McDonnell F-4
| McDonnell F-4 Phantom II | |
|---|---|
 Two US Naval Reserve F-4S Phantom II |
|
| Type: | |
| Design country: | |
| Manufacturer: | |
| First flight: |
May 27, 1958 |
| Commissioning: |
December 30, 1960 |
| Production time: |
1958 to 1981 |
| Number of pieces: |
5195 (of which 127 were built by Mitsubishi) |
The McDonnell F-4 Phantom II (later referred to as the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II , with the II often omitted) is a two-seat all - weather twin - engine supersonic fighter , originally designed by the McDonnell Aircraft Corporation . The F-4 was first entered into service by the US Navy (USN) in 1960, but was later flown by the Air Force (USAF) and the US Marines (USMC), where it became the predominant aircraft type in the 1960s .
Originally planned as a pure air superiority fighter , it was also adapted for other roles in the course of its service, such as a fighter-bomber or reconnaissance aircraft . The SEAD ( Wild Weasel ) tasks were also flown by F-4s. The introduction of the aircraft in the air forces of a total of eleven other countries, including Germany, led to a large number of different variants and upgrades for different roles. The F-4 was used in many conflicts, for example on the US side in the Vietnam War and the Second Gulf War or on the Israeli side in the Middle East conflict . Although the aircraft has been in service for more than 50 years and was decommissioned in 2013 by major user states (such as the USAF and RAF , Bundeswehr ), it still remains in active service in some states.
history
development
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In 1953, McDonnell Aircraft Corporation began redesigning their F3H Demon fighter. The US Navy proposed a Super Demon in three versions: F3H-E with one Wright J67 engine, F3H-G with two Wright J65 engines and an F3H-H with two General Electric J79 engines. The aircraft was offered in versions with one or two crew members and various armaments. The US Navy showed interest in the F3H-G / H and ordered a demonstration model for an attack aircraft, as the Grumman F9F Panther and the Chance-Vought F8U Crusader were already intended as fighters .
On October 18, 1954, the US Navy signed a contract with McDonnell Aircraft Corporation to develop a two-seat attack aircraft called the AH-1 . In 1955 the specifications were changed so that a long-range interceptor for naval defense should now be developed. This was now referred to as F4H-1 , since the role of the attack aircraft was to be filled by the Douglas A4D Skyhawk and that of the fighter by the F8U. With the standardization of the designation system for aircraft of the US armed forces in 1962, the designation of the aircraft changed from F4H to F-4 .
The two-seat F4H-1 was to be powered by two General Electric J79 engines and equipped with an APQ-72 radar. Six AIM-7 Sparrow guided missiles were provided as armament .
On July 3, 1959, McDonnell celebrated its 20th company anniversary, and the new F4H-1 was formally named Phantom II , based on the earlier McDonnell FH-1 Phantom (first referred to as FD-1, see also the designation system for aircraft of the US Navy from 1922 to 1962 ). However, the FH-1 was only built in very small numbers and was only in use for a short time, so that it was largely forgotten - therefore the Phantom II soon became the "Phantom" in parlance. It was under this name that it became world famous.
The F4H-1 had its maiden flight with test pilot Robert Little on May 27, 1958 from St. Louis , Missouri. The test flights showed a number of necessary improvements, such as the later characteristic position of the wing tips and the tail unit or the raising of the rear cockpit. On October 21, 1959, the first flight plane crashed. In 1960 the tests to determine the suitability for use on aircraft carriers were carried out and at the end of the year the first unit, the VF-121 retraining squadron, received the first pre-series machines.
On August 28, 1961 one of Lt. Hunt Hardisty flown Phantom with 1452.777 km / h in the "Operation Sageburner" a new ground-level speed record over the classic 3 km distance. On November 22nd, 1961 one of Lt. Col. Bob Robinson of the US Marine Corps flown Phantom with 2585.425 km / h in "Operation Skyburner" a new absolute speed record over the then new 16.25 km distance at 12,000 m altitude. As a result, the machine was considered a "triumph over aerodynamics " and suddenly became known worldwide, which benefited her career in the US and friendly air forces. In 1962, the future astronaut John Young set two climb world records with the Phantom, which were only broken by the Je-266 more than ten years later .
introduction
Series production of the Phantom II began in 1961 with the F-4B (first flight on March 25, 1961) for the US Navy and the US Marine Corps. As the first squadrons, the VF-74 and VF-114 squadrons converted to the Phantom II .
