MiG I-221

The MiG I‑221 was a prototype Soviet fighter developed in the early 1940s by the design bureau founded by Artem Mikoyan. Intended as a lightweight successor to the earlier I‑200 series, the aircraft combined a compact airframe with a powerful Klimov VK-105P engine, delivering up to 1,200 horsepower. Its mixed construction of wood and metal reduced weight, while a retractable undercarriage and a bubble canopy improved aerodynamics and pilot visibility. Armament options included two 12.7 mm ShVAK machine guns and the provision for 20 mm cannons, giving it a respectable fire‑power package for close‑air combat. Although flight testing in 1942 showed promising speed—exceeding 620 km/h—and agile handling, the project was cancelled in 1943 when Soviet resources were redirected toward mass‑producing proven designs such as the Yak‑9 and La‑5. The I‑221 therefore never entered service, but its experimental work contributed valuable data on lightweight fighter concepts, influencing later Mikoyan‑Gurevich models including the MiG‑15. Its brief existence illustrates the intense innovation pressure on Soviet aviation during World War II and the strategic shift toward high‑performance jet aircraft in the post‑war era. Today, a single restored airframe is displayed at the Central Air Force Museum in Monino, serving as a tangible reminder of Mikoyan’s early experimental legacy.

Artem Mikoyan

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Design & Classification