IAF set to retire ‘Sword Arms’51 Squadron Wing Commander (Wg Cdr) Abhinandan Varthaman was a member of the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) Srinagar-based Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 squadron, “Sword Arms,” when he shot down a Pakistan-based F-16 fighter jet the day after the Balakot airstrike in February 2019, according to sources on Monday (September 19). One of the four squadrons of ageing MiG-21 fighter jet, known as “Sword Arms,” is scheduled to phase out by the end of September “as per the plan.” By 2025, the last three MiG-21 squadrons will be decommissioned, according to defence sources. Connect with Trishul Defence Academy for the latest