During his tenure, US Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara devised a number of programs to cut defense budget costs. This also included the procurement of uniform aircraft types. The US Air Force and the Navy should order the F-4, the Vought A-7 and the General Dynamics F-111 (originally TFX) together. The United States Air Force tested the F4H-1 as the F-110A Specter for close air support , interlocking from the air, and “fighting enemy air warfare”, and in 1962 ordered a USAF version. The Air Force's Phantom II, known as the F-4C, made its maiden flight on May 27, 1963 (the first flight of the RF-4C reconnaissance aircraft followed on August 8, 1963); production began in November 1963.
Production of the Phantom II ended in 1981 after 5,195 units had been built, 5,057 by McDonnell Douglas and 138 in Japan by Mitsubishi. Of these, 2,874 were delivered to the USAF, 1,264 to the Navy and Marine Corps, and the rest to friendly states.
Vietnam War
From 1965 Phantom II took part in all US armed forces using them in the Vietnam War. Early versions (F-4A to F-4D) did not have an on-board cannon; At the time the F-4 was designed, it was assumed that future aerial battles would be carried out with rockets at great distances and that an on-board cannon would therefore be superfluous. Over Vietnam, the current Rules of Engagement (no shooting down without prior identification as an enemy with the naked eye) forced the phantom pilots into this unpopular close combat - together with the unreliability of the AIM-7 Sparrow and AIM-9 air-to-air missiles used at the time Sidewinder , this deficiency often led to precarious situations in air combat, when North Vietnamese aircraft were in the sights of the F-4 pilots, but due to insufficient range and / or faulty missiles no launch could be achieved. A temporary solution was found by installing a SUU-16 / A cannon pod attached to the central fuselage pylon, but the F-4E, which was equipped with an integrated M61 Vulcan cannon (GAU-4 / A), brought some improvement . In Vietnam, the USAF lost 445 F-4s and 83 RF-4Cs. 33 were shot down by MiGs, 30 by anti-aircraft missiles and 307 by anti-aircraft guns. 63 were lost in accidents and nine were destroyed on the ground. The USAF phantom crews reported having shot down 107 MiGs.
The US Navy lost 71 phantom machines in the battle. Five were shot down by MiGs, 13 by anti-aircraft missiles, the rest by flak . In addition, 54 aircraft were lost in accidents. The USN-F-4s themselves were responsible for 40 kills of North Vietnamese machines. The US Marine Corps , which was tasked almost exclusively with ground attack missions, could only achieve one aerial victory with the Phantom in the entire war; on the other hand, 79 machines were lost, four of them in accidents. A total of 761 F-4 Phantoms of all versions and branches of the armed forces were lost in Vietnam during the war. In particular, the ratio of the pure air-to-air kills by the USAF and US Navy fighter pilots (38 losses against 147.5 kills) was rated unsatisfactory despite the apparent superiority of the Phantom. On the one hand, this kill rate was well below that of previous wars in the USA, on the other hand, an F-4 cost many times as much as a MiG-17 or MiG-21. This led to the establishment of hand-to-hand combat-oriented pilot training programs first with the US Navy (“ Top Gun ”) and later with the USAF (“ Red Flag ”), after Navy pilots were able to demonstrate significant improvements in the ongoing conflict.
Yom Kippur War
On October 6, 1973, the Jewish Festival of Reconciliation / Yom Kippur , Syria and Egypt opened a new war with a surprise attack (4th Israeli-Arab War, October War). The Israeli air force with its Mirage and Phantom fighter aircraft was successfully fought by the Egyptians with the S-75 , 2K12 Kub and S-200 mobile anti-aircraft missile systems , which recorded around 85 kills (including 50 phantoms) by the fifth day of the war. Nonetheless, the Israelis managed to counter-offensive on both fronts; the war ended in October.
Versions
F-4A
- F4H-1F (1962: F-4A): Prototype and pre-production aircraft with J79-2A engines, as the J79-8 (intended for the original F4H-1) was not yet available. 47 aircraft were delivered.
F-4B
_in_1967.jpg)
- F-4B (originally F4H-1): interceptor with J79-8 engine. The VF-74 "Be-devilers" squadron received the Phantom II on July 8, 1961 and was first used on the USS Forrestal from August 1962 . VMFA-314 "Black Knights" was the first squadron of the Marines to receive the F-4B from June 1962. For air refueling , the F-4B received the necessary probe for the "probe and funnel system" used by the Navy and Marines. 649 aircraft were built.
