MiG15

MiG-15 (NATO reporting name Fagot) is a jet fighter developed by the Soviet Mikoyan-Gurevich design bureau. It first flew in 1947 and entered service in 1949, becoming one of the most widely produced jet fighters of the early Cold War. The design features a swept-wing, all-metal airframe with a single-seat cockpit, powered by a Klimov VK-1 turbojet, a licensed version of the Rolls-Royce Nene. It uses tricycle landing gear and was designed to improve speed and climb rate over contemporary piston-engined fighters.

The MiG-15’s armament typically consisted of two 23 mm cannons and an additional 37 mm cannon on some variants, delivering significant firepower against both aerial and ground targets. Variants included the early MiG-15 and the MiG-15bis, which offered improvements in engine performance and aerodynamics.

In combat, the MiG-15 achieved prominence during the Korean War, facing United States Air Force fighters such as the F-86 Sabre in large aerial engagements. It demonstrated strong performance at altitude and rapid acceleration, contributing to the early balance of air power in the conflict. The type remained in service with several air forces into the late 1950s and beyond, and it influenced later Soviet designs, notably the MiG-17. The MiG-15’s combination of swept-wing performance, robust construction, and suitability for mass production made it a recognizable symbol of early jet-age air combat.