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F-4
Phantom II
The F4 Phantom II is a two-place (tandem), supersonic,
long-range, all-weather fighter-bomber built by McDonnell
Douglas Corporation. It was operated by the US Navy, the
USMC and later the USAF, from 1961 until 1995. It is
still in service with other nations.
Its primary mission capabilities are: long range,
high-altitude intercepts utilizing air-to-air missiles as
primary armament; a 20mm M61 Vulcan cannon as secondary
armament; long-range attack missions utilizing
conventional or nuclear weapons as a primary armament;
and close air support missions utilizing a choice of
bombs, rockets and missiles as primary armament. It was
one of the few aircraft types that have served in the US
Navy, USMC and USAF. It was one of the longest serving
military aircraft post-war.
First flown in May 1958, the
Phantom II originally was developed for U.S. Navy fleet
defense and entered service in 1961. The USAF evaluated
it (as the F-110A Spectre) for close air support,
interdiction, and counter-air operations and, in 1962,
approved a USAF version. The USAF's Phantom II,
designated F-4C, made its first flight on May 27, 1963.
Production deliveries began in November 1963.
In its air-to-ground role the F4 can carry twice the
normal bomb load of a WW II B-17 Flying Fortress. USAF
F4s also flew reconnaissance and "Wild Weasel"
air-defence suppression missions. Phantom II production
ended in 1979 after over 5,000 had been built--more than
2,800 for the USAF, about 1,200 for the Navy and Marine
Corps, and the rest for friendly foreign nations.
In 1965 the first USAF Phantom IIs were sent to Vietnam.
Early versions (F-4A to F-4D) lacked any gun armament.
Coupled with the unreliability of the air-to-air missiles
AIM-7 Sparrow AIM-9 Sidewinder at the time, this major
drawback resulted in the aircraft loss after they ran out
of missiles. During the course of the Vietnam War, its
contemporaries, the MiG-19 and MiG-21, inflicted heavy
losses on the F-4s when the American aircrafts were
ambushed after returning from bombing assignments. This
prompted the USAF to introduce the F-4E variant, which
added a M61 Vulcan cannon in the nose of the aircraft,
below the radome.
This later version was the mainstay of the USAF Phantom
II forces and served with the air forces of many
countries including Australia, Greece, Israel, Iran,
Japan, Spain, South Korea, Turkey and West Germany. F-4E
did not serve in USN or USMC, but an improved variant of
F-4B, the F-4J replaced earlier Phantom II variants in
these services. F-4J lacked gun armament either.
The United Kingdom bought the aircraft for use with the
Royal Air Force and Fleet Air Arm; British versions were
fitted with the larger but more powerful Rolls-Royce Spey
engine and were designated F-4K. Fleet Air Arm Phantoms
were fitted with a telescoping front undercarriage leg
allowing the nose to be raised up high, the increased
angle of attack being necessary for catapult launches
from the small British carriers.
The last of the F-4s were retired from duty with the US
military in 1995; however the aircraft still sees use in
a training role, as a drone, and in service to other
nations. The UK retired its last Phantoms in 1993.
- Primary Function: All-weather
fighter-bomber.
- Contractor: McDonnell Aircraft Co.,
McDonnell Corporation.
- Power Plant: Two General Electric J79 turbojet
engines with afterburners.
- Thrust: 17,900 pounds (8,055
kilograms).
- Length: 62 feet, 11 inches
(19.1 meters).
- Height: 16 feet, 5 inches (5
meters).
- Wingspan: 38 feet, 11 inches
(11.8 meters).
- Speed: More than 1,600 mph
(Mach 2.5).
- Ceiling: 60,000 feet (18,182
meters).
- Maximum Takeoff Weight: 62,000
pounds (27,900 kilograms).
- Range: 1,300 miles (1,130
nautical miles).
- Armament: Four AIM-7 Sparrow
and four AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles, AGM-65
Maverick missiles, AGM-88 HARM missile
capability, and one fuselage centerline bomb rack
and four pylon bomb racks capable of carrying
12,500 pounds (5,625 kilograms) of general
purpose bombs.
- Cost: US$18.4 million
- Crew: F-4E -- Two (pilot and
electronic warfare officer).
- Date Deployed: May 1963
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