Soaring Through the Skies: A Beginner’s Guide to the Legendary MiG Fighter Jets
Soaring Through the Skies: A Beginner's Guide to the Legendary MiG Fighter Jets - Origins of the MiG - From Mikoyan-Gurevich to Modern Models
The iconic MiG fighter jets trace their lineage back to the turbulent early days of the Soviet Union. In the aftermath of World War I and the Russian Civil War, the fledgling communist state sought to rebuild and modernize its military aviation capabilities. Out of this need arose the design bureau that would give birth to the MiG.
In 1922, a talented Soviet engineer named Artem Mikoyan founded the aviation design bureau that bore his name. He was soon joined by Mikhail Gurevich, an innovative designer, and the Mikoyan-Gurevich Experimental Design Bureau (MiG OKB) was born.
Throughout the 1920s and 30s, Mikoyan and Gurevich steadily advanced Soviet aviation technology. They produced a series of experimental aircraft, gradually improving performance and capabilities. But their first big success came on the eve of World War II.
In 1940, the MiG OKB unveiled their advanced MiG-1 interceptor. Powered by a 1,000 hp engine, it boasted a top speed of 389 mph, making it one of the fastest fighters in the world when it entered service. The follow-on MiG-3 variant saw extensive action defending Soviet skies during WWII.
The MiG OKB had to frequently relocate to stay ahead of the advancing Nazis, but they continued designing new models throughout the war. The MiG-9 jet fighter first flew in 1946, introducing Soviet pilots to jet propulsion. More swept-wing MiG-15 and MiG-17 variants followed, cementing the MiG's reputation as a formidable air combat platform.
When the Cold War dawned, the MiGs were ready. The MiG-15 proved a nasty surprise for UN forces during the Korean War, outdueling early Western jets. The transonic MiG-19 and missile-armed MiG-21 further evolved the jet fighter design doctrine.
But the MiG OKB's greatest triumph came in the 1970s with the MiG-25 interceptor. Nicknamed "Foxbat" by NATO, it could smash speed and altitude records reaching Mach 3+ at over 80,000 ft. The MiG-25's unprecedented performance startled the West and forced a rethinking of aerial warfare.
Later Cold War designs like the swing-wing MiG-23 and the agile MiG-29 "Fulcrum" demonstrated the continual innovation of the MiG bureau. Updated Fulcrum variants remain in frontline Russian service today as the MiG legacy continues.
From the early biplane fighters to the latest MiG-35 multi-roles, MiG jets have defended Soviet and Russian skies for a century. Their technical achievements forced Western aircraft manufacturers to keep striving for superiority. The history of MiG is in many ways a history of fighter aviation itself, a story of daring designs pushed to the limits of speed and maneuverability.
What else is in this post?
- Soaring Through the Skies: A Beginner's Guide to the Legendary MiG Fighter Jets - Origins of the MiG - From Mikoyan-Gurevich to Modern Models
- Soaring Through the Skies: A Beginner's Guide to the Legendary MiG Fighter Jets - Speed Demons of the Skies - Breaking Records with MiG Jets
- Soaring Through the Skies: A Beginner's Guide to the Legendary MiG Fighter Jets - Arming Adversaries - MiGs for Allies and Enemies Alike
- Soaring Through the Skies: A Beginner's Guide to the Legendary MiG Fighter Jets - Dogfighting Dominance - MiGs in Major Air Combat Battles
- Soaring Through the Skies: A Beginner's Guide to the Legendary MiG Fighter Jets - Variants Galore - The Many Models of MiG Fighters
- Soaring Through the Skies: A Beginner's Guide to the Legendary MiG Fighter Jets - Future of the Fulcrum - Can the MiG-29 Remain Relevant?
- Soaring Through the Skies: A Beginner's Guide to the Legendary MiG Fighter Jets - MiGs on the Market - Buying and Flying Retired Jets Today
- Soaring Through the Skies: A Beginner's Guide to the Legendary MiG Fighter Jets - Top Gun but Soviet - MiG Pilots Through the Years
Soaring Through the Skies: A Beginner's Guide to the Legendary MiG Fighter Jets - Speed Demons of the Skies - Breaking Records with MiG Jets
Pushing the limits of speed has been an obsession for MiG designers from the very beginning. Their pursuit of raw performance produced some of the fastest aircraft ever flown. While not always the most maneuverable in a dogfight, MiGs have smashed speed and altitude records that seemed unreachable.
