Mikoyan-Gurevitch MiG-17 Fresco

Summary

Category	Combat aircraft
Origin country	🇨🇳 Ex-USSR
First flight	14 January 1950
Year of introduction	1952
Number produced	10649 units
Average unit price	$0.6 million

Description

The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17 (NATO reporting name: Fresco) is a Soviet jet fighter aircraft, developed as an improvement over the earlier MiG-15 design. It was introduced in 1952 and saw its first combat use in the skies over Vietnam. The primary aim behind its development was to address certain limitations in the MiG-15, such as poor control at high speeds. The MiG-17 featured a more powerful engine, better aerodynamics, and greater fuel capacity. It was initially designed to function as a high-altitude interceptor, but its capabilities were later adapted for ground-attack roles as well. The aircraft was exported widely and saw service in a variety of conflicts beyond Vietnam, including the Six-Day War and the Nigerian Civil War.

The development of the MiG-17 was driven by the need to improve upon the MiG-15, which had limitations in terms of performance at high altitudes and control at high speeds. Work on the MiG-17 began in the late 1940s, and the first prototype took to the skies in 1950. Although it closely resembled the MiG-15 at first glance, the MiG-17 had a more streamlined fuselage, an improved wing sweep, and a redesigned tail, all aimed at enhancing aerodynamic efficiency and maneuverability.

A significant design improvement was the addition of a more powerful engine, the Klimov VK-1, which granted the aircraft a top speed of around 1150 km/h. The engine was better integrated into the airframe, reducing drag and increasing thrust. This allowed the MiG-17 to perform better in dogfights and to be more agile in general.

The cockpit was designed for better ergonomics and ease of control. The instrument panel was organized in a way that allowed the pilot to monitor the aircraft's systems without much distraction, a critical factor in the heat of combat. The MiG-17 also had an increased fuel capacity compared to its predecessor, extending its operational range.

One design limitation, however, was the lack of advanced avionics and radar systems, which somewhat curtailed its night and all-weather capabilities. But the airframe was robust and capable of withstanding considerable battle damage, a feature that would make it popular among pilots. The MiG-17 became a workhorse for several air forces around the world and proved its capabilities in various conflicts from the 1950s to the 1970s.

Armament

The MiG-17 was typically armed with a combination of cannons for air-to-air combat and strafing runs. The standard configuration included one Nudelman N-37 37mm cannon and two 23mm NR-23 cannons. These were positioned in the lower fuselage under the air intake and were synchronized to fire through the aircraft's nose cone. The ammunition capacity was limited, with the 37mm cannon often carrying just 40 rounds, while the 23mm cannons had about 80 rounds per gun.

Later variants of the MiG-17 were adapted to carry air-to-air missiles, usually a pair of K-13 (AA-2 'Atoll') missiles, which were Soviet copies of the American AIM-9 Sidewinder. However, it's worth noting that the missile capabilities of the MiG-17 were not as advanced as those found on contemporaneous Western aircraft, mainly because the MiG-17 was originally designed before the widespread use of missiles and did not feature sophisticated radar systems for target acquisition.

Some versions of the MiG-17 were also equipped for ground-attack missions and could carry a limited payload of unguided rockets and bombs. These were typically fitted onto underwing pylons. However, the MiG-17 was not optimized for this role and had a relatively small payload capacity compared to dedicated ground-attack aircraft. Moreover, it lacked specialized avionics for targeting, which made precision attacks difficult.

While the MiG-17 was not as technologically advanced as some of its Western counterparts, it was respected for its guns in dogfight situations, where the high caliber of its cannons could inflict significant damage.

Operational history

One of the most notable arenas where MiG-17 saw combat was the Vietnam War. North Vietnamese MiG-17s were used effectively against American fighter jets like the F-105 Thunderchief and even the more advanced F-4 Phantom II. The aircraft's agility made it a challenging adversary in dogfights, and its cannon armament was capable of inflicting significant damage on American planes.

In the Middle East, the MiG-17 saw action in conflicts such as the Six-Day War in 1967, where it was operated by several Arab air forces against Israel. However, in this context, it was generally outclassed by more modern Israeli aircraft and tactics. Similarly, the aircraft was used in the Yom Kippur War in 1973 but faced heavy losses.

In Africa, the MiG-17 was used by various nations, notably in the Nigerian Civil War (1967-1970), where it was employed in ground-attack roles. Its robustness and ease of maintenance made it a favored choice for countries with limited resources and technical capabilities.

The aircraft was also used in conflicts like the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, where it was operated by the Pakistani Air Force, and in various skirmishes and conflicts involving Cuba, Indonesia, and other nations.

As for the Soviet Union, the MiG-17 was primarily used as an interceptor and later was mostly relegated to training and secondary roles as more advanced aircraft like the MiG-21 and MiG-23 entered service. It was, however, widely exported and served in the air forces of over 20 countries.

By the 1980s, the MiG-17 was largely considered obsolete, although some countries continued to use it for lack of better alternatives or for specific niche roles.

Variants

MiG-17 (Fresco A): The initial production version, equipped with a Klimov VK-1 engine. Armed with one 37mm N-37 cannon and two 23mm NR-23 cannons.
MiG-17F (Fresco C): Featured an afterburning VK-1F engine, providing enhanced performance. Became the most widely produced and exported variant.
MiG-17PF (Fresco D): Introduced radar capabilities with the Izumrud radar in the nose, making it capable of all-weather intercept missions. Used the VK-1F afterburning engine.
MiG-17PM/PFU (Fresco E): Fitted with air-to-air missile capabilities, usually carrying K-5 (AA-1 'Alkali') missiles.
MiG-17R: Reconnaissance variant fitted with cameras for photo-recon missions. Generally based on the MiG-17F airframe.
MiG-17AS: Ground-attack variant equipped with additional pylons for carrying bombs and rockets. Often a field modification of existing MiG-17s.
Shenyang J-5: A Chinese-produced version of the MiG-17F, almost identical in terms of performance and capabilities.
PZL-Mielec Lim-6: A Polish license-produced version, which came in interceptor and ground-attack variants, each with slight differences in armament and equipment.

Technical specifications

Version: I-340
Crew	1 pilot
Maximum speed	1193 km/h (741 mph)
Wing area	22.6 m² (243.3 sqft)
Wingspan	9.6 m (31.5 ft)
Height	3.8 m (12.5 ft)
Length	11.3 m (36.9 ft)
Service ceiling	15600 m (51181 ft)
Empty weight	3705 kg (8168 lbs)
Max. takeoff weight	5210 kg (11486 lbs)
Powerplant	2 × turbojets Mikouline AM-5 delivering 2000 kgp