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McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II

"F-4" redirects here. For other uses, see F4.

F-4 Phantom II
A U.S. Air Force QF-4E flies with the 82nd Aerial Targets Squadron over White Sands Missile Range in 2008
General information
TypeInterceptor, fighter-bomber
National originUnited States
ManufacturerMcDonnell Aircraft Corporation
McDonnell Douglas
StatusIn limited service
Primary usersUnited States Air Force (historical)
Number built5,195
History
Manufactured1958–1981
Introduction date30 December 1960; 64 years ago (1960-12-30)
First flight27 May 1958; 66 years ago (1958-05-27)
Retired
  • 1996 (U.S. combat use)
  • 2004 (Israel)
  • 2013 (Germany)
  • 2016 (U.S. target drone)[1]
  • 2021 (Japan)[2]
  • 2024 (South Korea)[3]
VariantsMcDonnell Douglas Phantom FG.1/FGR.2

The McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II[N 1] is an American tandem two-seat, twin-engine, all-weather, long-range supersonic jet interceptor and fighter-bomber that was developed by McDonnell Aircraft for the United States Navy.[4] It entered service with the Navy in 1961[5], then was adopted by the United States Marine Corps and the United States Air Force, and within a few years became a major part of their air arms.[6] A total of 5,195 Phantoms were built from 1958 to 1981, making it the most-produced American supersonic military aircraft in history and a signature combat aircraft of the Cold War.[6][7]

The Phantom is a large fighter with a top speed of over Mach 2.2. It can carry more than 18,000 pounds (8,400 kg) of weapons on nine external hardpoints, including air-to-air missiles, air-to-ground missiles, and various bombs.[8] Like other interceptors of its time, the F-4 was initially designed without an internal cannon, but some later models incorporated an internal M61 Vulcan rotary cannon. Beginning in 1959, it set 15 world records for in-flight performance,[9] including an absolute speed record and an absolute altitude record.[10]

The F-4 was used extensively during the Vietnam War, first as the principal air superiority fighter for the U.S. Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps, and later as a ground-attack and aerial reconnaissance aircraft. During the Vietnam War, all five American servicemen who became aces – one U.S. Air Force pilot and two weapon systems officers (WSOs),[11] one U.S. Navy pilot and one radar intercept officer (RIO) – did so in F-4s.[12] The Phantom remained a major part of U.S. military air power into the 1980s, when it was gradually replaced by more modern aircraft such as the F-15 Eagle and F-16 Fighting Falcon in the U.S. Air Force, the F-14 Tomcat in the U.S. Navy, and the F/A-18 Hornet in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps.

The Phantom was used for reconnaissance and Wild Weasel (Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses) missions in the 1991 Gulf War, and finally left combat service in 1996.[13][14] It was the only aircraft used by both U.S. flight demonstration teams: the United States Air Force Thunderbirds (F-4E) and the United States Navy Blue Angels (F-4J).[6][15][16] The F-4 was also operated by the armed forces of 11 other nations. Israeli Phantoms saw extensive combat in several Arab–Israeli conflicts, while Iran used its large fleet of Phantoms, acquired before the fall of the Shah, in the Iran–Iraq War. The F-4 remains in active service with the air forces of Iran, Greece, and Turkey. The aircraft has most recently been in service against the Islamic State group in the Middle East.

  1. ^ Devine, Jacqueline. "USAF bids farewell to F-4 Phantom". Military 1. Archived from the original on 7 February 2017. Retrieved 6 February 2017.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Japanretired was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Kim, Hyun-Bin (7 June 2024). "South Korea bids farewell to legendary F-4 Phantom fighter jet". The Korea Times. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  4. ^ a b Swanborough and Bowers 1976, p. 301.
  5. ^ "Boeing: Historical Snapshot: F-4 Phantom II Fighter". boeing.com. Archived from the original on 14 August 2020. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  6. ^ a b c "F-4 Phantoms Phabulous 40th". Boeing. Retrieved : 27 November 2012.
  7. ^ "First to Last", Phabulous 40th, Boeing, archived from the original on 13 December 2009, retrieved 19 November 2007.
  8. ^ Wragg, David W. (1973). A Dictionary of Aviation (first ed.). Osprey. p. 122. ISBN 9780850451634.
  9. ^ "Phantom 'Phirsts'", Phabulous 40th, Boeing, archived from the original on 29 June 2011, retrieved 27 November 2012.
  10. ^ "World Record Holder", Phabulous 40th, Boeing, archived from the original on 6 July 2009, retrieved 14 December 2007.
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference dorrp200-201 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ Cite error: The named reference Dorrp188-189 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  13. ^ Donald Spring 1991, p. 26.
  14. ^ Donald Summer 1991, p. 22.
  15. ^ Lake 1992, p. 190.
  16. ^ Lake 1992, p. 203.


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