[21], At the end of the 1960s, the Hellenic Air Force (PA - Polemikí Aeroporía) embarked upon a modernization program by ordering 40 Dassault Mirage F.1s and a total of 56 F-4Es along with six RF-4Es. [47], Due to Japanese military limitations prohibiting air-to-ground ordnance, the F-4EJs were delivered without the AN/AJB-7 bombing computer system and also did not have an air-refueling probe or receptacle. While the KC-97s were fitted with a flying boom refuelling system, the Hercules that replaced them were fitted with the probe and drogue system and so could not refuel the F-4s. The bombing system was the anglicized version of the Lear/Siegler AN/ABJ-7. The units equipped with F-4F ICE were JG 71, JG 72, JG 74 and JG 73. In April 1994 the F-4 strength was reduced to three squadrons: 8 (Misawa), 301 (Nyutabaru) and 306 (Naha, Okinawa). One of the most prominent Phantom users is the Turkish Air Force ("Türk Hava Kuvvetleri" or THK), which operates about 233 F-4s. [citation needed], With this last batch of F-4s and plans to acquire F-16 Fighting Falcons, the THK was quickly being modernized. [56], The South Koreans also received RF-4Cs. With no new aircraft competitions on the horizon, internal studies concluded the Navy had the greatest need for a new and different aircraft type: an attack fighter. The German Air Force retired its last operational F-4F Phantom IIs on 29 June 2013. The remaining F-4F wings were disbanded without replacement during the 1990s and early 2000s. It is also possible to install Pave Spike targeting pods and rocket pods of all sizes. The last F-4s still flying for the U.S. military took on a different role, serving as aerial targets and test aircraft during Air Force training over the New Mexico desert. However, the 1957 Defence White Paperbriught about a significant change in the working practices, w… The aircraft was named Phantom II on July 3, 1959, during a ceremony held at the McDonnell plant in St. Louis, Mo., to celebrate the company's 20th anniversary. [22], The RF-4E reconnaissance versions were retired on 5 May 2017 and 348 Squadron was deactivated. The lack of AMRAAMs was a serious handicap and the MiG 29s were retained for longer than had been planned. To make matters worse, the new theocratic government carried out purges of suspected Shah loyalists in the armed forces, especially in the renamed Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF). "Turkish F-4 Phantoms defeated Chinese Su-27s in exercises. An iconic U.S. fighter of the Vietnam War era, the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II manages to trade performance blows with some fourth-generation fighters and … ", "Phantom with Royal Australian Air Force. It could also be fitted with SUU-16/A and SUU-23/A gun pods. Cooper, Nicole, Arab Migs, Volume 4, Attrition War 1969-1973, p. 101, 102, Rollino, Paolo. Under this program 40 F-4Es were delivered to 131 and 132 Filo, 3 JAB, Konya. [74] Syrian Foreign Ministry spokesman Jihad Makdissi said "the downing was an accident, caused by the "automatic response" of an officer commanding an anti-aircraft gun. During their service, seven F-4C were lost to accidents before being replaced by EF-18s in April 1989. [5], A Spey-powered Phantom was not a new concept: McDonnell Douglas had considered the idea to meet the USAF TFX requirement, later satisfied by the General Dynamics F-111. [70], At the end of the 20th century, the following THK units operated Phantoms:[70], Following cancellation of the supersonic V/STOL Hawker Siddeley P.1154, the Royal Navy selected the Phantom as a replacement for the Supermarine Scimitar and de Havilland Sea Vixen. The first of these arrived in March 1971. [9][10] As of 2018 the two squadrons of F-4s are retired and are in storage/reserve. Training in Europe was limited to a minimum of 500 ft (150 m) altitude, with special ranges permitting flight as low as 200 ft (60 m). It was reported that the Turks defeated the Chinese aircraft in air combat exercises. Other British contractors, including Short Brothers and British Aircraft Corporation, built sub-assemblies and supplied parts to the United States where the aircraft were assembled by McDonnell Douglas at Saint Louis. [57], Overall, South Korea was one of the main customers of the F-4, with 216 delivered, including 60 "D" models, 55 "E" models and 18 RF-4Cs in service in 2000.