The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17 (Russian: Микоян и Гуревич МиГ-17; NATO reporting name: Fresco) [1] is a high-subsonic fighter aircraft produced in the Soviet Union from 1952 and was operated by air forces internationally. The MiG-17 was license-built in China as the Shenyang J-5 and Poland as the PZL-Mielec Lim-6.

The Soviet MiG-17 (NATO code-name "Fresco") was designed to replace the famous MiG-15 of the Korean War. Although similar in appearance to the MiG-15, the MiG-17 had more sharply swept wings, a longer fuselage, an afterburner, and better speed and handling characteristics.

Made famous by the Vietnam War, the MiG-17F was the primary enemy aircraft engaged in the skies over Vietnam by U.S. aircraft, such as the A-4,A-7, F-8, B-52, F-100, F-105 and its primary nemesis, the F-4 Phantom II.

When the MiG-17 (NATO code name "Fresco") made its debut, Western intelligence officers believed it was a variant of the MiG-15. Closer examination, however, showed it to be an entirely new aircraft.

Made famous by the Vietnam War, the MiG-17F was the primary enemy aircraft engaged in the skies over Vietnam by U.S. aircraft, such as the A-4,A-7, F-8, B-52, F-100, F-105 and its primary nemesis, the F-4 Phantom II.

The MiG-17F was the first afterburner-equipped fighter to enter service with the Soviet Union. Production for the MiG-17F started in 1953 and was designed to overcome the earlier, MiG-15-variation’s inability to safely exceed Mach 0.92.

The MiG-17 was the primary fighter used by North Vietnam against the United States. It proved to be highly maneuverable and the fact that it was equipped with guns gave it a significant advantage over the missile-armed F-4 Phantom in close range combat.

The early MiG-17s had improved versions of the MiG-15’s Klimov VK-1 turbojet. The greatly redesigned VK-1F had an afterburner requiring a longer fuselage to accommodate the afterburner section.

American pilots faced fierce competition from the MiG-17F, which was an excellent dogfighter. Despite being outgunned by newer U.S. aircraft, the MiG-17F’s ability to swiftly engage in close-quarters combat made it a lethal opponent.

Apr 7, 2018 · Scourge of the U.S. air arms operating over Vietnam, the MiG-17 was a refinement of the Korean War-era MiG-15, rectifying the earlier fighter’s shortcomings. The result was an agile fighter and fighter-bomber that also gave good service in successive battles fought by Arab air forces against Israel into the 1970s.