- F-4G (first occupation): 12 converted F-4B with ASW-21 data link, first flight on March 23, 1963. They were used in 1963/64 by the VF-96 and then by VF-213. Between November 1965 and June 1966, VF-213 was deployed from the USS Constellation over Vietnam, one machine was lost. Then the F-4G were downgraded to F-4B, seven aircraft were later modified to F-4N.
- RF-4B (F4H-1P): tactical reconnaissance aircraft, 46 units built, first flight on March 12, 1965. The nose of the RF-4B had been extended by 1.4 m to accommodate the camera equipment and the smaller AN / APQ-99- To be able to record radar. Usually three cameras were carried: at the front a KS-87 for pictures from great heights, at station 2 the KA-87 for pictures from low heights and at station 3 a KA-55A or KA-91 camera for panoramic photos from great heights. A SLAR AN / APQ-102, an AN / AAD-4 infrared reconnaissance system and an ECM ALQ-126 were installed under the fuselage. In contrast to the RF-4C, the camera settings could be changed by the pilot himself. In 1975 the RF-4B were modernized (SURE project = Sensor Update and Refurbishment Effort). They were used exclusively by the Marines , from around 1966 by the squadrons VMCJ-1, VMCJ-2 and VMCJ-3, from 1974 to 1990 only by VMFP-3.
F-4C
- F-4C: The F-4C got wider tires, which in all other versions of the Phantom (except the F-4N) led to the characteristic bulges on the upper side of the wings. This version used J79-15 engines and the Westinghouse AN / APQ-100 radar. The pilot's controls were also located in the rear cockpit. Furthermore, like all USAF aircraft, the F-4C was equipped with the boom system for in- flight refueling. The 12th TFW was the first squadron to be equipped with the F-4C from January 1964. 583 machines were delivered.
- RF-4C (RF-110A) USAF tactical scout, with equipment similar to the RF-4B. The AN / APQ-99 was later replaced by an AN-APQ-172, many later got a slightly more spacious nose (e.g. for the HIAC-1 LOROP (Long Range Oblique Photography) camera). At the lower hull station, the RF-4C was able to carry a nuclear weapon . The 363rd TRW, Shaw AFB (South Carolina) was the first squadron to be equipped with the RF-4C from September 1964. In September 1995 the last RF-4C were decommissioned from the 192nd RS of the Nevada ANG. 505 machines were delivered.
- EF-4C "Wild Weasel IV": these machines were equipped with RHAWS AN / APR-25, AN / APR-26 rocket launch warner, ECM ER-142 and an external ECM AN / ALQ-119. They were armed with AGM-45 Shrike anti-radar guided missiles. Many of the surviving EF-4C were later converted back to F-4C. The EF-4C were used at the 66th FWS, Nellis AFB (Nevada), 67th TFS, Kadena (Okinawa) and the 81st TFS in Spangdahlem. The 67th TFS deployed the EF-4C in Vietnam in 1972/73.
F-4D
- F-4D: The USAF acquired a modified F-4C for improved air-to-ground operations. The F-4D (first flight on December 9, 1965) was equipped with AN-APQ-109 radar, the weapons control computer AN / ASQ-91, the optical vision computer AN / ASQ-22 and the inertial navigation system AN / ASG-63. The wiring and instruments should be compatible with the laser and electro-optic avionics equipment. The exterior of the F-4D later differed from the F-4C by a small hump on the infrared viewfinder attached under the radar nose. 71 aircraft received the long-range navigation system AN / ARN-92 (LORAN) for extensive combat operations in Southeast Asia. These aircraft equipped with minimal navigation aid (like the 20 similarly equipped RF-4C) had a noticeable "towel rail" on the top. Originally, only AIM-4D Falcon air-to-air guided missiles could be carried on the inner launch rails of the underwing stations, the AIM-9 Sidewinder on the outside . Since the Sidewinder proved to be more reliable, the aircraft equipped in this way were converted to the AIM-9. The 36th TFW in Bitburg was the first squadron to receive the F-4D from 1966. 825 machines were delivered. The (South) Korean Air Force - users since 1969 - put the last F-4D squadron out of service with the 151st Fighter Squadron at the 11th Fighter Squadron in Daegu on June 16, 2010.
- EF-4D “Wild Weasel V”: Two F-4Ds were equipped with the AN / APS-107 radar search system and target acquisition for the AGM-78 standard anti-radar guided missile. Two more acted as test aircraft for the AN / APS-38 system later used in the F-4G.
