Jodhpur: On December 27 will be one of nostalgic moment for Indian Air Force (IAF) as its “Bahadur” aircraft MiG 27 will pass into history when the last squadron of seven planes will have its last sortie from Jodhpur air base.
It was IAF’s “lethal” fighter aircraft which proved to be “ace attacker” during the 1999 Kargil war and earned nickname of ‘Bahadur’ from pilots.
“The squadron of seven MiG 27 will have its last sortie from Jodhpur Air Base on December 27. All the planes of this squadron will be decommissioned on this day, after which none of them would be flying anywhere in the country,” said defence spokesperson Col Sombit Ghosh on December 24, announcing the scheduled decommissioning of Russian-made MiG 27 aircraft from the South West Air Command (SWAC).
According to sources in the capital, the Jodhpur-based squadron of MiG 27 is the last one not only in SWAC but in the entire country.
“After decommissioning of MiG 27’s last squadron from Jodhpur air base, the aircraft will pass into history not only in India but in the entire world. No other country operates MiG 27 now,” the sources said.
Col Ghosh said though the exact fate of this MiG 27 squadron planes is not yet known, but mostly after decommissioning, the planes are either used as souvenirs or returned to the base or depot or even could be given to some other country.
Jodhpur had two squadrons of MiG 27, of which one had been decommissioned earlier this year, he said.
This is the only squadron left now known as Scorpion 29 comprising seven upgraded MiG 27 at Jodhpur Air Base, he added.
Before this, two squadrons of MiG 27 had been decommissioned from Hashimara air base in West Bengal.
According to Col Ghosh, a ceremonial adieu would be accorded to this glorious and “lethal fighter aircraft” of the Indian Air Force at Jodhpur.
Sources said all fighter pilots of MiG 27 will assemble at the base to fly the last sortie of the plane in various formations and a salute will be accorded on landing.
