A classic warplane by any standard, the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II was developed as a long-ranged, carrierborne interceptor for the United States Navy (USN) and succeeded an aging stock of McDonnell F3H Demon fighters. Combining airborne radar with a crew of two and a twin-engine pairing, the series found considerable success throughout the Cold War period and saw extensive action in the Vietnam War (1955-1975) - where the fighter scored 150 air-to-air kills against MiGs. Total production ended with 5,195 units built. Despite its late-1960 entry, the Phantom II line enjoys active, if limited, service through a handful of national powers today.
2 CREW
Speed
1,473 MPH
Ceiling
59,055 FEET
Range
1,678 MILES
Mission Roles
AIR-TO-AIR
INTERCEPTION
GROUND ATTACK
STRIKE
ANTI-SHIP
ANTI-RADAR
RECON
TRAINING
UNMANNED
Gallery
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Manufacturer(s) McDonnell Aircraft Corporation, McDonnell Douglas - USA / Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) - Japan
Production 5,195 Units
12 Total
Australia; Egypt; Germany (Modern); Greece (active); Iran (active); Israel; Japan; Spain; South Korea (active); Turkey (active); United Kingdom; United States
(List includes former, current, and potential operating nations)
F-4E: 2 x General Electric J79-GE-17A afterburning turbojet engines developing 11,905lb of dry thrust and 17,845lb of thrust with reheat.
Service Ceiling 59,055 ft | 18,000 m | 11.18 miles
Operational Range 1,678 miles | 2,700 km | 1,458 nm
Rate-of-Climb 41,300 ft/min | 12,588 m/min
(Showcased performance statistics pertain to the F-4E production model)
Length 62.99 feet (19.20 meters)
Width 38.39 feet (11.70 meters)
Height 16.40 feet (5.00 meters)
(Showcased measurements pertain to the F-4E production model)
Empty 30,336 lb (13,760 kg)
M.T.O.W. 61,840 lb (28,050 kg)
(Showcased weights pertain to the F-4E production model)
F-4E:
1 x 20mm M61A1 "Vulcan" internal automatic cannon under the nose.
Up to 18,650lb of externally-held air-launched and air-dropped ordnance including Air-to-Air Missiles (AAMs), Air-to-Surface Missiles (ASMs), anti-radar missiles, anti-ship missiles, conventional drop bombs, guided drop bombs, rocket pods, and nuclear bombs (B28EX, B61, B43, and B57).
Also special-mission pods supporting reconnaissance, Electronic CounterMeasures (ECM), and laser-targeting roles.
Typical Loadouts:
4 x AIM-9 "Sidewinder" / Python-3 (Israel) / AAM-3 (Japan) short-ranged AAMs.
4 x AIM-7 "Sparrow" medium-ranged AAM.
4 x AIM-120 AMRAAM (Advanced, Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile).
4 x "Skyflash" AAM.
4 x AGM-45 "Shrike" ASM.
4 x AGM-62 "Walleye" ASM.
6 x AGM-65 "Maverick" ASM.
4 x AGM-78 Standard ARM.
4 x AGM-88 HARM anti-radar missile.
4 x GBU-15 guided drop bomb.
18 x GBU-12 guided drop bomb.
18 x Mk 82 drop bomb.
5 x Mk 84 drop bomb.
5 x GBU-10 guided drop bomb.
5 x GBU-14 guided drop bomb.
18 x CBU-58 cluster drop bomb.
18 x CBU-87 cluster drop bomb.
18 x CBU-89 cluster drop bomb. Supported Types:
Close-in Gun(s)
Air-to-Air Missiles
Air-to-Surface Missiles
Anti-Ship Missiles
Precision-Guided Bombs
Conventional Drop Bombs
Nuclear Weapons
Rockets / Rocket Pods
Additional Fuel
F-4 "Phantom II" - Base Series Designation.
XF4H-1 - Prototype designation of 1958; two examples completed and flown (USN requirement).
F4H-1 (F-4A) - Initial production model; all-weather capability; J79-GE-2/-2A engines of 16,100lb thrust; 45 examples completed.
F-4A - Initial production model for USN service; see F4H-1 details above.
TF-4A - Twin-seat trainer conversions of A-model stock.
F4H-1 (F-4B) - Second production model with ground-attack capability; J79-GE-8A/-8B engines of 16,950lb thrust; USN and USMC service; 649 examples completed.
F-4B - Redesignation of F4H-1 production form.
DF-4B - F-4B production stock converted to target drones.
EF-4B - ECM training aircraft; single example.
NF-4B - F-4B testbed; single example.
QF-4B - Unmanned target drone conversions; 25 examples.
F4H-1 (RF-4B - Tactical Reconnaissance model for USMC service; AN/APQ-99 radar fit in lengthened nose assembly; camera-equipped.
RF-4B - Redesignation of F4H-1 models.
F-110A "Spectre" - Original F-4C designation.
F-4C - All-weather tactical fighter/fighter-bomber model; AN/APQ-100 radar fit in nose; nuclear-capable; provision for ASMs; revised undercarriage; dual-control cockpits; 583 examples completed.
EF-4C "Wild Weasel IV" - Anti-radar/radar-hunting model converted from C-production stock; AN/APR-25 RHAWS / AN/APR-26 radar-equipped; ER-142 ECM; AN/ALQ-119 ECM pod; ASM support; 36 conversions from C-model stock.
YRF-110A (YRF-4C) - RF-4C prototypes; two examples used.
RF-4C - All-weather reconnaissance model; AN/APQ-172 radar in nose; camera-equipped.
RF-4C(H) - Proposed night marauder with IR equipment.
F-4D - Updated production form of 1965; AN/APQ-109 radar; 825 examples completed.
ED-4D "Wild Weasel IV" - Reconnaissance model from D-model stock; AGM-78 missile support; two examples.
F-4E - Model of 1965; M61 Vulcan internal cannon; AN/APQ-120 radar fit; J79-GE-17 engines of 17.900lb thrust; Block 53 and after to support Maverick ASM as well as J79-GE-17C/-17E engines; 1,370 examples completed.
F-4E "Kurnass 2000" - IAF F-4E; AN/APG-76 radar fit; AGM-142 ASM support.
F-4E "Peace Icarus 2000" - Modernized Greek F-4E fighter/strike fighter; AN/APG-65GY radar fit; AIM-120 AMRAAM support; LITENING tagrteing pod.
F-4 "Terminator 2020" - Turkish AF F-4E models; support for modern ordnance options.
QF-4E - Remote-controlled target drone conversions.
F-4EJ - Japanese F-4E all-weather air-defense model of 2000; production by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI); 140 examples completed; ground-attack support later added.
F-4EJ "Kai" - Updated F-4EJ; revised avionics suite; AN/APG-66J radar; ground-attack capable; anti-ship missile capable.
EF-4EJ - F-4EJ fighter models converted for ECM training role.
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Close-in Gun(s)
Air-to-Air Missiles
Air-to-Surface Missiles
Anti-Ship Missiles
Precision-Guided Bombs
Conventional Drop Bombs
Nuclear Weapons
Rockets / Rocket Pods
Additional Fuel
