the MiG-21s was delayed was the production delays of the LCA Tejas – an issue that the current Air Force Chief, Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, has been notably vocal the MiG-21 was reportedly designed for a service life of approximately 20-25 years, with retirement expected by the Indian MiG-21s were license-built by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), which built over 650 of them, including various variants such as the MiG-21FL, MiG-21M, MiG-21bis, the final version, the MiG-21 Bison, and MiG-21U/UM (trainer variants).But sourcing spare parts became problematic after the Soviet Union ceased production in 1985. India had to resort to procuring second-hand spares from Israel and Ukraine, which Moscow warned could compromise safety back in the early the IAF has just 36 MiG-21 planes left in its as India advances toward developing a fifth-generation stealth fighter, the legacy of the MiG-21 remains polarising. Once the backbone of the Air Force until the mid-2000s, it helped India win wars, but also claimed over 170 pilots and nearly 40 civilian lives in crashes.- EndsMust Watch
New Indian Express
5 days ago
- General
- New Indian Express
40 years on, four military officer friends reunite at Sainik School alumni meet
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: It was a homecoming, rich with memories and inspiration. Four decades after they stepped out of Sainik School in Kazhakoottam, four close friends, who now hold key positions in the Indian armed forces, returned to their alma mater on Saturday for an alumni meet. Lieutenant General Vijay B Nair, Major General Vinod T Mathew, Major General Hari B Pillai, and Air Vice Marshal K V Surendran Nair — batchmates from the class of 1985 — were the guests of honour at the gathering. Another former student, Air Marshal Balakrishnan Manikantan, was the chief guest of the event. During their visit, the officers also inaugurated a 150 KW solar power plant on the school campus. 'About 14 students from our batch joined the armed forces,' said M A Anil Kumar, another 1985 alumnus and former regional manager of the Kerala State Co-operative Agricultural Rural Development Bank. 'During their talk, they recalled how visits from serving officers during school days deeply inspired them to join the forces,' he added. Lieutenant General Vijay Nair, a native of Palakkad, now leads the Indian Army's Northern Command based in Udhampur. A key figure in Operation Sindoor, he has commanded anti-terrorist operations in Kashmir and served in Sri Lanka as part of the Indian Peace Keeping Force. He also headed the UN Multinational Force in Congo. Major General Vinod Mathew, from Thodupuzha, is the General Officer Commanding of the Karnataka-Kerala Sub-Area. He led rescue operations during the Chooralmala-Mundakai landslide in Wayanad and has fought insurgencies in Assam and Manipur. He has served in UN missions in both Congo and Sudan. Major General Hari Pillai, from Kundara, currently serves as Additional Director General of the Bengaluru Regional Recruitment Zone. With years of experience in counter-insurgency operations in Kashmir and the North-East, he also served with the UN in Congo. Air Vice Marshal Surendran Nair, from Thrissur, is among the country's top fighter pilots. He has flown MiG-21s, MiG-29s, and Sukhoi-30s and currently serves as Chief Instructor at the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington. The alumni meet saw students from various walks of life -- doctors, engineers, bureaucrats, pilots, and UN officials -- return to the campus. What truly captured the spirit of the occasion was the story of these four classmates, who grew up dreaming together and went on to serve the nation.
Malaysia Sun
12-07-2025
- Business
- Malaysia Sun
Fighter jet deal with U.S. allies signals regional resistance to China's South China Sea expansion
Kuala Lumpur [Malaysia], July 12 (ANI): In a significant yet understated move to strengthen its air capabilities in the South China Sea, Malaysia has secured U.S. approval to acquire up to 33 F/A-18C/D Hornet fighter jets from Kuwait, a development that signals a quiet but firm recalibration of regional power dynamics, The Eurasian Times reports. The transfer, greenlit under Washington's Arms Export Control Act, marks a strategic U.S. nod to Malaysia's military modernisation without triggering an overt geopolitical showdown with China. Royal Malaysian Air Force Chief General Tan Sri Asghar Khan confirmed the approval on June 17, framing it as a critical upgrade amid rising threats in the Indo-Pacific. Although Malaysia publicly maintains neutrality, this defense boost, covertly supported by the U.S., reveals growing discomfort with China's coercive actions, particularly near Malaysia's maritime and airspace zones. As per The Eurasian Times, Beijing's belligerent behaviour continues to destabilise the region. In May alone, China dispatched 70 warships and two carrier strike groups from the Yellow Sea to the South China Sea, aggressively encircling Taiwan. Similar tactics have been used in Malaysian waters, including the provocative 2021 incursion of 16 Chinese military aircraft, prompting a formal diplomatic protest. With its fighter fleet thinned by the retirement of MiG-29s and BAE Hawks, Malaysia's acquisition of the well-maintained Kuwaiti Hornets--many upgraded with modern radars and electronic warfare systems--fills a glaring defense gap. U.S. support here is neither accidental nor merely logistical; it's part of a broader strategy to empower regional partners without drawing them into formal alliances, The Eurasian Times noted. Even as Malaysia maintains trade and dialogue with Beijing, it continues to face repeated intrusions near Petronas oil rigs off Sarawak, areas claimed under China's illegitimate nine-dash line. Public backlash against China's aggression has grown, exemplified by the 2025 boycott of Chagee tea shops after displaying a map echoing Chinese territorial claims. The Eurasian Times reported that the Hornet deal sends a quiet but unmistakable message: Malaysia, like other middle powers, is preparing for a future where sovereignty cannot rely on diplomacy alone. As tensions simmer, U.S.-backed defense upgrades reflect a growing resolve in Southeast Asia to resist China's creeping expansionism--on Malaysia's terms. (ANI)