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F-4E
- F-4E: The operation in Vietnam had shown that the guided weapons used were expensive and unreliable. Therefore, the M61 Vulcan gun was installed under an extended nose. However, the development was protracted, as the gases escaping during firing were sucked in and led to engine failures. The F-4E received the AN / APQ-120 radar and J79-17 engines. The first flight of the prototype YF-4E took place on August 7, 1965. From the production block 53 (from 72-1407) the AGM-65 Maverick air-to-ground missile could be carried. The machines from this block onwards also received “smoke-free” J79-17C or -17E engines. The later built F-4E received slats to improve maneuverability, 304 machines were retrofitted. 1,370 machines were delivered.
- F-4E (F): planned single-seat variant of the F-4E for Germany
- F-4EJ: License production of 138 F-4EJ Mitsubishi for the Japanese Air Force ( JASDF ), originally without equipment for air-to-ground missions
- F-4EJ (quay): F-4EJ with modernized avionics (including AN / APG-66 J Pulse Doppler radar), equipment for air-to-ground missions and ASM-1 air-to-ship guided missile.
- EF-4EJ: some EF-4J have been converted to ECM training aircraft
- F-4E Kurnass 2000: F-4E modernized by Israel with AN / APG-76 radar and Popeye guided weapons (“Kurnass” means “heavy hammer”). Originally, these machines were also to receive Pratt & Whitney PW1120 engines. However, the age of the aircraft and the high cost prevented this.
- F-4E Terminator 2020: 54 modernized by Israel from 1999 onwards Turkish F-4E with ELTA-EL / M-2032 radar.
- F-4E Peace Icarus 2000: from 1997 the DASA 39 modernized Greek F-4E with AN / APG-65GY radar , improved equipment for air-to-ground missions and equipment for the AIM-120 AMRAAM .
- RF-4E: tactical scout (was not supplied to the USAF). Similar equipment to the RF-4C: In front the RF-4E carried a KS-87B or KS-72 for pictures from great heights, at station 2 the KA-87 for pictures from low heights and at station 3 a KA-55A or KA-91 camera for panoramic photos from great heights or a KC-1 or T-11 camera for creating maps. A SLAR UPD-4 and an AAS-18A infrared reconnaissance system were installed under the fuselage. The SLAR system largely corresponded to the US TEREC system and could be received by ground stations in real time. From 1978 to 1982 the German RF-4E were modernized with new cameras and AN / ALE-40 radar decoys (Chaff) and equipped for air-to-ground missions. The German RF-4E squadrons were decommissioned in 1992 (AG51, Bremgarten) and 1994 (AG52, Leck) and the machines were sold to Turkey and Greece. The Israeli RF-4E have also been modernized and can fire AIM-9 Sidewinder or Israeli Python and Shafir air-to-air missiles. 149 machines were delivered.
F-4F
- F-4F: On March 18, 1973, the simplified version of the F-4F for the German Air Force had its maiden flight, but the official roll-out did not take place until May 24, 1973. The AN-APQ-120 radar was simplified, and no AIM-7 Sparrow guided missiles could be fired. The fuselage tank No. 7 has also been omitted (similar to earlier variants, including the F-4B). Like the F-4E, the machine had an air refueling device as standard; all F-4Fs were transported to Germany by air and had to be refueled several times in the air. The F-4F could not carry nuclear weapons, AGM-65 Maverick , AGM-45 Shrike or AGM-62 Walleye . From 1980 to 1983, the avionics were modernized under the name "Peace Rhine" and the launching devices for AGM-65 Maverick guided weapons and the then new AIM-9L Sidewinder were retrofitted. In addition, all F-4F received the AN / ALE-40 radar decoy / magnesium flare launcher and the 600 gallon HPC (High Performance Centerline) lower hull tank adopted from the F-15. The F-4F was introduced to the Jagdgeschwadern 71 "Richthofen" , 74 (formerly " Mölders ") and the Jagdbombergeschwadern (JaboG) 35 (later JG 73 "Steinhoff" ) and 36 (1991 to 2002 Jagdgeschwader 72 "Westfalen", then - until decommissioning in mid-2006 - flight training center F-4F). 175 machines were delivered.
