MiG-23 fighters become part of aviation history
The MiG-23MF fighters of the Indian Air Force, which played a key role in countering the possible threat from Pakistan’s F-16s for the last 25 years in the western sector, today bid adieu to the force with one last ceremonial flight.
The flight by four MiG-23s took place at the airbase here in the presence of top IAF officials, including Air Chief Marshal S P Tyagi, as the fifth jet was ceremonially towed in front of the guests.
During the ceremonial flight, a MiG-23 MF flew from the airbase carrying a banner behind it that read: “End of an era”. The jet was followed by the other three in a “Vic” formation and the aircraft then peeled of in two directions above the cheering audience.
“This is indeed a very emotional moment for us as these aircraft in which our men have worked for several years will now become a part of aviation history. It is not easy to say goodbye,” an emotional Tyagi said while talking to reporters here.
The Russian-made MiG-23s were phased out because heavy financial costs were being incurred on their maintenance.
“Its too costly to maintain them because of the non-availability of spare parts. Maintaining these aircraft was like maintaining vintage cars. Hence, the air force had to take the decision to phase these aircraft out,” Tyagi observed.
The MiG-23MF is a swing-wing interceptor able to vary the angle of its wings in three different positions to increase or decrease its speed.
The fighter has a top speed of 2.35 Mach (approximately 2,500 km an hour) and was the first IAF aircraft to be equipped with beyond visual range (BVR) air-to-air missiles.
The last flight of these jets is special as they are part of the 224 Squadron (nicknamed the Warlords) that was among the only two units (the other being 223 Squadron) to have ever operated the swing-wing variant of the MiG-23s in countering possible threats from Pakistan’s F-16s.
Besides Tyagi, South Western Air Command chief Air Marshal P K Mehra was among those present to bid adieu to the jets that were inducted into the IAF in the 1980s.
While 223 Squadron switched over to MiG-29ASF jets in May 1989, the Warlords continued operating the MiG-23s till date.
After the last symbolic flight, 224 Squadron will be “number-plated” on March 31. The term “number plating” in air force parlance means temporary ceasing of flying operations till a squadron is re-equipped with new aircraft and assigned a new operational role.
These MiG variants, arguably the world’s most powerful single-engine fighter jets, will be kept as “gate guardians” after becoming part of the IAF’s aviation history.
Some of the aircraft will be sent to the Air Force Academy at Dundigul near Hyderabad and the Air Force Museum in New Delhi. One each will be given to Vadodara and the army while another will be put up as a gate guardian in Jamnagar.
The MiG-23MFs carried 96 rockets or 1.5 tonnes of bombs weighing 100, 250 or 500 kg and had the ability to also assume air defence and ground attack roles.
With their MiG-23s, the Warlords participated in various operations, including the air defence of the Siachen glacier during 1985-86. The 224 Squadron was adjudged the best overall fighter unit of the Western Air Command in the same year.
The Warlords had the unique distinction of operating the first fighter aircraft from Thoise airfield in Ladakh on October 28, 1995.
During Operation Safed Sagar, the IAF’s participation in the 1999 Kargil conflict, the squadron operated a six-aircraft detachment in the western sector and undertook round-the-clock air defence of Saurashtra and Kutch regions in Gujarat.
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