In 1950, work began on increasing the speed of the MiG-15bis without changing the powerplant. For this purpose, a wing with a differentiated sweep angle of 45 degrees in the root section and 42 degrees in the outer section was used, along with a redesigned tail unit. The fuselage was lengthened by 90 cm and a ventral fin was added at the rear. After initial technical problems were resolved, the aircraft entered production as the MiG-17. A total of 5,467 examples were produced. To improve manoeuvrability, the MiG-17F version was developed, powered by the WK-1F engine with afterburner, which entered production in 1952. A total of 1,685 examples were produced.
Work was also carried out on an interceptor fighter equipped with radar. The MiG-17P version was developed, fitted with an RP-1 radar gunsight, with 225 examples produced. It was the first light interceptor fighter built in the USSR equipped with radar. In 1954, production of the MiG-17PF version began, powered by the WK-1F engine. MiG-17 aircraft participated in various armed conflicts.
They were most extensively used in the Vietnam War, where, thanks to appropriate tactics, they achieved victories over significantly faster and more modern American aircraft. In the NATO reporting code, the MiG-17 received the name Fresco. In 1956, licence production of the MiG-17F began at WSK Mielec under the name Lim-5, and at WSK Rzeszow the production of WK-1F engines under the name Lis-5. By 1960, 477 aircraft had been produced. Between 1959 and 1960, 129 MiG-17PF aircraft were produced under the name Lim-5P.
| Wingspan | 9.63 m |
| Length | 11.26 m |
| Takeoff weight | 5354 kg |
| Maximum speed | 1130 km/h |
| Ceiling | 16470 m |
| Range | (with drop tanks) 1670 km |
| Armament | 1 x 37 mm cannon, 2 x 23 mm cannons |
| Engine | WK-1F with (afterburning) thrust of 3380 kG |