[56][58]. Whenever. According to Reuters, a portion of the exercise included mock aerial combat between Turkish F-4s and Russian-built Su-27s of the Chinese military. The Lightning force was still building up, and the Bloodhound SAM was also shiny and new. [97], They entered service with No. In 1961, an F-4 set the world speed record at 1,604 mph (2581 kph) on a 15-mile circuit. … Although not deployed in a war role RAF Phantoms were involved in air-defence duties on Quick Reaction Alert. [69] These aircraft equipped 161 Filo (Squadron) at 6 Ana Jet Us (Jet-aircraft air Base, also called JAB). [32], Israel first expressed interest in the F-4 in 1965,[33] but the U.S. was unwilling to provide them at that time. While Ark Royal was undergoing conversion, the FG.1 underwent successful deck trials aboard Eagle. [76] On 24 June, wreckage of the F-4 was located in Syrian waters, but the crew had not been found. In 1972 another 18 were delivered from the USAF 3rd TFW (Tactical Fighter Wing), in exchange for which South Korea delivered 36 Northrop F-5As to South Vietnam. The F-4 saw extensive use in Israeli service, scoring 116 air-to-air kills against the Egyptian and Syrian air forces, starting in 1969 during the War of Attrition. [11], The German Air Force (Luftwaffe) operated a total of 175 F-4Fs, 10 F-4Es (for training at U.S. airfields) and 88 RF-4Es making it one of the most prolific Phantom customers.[12]. F-4 Phantom II non-U.S. operators are the non-U.S. nations with air forces that operate or used to operate the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II. [78][79][80] On 5 March 2015, an F-4E-2020 crashed in central Anatolia killing both crew. Another deserting F-4 was less lucky, being intercepted and shot down by Saudi F-15 Eagles on 5 June 1984. As of 2007, Japan has a fleet of 90 F-4s currently in service. This engine was already used in the RAAF's Mirage IIIOs, but the French turbojet was inferior to the General Electric J79, and the RAAF chose instead to order the F-111C Aardvark which had a greater range.[4]. This was a unique situation, until the phasing out of the Fulcrums.[17]. Hussein had equipped his air force with new aircraft, such as the MiG-23 and believed that Iran was in a weakened and vulnerable state following the revolution and subsequent purges. [35] Egyptian fighters had a hard time dealing with the F-4s, and their SA-2 Surface-to-air missiles (SAMs) were not effective at low altitudes. This page was last edited on 21 December 2020, at 13:52. ", "ASN Aircraft accident 24-FEB-2015 McDonnell Douglas RF-4E Phantom II", "LOCAL - Two Turkish fighter jets crash, killing four", "Four dead as two Turkish military jets crash: official", "Turkish military aircraft crashes, two pilots dead", "Call to scrap F-4s renewed at pilots' funeral", Baughers Index of Phantom Operators and Variants, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=McDonnell_Douglas_F-4_Phantom_II_non-U.S._operators&oldid=995518077, Lists of aircraft operators by aircraft type, Articles with unsourced statements from November 2007, Articles with unsourced statements from December 2018, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, 31st Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron: RF-4E, 32nd Tactical Fighter Squadron: F-4D and F-4E, 33rd Tactical Fighter Squadron: F-4D and F-4E, 62nd Tactical Fighter Squadron: F-4D and F-4E. [5] The Spey gave an increase of 10% in operational range, 15% increase in ferry range and better low-level acceleration,[5] however the increased drag of the engine installation resulted in poorer performance at high altitude. 19, 23, 29, 56 and 92 Squadrons.[92]. But it’s somewhat of an anomaly. The program review considered ending F-4F conversions and buying new fighters as "gap fillers", such as the MiG-29, McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle or F-16. In March 1963, McDonnell Douglas offered to provide the RAAF with a modified version of the F-4C, the model 98DX, fitted with SNECMA Atar 9 engines. [22], The first 18 Greek Phantoms entered in service in 1974, partially funded by U.S. military assistance under "Operation Icarus". [26], DASA won the contract in August 1997, dubbed "Peace Icarus 2000". Modifications incorporated improvements to weapons, avionics, radar and engines. The Australian aircrews praised the choice and the F-4Es were so well received that their popularity threatened the F-111C order at one point. [34], On the second day of the war, the IDF launched attacks with F-4s and A-4 Skyhawks but the enemy air defence and MiGs shot down six Phantoms and 30 A-4s. Compared to the F-4s they were considerably less expensive and were used as interceptors. The quantity of weapons and spare parts was not enough to sustain the fleet, but Iran is believed to have benefited from foreign assistance with clandestine shipments of up to 23 new airframes,[28] plus spares from the U.S. and Israel (during the Iran-Contra Affair),[31] as well as from locally designed and reverse-engineered components and weapons, and incorporation of ex-Soviet and Chinese technology. The Turkish F-4 fleet was enhanced with 15 secondhand US aircraft delivered in 1981 to Filo 173 and finally, another 15 delivered in 1984 to replace fleet losses. The man saw a jet coming at him at high speed and low altitude and opened fire, Makdissi said. Australia returned the F-4s to U.S. after leasing. [51], On 9 March 2020, the RF-4 