Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15

The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 was the Soviet Union's first highly successful swept-wing jet fighter, entering service in the late 1940s. Its development was greatly accelerated when Britain supplied examples of the Rolls-Royce Nene jet engine, which the Soviets reverse-engineered and produced to power the new fighter.

The MiG-15 stunned the West when it appeared over Korea in 1950. Fast, well-armed with cannon, and able to climb and operate at high altitude, it outclassed the straight-wing jets the United Nations forces had deployed and forced the rapid commitment of the swept-wing North American F-86 Sabre to counter it.

Produced in very large numbers and flown by many air forces around the world, the MiG-15 established the Mikoyan-Gurevich design bureau as a leading builder of fighters. It launched a long line of MiG jets that would equip Soviet and allied air forces throughout the Cold War.