Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15

High-transonic jet fighter of the Soviet Union introduced in 1949

Overview

Mikoyan Gurevich Russia ICAO: MiG-15 1947–1954

The Mikoyan MiG-15 is a high-transonic jet fighter developed for the Soviet Union. It was built by Mikoyan-Gurevich and was introduced in 1949. The aircraft was among the first successful jet fighters to be fitted with swept wings in order to obtain high transonic speeds and surpassed straight-winged jet day fighters during the Korean War.

Live Fleet Activity (MiG-15)

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Specifications

Units
Engine
1 × Klimov VK-1
Engine type
Jet
Thrust
6,000 lbf · 27 kN
Avionics
—
Wing tips
No winglets
Seats
1
Crew
—
Cabin width
—
Cabin height
—
Cabin length
—
Exterior length
33 ft 2 in  ·  10.10 m
Tail height
12 ft 2 in  ·  3.70 m
Fuselage diameter
4 ft 5 in  ·  1.35 m
Wing span
33 ft 2 in  ·  10.10 m
Baggage volume
—
Gross weight
—
Empty weight
—
Max takeoff weight
13,500 lb  ·  6,100 kg
Max landing weight
—
Max payload
3,000 lb  ·  1,350 kg
Fuel capacity
380 gal · 1,400 L · 1,200 kg (Jet A)
Max cruise speed
598 kt  ·  688 mph  ·  1,107 km/h
Maximum speed
—
Cruise speed
—
Approach speed
—
Range
1,360 nm  ·  1,570 mi  ·  2,520 km
Fuel burn
—
Ceiling
50,800 ft  ·  15,500 m
Rate of climb
10,080 ft/min  ·  51 m/s
Takeoff distance
—
Landing distance
—
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Mig-15

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Operational Context

On December 30, 1947, the MiG-15 prototype took to the air for the first time. In 1949, the aircraft entered service and had been operated by different Communist satellite nations such as North Korea where the aircraft was greatly used in opposition to the United Nations forces. Early battles with American aircraft ushered to the production of the improved version designated as MiG-15bis which entered service in 1950.

The MiG-15bis has an exterior length of 10.1 meters, an exterior height of 2.3 meters, a tail height of 3.7 meters, and a fuselage diameter of 1.35 meters. The swept wings have a span of 10.1 meters and a wing area of 20.6 square meters. The wheelbase of the aircraft is 3 meters. It has an empty weight of 3,681 kg, a gross weight of 5,044 kg, and a maximum takeoff weight of 6,106 kg with 160 US Gal drop tanks. The fuel capacity is 380 US gal.

The aircraft is fitted with a single Klimov VK-1 engine with a maximum power of 5,950 lbf. It is a turbojet engine with a centrifugal compressor, nine can combustion chambers, and a single-stage axial turbine. The MiG-15bis has a maximum speed of 581 knots at sea level and 598 knots at 9,843 feet, and a cruise speed of 460 knots.

The ferry range at 39,370 feet with two 160 US gal drop tanks is 1,360 nautical miles. It has a service ceiling of 50,900 feet and a rate of climb of 10,080 feet per minute. The aircraft is equipped with 2×23 mm Nudelman-Rikhter NR-23 autocannons located in the lower left fuselage with eighty rounds per gun and 1×37 mm Nudelman N-37 autocannon located in the lower right fuselage with forty rounds in total.

It is also armed with two weapon stations with provisions to carry combinations of 100 kg of bombs and other drop tanks, or unguided rockets.

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