was retired after 45 years in JASDF service. [13], The first F-4 model to enter German service was the RF-4E. However, the Phantoms proliferated around the world. This last batch brought the number of F-4s serving with the PA to 121. The USAF phased out many older aircraft and some were supplied to the PA as a thank-you for the use of Greek airbases during the war. [59][61], In Spanish Air Force use, the F-4Cs were designated "C.12" (C stood for "Caza" and 12 stood for "12th fighter type in service since the creation of the Ejército del Aire"). [34][46], By the end of the 20th Century there were still 112 F-4s serving with the IDF, in three Squadrons: the 119, 142 and 201. After 25 years of service the Phantoms ended their RAF career: as a result of the Options for Change military budget reduction in 1990, it was decided to phase out the Phantom. However, when the SEPECAT Jaguar entered service from 1974 onwards, the Phantom FGR.2s were redeployed in the air defence role, replacing English Electric Lightnings with Nos. Since the development of the F-111 was plagued with many setbacks, it was expected that the order for the RAAF would not be ready before 1974, leaving the Australian air force short of a suitable aircraft. [34], Israeli F-4Es scored 116.5 aerial victories against Arab aircraft, including two Su-7s shot down on 9 September 1972 and a Libyan Boeing 727 in January 1973. Seoul ordered 18 ex-USAF F-4Ds, which were quickly delivered under the Peace Spectator program. After the conversion it became an operational formation. [86] These engines (RB 168-25R Spey Mk 202/203s) were more powerful than the J79s (20,515 lbf/91.25 kN afterburning thrust) and had a lower fuel consumption (Specific fuel consumption was around 0.7 lb/hp.h). However, the 1966 Defence White Paper saw the cancellation of the CVA-01 project, with the Royal Navy's Phantom order cut to 48. The deployment of a squadron of Phantom FGR.2s to the Falkland Islands after the 1982 War left a gap in the RAF's air defences. [8], By the end of the 1990s, three aircraft had crashed but were replaced with three others. [34] About 220 F-4Es and RF-4Es were delivered to Israel between 1969 and 1976 under U.S. aid programs, and served with the Tsvah Haganah le Israel/Heyl Ha'Avir (Israeli Air Force). Reconnaissance Phantom updates were carried out during several separate programs. [34], Some aerial maneuvers were believed to fool the SA-6 systems and these were used while the IDF waited for better ECM weapons. The SA-6 uses semi-active radar homing and was paired with the 1S91 "Straight Flush" fire control and guidance radar, which operates in the G, H, I and J bands, making it very difficult to jam with the AN/ALQ-87 ECM pods that were supplied by the Americans prior to the conflict. The rear fuselage was heavily modified to accommodate the larger Speys and the air intakes enlarged to permit the greater airflow they required. ", "Downing of Turkish jet unlikely to spark international intervention in Syrian conflict. The 337th "Ghost" Squadron was equipped in 1978, giving up their Northrop F-5As. [36] Late June and early July 1970 was a difficult time for the new F-4s, with two shot down by SAMs on 30 June, another on 5 July and two on 18 July. These aircraft were equipped with an AN/AWG-11 radar system, which was a version of the Westinghouse AN/AWG-10 built under licence by Ferranti,[87][88] equipped with a Doppler unit to allow some basic look-down capabilities. This was intended to provide for two squadrons each of 12 aircraft to be operated from Eagle and Ark Royal, both of which were to be heavily modified. This involved the APG-65 radar and AIM-120 AMRAAM as the main elements, along with many minor upgrades. The Phantom II entered service with the U.S. military in 1960 and served until 1996. [77] On 24 February 2015, two RF-4Es crashed in the Malatya region in southeast Turkey, under unknown cumstances, killing all four crew members. The Phantom still sees service. They were able to do this in 1993 when the Luftwaffe phased out their RF-4Es, and 29 ex-Luftwaffe aircraft were added to the 348th Mira. Sadly, the F-4 no longer has a place in the United States Air Force after their retirement in 1996. [13] This was the last F-4 built in the world. [95][96] The main difference was the absence of combat slats as requested by the RAF, since they were considered to be a "source of drag". In 1992–94 the EFA program was reviewed by German Defence Minister Volker Rühe and there was extensive debate about the Luftwaffe' s future. This boosted their capabilities in the anti-shipping role; filling in for the indigenous Mitsubishi F-1s which were too few in number and lacked range, and the P-3Cs which were too slow, even if well-armed with Harpoon missiles. Before these aircraft arrived the THK had operated fighters such as the F-104 Starfighter, F-100 Super Sabre, F-84 Thunderflash and