In the early 50s, the USSR considered the threat of a massive nuclear strike on the country, which caused the rapid development of the interceptor fighter class. Work on them was carried out not only in the "airplane" design bureaus, but also in organizations that created radar equipment, control and guidance systems, missiles and aviation materials.
"Purely fighter" OKB-155 chief designer A. And Mikoyan by this time had already created MiG-15 and MiG-17 aircraft, which the whole world was talking about. The design of the new supersonic twin-engine front-line fighter SM-9 (MiG-19) and its counterpart, the interceptor SM-7 (MiG-19P), was coming to an end. The latter, although it had a radar sight, was not without the disadvantage of all interceptors of that time - the need to conduct a long independent search for a target. Having found it, the pilot focused his attention on the radar screen for firing and was distracted from controlling the car. It was possible to increase the effectiveness of the interceptor in the air by creating a single closed system for intercepting air targets, including both ground and on-board information and control facilities with maximum automation of the fighter's combat flight processes.
By the decree of the Council of Ministers of the USSR of June 3, 1953 (the corresponding order of the MAP was issued on June 8), OKB-155 was instructed to design and build an experienced front-line fighter I-3 (I-380) for a new powerful VK-3 engine, which was created in the OKB in Ya. Klimova since 1949. It was intended to be installed on new Soviet interceptors, designed for a maximum flight speed of about 2000 km / h, and practically became the first two-circuit turbofan engine with an afterburner in the USSR. The first prototype of the aircraft, armed with three HP-30 guns, was required to be presented at state tests in the first quarter of 1956. According to the same Decree, based on the I-3, it was necessary to develop and submit it for testing a little later (as the second flight prototype of the I-3) an interceptor variant with an Emerald radar and two HP-30 guns.