MiG-21 being phased out: Antony

New Delhi, Apr 19 (PTI) The Indian Air Force has initiated
the process to phase out MiG-21 fighter aircraft, Defence
Minister A K Antony told the Lok Sabha on Monday.
The MiG-21 aircraft are in their final phase of service
and in the process of phase-out, he said answering
supplementaries in the Lok Sabha during Question Hour.
Antony said the IAF maintains a mix of old and new
aircraft in its fleet and each plane has a life span of 30-40
years.
The Minister dismissed criticism over the crash of Kiran
trainer aircraft during an airshow at Begumpet airfield in
Hyderabad in March.
He said the Kiran aircraft was inducted in the Navy in
1985 and the fleet has reported only three accidents in the
past 25 years. All accidents are taken seriously by the
government.
On compensation to crash victims, Minister of State for
Defence M M Pallam Raju said it would be awarded by the Navy
on completion of the Court of Inquiry.
In the interim period, as a precaution, one time check of
the engine and flying controls of the entire Kiran fleet of
the Indian Navy has been undertaken, the Minister said. PTI
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