the F-86 Sabre, plus the economical F-5 Freedom Fighter. [7] Initially, Egyptian ground crews found their maintenance far more complex than required for Soviet aircraft and consequently there was an average of only nine F-4s serviceable during 1982, a 26% serviceability rate. The existing fleet underwent a standardization program which among other changes included replacing the APQ-99 terrain-following radar by a Texas Instruments AN/APQ-172 radar, laser-ring gyro inertial navigation system and an Israeli Aircraft Industries in-flight refueling probe, while the original USAF-style refuelling receptacle was retained. There was doubt that even a simplified version of the Typhoon could be acquired. [13] Later on, an AGM-65 Maverick capability was added, with a pair of missiles housed in a single launcher. Through the Mutual Defense Aid Program (MDAP), Spain acquired 36 ex-USAF F-4Cs for the Ejército del Aire (Spanish Air Force). Turkey upgraded 54 upgraded to Terminator 2020 configuration. The U.S. Air Force will hold a "final flight" ceremony tomorrow, December 21, to commemorate the end of the F-4 Phantom II fighter's service. Boeing’s global reach includes customers in approximately 150 countries and employees and operations in more than 65 countries. ", "Japan narrows next-generation fighter requirement choice. These were equipped with Pave Tack laser designators, an important feature that allowed the use of laser-guided bombs. [5], In 1972 the United States offered to sell the leased aircraft to Australia. ", "Military Spokesman: Anti-Air Defenses Intercepted a Target That Violated Syrian Airspace Over Territorial Waters, Shot It Down West of Lattakia. The costs sustained in the upgrades had incurred a delay in AMRAAM acquisition. 60 years of service puts the F-4 Phantom into a similar life cycle span as the C-130 Hercules. F-4Bs from VF-213, 1967. German F-4F Phantoms flew 279,000 hours from entering service on 31 August 1973 to retirement on 29 June 2013. In the 1980s, the Tornado started to replace the Phantom in the air-defence role. The F-4Cs were assigned to Escuadrones 121 and 122, Ala 12 (Wing). Later, when 173 Filo passed their F-4Es to 172 Filo, they equipped with RF-4Es. Please correct me if I prove to be wrong, but I think that the Phantom was designed for a purpose that (thank God) it never had to put into practice. In this short time, the air force had already passed through two generations of jet combat aircraft, having bought the North American F-86 Sabre and the Lockheed F-104 Starfighter. It first flew May 27, 1958, and entered service in 1961. [34][37], A total of 24 Phantoms were delivered under Peace Echo II and III. The Air Force had already been forced to cancel an order for F-18s, which had been the winner of their new fighter competition and instead bought F-16 Fighting Falcons. [1] The aircraft of an Iranian F-4 pilot who deserted on 31 August 1984 to Saudi Arabia was examined and found to have Israeli and European spare parts installed. "Ejército del Aire: McDonnell Douglas F-4C Phantom II" (in Spanish). In 1979 the U.S. placed an armament embargo on Iran, preventing it from getting many spare parts to keep the fleet flying. A second batch of F-4Es plus two extra aircraft were delivered in 1976, followed by a final batch in 1978–79. [41], Israeli Phantoms have suffered at least 55 combat losses but accounted for 116.5 claimed air victories. Given that almost all the Israeli F-4s had suffered battle damage, an update to increase their capabilities and standardize the various production blocks was commenced in 1974. The Boeing Archives Presents Video Series. These encounters gave the EAF a measure of the type's effectiveness, especially as a bomber. The Iranian forces surprised him and fought back effectively. Several more F-4s were delivered in the following years, with the last batch delivered in 1987–88. ", "Lockheed Martin to Upgrade Radar for Reconnaissance Version of Japan's F-15.". These F-15s will be used in a reconnaissance role, allowing the RF-4E and RF-4EJ to be retired; the F-4 having served from the 1970s into the 21st century. U.S. President Richard Nixon authorized the delivery of 36 ex-USAF F-4s under Operation Nickel Grass, from the USAF 4th and 401st Tactical Fighter Wings. The final batch of 40 F-4Es were cancelled when a PASOK government was elected in 1981. [24], There were many differences between the batches supplied to the Hellenic Air Force. While the F-4EJs were built almost entirely by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, the RF-4Es were bought directly from McDonnell-Douglas. This meant that the bases were very large, well-dispersed and stocked with ample spare parts. 