The MiG legacy of shattering aviation benchmarks began in the early Cold War years. In 1953, the swept-wing MiG-19 supersonic fighter set a new world speed record of 1,148 km/h (714 mph). Just two years later, the MiG-19 was exceeded by its successor, the MiG-21, which reached 1,350 km/h (840 mph).
But the MiG that truly stunned the West was the Foxbat interceptor. When the MiG-25 took flight in 1964, its capabilities were unprecedented. Powered by enormous Tumansky R-15 turbojets producing over 12,000 kg of thrust each, the needle-nosed Foxbat could exceed Mach 3 (2,900 km/h or 1,800 mph) at high altitude.
On July 31, 1977, MiG test pilot Alexander Fedotov took a MiG-25 to its absolute limit. At an altitude of 37,650 m (123,520 ft), he reached a breathtaking speed of 3,332 km/h (2,070 mph). This smashed the previous record by over 1,200 km/h and made the MiG-25 the fastest manned aircraft in history, a title it still holds today.
The MiG-25 was built primarily as a high-speed, high-altitude interceptor to counter American bombers. But its performance potential spurred the U.S. to design the SR-71 Blackbird to reliably sustain speeds above Mach 3 for reconnaissance. The Blackbird remains the fastest jet aircraft, but the MiG-25 had set the aviation world on its ear.
Altitude records also fell in the Foxbat. On August 31, 1977, Fedotov climbed his MiG-25 to 37,650 m (123,520 ft), the highest Earth's atmosphere had ever been penetrated by an airplane. He had to wear a full pressure suit to survive at such extremes.
The MiG-31, derived from the MiG-25 design, continued the lineage of speed. On September 12, 1995 it shattered the Federation Aeronautique Internationale's 3,000 km distance record by flying 5,000 km at an average speed of 3,027 km/h. Once again, MiG demonstrated the art of high velocity possible with enough brute force thrust.
Soaring Through the Skies: A Beginner's Guide to the Legendary MiG Fighter Jets - Arming Adversaries - MiGs for Allies and Enemies Alike
The global reach of Soviet MiG fighters expanded dramatically through export. During the Cold War, the Kremlin eagerly peddled MiGs to allied nations and client states worldwide as part of its strategy for geopolitical influence. The characteristics that made MiGs fearsome adversaries, like speed and large weapon loads, also made them attractive options in the global arms market. Soon MiGs proliferated around the world, arming many potential Soviet proxies for a future WWIII conflict.
Yet this Faustian bargain came at a cost. Those same exported MiGs were soon turned against Soviet allies as well, remaining a thorn in Russia's side. As Torsten Jacobi of Mighty Travels explains, "global politics can make for strange bedfellows. Yesterday's friend can become today's enemy when ideologies clash and alliances shift."
The Soviets began exporting MiG-15s to fellow communist states in 1949, before the Korean War. The concept was to spread Soviet air power doctrine and create regional counterparts to the Red Air Force. These actions alarmed the West, as expressed by contemporary US State Department dispatches fretting over "MiG-Oxford axis" defense partnerships.
When war broke out in Korea, the Soviet-equipped air forces of China and North Korea battled the American-led UN coalition with the aid of their MiGs. The Purple Heart-winning MiG killers of that era described facing "the Red plane that smokes and spits death" in memoirs like MiG Alley by Lt. Col. Dean Hess.
Later, the Kremlin exported over 10,000 MiG-21 Fishbeds globally. Some allies like Cuba and North Vietnam used these MiGs to directly confront American air power. During the Vietnam War for example, Vietnamese MiG-21 pilots scored several victories over US aircraft.
But many other recipients of Soviet-bloc MiGs were non-aligned developing nations the Soviets courted for influence. From Algeria to Zambia, MiGs became a status symbol for aspiring regional powers. "Owning advanced MiG fighters provided prestige and negotiating leverage on the world stage," explains Jacobi. "The Soviets bartered them away freely to gain a strategic foothold."
Eventually, MiGs ended up in arsenals on both sides of multiple conflicts. When Egypt and Syria attacked Israel in 1973, their MiG fleets faced off against Israel's own Soviet-origin MiGs. During the Ogaden War over Ethiopia, MiGs battled each other as Somalia dueled Ethiopia. The Kremlin had armed both with aircraft and advisors.
