Air Force To Retire Abhinandan Varthaman's MiG-21 Squadron By Sept End

The No. 51 Squadron is to be retired by the end of September, "as per the plan", defence sources said.

The Indian Air Force is set to retire its Srinagar-based MiG-21 squadron 'Sword Arms' that Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was a part of when he had downed an F-16 combat aircraft of Pakistan a day after the Balakot strike in February 2019, sources said on Monday.

'Sword Arms' is one of its four remaining squadrons of ageing MiG-21 fighter jets.

The No. 51 Squadron is to be retired by the end of September, "as per the plan", the defence sources said.

The remaining three squadrons of MiG-21 will be phased out by 2025, they said.