Introduction
The McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II was a two seat interceptor built originally for the US Navy in the early 1960s. The Phantom was eventually adopted by other militaries across the world including the USAF, USMC, JASDF, ROKAF, Israeli Air Force, Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force.
History
The F-4 was most well known for it's use in the Vietnam War. Initially, the lack of dogfight training and an internal gun caused heavy losses for F-4s until 1972, when the US Navy had introduced training to deal with the more agile MiGs.
Israeli F-4Es saw action during the War of Attrition between 1969 and 1971. In 1973, they once again saw action against the Egyptian and Syrian Air Force. In 1982, Israeli F-4 saw action in Lebanon.
The JASDF began to operate the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries built F-4EJ in the 1970s, with the major upgrade of the F-4EJ Kai being undertaken to allow it to carry the Type 80 or ASM-1 Anti-Ship Missile.
USAF F-4Gs were used for the SEAD (Suppression of Enemy Air Defences) role in Operation Desert Storm (1991 Gulf War).
Major Variants
- F4H-1F (F-4A) Phantom II
- F4H-1 (F-4B) Phantom II - US Navy
- F-110A (F-4C) Phantom II - USAF
- F-4D Phantom II - USAF, ROKAF
- F-4E Phantom II - USAF, IAF, ROKAF
- F-4EJ Phantom II - JASDF
- F-4EJ Kai Phantom II - JASDF
- F-4F Phantom II - West German Air Force
- F-4G Wild Weasel V - USAF
- F-4J Phantom II - US Navy, RAF
- F-4K Phantom II - Royal Navy
- F-4M Phantom II - RAF
- F-4N Phantom II - US Navy
- F-4S Phantom II - US Navy