- F-4F ICE ( Engl. Improved Combat Efficiency - Improved attack efficiency ): modernization of 110 F-4F 1991-1996 Hughes with APG-65 -Radar and the ability to use the AIM-120 AMRAAM -Lenkwaffe. In addition, the following systems were installed: Honeywell H-423 navigation system, digital computer GEC Avionics CPU-143 / A, Mil Std 1553R (digital data bus) and a Litton ALR-68 (V) -2 radar warning receiver (now from DASI from EADS replaced). The machines were introduced to all fighter squadrons. The mid-2000s ended the era of the F-4 Phantom in the Air Force of the Armed Forces , and the machines were gradually through the Euro Fighter replaced. The JG 73 “Steinhoff” was the first association to be converted between 2004 and 2006, while the JG 74 officially decommissioned its Phantom on June 12, 2008. The F-4F completed its last flight at JG 71 “Richthofen” on June 29, 2013 at 2 p.m. with the German Air Force. Due to the special occasion, the machine with the registration number 37 + 01 had a special paint job.
F-4G
From 1976 116 F-4E of the production blocks 42 to 45 were modernized as F-4G " Wild Weasel V" for the localization and combat of anti-aircraft missile positions. Instead of the on-board cannon under the radome, it has an AN / APR-38 radar and can use AGM-45-Shrike , AGM-78-Standard ARM and AGM-88-HARM -Anti-Radar guided weapons. In April 1996, the last eight F-4Gs were decommissioned from the 561st TFS, Nellis AFB (Nevada).
F-4J
- F-4J: In 1966, the US Navy introduced an improved F-4B. The F-4J (first flight on May 27, 1966) was treated with AN / APQ-59 Pulse-Doppler radar, wider tires and J79-10 engines, 0-0 ejection seats and improved equipment for air-to-ground operations equipped. The landing speed was also reduced. 522 machines were delivered.
- F-4J (UK): In 1984 the Royal Air Force received 15 F-4s from the US Navy, which met the standard of the F-4S and received some British avionics. They were from 1984 to 1991 by the No. 74 Squadron deployed in Wattisham.
F-4K
In 1961, Great Britain decided to develop the Hawker Siddeley P.1154 for both the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force . In 1965 the program was canceled in favor of a British F-4. The Phantom FG.1 (F-4K) was to be developed for the Royal Navy, the Phantom FGR.2 (F-4M) for the Royal Air Force . The basis was the F-4J, the main difference being the replacement of the J79 with the Rolls-Royce-Spey engine. Due to the larger diameter, the fuselage had to be enlarged. Overall, the Spey engine had higher performance, but the J79 was superior, especially at higher altitudes. The F-4K also had a nose landing gear that could be extended further. This enabled the Phantom to operate from the Royal Navy's smaller carrier, HMS Ark Royal . The F-4K was flown by No. 892 Squadron and training unit No. 767 Squadron. However, due to the reduction in the carrier fleet, the Royal Navy only received 29 F-4Ks, the others went directly to No. 43 Squadron of the RAF in RAF Leuchars in Scotland . After the decommissioning of the HMS Ark Royal , the No. 111 Squadron of the RAF, also in Leuchars, the Phantom FG.1 of the Royal Navy and flew them until 1990. A total of 52 aircraft were delivered.
F-4M
The Phantom FGR.2 (F-4M) essentially corresponded to the F-4K except for the nose landing gear. The AN / AWG-12 was installed as a radar. In contrast to the F-4K, the F-4M could also be equipped with SUU-16 / A or SUU-23 / AAb lower hull cannon containers. In 1975 the RAF equipped their Phantoms with the Marconi ARI.18228 radar detector and the British Aerospace Skyflash air-to-air guided missile instead of the AIM-7 Sparrow . The Phantom was used between 1969 and 1992 by No. 6, 23, 29, 41, 54, 56, and 111 of RAF Strike Command and No. 2, 14, 17, 19, 31 and 92 of RAF Germany as well as No. 1435 "Flight" on the Falkland Islands. 118 aircraft were delivered.
F-4N
The F-4N was an upgraded F-4B that first flew on June 4, 1970. Around 1970 the service life of the F-4B had to be extended. For this purpose, 228 machines were structurally reinforced and completely rewired as part of the Bee Line project . As with the F-4J, measures were taken on the flaps to reduce landing speed. The machines also received Sanders AN / ALQ-126 or -126B ECM. This created the long ECM lobes on the air inlets that are characteristic of the F-4N. The pilots' helmets received VTAS (Visual Target Acquisition System) and SEAM (Sidewinder Expanded Acquisition Mode). A new APX-76 or APX-80 IFF computer and an AN / ASW-25 data link were also installed. Although the J79-GE-8 engines of the F-4B were retained, measures were taken to reduce smoke from the engines.
