Osprey Combat Aircraft 67 : Israeli F-15 Eagle Units in Combat

Post-Yom Kippur War, Israel purchased the F-15 Eagle, then world's best air-to-air fighter, in an effort to prevent another surprise attack from the air. For the first time in its history the IDF/AF operated a fighter that was a full generation ahead of opposing interceptors in the region. The first 'kill' F-15 Baz (Buzzard) arrived in Israel in 1976 and soon proved its worth in combat. Israeli Baz pilots were credited with 12.5 kills between 1979 and 1981, with 33 victories following during the June 1982 Lebanon War. Despite substantial combat, no Israeli F-15 has ever been lost to enemy action. In the 1990s the US government supplied the IDF/AF with the F-15I Ra'am (Thunder) to fulfil the long range surface-to-surface missile mission post-Desert Storm. From A to I, the extremely capable, and combat tested, Israeli F-15 force will continue to deter potential enemies well into the foreseeable future. This book examines the history and development of these units. Text by Shlomo Aloni with illustrations by Chris Davey.

Contents

• Chapter 1 : Baz Origins
• Chapter 2 : Close and Far
• Chapter 3 : Lebanon War
• Chapter 5 : From Lebanon to Iraq
• Chapter 6 : Reshaping Deterrence
• Chapter 7 : Baz Upgrade Appendices
  Israeli F-15 Aces
  Israeli F-15 Kills
• Colour Profiles