The SKF resolution  of October 2, 1940, required the increase of the range of new fighters to 1,000 km, at the 90% of maximum speed, measured with fuel contained in internal tanks only. So Zavod 1 was ordered to develop a new version of the I-200 that met this request.

The prototype of the new version was the I-200 no.04. It was still 8.15 m long, as earlier I-200 prototypes and production MiG-1; the increase in length to 8.25 m started only with series MiG-3s. It was ready for the factory tests on October 21, and took off on October 29, 1940, flown by A.N. Ekatov. At the end of November the aircraft was sent to the South to escape bad winter weather for the purpose to conduct joint testing with NII-VVS.   The aircraft differed from prevous I-200 prototypes and production MiG-1 for: to increase fuel capacity, a new tank with a capacity of 250 l was installed under the fuselage; to find place for the tank, the water cooler was moved aft and replaced with a larger one,  now  an  OP-310; both structures were enclosed in a long cowling called karakatitsa (cuttlefish); the predisposition for external auxiliary tanks was deleted to save weight; the dihedral was increased by 1°, passing from 6° to 7° to increase lateral stability; the main undercarriages were modified, with new wheels of  the size 650x200 mm to support the increased weight of the machine; their doors were modified, and the small wheels shields, looking as those of  I-16, were replaced by doors hinged under the fuselage; the tail wheel was rubberized, of increased diameter; the tanks were self-sealing. The aircraft differs from early type MiG-3 for: the length was still 8,15 m (as one can deduct from the fact that the last exhaust stack is overposed to the rear side plate, as on MiG-1); there were 7 ventilation slots on each side (as on I-200 No. 02 and 03, instead than 6 as on early series MiG-3); some bulges over the nose were absent, and small air intakes over and under the nose were smaller; the tail wheel doors had no window; there were not visible radio devices; the underwing removable panels for guns pods ammo were absent;   Below, profile of I-200 n.04. The plane had a military style green/light blue livery, but not markings.

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This work collects also a lot of photos and drawings from many sources, not always identified and mentioned.
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Massimo Tessitori