The Air Force yesterday declassified one of its oldest “open secrets”—that it acquired, tested, and flew Soviet-designed fighters during the Cold War. The service said its 4477th Test and Evaluation squadron—the Red Eagles—based at Tonopah Test Range, Nev., flew the aircraft from 1977-88 both to understand their capabilities and to refine the tactics being developed by Air Force fighter pilots. The program, code-named “Constant Peg,” enhanced the development of aggressor-type air combat exercises, such as those flown in the Air Force’s Red Flag and the Navy’s Top Gun. The Air Force admitted to having MiG-17, MiG-21, and MiG-23 aircraft but declined to say how it acquired them. Officials did say the aircraft were “Communist-built.”
Some Guard Troops Won’t Get Paid Until Shutdown Ends
Oct. 29, 2025
The National Guard Bureau says most units are postponing drills during the shutdown, but some states are sticking to their training schedule, resulting in a patchwork of different policies and some confusion in the ranks.
