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Fighter aircraft / МиГ-15

# Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15

The MiG-15 was among the first Soviet swept-wing fighters to enter large-scale production.

![Single-seat MiG-15 number 602 in flight](https://onlyplanes.ru/images/military-aviation/models/15-flight-v4.webp)

Development

## History

The MiG-15 was among the first Soviet swept-wing fighters to enter large-scale production. Developed in the late 1940s, it was intended for fast, high-altitude flight and combat against opposing aircraft. The prototype first flew in December 1947. Its turbojet was developed from the British Rolls-Royce Nene design and then produced in the Soviet Union. The combination of this engine, a swept wing, and a compact airframe set the MiG-15 apart from earlier straight-wing jets.

The fighter had a nose intake, one engine, and cannon armament. Its guns could inflict serious damage on large aircraft, but hitting a manoeuvring fighter required careful aiming and training. The improved MiG-15bis received the more powerful VK-1 engine and other changes. A two-seat UTI MiG-15 trainer helped pilots transition to jet flying. These versions should not be treated as identical when comparing performance or service experience.

The MiG-15 became internationally known during the Korean War. It posed a substantial threat to heavy bombers and fought American F-86 Sabres. The rivalry is often described through maximum speeds and victory totals, but the picture is more complicated. Starting altitude, remaining fuel, crew skill, aircraft condition, and the organisation of ground control could all change an engagement. Pilots from different countries took part in the conflict, so a single assumption about their training would be misleading.

Production reached large numbers, including licensed manufacture outside the Soviet Union. The aircraft equipped many states and helped their air forces move from piston-powered types to jets. Operating it required new engine-maintenance skills, suitable airfields, and training for the hazards of faster flight. Some countries kept MiG-15s for instruction or secondary duties after newer fighters had surpassed their frontline combat capability.

The MiG-15 matters because it accelerated the development of jet tactics and changed the balance of air power over Korea. Its capabilities were impressive for the late 1940s, but they should be considered alongside the limitations of first-generation jet operations. The aircraft's story shows how quickly new aerodynamic ideas, an effective engine, and mass production could turn a recent prototype into a large international fleet of combat aircraft.

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