The Indian air force has retired the last of its Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23BN strike aircraft, bringing to an end a service life spanning almost three decades.
Introduced into Indian service in January 1981, the variable-geometry MiG-23 experienced combat use during an April 1984 campaign to secure the Siachen Glacier, and participated in the Kargil conflict from May 1999.
India's final MiG-23 sortie was flown by its 221 Sqn at Halwara airbase on 6 March, with the air force saying the type had logged more than 154,000 flight hours in national service.
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Chief of air staff Air Chief Marshal Fali Homi Major hailed the MiG-23's "very potent offensive potential" during a phasing-out ceremony at Halwara. "It had tremendous thrust, but its handling characteristics at high angles of attack were tricky, to say the least," he said. "It is inevitable that these aircraft will be replaced by more modern platforms."
MiG-23s remain in the inventories of 13 nations following India's retirement of the type, says Flight's MiliCAS database, with the largest fleets held by Syria, Libya, Cuba and North Korea, respectively.
Source: Flight International