The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-3 was one of the faster Soviet piston-engined fighters available at the start of World War 2, though still outclassed by Germany types.
Despite being one of the fastest Soviet piston-engine designs in the early years of the war, the MiG-3 was dogged by less-than-stellar handling characteristics and was genuinely still outclassed by German counterparts in the Messerschmitt Bf 109 and the Focke-Wulf Fw 190 series. The system was also woefully under-armed in its early versions and was relegated to bomber escort and close-support duty during its tenure. Eventually, the system would give way to the more capable Lavochkin series of radial-engined platforms even though some 3,400 examples of the MiG-3 were to be produced.
The MiG-3 offered up only a slight boost in handling capability and was initially fielded with the same woeful three gun armament. Later models would improve this count by adding one additional heavy caliber (.50) under each wing. Provisions for under wing rockets (totaling 6) and two bombs were part of the MiG-3's armament capabilities. Additional modifications to the MiG-3 resulted in a sliding canopy assembly, slightly redesigned wing systems and a constant speed propeller system. Horsepower from the Mikulin AM-35A V-12 amounted to an impressive 1,350hp putting the overall top speed somewhere near 400 miles per hour.
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(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)
✓Air-to-Air Combat, Fighter
General ability to actively engage other aircraft of similar form and function, typically through guns, missiles, and/or aerial rockets.
Length
26.7 ft (8.15 m)
Width/Span
33.8 ft (10.30 m)
Height
8.8 ft (2.67 m)
Empty Wgt
5,721 lb (2,595 kg)
MTOW
7,385 lb (3,350 kg)
Wgt Diff
+1,664 lb (+755 kg)
(Showcased structural values pertain to the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-3 production variant)
(Showcased performance specifications pertain to the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-3 production variant. Performance specifications showcased above are subject to environmental factors as well as aircraft configuration. Estimates are made when Real Data not available. Compare this aircraft entry against any other in our database or View aircraft by powerplant type)
STANDARD:
1 x 12.7mm Beresin BS machine gun mounted over engine.
2 x 7.62mm ShKAS machine guns mounted over nose.
Later models would feature additional 2 x 12.7mm machine guns underwing, one per wing.
OPTIONAL:
6 x 3.23 inch rockets
2 x 220lb bombs
Supported Types
(Not all ordnance types may be represented in the showcase above)
Hardpoint Mountings: 2
I-61 - Prototype Model Designation
MiG-1 - Initial Production Models of which some 100 examples were produced; fitted with Mikulin AM-35 V-12 engine of 1,200hp; 3 x machine guns.
MiG-3 - Production Model Designation of improved MiG-1 samples; fitted with AM-35A engine of 1,350hp; later models added 1 x 12.7mm machine guns under each wing; sliding cockpit canopy; improved handling.
Ribbon graphics not necessarily indicative of actual historical campaign ribbons. Ribbons are clickable to their respective aerial campaigns / operations / aviation periods.
Images Gallery
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Left side view of a Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-1 fighter at rest
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Left side profile view of a Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-3 fighter at rest
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High-angled right side view of Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-3s at the ready
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High-angled top down planform view of the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-3 at rest
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Rear left side view of a Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-3 at rest
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Low-angled left side view of the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-3 at rest
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Right side profile view of a Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-3 fighter at rest
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Soviet Union
