New Delhi: A secret air base in the Albanian mountains, has revealed a collection of communist era MiG jets. The Gjadar air base is 600m of tunnel that was once teeming with military life.

Albanian authorities have now decided to sell the Soviet-Chinese made MiG aircraft and have only received offers from a flying school in Germany, Air and Space Museum in France and one eccentric private collector who wants to place it in his garden.

Speaking about the MiG aircraft, Albanian chief of defence Bardhyl Kollcaku has said that these jets do not match NATO standards. Albania has been a part of NATO since 2009.

MiG 21s have proved their mettle several times in the past, but the public image this vintage jet has maintained in India is definitely discouraging.

Notwithstanding the recent F-16 kill, which was perhaps more a show of the pilot's skill than the efficiency of the aircraft, MiGs have been crashing frequently.

The Indian Air Force has introduced more than 1200 MiG aircraft to its fleet since 1963, out of which 480 MiG variants, 200 pilots and 40 others have been lost in crashes during recent times. Although the production of MiG 21 has completely stopped, there are 113 jets still operation in IAF.

Data from the Indian government shows that between 1999 and 2004, the air force has lost 172 MiG jets and between 2007 and 2013, a total of 34. A total of 41 pilots and five civilians were lost in these accidents.

The latest in the series of crashes, is the crash of the MiG 27 (UPG – upgraded). During a routine mission from Jodhpur, the jet crashed in Godana village in Rajasthan’s Sirohi district. In February 2019 alone, IAF has lost six jets.

Also read: IAF loses 17th aircraft in 2018-19: MiG 27 UPG on routine mission crashes in Rajasthan

For their crash record, the MiG jets have earned the nicknames of ‘flying coffin’ and ‘widow maker’.

Also read: Thanks to 'flying coffin' MiGs, India lose more pilots during peacetime than war

During an official visit to France in April 2015, Indian prime minister Narendra Modi announced that India would acquire 36 fully built Rafales citing "critical operational necessity". After the Balakot airstrike Modi had said, “ the country is feeling the absence of Rafale. If there was Rafale with us, the result probably would have been different”.

The Rafale deal initiated to upgrade the IAF fleet has encountered accusations of corruption by the Congress. The BJP has also been asked to reveal details of the deal which could hamper national security.

Also read: India needs Rafale, defence deals were ‘ATM’ for UPA government: PM Modi

The Congress dragging its feet on the Rafale purchase has made the Indian Air Force saddled with the antiquated aircraft and out of sync with the needs of modern warfare.