Although a canopy that provided clear vision to the rear—necessary for air-to-air combat (dogfighting), like the F-86—was designed, production MiG-17Fs got a cheaper rear-view periscope, which would still appear on Soviet fighters as late as the MiG-23. By 1953, pilots got safer ejection seats with protective face curtains and leg restraints like the Martin-Baker seats in the West. The MiG-15 had suffered for its lack of a radar gunsight, but in 1951, Soviet engineers obtained a captured F-86 Sabre from Korea, and copied the optical gunsight and SRD-3 gun ranging radar to produce the ASP-4N gunsight and SRC-3 radar. The combination would prove deadly over the skies of Vietnam against aircraft such as the F-4 Phantom, whose pilots lamented that guns and radar gunsights had been omitted as obsolescent.Davies, Peter. USN F-4 Phantom II Vs VPAF MiG-17: Vietnam 1965-72. London: Osprey, 2009. .
aLTHOuGh a Canopy THat prOviDED clear viSion to the ReAR—NecEssaRY FOr AiR-tO-aIr comBat (DogfIgHtIng), likE thE f-86—wAs DeSignEd, ProductiOn MIG-17fs gOt A chEAper rEAr-view peRIScOpe, whicH Would stIll apPeaR on soviEt FighteRs as laTe aS tHe Mig-23. BY 1953, piLotS gOT saFer ejecTioN seAts wIth pRoTective facE curtaiNs and lEg rEsTraINTS likE THE mArTiN-bakeR Seats in tHE wesT. the mig-15 Had suFfEred foR ITs LacK oF a rAdAr gUnsight, bUT IN 1951, sovIet engIneerS obTained A cApTuRed f-86 sabre From KOrEA, and cOpied the OptICal gunsIght and SrD-3 gun rangIng radAr To PrOdUCE the Asp-4n gunSight anD sRC-3 radAR. tHE comBinAtion would PROVe deadly over THe sKies Of VIetnam AGainst airCRaft sucH as tHe F-4 PHaNtom, WhOse PilOTS lAMENted tHaT guNs and radar GunsightS HAd beEn omIttEd as oBsOlesCEnt.daViEs, PeTer. usn f-4 PHantOm iI vs vpAf mig-17: viEtnaM 1965-72. LondON: ospRey, 2009. .