WI The Polikarpov I-185 makes it

In our TL the Polikarpov I-185 didn't get introduced due to a variety of reasons.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polikarpov_I-185

It was however an excellent fighter which was likely superior to the Bf-109 which would be its main adversary if built Suppose for a minute that the I-185 becomes the Red Air Force's new fighter and enters production in 1941 instead of the Yak-9. What effect would this have had on the war? Would it be noticable or negligible?
 
Crap, I thought you were talking about the Polikarpov I-180. Ignore this post.
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I-185 was better than the I-16 predecessor (still not equal to Bf-109 IMO), but it would come into service rather late, in the Summer of 1941. At best it would make up some of the I-16 loses during the opening of Barbarossa and act as an interim fighter until better ones enter service.

The Soviets get fighter relief earlier, but no strategic effects.
 
Well, it was able to reach 700 km/h while the Bf-109 could only achieve 640 km/h, hence my thought that it would do the USSR good.
 
Well, it was able to reach 700 km/h while the Bf-109 could only achieve 640 km/h, hence my thought that it would do the USSR good.

The wiki article you cited above states a max speed of 630 Km/hr, which is less than the Bf109. What source do you have for the 700 km/hr speed?
 
The article does mention that Polikarpov was working on a successor, the P-187, which it appears would have been a very potent fighter had he lived and been able to build it.

As for the Polikarpov-185, it would probably have wound up a better fighter than the Yak-7 and La5, but I dont see it having a particularly significant impact on the war.
 
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