The
MiG bureau began the design of a swept-wing fighter to meet an
urgent Soviet requirement for a high-performance turbojet
fighter. Problems with a suitable powerplant were solved when
the British government allowed Rolls-Royce to export a batch of Nene
turbojets. The Klimov bureau quickly copied and improved the
Nene engine allowing the first prototype to fly in 1947.
The combat debut of the MiG-15 was in Korea in
1950 shocking western air forces. The only allied fighter in
the same class was the North American F-86 Sabre.
The MiG-15 was given the NATO codename "Fagot".
Production probably totaled several thousand with Czechoslovakia
and Poland building the type under license.
Specifications
(MiG-15bis)
Designations
Type: Fighter
Engines: one 5,952 lb (26.5 kN) thrust
Klimov VK-1 turbojet
I-310: Initial design bureau designation
MiG-15: Standard designation
MiG-15UTI: Two-seat trainer version
(NATO codename "Midget")