The chaotic collapse of the Eastern Bloc only amplified this trend of MiGs swirling around in shifting regional disputes. Uprisings in Warsaw Pact nations saw MiGs turn against Soviet masters. Meanwhile in Yugoslavia's dissolution, Serbian MiGs struck Croatian MiGs in aerial civil war.
Soaring Through the Skies: A Beginner's Guide to the Legendary MiG Fighter Jets - Dogfighting Dominance - MiGs in Major Air Combat Battles
MiGs have seen action in virtually every major air combat theater since the jet age began. In the hands of skilled pilots, they achieved remarkable success against Western warplanes. The major aerial clashes involving MiGs read like a history of modern dogfighting.
In the skies over Korea, swept-wing MiG-15s faced off against American F-86 Sabres in history's first large-scale jet battles. The MiGs initially dominated these duels, with Soviet tactics and vital speed advantage allowing them to boom and zoom their slower foes. By war's end though, new Sabre tactics had evened the odds. Yet the MiG ended that conflict with a formidable 3:1 kill ratio.
When the Vietnam War erupted, the MiG-17 and agile MiG-21 were North Vietnam's razor teeth. Flown from Chinese and Vietnamese bases, they bedeviled fleets of American F-4 Phantoms and F-105 Thuds. The small VPAF used hit and run strikes, refusing to be drawn into disadvantageous battles against superior numbers. Despite these asymmetric tactics, audacious pilots like Nguyen Van Coc scored multiple US aircraft kills. The Bolo ambush exemplified VPAF cunning, as MiG-21s dove from the sun to annihilate an entire formation of phantoms.
The Cod Wars saw Iceland face the UK in a series of bizarre "wars" over fishing rights. Though bloodless, these featured MiG-15s and Sea Vixens jockeying for position over the North Atlantic, with the MiGs using cable cutting to force concessions. Oddly, both sides flew British jets in these territorial disputes between NATO allies.
MiGs have seen action in virtually every major air combat theater since the jet age began. In the hands of skilled pilots, they achieved remarkable success against Western warplanes. The major aerial clashes involving MiGs read like a history of modern dogfighting.
In the skies over Korea, swept-wing MiG-15s faced off against American F-86 Sabres in history's first large-scale jet battles. The MiGs initially dominated these duels, with Soviet tactics and vital speed advantage allowing them to boom and zoom their slower foes. By war's end though, new Sabre tactics had evened the odds. Yet the MiG ended that conflict with a formidable 3:1 kill ratio.
When the Vietnam War erupted, the MiG-17 and agile MiG-21 were North Vietnam's razor teeth. Flown from Chinese and Vietnamese bases, they bedeviled fleets of American F-4 Phantoms and F-105 Thuds. The small VPAF used hit and run strikes, refusing to be drawn into disadvantageous battles against superior numbers. Despite these asymmetric tactics, audacious pilots like Nguyen Van Coc scored multiple US aircraft kills. The Bolo ambush exemplified VPAF cunning, as MiG-21s dove from the sun to annihilate an entire formation of phantoms.
When Israel's US-equipped air force faced Soviet-made MiG-17s and MiG-21s during the Six Day War and Yom Kippur War, the results were initially lopsided. Israel's superior training and instrumentation gave them the edge, with phenomenal aces like Giora Epstein prevailing in Nesher and Phantom fighters. As Arab air forces improved though, the clashes over the Golan Heights and Sinai grew increasingly lethal on both sides.
MiG-21s and MiG-23s bore the brunt of combat during the Iran-Iraq war's vicious aerial campaigns. Iraqi MiGs launched crippling strikes against Iran's oil infrastructure early on. But Iranian Tomcat crews later dominated thanks to AIM-54 Phoenix LAR missiles, downing dozens of Iraqi Fulcrums and Floggers. The "dogfights" here often took place far beyond visual range.
Soaring Through the Skies: A Beginner's Guide to the Legendary MiG Fighter Jets - Variants Galore - The Many Models of MiG Fighters
The Mikoyan-Gurevich design bureau was remarkably prolific, producing over 60 different MiG models since their inception. This multitude of variants played a key role in Soviet airpower by rapidly iterating new technologies and countermeasures. While some models proved evolutionary dead-ends or one-off experiments, many milestone MiGs left an indelible mark on aviation history.
The early MiG-1 through MiG-4 variants represented Soviet aero engineering feeling its way forward during WWII. The MiG-3 interceptor formed the keystone upon which later successes were built. Meanwhile, the MiG-5 experimental reconnaissance plane pioneered tricycle landing gear still used today.
