F-4 Phantom II variants

The McDonnell-Douglas F-4 Phantom II was built in a number of variants described below.

XF4H-1

Two prototypes for the US Navy.

F4H-1F (F-4A)

Two-seat all-weather carrier-based fighter for the US Navy, J79-GE-2 and -2A engines with 16,100 lbf (71.6 kN) of afterburner thrust each. Redesignated F-4A in 1962; 47 built.

TF-4A

A small number of F-4As converted into two-seat training aircraft.

F4H-1 (F-4B)

Two-seat all-weather carrier-based fighter and ground-attack aircraft for the US Navy and Marine Corps. J79-GE-8A or -8B engines with 16,950 lbf (75.4 kN) of afterburner thrust each. Redesignated F-4B in 1962; 649 built.

DF-4B

F-4Bs converted into drone control aircraft.

EF-4B

One F-4B converted into an ECM training aircraft.

NF-4B

The redesignation of one F-4B for testing purposes.

QF-4B

F-4Bs converted into unmanned supersonic target drones; 7 converted.

F4H-1P (RF-4B)

Tactical reconnaissance version of F-4B for Marines, nose stretched 4 ft 9 in (1.4 m), smaller AN/APQ-99 radar. Three camera bays typically carried KS-87 forward oblique/vertical camera on Station 1, KA-87 low-altitude camera on Station 2, and KA-55A or KA-91 high-altitude panoramic camera on Station 3. Also carried AN/APQ-102 reconnaissance SLAR, AN/AAD-4 infrared reconnaissance system, and ALQ-126 ECM suite. Unlike RF-4C, cameras were on rotating mounts and could be aimed by the pilot. In 1975, modernized under Project SURE (Sensor Update and Refurbishment Effort); 46 built. Retired in 1990.

F-110A Spectre

The original US Air Force designation for the F-4C.

F-4C

Two-seat all-weather tactical fighter, ground-attack version for the US Air Force; supported a wide spectrum of weapons including AIM-4 Falcon, AGM-12 Bullpup, and nuclear weapons; wider main wheel tires resulted in distinctive wing bulges; J79-GE-15 engines with provision for cartridge start; boom refueling instead of Navy's probe and drogue refueling; AN/APQ-100 radar; duplicated flight controls in the rear cockpit. The aircraft exceeded Mach 2 during its first flight on 27 May 1963; 583 built.

EF-4C Wild Weasel IV

F-4Cs converted into Wild Weasel ECM aircraft. Equipped with AN/APR-25 RHAWS, AN/APR-26 missile launch warning system, ER-142 ECM receiver, and AN/ALQ-119 external ECM pod. Armed with AGM-45 Shrike anti-radiation missiles and cluster bombs but unable to carry the AGM-78 Standard missile. Many survivors were reverted to F-4C.

RF-4C

All-weather tactical reconnaissance version for the US Air Force, AN/APQ-99 (later AN/APQ-172) radar. Equipped similar to RF-4B but with a wider choice of camera fits, including the gigantic HIAC-1 LOROP (Long Range Oblique Photography) camera capable of high-resolution images of objects 100 miles (160 km) away in a centerline pod. Many aircraft were refitted with a more spacious bulging streamlined nose. While usually unarmed, RF-4Cs retained the ability to carry a nuclear weapon on the centerline pylon. Modernized RF-4Cs extensively participated in the Desert Storm war; 505 built.

YRF-110A (YRF-4C)

Two prototypes were used in the development of the RF-4C reconnaissance version.

F-4D

F-4C with updated avionics, AN/APQ-109 radar. First flight June 1965. Three USAF pilots became aces in F-4Ds; 825 built.

EF-4D Wild Weasel IV

F-4Ds converted into Wild Weasel ECM aircraft.

F-4E

USAF version with an integral M61 Vulcan cannon in the elongated RF-4C nose, AN/APQ-120 radar with smaller cross-section to accommodate the cannon, J79-GE-17 engines with 17,900 lbf (79.379 kN) of afterburner thrust each. Late-series aircraft equipped with leading-edge slats to improve maneuverability at the expense of top speed under the Agile Eagle program. Starting with Block 53, aircraft added AGM-65 Maverick capability and smokeless J79-GE-17C or -17E engines. First flight 7 August 1965. The most numerous Phantom variant; 1,370 built.

F-4E(F)

Proposed single-seat simplified version of F-4E for German Luftwaffe; none built.

F-4E Kurnass 2000

Modernized Israeli F-4Es, AN/APG-76 radar, AGM-142 Popeye capability.

F-4E Peace Icarus 2000

Greek AF modernized F-4Es, AN/APG-65GY radar, AIM-120 AMRAAM capability, Litening targeting pod, modern A/G weapons capability.

F-4E Terminator 2020

Turkish AF F-4Es modernized by Israel, ELTA EL/M-2032 radar.

QF-4E

Remote-controlled target drone.

F-4EJ

Two-seat all-weather air defence fighter version of F-4E, initially lacked ground attack capability. Built under licence in Japan, by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries for the Japan Air Self Defence Force; 140 built (138 by Mitsubishi).

F-4EJ Kai

Upgraded version of the F-4EJ with improved avionics, including AN/APG-66J pulse-doppler radar, and ground attack capability, including ASM-1 anti-ship missile.

EF-4EJ

Small number of F-4EJs were converted into ECM training aircraft.

