New Delhi, March 4: Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa while lauding the capabilities of the MiG-21 Bison fighter jets said that the aircraft is a capable one and has been upgraded with a better radar, air-to air missiles and better weapons system. While talking about MiG-21 Bison at a meet in Coimbatore, Dhanoa said, "One is a planned operation in which you plan & carry out. But when an adversary does a strike on you, every available aircraft goes in, irrespective of which aircraft it is. All aircraft are capable of fighting the enemy". Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa Says 'Can't Count How Many Died In IAF Strike in Balakot'. 

The MiG-21 Bison, which is one of IAF's six fighter jets, is of Russian origin. It is a single engine, single seater multirole fighter aircraft and has a maximum speed of 2,230 km/hr. It is described as the “back-bone” of the the Indian Air Force (IAF). At present, the IAF fighter jet fleet includes the MiG 21, MiG 27 and MiG 29, the European Jaguar, the Indian Tejas, the French Mirage (which was used to carry out the February 26 airstrike) and the Russian Su-30.

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Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was flying a MiG-21 Bison, which was shot down by Pakistan on February 27, a day after India launched air strikes on Jaish camps in Pakistan, killing a number of terrorists. Varthaman had downed a F-16 fighter jet of Pakistan Air Force by firing an R-73 air-to-air missile before his jet was hit by an enemy missile. Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman Wants to Start Flying as Soon as Possible.

Speaking over the IAF returning to the cockpit, the Air Chief Marshal said whether he (Wing Commander Abhinandan) flies or not depends on his medical fitness. "That's why post ejection, he has undergone medical check. Whatever treatment required, will be given. Once we get his medical fitness, he will get into fighter cockpit", he added.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 04, 2019 01:37 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).