India, July 22 -- The Indian Air Force is set to phase out the last of its iconic Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 fighter jets in two months, ending a journey of 62 years, officials aware of the matter said on Tuesday.

The fighter jets will be decommissioned at a ceremony planned in Chandigarh on September 19, the officials said, asking not to be named. The air force currently has two MiG-21 squadrons --- the No 23 Squadron, better known as "Panthers", and the No 3 Squadron or "Cobras." Both are based at the sprawling Nal desert fighter base near Bikaner.

The induction of the MiG-21, India's first supersonic fighter, began in 1963. The IAF has operated a raft of MiG-21 variants over the last six decades --- Type 74 or MiG 21F, Type 76 or MiG 21...