The Tribune Editorial: Though the Tejas Mk-2, AMCA and TEDBF projects hold promise, delays, supply issues and technological dependencies remain key risks

HE MiG-21’s final flight over Chandigarh on September 26 symbolised more than the retirement of an aircraft; it marked a transition in how India must think about air power. For decades, this Soviet-era fighter was more than a machine — it was a statement of intent by a young nation eager to secure its skies. Its endurance reflected India’s ability to stretch limited resources, but also the tendency to delay modernisation until crises forced change. The MiG’s twilight years exposed those vulnerabilities. The jet’s longevity became its weakness. Over 300 crashes and repeated technical snags turned it into the dreaded ‘flying coffin’.