The North American F-86 Sabre was America’s first swept-wing jet fighter, renowned for its pivotal role in the Korean War, where it often clashed with the Soviet MiG-15. Entering service in 1949, the Sabre was faster in a dive and more aerodynamically stable than the MiG-15, and U.S. pilots, many of whom were WWII veterans, often achieved superior kill ratios. Armed with six .50 caliber machine guns, later versions saw improvements in armament and performance. The F-86 became one of the most successful early jet fighters and was widely used by the U.S. Air Force and numerous other nations, with nearly 10,000 built.