MiG-21 Bison is a capable aircraft that has been upgraded: IAF chief Dhanoa. We fight with all the aircraft in our inventory: Dhanoa. Questions have been raised about why MiG-21 Bisons were used against F-16s last week

Last week, an Indian Air Force MiG-21 Bison was shot down and its pilot, Wing Commander Abhidnandan Varthaman, was captured by the Pakistani army. IAF chief BS Dhanoa defended the MiG-21 today, calling it a capable aircraft. The Indian Air Force fighter jet fleet includes the Soviet-era MiG-21, MiG-27 and MiG-29, the European Jaguar, the Indian Tejas, the French Mirage and the Russian Su-30.

"MiG 21 is in our inventory, why will we not use it?" an amused Indian Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa asked reporters when questioned about the recent dogfight between Indian and Pakistani fighter jets over Jammu and Kashmir.

Indian Air Force MiG-21 Bisons squared off against Pakistani F-16s last week in the aftermath of the IAF's Balakot airstrike in Pakistan. The February 26 airstrike, which targeted Jaish-e-Mohammad's largest terror camp in Pakistan, was seen as a response to the February 14 Pulwama terror attack.

A day later, Paksitani jets attempted to target Indian military installations in Jammu and Kashmir, forcing the Indian Air Force to scramble MiG-21 Bisons. In the ensuing dogfight, a Pakistani F-16 was shot down.

An Indian MiG-21 Bison was also shot down and its pilot, Wing Commander Abhidnandan Varthaman, was captured by the Pakistani army. He was released two days later.

Last week's developments have spared questions about why the Indian Air Force is still operating the Soviet-era MiG-21 and why the 'dated' fighter jet was used to combat the 'ultra-modern' F-16.

Indian Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa was asked this at a press conference in Coimbatore. Air Chief Marshal Dhanoa laughed in response before asking, "MiG 21 is in our inventory, why will we not use it?"

Dhanoa also defended the aircraft, calling it a "capable" jet that has been upgraded. The MiG-21 Bison is not the old MiG-21bis, Dhanoa said. "[It] has got better weapons system, better air-to-air missiles..."

"We fight with all the aircraft in our inventory," Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa also said.

The Indian Air Force operates a diverse range of fighter jets but is faced with an urgent need for more fighters. The IAF is already under strength and risks having just half the fighter it needs if new aircraft are not bought in the next few years.

Currently, the Indian Air Force's fighter jet fleet includes the Soviet-era 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.

The French Rafale will soon be a part of the Indian Air Force fleet.