Gen. Israel Baharav: 12 MiG-21 kills

Rebel, ace, and inspirational pilot who shaped the F-15’s future.

In 1963 Baharav joined the IAF academy and flew the Dassault Mirage IIIC, the top fighter of its day, scoring most of his MiG-21 kills in it. He saw that the standard tactic—attacking from behind with guns—failed in real combat. Trusting his instinct for where the enemy would be, he pioneered the “Baharav Burst”: firing ahead so the opposing jet flew into the bullets. The method defied doctrine; he was punished for teaching it even as it delivered results.

He later helped adapt early F-15 Eagles—then pure air-superiority fighters—for ground attack. His innovations produced victories and F-15 capabilities still used by the U.S. military.

Machines can be built; innovation is human. Valor is in you. Set it free.