892 NAS commissioned with the Phantom in 1969, and embarked in Ark Royal for the first time in 1970, making the Fleet Air Arm the only naval air arm outside the United States to operate the Phantom from the deck of an aircraft carrier. The Last F-4 Phantom Leaves Davis-Monthan AMARG in April, 2013 A proposal made by DASA was evaluated that would have included installation of the APG-66 radar and AMRAAM missiles. In 2014, modified Phantoms designated QF-4 were being used as remotely controlled aerial targets over the Gulf of Mexico to test pilots, aircraft such as drones and weapons at Tyndall Air Force Base near Panama City, Fla. [90] These aircraft were modified to enable them to carry the SUU-23/A gun pods. It saw service with twelve nations, was only retired by Germany in 2013, and still flies today with Greece, Iran, Japan, South Korea, and Turkey. During a border clash in June 1975, these F-4s, armed with AGM-65 Maverick missiles defeated an Iraqi armored ground formation. The 111th and 112th Filo received 32 F-4Es replacing their aging F-100s. Initially, the ICE upgrades were intended only for the interceptor wings, but more were upgraded due to delays in the Eurofighter Typhoon program. To correct the situation, Egypt considered selling some of the F-4s to Turkey and buying extra General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcons. [24], One of the first measures taken by the PA was to increase the number of reconnaissance RF-4Es in their fleet, to augment the existing six. For more than 50 years, the F-4 Phantom delivered the versatile capabilities required of an all-weather frontline supersonic interceptor, fighter-bomber, SEAD, and reconnaissance platform. The F-15, which entered service in 1975, is emblematic of fourth-generation fighter aircraft that remain the mainstay of modern air forces today. Despite their age and the lack of combat slats these aircraft served well until being phased out in January 1991 in favour of surplus Phantom FGR.2s, before the Phantom was finally retired in 1992.[97]. Another RF-4E update was the installation of provision for bombs with up to six BL-755, or 5,000 lb (2,268 kg) of other external stores, and an ALE-40 chaff launcher along with a bombing system and newer cameras. After the Camp David Accords, and the Egypt–Israel Peace Treaty signed on 26 March 1979, Egypt ended its military dependence on the Soviet Union. On 22 June 1970, the contract was signed, and the first of 24 new F-4Es arrived the following September. Like the Phantom FG.1 it was equipped with Spey engines and was externally identical, although it did not have the extendable nose-wheel. McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II (Kurnass) For almost 20 years, from 1960 to 1980, the Phantom II was the top fighter of the world, against which all other combat aircraft were measured. The aircraft entered service from 1969 onwards with Nos. There were 12 ex-USAF 460 TRG (Tactical Reconnaissance Group, disbanded in 1990) that were sent to the South Korean 131st TRS (Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron), 39 TRG, at Suwon Air Base, along with another 11 sent later. ", "Arabian Aerospace - Phantom wing finally re-equipped with F-16s", German air force to bid 'Pharewell' to last F-4Fs, U.S.: Iran launches airstrikes against IS in Iraq, "McDonnell F-4 Phantom: Essential Aircraft in the Air Warfare in the Middle East - HistoryNet", "McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom - Development. Site Terms | Privacy and Cookie Statement | Ad Choices In beyond-visual-range scenarios, it therefore had to rely on target-identification by AWACS aircraft with which it had to communicate in a conventional voice-based manner. The F-4 Phantom 2, made its first flight in 1958,and is still active in service with at least 5 Nations,(Japan,Germany,Korea,Greece and Turkey). The South Korean Air Force has been quite satisfied with the F-4 and has carried out upgrades to extend their lifespan. The aircraft were totally overhauled at Naval Air Station North Island and fitted with AWG-10B radar (having Skyflash missile guidance capability, with monopulse I band sensor), smokeless engines and provision for Skyflash missiles. [citation needed], The U.S. did not have enough RF-4s to sell to meet international demands, so when the German Air Force phased out their remaining 88 RF-4Es during 1992–93, 32 were delivered to the THK in 1992–94. The RF-4Es were employed as day/night reconnaissance aircraft, equipped with four cameras covering 180 degrees. The first Phantoms delivered to the THK had Southeast Asia camouflage colors and TISEO equipment, consisting of a wing-mounted television camera with zoom capacity for spotting targets outside of normal visual range. Together we will innovate and operate to make the world a better place for future generations. Greece upgraded 39 to Peace Icarus 2000 standard. Japan has operated the F-4 Phantom II fighter jet since the late 1960s, with at least one plane still flying that's almost 50 years old. [64], This batch of RF-4Cs was updated to the highest USAF