Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17F, part one, Afghan and Cambodian users

The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17F (NATO Codename "Fresco-C") was an improved variant of the regular MiG-17. It was a revised version with a better Klimov VK-1F engine which delivered 26.5 kN (6000 lbf) of thrust in dry and 33.8 kN (7600 lbf) with afterburner. It also included a new and improved air-brake which proved to be much better than the original one.
In this post we're going to post about two Asian users:

• Democratic Republic of Afghanistan (DRA): After the Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan and the subsequent foundation of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan in December 1979, the DRA's Air Force was established with Soviet material. Among it were some MiG-17F (which by the date were highly outdated) which remained grounded for most of the time due to maintenance issues or limited availability of crews. Most of them were destroyed or left to rot in the subsequent conflicts.
• Cambodia: In November 1963, after having received permission from the USSR to train their pilots there, the Kingdom of Cambodia received a batch of three MiG-17F fighter jets. It was followed later, in 1967 by a second batch of five more. Considering that Cambodia was, theoretically, neutral during the Vietnam War, from 1963 until 1970, the MiG-17Fs were assigned to the intervention squadron responsible for keeping Cambodian aerospace free.
  After the March 1970 coup with overthrew the monarchy and set up the Khmer Republic, the country fell into a bloody civil war, were the air force, composed of mixed American and Soviet material, played an important role. In fact, the recorded sorties of the MiG-17 during the period of March-October 1970 rose up to 360. Most of those were to support ground troops. It's worth pointing that some MiG-17Fs were modified to carry American Mk.82GP bombs underwings. Most of the Cambodian MiG-17Fs were either destroyed or abandoned in on of the subsequent wars.

Sources:

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikoyan-Gurevich_MiG-17#Variants

2. https://www.valka.cz/Mikojan-Gurevic-MiG-17F-kod-NATO-Fresco-C-t12484

3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_Republic_of_Afghanistan#Air_Force

4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khmer_Air_Force

5. Salamander Books - The Complete Book of Fighters

Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15UTI, part seven, Asian users part one

The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15UTI saw also loads of action in the Asian continent. Here are some countries where it was used:

• Cambodia: The Royal Cambodian Air Force got a single MiG-15UTI by order of the Prince Sihanouk in November 1963 which received many colour patterns during its active live. It operated with the intervention group in the ground-support role. It passed on to the Khmer Air Force and was most probably destroyed during the subsequent combats that ended with the triumph of the Democratic Kampuchea.
• Indonesia: Due to the rise of the Communist Party of Indonesia, the country got closer to the eastern bloc. That's why the Indonesian Air Force bought a batch of Soviet aircraft, among them some MiG-15UTIs from Czechoslovakia. They served as the main trainer of the air force during the decade of the 1960s and served alongside the Aero L-29 until they were phased out.
• Mongolia: The MiG-15UTI was the main trainer of the Mongolian People's Army Air Force. They received it in the late 1960s and early 1970s and they continue to serve in that role until the fall of communism in that country, in 1992.

Sources:

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikoyan-Gurevich_MiG-15

2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khmer_Air_Force

3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indonesian_Air_Force

4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mongolian_People%27s_Army_Air_Force