Isn't it true that MiG21 on full afterburner is faster than F-16 on full afterburner? The spike inlet sure looks like it can slow down a Mach 2 inflow without major shocks. The wings are full delta wings. Much of the bad press that the MiG-21 gets, is due to the fact that it has high landing speed because it is designed for supersonic flight.
IMO this is the first combat mission where a MiG-21's capabilities were really exercised. In Vietnam it was mostly MiG-19s. Iraq's 21s if any were flown by quasi-Pakis. Real Russian/ Warsaw Pact pilots never got into shooting wars with US/NATO planes over Europe.
With its combat speed, it is not ideal for close-range post-stall maneuvers and gun-fights. But combat with modern BVR/ all-aspect ratio missiles? With Mach 2 punch? I think India has done well to not scrap these. Some mods to improve low-speed handling and reduce landing speed may be in order.
But right now, in Paki-combat, where the Paki invariably turns tail and tries to flee, the Pakis are going to get very literally buggered.
Over East Pak, I think IAF was basically asked to not waste time and fuel engaging Sabres which were anyway going to run out of fuel and runways shortly. In the West in '71 I am not aware of many MiG-21 dogfights, I have the feeling it was used as fighter-bomber. May be wrong.
So yes, it is a great demonstration, but I say it was "to be expected". Are there any COUNTER-examples - Paki planes (not SAMs) actually shooting down Indian MiG-21s?
Point of this post: I think Indians 200+ remaining MiG-21s completely outnumber and overwhelm the Paki's remaining
40 39 F-16s, let alone their JF-117s and dog-carts.
Supersonic. BVR AAM equipped. Indian-piloted. Translation: Deadly to Pakis. And to cheens, BTW