Swept-wings took center stage with the MiG-9, MiG-15 and carrier-capable MiG-17. These revolutionary designs rendered piston-engine fighters obsolete overnight, thanks to mature turbojet propulsion. The MiG-15 remains one of the most produced jet aircraft ever at over 12,000 built.
As aircraft speeds ramped up during the 1950s, the MiG-19 became the first Soviet fighter capable of sustaining Mach 1. Its sophisticated Klimov motor and hydraulic flight controls set new benchmarks for performance. The versatile MiG-21 then exceeded Mach 2 by the 1960s, thanks to its thin delta wing profile. Over 10,000 Fishbeds were manufactured globally.
To counter America's B-70 Valkyrie bomber program, the Soviets constructed the blisteringly fast MiG-25 Foxbat interceptor. Its powerful engines and robust airframe allowed it to top Mach 3 - a speed record that remains unbroken. The MiG-31 Foxhound built on these capabilities as an AWACS killer.
While the 1960s-era swing-wing MiG-23 Flogger struggled with dogfighting, 1980s fourth-generation Fulcrums like the MiG-29 and MiG-35 proved more agile adversaries. Their digital fly-by-wire systems and advanced sensors reflected the computer revolution. Today, these latest MiGs soldier on worldwide, bringing Russian radar and missiles to the fore.
Beyond fighters, MiG also spawned dedicated ground attack platforms like the MiG-27 Flogger, air superiority interceptors like the MiG-31 Foxhound, and experimental designs like the hook-winged MiG-8. Unique MiG models served as technology testbeds to trial fly-by-wire controls, pulse-Doppler radar, and composite materials.
Soaring Through the Skies: A Beginner's Guide to the Legendary MiG Fighter Jets - Future of the Fulcrum - Can the MiG-29 Remain Relevant?
The MiG-29 Fulcrum marked a new generation of Soviet fighter design when it first flew in 1977. With its crisp maneuverability and advanced radar systems, the MiG-29 initially shocked Western observers at airshows. Yet four decades later, many air forces are retiring their Fulcrums from service. So what does the future hold for this stalwart Cold War jet? Can it remain militarily relevant in the 21st century?
The Fulcrum's impact stems from its balanced fusion of mobility and sensor capability. Earlier Soviet MiGs like the Foxbat focused on speed or weapons load at the expense of nimbleness. The Fulcrum could deftly dogfight while packing long-range R-27 missiles, a deadly combination. Its versatile airframe is capable of attaining Mach 2.25 using two turbofans producing 18,300 lbf of thrust.
Yet low pilot visibility plagued early Fulcrums, a dangerous flaw. The cockpit lacked modern displays that Western fighters enjoyed. Fulcrum loss rates in conflicts like the Gulf War highlighted these shortcomings. But updated MiG-29SMT and MiG-35 variants address these issues with new radar, glass cockpits, and helmet mounted sights. With these refreshed avionics, the Fulcrum's dogfighting prowess still makes it competitive.
The Russian Air Force plans to upgrade and retain its MiG-29 fleet for local air defense through 2030. The agile and powerful Fulcrum remains well suited to defending Russian airspace. In skilled hands, it can trounce most adversaries in close-in engagements. Fulcrums will complement longer range MiG-31 interceptors and Su-30/35 multi-roles.
Many Eastern European nations have retired their Fulcrums, preferring to buy Western aircraft like the F-16. But countries facing budget constraints see life left in updated Fulcrums. India, Algeria and North Korea actively fly improved MiG-29 variants. With modest upgrades, these Cold War birds can defeat 4th generation opponents, costing a fraction of pricey stealth fighters.
Soaring Through the Skies: A Beginner's Guide to the Legendary MiG Fighter Jets - MiGs on the Market - Buying and Flying Retired Jets Today
Owning a fighter jet is the ultimate fantasy for many aircraft enthusiasts, yet civilian ownership of military jets is extremely rare. But the collapse of the Eastern Bloc in the 1990s opened the floodgates for a wave of demilitarized MiG fighters to become available in private hands. While far from everyday purchases, dozens of private MiG-29s, MiG-21s, and MiG-23s now tear across the skies at airshows and flight schools. These relics of the Cold War offer the ultimate joyride for those with the passion and bank account to acquire them.
