IAF bids farewell to its iconic MiG-27

The MiG-27, known to NATO as the ‘Flogger’ and to the IAF as ‘Bahadur’ flew its last sortie. For 35 years, a curiously designed fighter-bomber has been at the forefront of the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) attack fleet. The last MiG-27 unit to operate the jet, number 29 Squadron, bid farewell to the jet in Jodhpur where seven aircraft participated in a flypast. The squadron itself is supposed to be ‘number-plated’ in March 2020 whereby it will cease to operate for the moment.

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The MiG-27 played an important role in the Kargil war, strafing high-altitude targets on mountain sides in missions it was not optimally suited to carry out. The IAF also lost a MiG-27 during the war in 1999 when Flight Lieutenant K Nachiketa had to eject after his engine failed. He was captured by Pakistani forces, only to eventually be returned to India.