F-4E(S)

Three Israeli F-4E modified for high-speed reconnaissance as a cheaper alternative to the ambitious F-4X. Fitted with a new nose containing the HIAC-1 LOROP long-range camera with a 66-in (168 cm) focal length as well as a vertical KS-87 camera. The aircraft had a false radome painted on the nose to resemble conventional F-4Es. The fate and service record of these aircraft is unknown.

RF-4E

Unarmed reconnaissance version for export only. Retrofitted to carry weapons by most customers. Several Luftwaffe aircraft were modified for ELINT missions under Peace Trout program; 149 built.

RF-4EJ

Two-seat all-weather tactical reconnaissance version for the Japanese Air Self Defence Force; 14 built.

RF-4EJ Kai

Upgraded version of the RF-4EJ with improved avionics, AN/APG-66J radar.

YF-4E

One of the original YRF-4C prototypes was converted into the YF-4E. The YF-4E was used in the development of the F-4E fighter as well as in fly-by-wire Precision Aircraft Control Technology (PACT) and Control Configured Vehicle (CCV) test programs.

F-4F

F-4E for German Luftwaffe with simplified equipment, no Sparrow capability; 175 built.

F-4F ICE

Upgraded F-4F with AN/APG-65 radar and AIM-120 AMRAAM capability.

TF-4F

German trainer aircraft, unofficial designation.

F-4G

US Navy version, 12 F-4Bs were fitted with the AN/ASW-21 data link digital communications system for automatic carrier landings, one shot down by enemy ground fire, the surviving 11 returned to F-4B configuration.

F-4G Wild Weasel V

F-4E converted to SEAD aircraft for the US Air Force. AN/APQ-120 radar, ability to carry AGM-45 Shrike, AGM-78 Standard, and AGM-88 HARM anti-radiation missiles. Widely used during the Gulf War, Operation Provide Comfort, and Operation Southern Watch; 116 converted.

QF-4G

Remote-controlled target drone.

F-4H

Designation not used to avoid confusion with the pre-1962 F4H.

F-4J

Improved version for US Navy and Marines, J79-GE-10 engines with 17,844 lbf (79.374 kN) of afterburner thrust each, AN/APG-59 radar with look-down capability, larger main landing gear wheels resulting in wing bulges similar to F-4C, slatted tailplane, alierons drooped 16.5° when landing gear and flaps were deployed to decrease the landing speed, zero-zero ejection seats, expanded ground attack capability, no IRST sensor under the nose; 522 built.

F-4J(UK)

Designation of 15 second-hand F-4J aircraft purchased by the Royal Air Force from the US Navy in 1984, upgraded to F-4S standard with some British equipment. RAF designation Phantom FGA.Mk 3.

DF-4J

One F-4J converted into a drone control aircraft.

EF-4J

Two F-4Js converted into ECM training aircraft.

YF-4J

Three F-4Bs were converted were into YF-4J prototypes. The YF-4Js were used in the development of the F-4J.

F-4K

F-4J version for Fleet Air Arm, fit of the British Rolls-Royce Spey 202 turbofan engines required enlarged fuselage. Also used by the Royal Air Force under designation Phantom FG.Mk.1; 52 built.

YF-4K

Two prototypes, used in the development of the F-4K.

F-4L

Designation applied to several proposals for an advanced version, including Model 98FOA with RR Spey turbofan engines and AIM-54 Phoenix missiles.

F-4M

Tactical fighter, ground-attack, and reconnaissance aircraft for the Royal Air Force, RAF designation Phantom FGR.Mk.2, ordered after cancellation of the Hawker Siddeley P.1154. RR Spey turbofan engines; 118 built.

YF-4M

Two prototypes used in the development of the F-4M.

F-4N

F-4B modernized under project Bee Line, the same aerodynamic improvements as F-4J, smokeless engines. First flight 4 June 1972; 228 converted.

QF-4N

F-4Ns converted into remote-controlled supersonic target drones.

F-4S

F-4J modernized with smokeless engines, reinforced airframe, leading-edge slats for improved maneuverability; 302 converted.

QF-4S

F-4S converted into supersonic target drones.

F-4T

Proposed air superiority-only fighter version; none built.

F-4VG

Proposed version with variable geometry wings; none built.

F-4X

Proposed high-performance reconnaissance version with HIAC-1 LOROP camera for Israel developed under program Peace Jack in conjunction with General Dynamics. Water injection was projected to give the aircraft a top speed in excess of Mach 3 (over 2,000 mph (3,200 km/h) at high altitudes). The water would be contained in a pair of 2,500 US gal (9,600 l) conformal tanks on the sides of the fuselage spine. State Department became worried about developing an aircraft with performance similar to SR-71 Blackbird and offensive capability beyond anything in USAF inventory for a foreign customer and forbade its export. The aircraft was then modified to RF-4X with the camera in the nose which removed offensive capability. However, USAF withdrew from the project over concerns that a high-performance Phantom would jeopardize funding for F-15 Eagle. Without USAF financial support, Israel settled for a simpler and less expensive F-4E(S).

Boeing Super Phantom

A 1984 joint venture between Boeing and Pratt & Whitney for a Phantom variant with Pratt & Whitney PW1120 turbofan engines with a significant performance gain over J79 Phantoms. The aircraft would also have an 1,100 US gal (4,230 l) conformal fuel tank under the fuselage. Cancelled early in development.

The F-4 "Super Phantom" or F-4-2000, was demonstrated at the Paris Air Show in 1987. It could exceed Mach 1 without afterburners. McDonnell Douglas scuttled Kurnas 2000 development because it equaled the F/A-18C/D in performance and endangered any future sales of the F/A-18.