Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-3

The Mikoyan‑Gurevich MiG‑3 was a Soviet high‑altitude interceptor designed in the late 1930s and produced by the Russian Aircraft Corporation MiG during World II. Development began in 1939 as an evolution of the earlier MiG‑1, aiming to improve speed, climb rate and armament for operations over the expansive Eastern Front. First flight occurred on 25 February 1940 and series production started the same year, delivering roughly 4,600 aircraft before the program ended in 1943. Powered by the liquid‑cooled Klimov M‑105P V‑12 engine delivering 1,050 horsepower, the MiG‑3 could reach 640 km/h at 7 000 m and climb to 10 000 m in under ten minutes. Its thin laminar‑flow wings and streamlined fuselage gave excellent high‑altitude performance, while the armament typically included a 20 mm ShVAK cannon and two 7.62 mm machine guns. Although initially intended to counter high‑altitude bombers, the aircraft proved less effective at low‑level combat and was quickly superseded by newer designs such as the Yak‑1 and La‑5. Nevertheless, the MiG‑3 demonstrated advanced aerodynamic concepts and contributed to the evolution of Soviet fighter engineering, marking an important step toward post‑war MiG successes. Its legacy influenced later MiG series, including the famed MiG‑15 and MiG‑21, establishing design principles that persisted throughout the Cold War era.

Russian Aircraft Corporation MiG

Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-3

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