Starting in the mid-1950s, and for nearly two decades thereafter, the MiG-17P, MiG-17PF and MiG-17PFU (the latter version was armed with air-to-air missiles) were the most widespread interceptors in the Soviet Air Defence Force.The MiG-17F day fighter was widely exported and saw a good deal of fighting, receiving its baptism of fire in the Middle East where Egyptian Frescos were pitted against Israeli Dassault Mystère IVs. However, the type became really famous after the Vietnam War where it successfully opposed the supersonic McDonnell F-4 Phantom II and other US aircraft.Besides a full description of MiG-17's development history the book also charts the MiG-17's combat operations in major wars and local conflicts. A separate chapter compares the MiG-17 and its foreign counterparts and the book concludes with details of MiG-17 fleets and operators worldwide.Illustrated with many unique photos, colour side views, line and cutaway drawings this latest addition to the Famous Russian Aircraft series forms a detailed record of the type and will appeal to modelers and historians alike.