The MiG 1.44 had its origins in the early 1980s, when the U.S. Air Force began developing a fighter under the Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF) project, which would result in the supermanueverable and stealthy, albeit costly, Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor.
Mikoyan proceeded with the preliminary design of both the MFI and LFI with participation from numerous institutions, which assisted in the progressive definition of the designs.