Project HAVE PAD: Exploitation of the Soviet MiG-23 FLOGGER at Area 51

Project HAVE PAD: Exploitation of the Soviet MiG-23 FLOGGER at Area 51 (CIA Area 51 Chronicles – Book 5)By TD BarnesA Cold War breakthrough. A captured Soviet fighter. A top-secret mission at Area 51.In 1978, deep within the classified confines of Area 51, the CIA, Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), U.S. Air Force, and U.S. Navy embarked on one of the most ambitious intelligence operations of the Cold War—Project HAVE PAD. Their mission: to exploit a captured Soviet MiG-23 FLOGGER, one of the USSR’s most advanced fighters.Designated YF-113 in U.S. military records, the MiG-23 was unlike any fighter the U.S. had encountered before. With its variable-sweep wing design and powerful radar system, it posed a significant threat to Western air forces. The CIA’s covert aviation experts at Area 51’s Special Projects team meticulously studied the aircraft, uncovering critical vulnerabilities and developing countermeasures that would give U.S. pilots the edge in combat.Project HAVE PAD was the culmination of a decade-long series of secret MiG exploitation programs, following in the footsteps of HAVE DOUGHNUT, HAVE DRILL, HAVE FERRY, and HAVE IDEA. The intelligence gathered at Area 51 shaped U.S. aerial tactics, improved air combat training, and directly influenced modern fighter development.The lessons learned from the MiG-23 were immediately applied to real-world conflicts, strengthening U.S. air superiority during the final years of the Cold War. For decades, these operations remained classified. Now, for the first time, Project HAVE PAD unveils the true story of how the CIA and U.S. military exploited captured Soviet aircraft to dominate the skies.This book is part of The CIA Area 51 Chronicles series:The Angels – The CIA’s race to build the U-2 spy plane.The Archangels – The secret history of the A-12 Archangel and its covert missions.The Company Business – The CIA’s transformation of Area 51 into a hub for espionage technology.MiGs Over Nevada – The classified exploitation of Soviet MiG-21 aircraft.Project HAVE PAD – T