MiG-23MF

The MiG-23MF fighter aircraft, which played a key role in countering a possible threat from Pakistan's F-16s for the last 25 years in the western sector, bid adieu to the force with one last ceremonial flight.The Russian-made MiG-23s were phased out because heavy financial costs were being incurred on their maintenance. `It is too costly to maintain them because of non-availability of spare parts. Maintaining these aircraft was like maintaining vintage cars. Hence, the Air Force had to take the decision to phase these aircraft out.