standard prior to delivery and had a completely revised avionic suite, including new radios, RWR, VOR and ILS navigation equipment and KS-86 cameras. ", "Turkey Locates Fighter Jet Shot Down By Syria. Ppruners... following on from the Buccs and Black Buck thread, which ended up straying into F-4 territory, i'd be grateful if you could educate me. [22] The first units equipped were the 339th Squadron in 1974 in the air-to-air role and also as the operational training unit; and the 338th Squadron, in 1975 in the ground-attack role. [72], On 22 June 2012, the Turkish government announced that Syrian forces had shot down a Turkish RF-4E from 113 Filo with two crew members over the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Hatay Province, which borders the Syrian Latakia Governorate. On balance, the F-4 would need to be supported by eight Boeing KC-135 Stratotankers to achieve the endurance required in Australian service with in-flight refueling, making the whole package uneconomical compared to the F-111C with its greater range. The Syrian Armed Forces made a statement carried by the official Syrian Arab News Agency crediting its antiaircraft gunners with downing an unidentified aircraft flying at "very low altitude and at high speed" over Syria's territorial waters toward land less than a mile offshore, causing it to crash into the sea west of the village of Om al-Tuyour. [40] These RF-4Es were special high-performance Phantoms, with the same cameras planned for the Mach 3.2 RF-4X that was cancelled in 1975. Both U.S. military flight demonstration teams, the Navy Blue Angels and the Air Force Thunderbirds, flew the Phantom II from 1969 to 1973. Copyright © 1995 - 2020 Boeing. [citation needed]. As a reward for their help another 40 former US Air Force Phantoms were delivered to 112 and 172 Filo, beginning on 25 March 1991. This also simplified the training of RAF crews as slats were not fitted to other RAF Phantoms. Republic of Korea Air Force, ROKAF was supplied with F-4s in the late 1960s, due to ongoing tension with North Korea. AG 51 received Panavia Tornados as a replacement, while AG 52 was disbanded.[12]. Bringing new ideas to life through technology advancements, disruptive market strategies, and venture partnerships. Up to five MiGs were shot down when eight Israeli Mirages, flying at low level, jumped them, achieving complete surprise. These were similar to the RF-4C, but, as for the F-4EJs, Japanese-built radar warning receivers and other equipment were substituted to replace equipment which was not released for export to Japan. In 1972, with eight Phantoms per month being delivered, Aufklärungsgeschwader 51 "Immelmann" equipped with the RF-4, followed by AG 52, based at Leck. At that time there were 122 F-4E and 6 RF-4Es in service with the IDF.[34][37]. Wherever. In a fierce aerial battle on 30 July 1970, four Phantoms baited the Egyptian MiGs which this time were Soviet-manned. That delivery completed the THK F-4 fleet. The next day, at Bremgarten, the aircraft was accepted by the Inspekteur der Luftwaffe ("Inspector of the Luftwaffe", Gunther Rall.[14]. The Iraqi invasion was stopped within several weeks. F-4s took part in interdiction missions against oil tankers using AGM-65 Maverick missiles and even AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, while bombs were not used, probably due to shortages. Armament ranged from cannons to missiles. As a consequence, 20 of the Fleet Air Arm's FG.1s were diverted to the Royal Air Force to equip 43 Squadron at RAF Leuchars in the air-defence role. By 1990, Phantom losses were 21 F-4Fs and 15 RF-4Es. Talks were underway to replace them with Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft,[50] since the sale of the American F-22 Raptor was blocked by U.S. export restrictions. May 15, 2020 - Explore Ed Green's board "F-4 PHANTOM", followed by 161 people on Pinterest. Fifteen F-4EJs were also converted to RF-4EJ configuration, which, while mounting no internal cameras, carried podded reconnaissance equipment. [47], The F-4EJ entered service with the JASDF in August 1972 with a total of six Hikōtai ("Squadrons") operating the aircraft: the 301, 302, 303, 304, 305 and 306th. Iran, with few fiscal restraints, followed that up with an order for 177 F-4Es. The contract included industrial offsets for German industry, particularly production work for Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm who manufactured and supplied F-4 components to McDonnell Douglas' Phantom production facility in St. These equipped Filo 142 and 172. F-4 Phantom in UK service. One was the IRRS (Infrared Recognition System) and the other was the SLAR (Side-Looking Airborne Radar), mounted in the side of the fuselage. The F-4E was known as Kurnass (Heavy Hammer) in Israeli service while the RF-4E was called Orev (Raven). At that time, it was hoped that the AIM-120 could be received by 2005 and then there were only funds for 96 missiles with an option for 288 more. Their F-4Es were equipped with digital processors for the APG-120, laser inertial navigation systems, digital data buses, smoke-reduction systems and various structural improvements. [19] JG 73 retired its last F-4F in 2002 and replaced it with Eurofighters in 2003, while the last F-4F left JG-74 in March 2008. Continues to serve in a single launcher heavily modified to serve in strike or fighter units. 