{ "id": "f-4e-phantom-ii", "name": "F-4E Phantom II", "aliases": [], "domain": "air", "country": "USA", "category": "Interceptor aircraft", "status": null, "fielded": 1972, "operators": [ "USA", "EGY", "GRC", "IRN", "KAZ", "KGZ", "KOR", "TKM", "TUR" ], "prolif_count": 9, "summary": "The McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II is a tandem two-seat, twin-engine, all-weather, long-range supersonic jet interceptor and fighter bomber originally developed for the United States Navy by McDonnell Aircraft. It first entered service in 1961 with the Navy.", "specs": [ { "k": "", "label": "Manufacturer", "section": "system", "v": "McDonnell Aircraft Corporation McDonnell Douglas", "src": [ "weg-f-4e-phantom-ii" ], "conf": "medium" }, { "k": "crew", "v": 2, "src": [ "weg-f-4e-phantom-ii" ], "conf": "medium" }, { "k": "", "label": "Hardpoints", "section": "armament", "v": "Up to 18,650 lb (8,480 kg) of weapons on nine external hardpoints, including general-purpose bombs, cluster bombs, TV- and laser-guided bombs, rocket pods…", "src": [ "weg-f-4e-phantom-ii" ], "conf": "medium" }, { "k": "length_m", "v": 17.76, "src": [ "weg-f-4e-phantom-ii" ], "conf": "medium" }, { "k": "height_m", "v": 4.96, "src": [ "weg-f-4e-phantom-ii" ], "conf": "medium" }, { "k": "width_m", "v": 11.71, "src": [ "weg-f-4e-phantom-ii" ], "conf": "medium", "label": "Wingspan" }, { "k": "", "label": "Wing area", "section": "dims", "v": "49.24 m sq", "src": [ "weg-f-4e-phantom-ii" ], "conf": "medium" }, { "k": "mass_kg", "v": 13990, "src": [ "weg-f-4e-phantom-ii" ], "conf": "medium", "label": "Empty weight" }, { "k": "mass_kg", "v": 25455, "src": [ "weg-f-4e-phantom-ii" ], "conf": "medium", "label": "Max takeoff weight" }, { "k": "engine_name", "v": "2 x General Electric J79-GE-10", "src": [ "weg-f-4e-phantom-ii" ], "conf": "medium" }, { "k": "", "label": "Thrust / power", "section": "mobility", "v": "17,900 lb (8,119 kg) static thrust each", "src": [ "weg-f-4e-phantom-ii" ], "conf": "medium" }, { "k": "", "label": "Rate of climb", "section": "mobility", "v": "28,000 ft/min (8,534 m/min)", "src": [ "weg-f-4e-phantom-ii" ], "conf": "medium" }, { "k": "ceiling_m", "v": 71000, "src": [ "weg-f-4e-phantom-ii" ], "conf": "low", "note": "Automated check: outside the expected range for this type; verify against the source." }, { "k": "range_km", "v": 2963, "src": [ "weg-f-4e-phantom-ii" ], "conf": "medium", "note": "1,600 nm (1,841 mi, 2,963 km) external fuel" }, { "k": "", "label": "Fire Control Radar", "section": "firecontrol", "v": "Westinghouse series of digital radar/fire-control systems", "src": [ "weg-f-4e-phantom-ii" ], "conf": "medium" }, { "k": "", "label": "Main Missile Systems", "section": "armament", "v": "4 x AIM-7 Sparrow and 4 AIM-9 Sidewinder AAM", "src": [ "weg-f-4e-phantom-ii" ], "conf": "medium" }, { "k": "", "label": "Bomb Weapon Systems: basic load", "section": "armament", "v": "6 x 500-lb (227-kg) bombs", "src": [ "weg-f-4e-phantom-ii" ], "conf": "medium" }, { "k": "armament", "v": "M61 Vulcan", "src": [ "weg-f-4e-phantom-ii" ], "conf": "medium" } ], "payloads": [ { "name": "M61 Vulcan", "role": "Gatling Gun", "src": [ "weg-f-4e-phantom-ii" ], "conf": "medium", "caps": { "Type": "Gatling Gun", "Caliber": "20 mm", "Rate of fire": "7,200 rpm" } } ], "variants": [ { "name": "F-4A, B, J, N and S", "text": "Variants for the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Marine Corps. F-4B was upgraded to F-4N, and F-4J was upgraded to F-4S.", "src": [ "weg-f-4e-phantom-ii" ] }, { "name": "F-110 Spectre, F-4C, D and E", "text": "Variants for the U.S. Air Force. F-4E introduced an internal M61 Vulcan cannon. The F-4D and E were the most numerously built, widely exported, and also extensively used under the Semi Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) U.S. air defense system.", "src": [ "weg-f-4e-phantom-ii" ] }, { "name": "F-4G Wild Weasel V", "text": "A dedicated SEAD variant for the U.S. Air Force with updated radar and avionics, converted from F-4E. The designation F-4G was applied earlier to an entirely different U.S. Navy Phantom.", "src": [ "weg-f-4e-phantom-ii" ] }, { "name": "F-4K and M", "text": "Variants for the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force, respectively, re-engined with Rolls-Royce Spey turbofan engines.", "src": [ "weg-f-4e-phantom-ii" ] }, { "name": "F-4EJ", "text": "Simplified F-4E exported to and license-built in Japan.", "src": [ "weg-f-4e-phantom-ii" ] }, { "name": "F-4F", "text": "Simplified F-4E exported to Germany.", "src": [ "weg-f-4e-phantom-ii" ] }, { "name": "QRF-4C, QF-4B, E, G, N and S", "text": "Retired aircraft converted into remote-controlled target drones used for weapons and defensive systems research by USAF and USN / USMC.", "src": [ "weg-f-4e-phantom-ii" ] }, { "name": "RF-4B, C, and E", "text": "Tactical reconnaissance variants.", "src": [ "weg-f-4e-phantom-ii" ] } ], "art": "fighter", "image": { "file": "f-4e-phantom-ii.jpg", "thumb": "f-4e-phantom-ii-thumb.jpg", "credit": "Aeroprints.com", "license": "CC BY-SA 3.0", "url": "https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:68-0337_MCD_F-4E_Phantom_U.S._Air_Force_(8784107602).jpg", "title": "File:68-0337 MCD F-4E Phantom U.S. Air Force (8784107602).jpg" }, "verified": null, "changelog": [ { "date": "2026-10-10", "change": "Entry created from the Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN), bulk import" }, { "date": "2026-10-10", "change": "Added photo (CC BY-SA 3.0)" } ], "url": "https://www.defensepedia.com/systems/f-4e-phantom-ii.html", "sources": { "weg-f-4e-phantom-ii": { "title": "F-4E Phantom II American Interceptor Aircraft", "publisher": "U.S. Army TRADOC G-2 Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN)", "url": "https://odin.t2com.army.mil/WEG/Asset/F-4E_Phantom_II_American_Interceptor_Aircraft", "published": "2026-03-20", "tier": 1, "checked": "2026-10-10" } } }