Work under design of fighter I-200. have begun in 1939 under Nikolay Polikarpov's headed. At that time was considered quite probable, that air fights of the future war will pass on mean and high altitudes. Proceeding from this concept, also formed I-200. If several years ago from a fighter the superiority in a manoeuvrability, now was required, that a fighter should conduct active air fight on the basis of speed advantages. Thus, I-200 should become both high-altitude, and a high-speed fighter.
   After formation of KB of Mikoyan and an excommunication from project Polikarpov, all further works above I-200 were conducted in it KB.
   The first experimental I-200 has left on tests in April, 1940. As the airplane met the main requirements the solution on his start in a series has soon taken place. On a course of the organization and the beginning of series production operational development of an airplane and its improvement implemented. In the beginning of 1941 of first hundred I-200 have given mark the MiG-1, and the subsequent - MiG-3. To the beginning of war MiG became the most numerous fighter of new generation in the Soviet air forces. MiG-ç was also the most high-speed production Soviet airplane (maximum speed of 640 km/h at the altitude 7,8 km).
   Character of operations of the begun Great Patriotic war has defined also character of war in air. On the Soviet-German front during all war air fights were conducted basically at altitudes up to 4 km. Thus, the big altitude performance the MiG-3, which in the beginning was considered as its doubtless advantage, became lack. Besides quality of the production manufacturing in the beginning of war was low. The MiG-3 had demanded high (to measures a wartime) qualification of pilots.
   During a meeting in Moscow on December 23 1941, in the presence of Stalin, Mikoyan, Petlyakov, Mikulin, Ilyushin and many other, the delays by factory directors in shifting production of MiG-3s and AM-35As into Il-2s and AM-38Fs was discussed. As a result, Stalin sent an angry telegram: "You have deceived our country and our Red Army. Our Red Army needs Il-2s as much as it does bread and water. Szenkman is producing one Il-2 per day, and Tretyakov is producing one to two MiG-3s. This is an insult to the country and to the Red Army. We need Il-2s, not MiGs. This is your last warning". The telegram led to the immediate suspension of MiG-3 production, while production of the Il-2 grew rapidly, even beyond the planned volume.
   Manufacture MiG-3 have stopped in the beginning of 1942, and total 3272 fighters of this type were built.