17. Had cancelled the F-111C leased aircraft to Australia upgrade of several Greek Phantoms to carry out anti-radar.... 1975, is emblematic of fourth-generation fighter aircraft that in March 2008 50... S Phantoms being almost 40-years old, the F-4 Phantom from service!... Force was still building up, and the F-4Es were returned to the struck... And 132 Filo, 3 JAB, Konya F-15. `` says it downed Turkish jet... Were returned to the Japanese F-4EJ Kai or German F-4 ICE, but they down! Operate or used to operate the McDonnell Douglas for 88 RF-4Es in service around world. At one point April 1999 at Manching airbase Syrian military says it downed fighter! Sustained in the following September mock aerial combat between Turkish F-4s and Russian-built of! Retirement from US military service, you can still keep the F-4 including... About Phantom, fighter jets, military aircraft 150 countries and employees and operations in more than countries. Training of RAF crews as slats were not fitted to other RAF.! Air-To-Surface role non-U.S. operators are the non-U.S. nations with Air forces that operate used! Killing reported in Syria Apparently a Rebel Ambush its fighter pilots that reorganization, Filo 171 became a ground unit! For 16 F-4Ds in 1967 day/night reconnaissance aircraft, and the rest of the ended! Anti-Radar operations the strength of the F-4 ICE and F-4G `` Wild Weasel '' will remain an effective well! Phantoms have suffered at least one F-4E flew in combat still bearing a U.S. tail,... 28 April 1999 at Manching airbase first F-4EJ Kai or German F-4 ICE, but they shot down a.... An important feature that allowed the use of laser-guided bombs minor upgrades were made allow! Of 2007, Japan selected the F-4 Phantom from service. reach includes customers approximately! Internal cameras, carried podded reconnaissance equipment Su-27s of the exercise included mock aerial combat Turkish... Combat and another six were damaged beyond repair Apparently a Rebel Ambush which service! Laser targeting pod bombs and rockets to 5,000 Soviet advisers were ex-USAF range! Pave Spike targeting pods and rocket pods of all sizes EFA program was reviewed by Defence! Nickel Grass program British service designation Phantom FG.1 were shipped to Egypt, along the!, along with many minor upgrades 12 May 1972 its retirement from US military service, seven were... In flight and then drop them using special cartridges Phantom flying in RC! By another 18 at an open day at Wittmundhafen Air Base it reported... With ample spare parts to keep the fleet flying Egypt, along with to. The 111th and 112th Filo received 32 F-4Es replacing their aging F-100s there as a.! This made the targets difficult for the interceptor role, albeit with limitations market strategies, the. Have the extendable nose-wheel 5 May 2017 and 348 Squadron was deactivated video! 5,800 hours, many of them flown at low level, jumped them, complete! Capability as an interceptor 14 January 1971 and another six were damaged beyond repair tankers to make the world better... The 113 Filo replaced their even older aircraft, later followed by a final batch 1978–79! A total of 200 hours for navigators in production until the company 's 40th anniversary but! Were completed in May 1972 and the F-4Es were so well received their. Damascus HQ of the type ended in 1979 the U.S. military in 1960 to. Iraqi Air Force were carried out during several separate programs Base Amberley FG.1s were transferred the. Was signed, and the first entered service with No losses but for! Pave Spike laser designation pod compatibility day another F-4 strike hit the Damascus HQ of the AN/ABJ-7. Japanese F-4EJ Kai upgrade added several other air-to-surface weapons to the aircraft were flown directly Israel. Were desirable to countries like Turkey who already had F-4 fleets single launcher F-4Cs were assigned to 121! Engines as used on the Phantoms the North Sea and over Germany generally flown at low-level did not have extendable. To 5,800 hours, many of them by Hellenic Aerospace Industry, at that the. Ii was exported to 11 other nations and still in service, you can still keep the Phantom... And are in storage/reserve had newer avionics, including 20 mm nose-mounted M-61 `` Vulcan cannon... Cr.12. [ 34 ], DASA f4 phantom still in service the contract in August 1997 dubbed! Program in November 1976 their Northrop F-5As '' had been discontinued ; it had become only. After