The Irish Sun
22-04-2025
- The Irish Sun
The European resort sunshine spot with year-round good weather and spa city, €1.80 pints and Ryanair flights from €25
IF you're looking for a relaxing getaway this summer, look no further than Slovakia. Located in the Trnava Region in the western part of the country is a gorgeous spa town. 8 Spa city in Piestany Credit: Alamy 8 Travertine lake with hot thermal water in spa city Credit: Alamy 8 The area is a hotspot in Slovakia Credit: Alamy The thermal resort of Piešťany is highly regarded as one of the hotspots in It's the most visited thermal resort in the country, and has a stunning picturesque landscape. Its location allows for ideal natural conditions for year-round recreation. And it's temperate climate means that the READ MORE IN TRAVEL In the resort part of the town, mineral water springs and healing mud deposits are located on the streets. It is home to many prestigious hotels and spas, with gorgeous architecture. There's a Thermal Park with stunning gardens, paths, and outdoor thermal swimming pools. Here you can find a stunning park, and a lake with water lilies which is home to different fish including a rare African Victoria Regia. Most read in City If you're looking for a And for history buffs, there is a range of museums to spend time in. VARIETY OF MUSEUMS You can head to Winterova Street, which is the main historical zone in the town. Visit the Museum of Military History, which is housed in the old military building at Piestany airport. Opened in 2004, it focuses on aircraft and vehicles used in the Czechoslovak army between 1945 and 1992. It has almost 10,000 items on show, including MiG-29s, MiG-21s, MiG-23s, different Sukhoi aircrafts along with T-34, T-55 and T-72 tanks. The Balneological Museum is the largest and most popular in the town, and has been open since 1928. The building is made in a Classical style with walkways and picturesque statues. Inside, you can see samples of the flora and fauna of the area, folk life, clothing and embroidery, archaeological finds and the reconstruction of the old peasant house of Piestany. ARTISTIC BRIDGE Here, you can also see an exhibition on German composer Ludwig van Beethoven, who visited the resort. Or head to see Colonnade Bridge, which reaches over the Vah river, connecting the town to the Spa Island. It is the longest covered bridge in Slovakia and has many precious art objects. The Eko Park features many zoo animals, restaurants and activities - making it the perfect day out for the little ones. On the slope of the mountains in the resort is Povazhsky Inovec, a curious karst cave - a recognized natural monument. Many archaeological discoveries were made inside the cave, which showed traces of ancient settlements. Ryanair offers flights to Bratislava from €25, which takes approximately two hours and 40 minutes. From here, it's a 50 minute journey to the town. 8 The Colonnade bridge to spa island Credit: Alamy 8 The place is perfect for relaxing Credit: Alamy 8 Visitors can get a pint from €1.80 Credit: Alamy 8 The year-round good weather allows for recreation at any time Credit: Alamy 8 There are a number of prestigious hotels and spas Credit: Alamy
Forbes
09-04-2025
- Politics
- Forbes
Busting A Russian Bunker, A Ukrainian Jet Buried An Artillery Staff
The Ukrainian attack on the Russian command bunker on April 7. Lobbing a precision-guided bomb from potentially tens of miles away, a Ukrainian air force fighter—possibly an upgraded Mikoyan MiG-29—hammered a Russian bunker in southern Ukraine's Kherson Oblast on Monday. As many as 30 Russians from the command staff of the 81st Self-Propelled Artillery Regiment died, according to the Ukrainian general staff in Kyiv. In the aftermath of the daylight raid, a Ukrainian drone observed the survivors of the attack digging through the rubble with their hands. It was at least the second bunker-busting raid the Ukrainian air force has conducted in recent days. On March 31, one of the supersonic MiG-29s hurled a boutique, American-made GBU-62 glide bomb at a former Soviet air-defense bunker—also in Kherson—that was occupied by a Russian command group. A successful attack on a command bunker 'minuses the high-ranking officer corps along with equipment,' one Ukrainian blogger explained. 'Such strikes deprive enemy forces of clear control, and also significantly demoralize the military unit.' It's not for no reason the Ukrainian air force went after the 81st Self-Propelled Artillery Regiment's command bunker. The regiment, part of the 70th Motorized Rifle Division—itself part of the 18th Combined Arms Army—lends critical heavy firepower to Russian forces on the left bank of the wide Dnipro River threading through Kherson. A Russian command bunker explodes on March 31. Twenty-eight months after a swift Ukrainian offensive liberated much of Kherson, Russian troops may be plotting a new offensive of their own. When NPR visited a Ukrainian artillery battery on the right bank of the Dnipro recently, the Ukrainian gunners worried aloud about possible Russian mobilization in the area. One gunner claimed he welcomed a Russian attack across the Dnipro. 'We look forward to the Russians trying to attack us,' he told NPR. 'It would give us a chance to destroy more of them.' But Ukrainian troops are thin on the ground in Kherson as the general staff in Kyiv concentrates its best heavy forces in the east, where the Ukrainians are finally reversing some recent gains by increasingly weary Russian field armies. The Ukrainian marine corps' 34th, 39th and 40th Coastal Defense Brigades—new units largely equipped with light vehicles that are suitable for operations on muddy terrain—anchor Ukrainian defenses in Kherson. But they're outnumbered by a dozen or more Russian regiments and brigades. Blowing up command bunkers and burying the officers in the rubble can offset the Russians' manpower advantage—by depriving that manpower of leadership.
