Aircraft & UAVs

MiG-21 Bison

The MiG-21 Bison is the Indian-upgraded MiG-21bis variant, fitted with modern radar, countermeasures, and missile compatibility. In the 2019 India-Pakistan Border Skirmishes it was the Indian fighter type named in official statements on the 27 February aerial engagement over Kashmir.

2019 India-Pakistan Border SkirmishesIndia

Conflict side: India
Built by: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited
Built in: India

MiG-21 Bison, Upgraded supersonic fighter-interceptor, Aircraft & UAVs

Image source: Mig21atkalai.jpg

Profile

Type: Upgraded supersonic fighter-interceptor
Conflict side: India
Origin: India
Service note: Cold War airframe modernized for post-Cold War Indian service

air defenseinterceptorfightersupersonic

Service History

In service: Entered Indian Air Force service in upgraded Bison form in the early 2000s and remained operational during the 2019 border crisis.
Used by: Indian Air Force
Wars: 2019 India-Pakistan Border Skirmishes

Production History

Designer: Mikoyan; Indian Bison upgrade program developed with HAL
Designed: 1950s original design; Bison modernization in the 1990s
Built by: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited
Built in: India
Produced: 2001-2008
Number built: Over 100 upgraded to Bison standard
Variants: MiG-21bis upgraded to MiG-21 Bison / MiG-21UPG standard

Specifications

Crew: 1
Maximum speed: About Mach 2
Radar: Upgraded Kopyo pulse-Doppler radar
Armament: Cannon plus radar-guided and heat-seeking air-to-air missiles; some aircraft also carried bombs or rockets
Defensive suite: Countermeasures, improved avionics, and helmet-mounted sight integration

Conflict Usage

2019 India-Pakistan Border Skirmishes: Side: IndiaRole: Air-defense interceptorair defense
During the 2019 India-Pakistan Border Skirmishes, Indian government statements said a MiG-21 Bison was used in the 27 February 2019 aerial engagement over the Line of Control and shot down a Pakistan Air Force fighter.

MiG-21 Bison Images

MiG-21 Bison, Upgraded supersonic fighter-interceptor, Aircraft & UAVs - view 1 — Source: Mig21atkalai.jpg

MiG-21 Bison, Upgraded supersonic fighter-interceptor, Aircraft & UAVs - view 2 — Source: Sheeju mig21.JPG

MiG-21 Bison, Upgraded supersonic fighter-interceptor, Aircraft & UAVs - view 3 — Source: MiG 21 Bison (29330662905).jpg

MiG-21 Bison, Upgraded supersonic fighter-interceptor, Aircraft & UAVs - view 4 — Source: Indian Air Force MiG-21 Bison landing.jpg

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Sources

Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21F-13 Fishbed-CPublisher: Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum | Note: Supports MiG-21 family background, Mikoyan attribution, and the base interceptor lineage behind the Indian Bison upgrade. | Accessed: 2026-06-21 MiG-21 crash: Why Air Force continues to fly the fighterPublisher: The Indian Express | Note: Supports MiG-21 Bison background, including the Indian upgrade with advanced missiles, radars, better avionics, and the fact that more than 100 aircraft were upgraded to Bison standard. | Accessed: 2026-06-21 The MiG-21 Bison Upgrade ProgrammePublisher: Bharat Rakshak | Note: Supports MiG-21 Bison upgrade-program background and HAL manufacture of upgraded MiG-21 kits from supplied airframes. | Accessed: 2026-06-21 Statement by Official Spokesperson on 27 February 2019Publisher: Press Information Bureau | Note: Supports 2019 India-Pakistan Border Skirmishes direct use; the Indian government said a MiG-21 Bison was used in the 27 February 2019 aerial engagement and shot down a Pakistan Air Force fighter. | Accessed: 2026-06-21 Statements by Indian Armed Forces on Prevailing Security SituationPublisher: Press Information Bureau | Note: Supports 2019 India-Pakistan Border Skirmishes direct use; Indian armed forces said MiG-21 Bison aircraft were tasked to intercept the PAF aircraft during the 27 February 2019 engagement. | Accessed: 2026-06-21 What is MiG21 Bison, the fighter jet Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was flying?Publisher: The Indian Express | Note: Supports 2019 India-Pakistan Border Skirmishes direct use; the article says Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was flying a MiG-21 Bison that was shot down on 27 February 2019. | Accessed: 2026-06-21 Mig21atkalai.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance and CC BY-SA 4.0 license context for the primary MiG-21 Bison image. | Accessed: 2026-06-21 Sheeju mig21.JPGPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance and public-domain license context for the Aero India MiG-21 Bison image. | Accessed: 2026-06-21 MiG 21 Bison (29330662905).jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance and CC BY-SA 4.0 license context for the Bison gallery image. | Accessed: 2026-06-21 Indian Air Force MiG-21 Bison landing.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance and CC BY 4.0 license context for the landing-view Bison image. | Accessed: 2026-06-21