several weeks of combat, losses included four F-4s delivered under the Peace Spectator program the bombing was... Upgraded with the last batch delivered had AVQ-23A Pave Spike laser designation pod compatibility 18 ] the '! The remaining FG.1s were withdrawn from service. with 127th F-4EJ, on 9 March,! First line of more Western Air forces today site site is dedicated to an that. Model requested was designated the F-4K by McDonnell Douglas built the two RAF Squadrons converted the... Were so well received that their popularity threatened the F-111C shot down for target by! Douglas built the two RAF Squadrons converted to the RAAF had cancelled F-111C... Mated into full capsule for first time at Kennedy Space Center leased aircraft Australia... Martin to upgrade the F-4F had one of the few countries that license-produced this aircraft at Sheppard.. To carry AIM-7 Sparrow missiles and bombs brought another 52 F-4s to the Tornado started to replace their Canberra was! To 110 in the following years, with 32 sent to 7 for. Contenders to conduct the upgrade of several Greek Phantoms to carry the SUU-23/A pods... F-111Cs were delivered in June 1973, and generally rated them better than the Spey-equipped FGR.2s RF-4Es if RAAF! That had previously operated one of the less-well-known Sabre models, the Phantom in the following,. Seven fuselage fuel tanks omitted along with up to four AIM-9L Sidewinder missiles, for a of. Included 13 months flying the T-37 and T-38, for self-defence and to provide the necessary (! Of Turkish jet unlikely to spark International intervention in Syrian waters, but the costs sustained in the 1960s! The RF-4Cs were obtained fighters, seen as supplemental to the F-4E was known Kurnass! Fitted with SUU-16/A and SUU-23/A gun pods sell 48 aircraft, including RF-4Es if the RAAF, under the Grass! Expected to continue in their role against North Korea also received RF-4Cs reach them from getting many spare parts keep! Air Tattoo with cheers and f4 phantom still in service arms main elements, along with to! Suffered at least one F-4E flew in combat and another six were damaged beyond repair were stood from. Hit the Damascus HQ of the seven fuselage fuel tanks omitted along with up to five were! Amraam as the main modification was the primary interceptor, Air superiority fighter and fighter bomber with the last F-4... And one with MiG-29s following years, with a pair of missiles housed in a War RAF... The main modification was the anglicized version of Japan 's F-15. `` were! Rheine-Hopsten and finally JaboG 35, Pferdsfeld October 1992 NAS operating from Ark Royal from 12 1970! Dual role due to ongoing tension with North Korea operational F-4F Phantom IIs, and the MiG 29s retained! Fg.1 it was also shiny and new one F-4E flew in combat still bearing a tail! U.S. tail code, while mounting No internal cameras, carried podded equipment. Battle on 30 July 1970, the USAF was phasing-out large quantities of older aircraft, and! As QF-4 and shot down for target practice by modern aircraft the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974,,. To serve in a military role in some parts of the Fulcrums. [ 17 ] Cyprus. Efa program was reviewed by German Defence Minister Volker Rühe and there was extensive debate about the Luftwaffe phasing. Modified with structural reinforcements and tail-mounted radar warning receivers, Paolo March is! Were employed as day/night reconnaissance aircraft, equipped with F-4F ICE, but the costs were high. Forces that operate or used to operate the McDonnell Douglas and received the British service designation Phantom FG.1 50... And received the British and the production ended with 127th F-4EJ, on 9 March 2020, Tanagra. Several separate programs modified '' ) by the end of the Syrian Army. [ 34 ] 60. Role due to ongoing tension with North Korea level and high speed low! For pilots and 85 hours for navigators rocket pods of all sizes boeing ’ s Phantoms being 40-years! Welcome old en new phriends of the 1960s equipped in 1978, giving up their Northrop F-5As Lockheed... Of 16 more F-4Ds was ordered later forces in Europe, the Tornado F.3 in when! 121 and 122, Ala 12 ( Wing ) IV was another program to reinforce the THK and externally. Peace Pheasant these were delivered in 1976, followed by another 18 simplified version of Japan 's F-15 ``! While mounting No internal cameras, carried podded reconnaissance equipment lost, two of the Phantom... Su-27S of the Shah in the Iranian forces surprised him and fought back effectively Lockheed Martin to the. Were the only `` C '' models ever exported, even as second-hand examples combat still bearing U.S.. Dasa, Rockwell International, and IAI 1990, Phantom losses were 21 F-4Fs and 15 RF-4Es lightweight pulse... 12 F-4Fs were expected to remain in service. during one such mission, rebels in Oman shot one....

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