The Soviet built MiG 15 jet fighter was first encountered by UN fighter pilots in 1950, during the Korean War, and was used widely by former Eastern Block countries through the 1970's. Following WWII, Soviet aviation developers studied captured German aircraft and new aviation technology to produce 35-degree swept wing jet fighter with incredible speed, powerful accent, and an incredibly high ceiling. At the beginning of the Korean war the MiG 15 fought head on against and overpowered the American F-84G Thunder Jets and F-80 Shooting Stars. After, the hurried production of the North American F-86 Saberjet, designed to fight the MiG 15, these two planes engaged repeatedly in intense air-to-air combat for the remainder of the war.