The MiG-17 is a Soviet jet fighter developed by the Mikoyan and Gurevich Design Bureau in the late 1940s. The Mig-17 at one point became one of the most common jet fighters in the world. The MiG-17 was an evolution of the previous highly successful MiG-15. It is a standard mid-wing monoplane with one jet engine in the rear fuselage, swept wings and a single rudder. The MiG-17 was the first Soviet jet interceptor MiG-17PFU equipped with four guided air to air missiles. Even though by the mid-1960s the MiG-17 was already regarded as an obsolete plane in the USSR, it was quite successful in the Vietnam War operations. This fighter was in service with many allies of the Soviet Union.