In the backdrop of Russia making a pitch for manufacturing the Su-57 fifth generation fighter in India, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Friday that the MiG-21 fighter, which finally retired today, was not just an aircraft or a machine but a powerful example of the deep relations between India and Russia.

Speaking at a ceremony held at Chandigarh Air Force Station to mark the culmination of operational flying by the MiG-21 after serving for 62 years, the defence minister said that the aircraft was a mighty machine, national pride and a defence shield that shaped the nation’s confidence and inspired generations of air warriors.

“The MiG-21 performed far better than the expectations of both the sellers and the buyers. The design on which this jet was built in the 1950s was the best a

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