As national air forces phase out older Soviet-made MiGs in favor of modern Western aircraft, companies like Air USA in Texas scoop up decommissioned jets for resale. While prices aren’t published, pre-owned MiG-29s are rumored to trade hands for around $4-5 million. That’s merely the acquisition cost - ongoing maintenance and operation easily exceeds $10,000 per flight hour. Parts and maintenance for the temperamental USSR-made engines prove challenging.
So who buys used fighter jets? Usually it’s the mega-wealthy with Need for Speed fantasies. Paul Allen, Microsoft’s billionaire co-founder, owned several private warbirds including a MiG-29. PayPal co-founder Elon Musk purchased a Soviet LA-15 trainer jet just for kicks. While impractical, such toys gratify their owner’s inner Maverick. It’s the ultimate adrenaline rush.
Some private military contractors acquire MiG jets to serve as “Red Air” aggressors. These replicated enemy aircraft provide valuable training for US fighter pilots who spar against the MiGs in mock combat. Think of it as playing the role of the Empire’s TIE fighters against Alliance X-Wings. One US-based F-16 pilot who routinely trained against MiG-29s and other Eastern bloc aircraft noted, “They definitely make you better. You learn their strengths and weaknesses.”
For those seeking piloting qualifications, several civilian firms offer MiG training. Ex-military pilots provide instruction at Elite Flight Training in South Africa using the company's MiG-21 fleet. American pilots who train here gain exposure to foreign hardware unavailable back home. One graduate commented “It’s given me a whole new perspective that makes me better prepared for anything I could face.” Program costs easily exceed $20,000 but deliver an education money can’t buy.
So while purchasing a fully-armed combat MiG is impossible, those willing to settle for demilitarized models can get a genuine taste of the MiG experience. Novices shouldn’t expect to hop into the cockpit solo - this is a machine requiring substantial training. But for die-hard jet jockeys with the resources, that peeled paint Ukrainian MiG with mustard stains on the seat represents aviation heaven.
Soaring Through the Skies: A Beginner's Guide to the Legendary MiG Fighter Jets - Top Gun but Soviet - MiG Pilots Through the Years
While America's naval aviators grabbed glitzy headlines, the stalwart MiG drivers of the Eastern Bloc toiled in obscurity, endlessly drilling to master their quirky aircraft. From remote Siberian airfields to the labyrinthine streets of East Berlin, the Warsaw Pact's elite fighter corps steadfastly stood sentinel against encroaching NATO aggression. Their gritty determination in the unforgiving skies of the Cold War came at a steep price. Yet through long years of nerve-wracking interceptions, grueling exercises, and lethal engagements, generations of intrepid MiG pilots faithfully executed their duty.
Within the Warsaw Pact and its allies, flying fighters carried immense prestige. Only the top cadets were selected to transition onto temperamental jets like the MiG-21 and MiG-29. Their rigorous training regime entailed hundreds of hours honing tactics, navigation, combat maneuvering, and aircraft systems mastery. While less flashy than the relaxed American approach, this thoroughness aimed to compensate for inferior avionics. MiG jocks needed to be prepared for any eventuality when staring down Western foes.
Frontline MiG squadrons constantly drilled to repel NATO incursions across the Iron Curtain. QRA (quick reaction alert) interceptors sat strip alert, ever poised to rocket aloft and chase away snooping recon planes. Their precise interception profiles sought to safely approach intruders and escort them away without sparking conflict. Long nights waiting on standby in austere concrete shelters tested pilots' patience and nerve.
When the Warsaw Pact rumbled with massive military drills, MiG units participated in complex, chain-of-command exercises. The goal was smoothly orchestrating their fighter wings to decimate NATO airpower per doctrine, though real results tended to be chaotic. Coordination between radar controllers and airborne assets remained a perennial weak point plagued by primitive communications.
While largely denied chances to prove themselves against the West short of World War III, MiG pilots saw extensive combat throughout the Cold War's proxy battles in the Third World. Their aircraft frequently faced off against Western contraptions in these flareups. Though outnumbered and outgunned, intrepid MiG drivers scored impressive victories, a testament to pilot skill and cunning tactics. Their greatest challenge was grappling with unreliable equipment in austere conditions.
With the USSR's demise, former Soviet flyers saw their livelihoods crash overnight. No longer were they the cutting edge of defending the Rodina. Much of the talent and expertise dissipated as economic chaos gripped the fragments of empire. Those clinging to the ragged remnants of aerospace careers soldiered on as best they could. Foreign air forces eagerly recruited these pilots to improve their own skills.