The MiG-1 was the first fighter aircraft produced by the Mikoyan-Gurevich design bureau, marking the beginning of a lineage that would define Soviet air power for decades.
Conceived in response to a 1939 Soviet directive for a high-speed, high-altitude interceptor, the MiG-1 evolved from a series of experimental prototypes that laid the groundwork for its brief but historically significant operational life.
Samolet Kh (Самолет Х)
This was the earliest internal designation used by the OKB (Opytno-Konstruktorskoye Byuro, or Experimental Design Bureau) for the conceptual airframe that would become the MiG-1.
“Samolet Kh”—literally “Aircraft X”—was used during wind tunnel testing and early aerodynamic studies.
It represented the design bureau’s initial response to the Soviet Air Force’s demand for a fast interceptor capable of engaging enemy bombers at altitude.
Izdeliye-61
As the project matured, the prototype received the internal product code “Izdeliye-61” within the OKB’s cataloguing system.
“Izdeliye” (Product) numbers were used to track experimental aircraft and components.
Izdeliye-61 referred specifically to the first flight-ready prototype equipped with the Mikulin AM-35A inline engine.
This designation was used for internal documentation, logistics, and coordination with manufacturing facilities.
I-200
The I-200 designation was assigned to the three official prototypes built between late 1939 and early 1940.
These aircraft were designed for high-altitude performance, featuring a streamlined fuselage, thin wings, and a powerful engine.
The I-200 achieved speeds exceeding 650 km/h in testing, making it one of the fastest Soviet fighters of its time.
However, the prototypes revealed serious handling deficiencies, particularly in lateral stability and low-altitude control.
Despite these issues, the I-200’s performance validated the concept and led to limited production approval.
MiG-1
The MiG-1 was the production version of the I-200, officially entering service in mid-1940.
It was a single-seat, high-speed interceptor intended to counter high-altitude threats.
The aircraft retained the I-200’s aerodynamic profile and engine but incorporated minor structural reinforcements and equipment changes.
However, the MiG-1 inherited many of the prototype’s flaws, including poor manoeuvrability, short range, and limited armament.
Only 100 units were produced before the improved MiG-3 replaced it.
Operational deployment of the MiG-1 was limited and largely confined to the western military districts of the Soviet Union.
By the time of Operation Barbarossa in June 1941, most MiG-1s were either destroyed on the ground or quickly withdrawn due to their unsuitability for low-altitude combat.
The aircraft’s legacy lies not in its combat record but in its role as the foundation for the MiG-3 and the broader Mikoyan-Gurevich fighter lineage.
