The MiG-21 was one of the longest serving and most consequential fighter aircraft in the IAF, having shaped the force’s operational culture over a major portion of its history. It was India’s first supersonic fighter and the first major combat aircraft acquired from the erstwhile Soviet Union.

The documentary explores the MiG-21's early years, including its acquisition The film also delves into the challenges faced For related coverage, explore our detailed analysis on Technology and Digital Systems.

Early Years and Acquisition

Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa (retd), who commanded a MiG-21 squadron, the Golden Arrows, during the Kargil conflict, talks about the arduous recce sorties and pioneering night-bombing missions under extreme conditions.

The documentary highlights several key missions and battles where the MiG-21 played a pivotal role. The aircraft was instrumental in defending Indian airspace for 62 long years, carrying out numerous combat sorties against enemy targets.

Air Chief Marshal AY Tipnis, who led the IAF during the Kargil conflict, served with the No. 28 Squadron, the First Supersonics, into which the first MiG-21s were inducted in 1963, during the 1965 Indo-Pak war.

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Role in Key Missions

The documentary also touches upon the safety concerns and controversies surrounding the aircraft's high accident rate. Discussions on the issue are limited, with a few officers featured restricting themselves to explaining or contextualising the problems rather than examining the issue in depth.

For the aviation enthusiast, it is a highly watchable film that explores the MiG-21's role in shaping the IAF's operational culture and its legacy in the Indian skies.

The documentary concludes With several squadrons still flying, the aircraft remains an iconic symbol of Indian aviation.

23 Squadron, the Panthers, the last flying MiG-21 unit.The First Supersonics was raised in 1963 Officers across several generations have shared their experiences.

All IAF fighter pilots commissioned in the mid-1960s’ onwards till the present generation of mid and senior-level officers would have trained upon and flown the MiG-21.The recollections of their experiences in war, peacetime and training add the required human touch and emotions to what may otherwise have been a dry roll.They talk about the excitement of strapping into the cockpit, the respect they developed for the aircraft, the high degree of skill, focus and courage required, the exhilaration of a mission completed, the pride to be a MiG-21 aviator and the lingering nostalgia of an air warrior.The glorification of the venerable MiG-21 apart, the aircraft also had its share of controversy with the high accident rate that afflicted the fleet in the later part of its service — one of the aspects that gets little attention in the documentary.Discussions on the aircraft’s safety record are limited, with a few officers featured restricting themselves to explaining or contextualising the problems rather than examining the issue in depth.There would be several significant missions For the aviation enthusiast, it is a highly watchable film.