By IANS,
Halwara (Punjab) : The Indian Air Force’s (IAF) swing-wing ground attack fighter jet MiG-23 BN took to the skies for one last time Friday at this airbase, as the force bid a nostalgic adieu to the formidable supersonic combat aircraft.
The MiG-23 BN, renamed in the IAF as Vijay (victory), was retired after 28 years of glorious service and flying more than 154,000 hours.
“We know that airplanes, like air warriors, cannot go on forever. While there is thunder and pride in their prime, they fade away with quiet dignity when the time comes,” the IAF chief, Air Chief Marshal Fali Homi Major, said at the phasing out ceremony.
As Wing Commander Y.J. Joshi and Squadron Leader T.R. Sahu of the No.221 Squadron flew the aircraft from this airbase in Punjab, many eyes went moist at this airbase near Ludhiana. Present at the phasing out ceremony was Air Marshal N. Chatrath, under whose command the squadron known as ‘Valiant’ was formed in 1963.
Over the years, the No.221 Squadron had become the lone squadron with the MiG-23 BN on its inventory.
The ‘Valiants’ entered the swing-wing era with the induction of MiG-23 BN in the IAF Jan 24, 1981 as a result of the force’s need for tactical air strike aircraft in the late 1970s and to counter the Pakistan’s then newly acquired F-16 fighter aircraft.
The jets were designed to replace the ageing fleet of MiG-21.
“The MiG-23 BN entered the IAF with an awesome reputation. It was the most powerful single-engine fighter in the world, was of a revolutionary design with a variable wing sweep and air intake and a very complex weapon delivery system, that was fairly advanced for its times,” a nostalgic air chief said.
“It gave the IAF a tremendous boost in its capability and we had to get used to the tremendous roar of its R-29 engine. They also played havoc with the surfaces of our runways!”
This single seater ground attack aircraft, which was brought from the erstwhile USSR, had a ‘swing wing’ concept to compromise on the conflicting requirement of high-speed flight with good low speed handling.
“Whilst being immensely capable, it was also not easy to fly. It had tremendous thrust, its handling characteristics at high angles of attack were tricky, to say the least. And there was one other thing – landing the BN�. It separated the men from the boys and has been the stuff of many bar-room yarns,” Major added.
The air force got its first taste of operation with the aircraft April 4, 1984 when the squadron was alerted for the launch of Operation Meghdoot for securing the Siachen Glacier in northern Ladakh.
“Intensive flying began in Kashmir Valley, the Mig-23 BNs were employed to the limits, flying in the mountainous region by day and night. In 1985, the MiG-23 BN got the unique distinction of being the first fighter aircraft ever to cross Banihal Pass in Jammu and Kashmir region by night,” an IAF official said.
On May 25, 1999, Operation Safed Sagar (Operation White Sea) was launched during the Kargil conflict. The IAF was to commence offensive air action at first light of the next morning. The MiG-23 BNs were launched into action targeting enemy positions at Tiger Hill with rockets and bombs.
“The ensuing seven weeks from May 26 to July 15 saw the squadron fly 155 attack missions more than those during December 1971 operations.
“During the 1999 Kargil conflict, this aircraft had the distinction of being the single aircraft type to fire the maximum weapon load over the dizzy heights of Drass and Kargil,” the official added.
Most of the IAF’s MiG-23s had already been phased out. Its superior version the MiG-23 MF was phased out in 2007.