F-4S
Analogous to the F-4N, an upgraded F-4J was developed, which had its maiden flight on July 22, 1977. 248 F-4J received smoke-free J79-10B engines, AN / AWG-10B radar, AN / ARC-159 UHF radios, TACAN ARN-118 (not all), and an ECM ALQ-126 or 126A.
This created similar ECM antennas to the F-4N, but they were shorter. The structure was also reinforced, the aircraft were rewired and the hydraulics were renewed. All aircraft also received the slats known from the F-4E / F to improve maneuverability (the first 43 aircraft were not equipped, but later upgraded).
RF-4B / C / E
The RF version is a reconnaissance machine (R = reconnaissance) with an optical reconnaissance device . In contrast to the F variants, the reconnaissance version had no subhull stations for the AIM-7 Sparrow missile. The typical nose of the M61 Vulcan gun (version E and higher) was omitted to provide space for the optical reconnaissance equipment. The nose is a lot longer and has trapezoidal windows on the right and left as well as on the underside.
The Bundeswehr used the Phantom RF-4E in reconnaissance squadrons 51 "I" and 52 . After the introduction of the Tornado ECR / Recce , the last RF-4E were sold to Greece and Turkey in the mid-1990s, where the last ones were not taken out of service until 2017.
QF-4
The QF-4 were target practice drones . A large number of F-4s, especially F-4B (44), F-4N (at least 90) and F-4E, have been converted for this. The program ended in 2016.
production
Acceptance of the F-4 by the USAF until 1978:
| version | 1962 | 1963 | 1964 | 1965 | 1966 | 1967 | 1968 | 1969 | 1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | TOTAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F-4B | 2 | 27 | 29 | |||||||||||||||
| F-4C | 15th | 246 | 273 | 49 | 583 | |||||||||||||
| F-4D | 1 | 286 | 486 | 20th | 793 | |||||||||||||
| F-4D Iran | 16 | 16 | ||||||||||||||||
| F-4E | 36 | 256 | 204 | 138 | 47 | 23 | 36 | 1 | 34 | 37 | 812 | |||||||
| F-4E Australia | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||
| F-4E Germany | 10 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||
| F-4E Greece | 36 | 2 | 38 | |||||||||||||||
| F-4E Iran | 32 | 36 | 37 | 36 | 10 | 26th | 177 | |||||||||||
| F-4E Israel | 30th | 14th | 36 | 18th | 24 | 82 | 204 | |||||||||||
| F-4E Korea | 18th | 16 | 3 | 37 | ||||||||||||||
| F-4E Turkey | 12 | 28 | 32 | 72 | ||||||||||||||
| F-4F Germany | 24 | 72 | 55 | 24 | 175 | |||||||||||||
| RF-4C | 2 | 25th | 85 | 132 | 95 | 43 | 63 | 36 | 12 | 12 | 505 | |||||||
| RF-4E Germany | 8th | 80 | 88 | |||||||||||||||
| RF-4E Israel | 6th | 6th | 12 | |||||||||||||||
| RF-4E Turkey | 4th | 4th | ||||||||||||||||
| RF-4E Iran | 12 | 12 | ||||||||||||||||
| TOTAL | 2 | 44 | 271 | 359 | 467 | 617 | 319 | 283 | 230 | 179 | 71 | 127 | 182 | 153 | 167 | 58 | 39 | 3,568 |
Production of the F-4 for the US Navy and the US Marine Corps:
| version | 1958 | 1959 | 1960 | 1961 | 1962 | 1963 | 1964 | 1965 | 1966 | 1967 | 1968 | 1969 | 1970 | 1971 | TOTAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F-4A | 3 | 7th | 21st | 16 | 47 | ||||||||||
| F-4B | 79 | 139 | 88 | 95 | 115 | 104 | 620 | ||||||||
| F-4J | 20th | 169 | 193 | 61 | 45 | 34 | 522 | ||||||||
| RF-4B | 1 | 13 | 22nd | 10 | 46 | ||||||||||
| TOTAL | 3 | 7th | 21st | 95 | 139 | 88 | 96 | 128 | 146 | 169 | 193 | 61 | 45 | 34 | 1,235 |
Production of the F-4 for Great Britain
| version | number |
|---|---|
| F-4K | 52 |
| F-4M | 118 |
| TOTAL | 170 |
The aircraft for Great Britain were delivered to the RN and the RAF between 1968 and 1970
Notoriety
The F-4 was one of the most widespread combat aircraft, which explains its high profile. "Rhino", "Double Ugly" (the downwardly inclined horizontal stabilizer and the upwardly inclined wing tips at the beginning of the F-4 era aesthetically did not meet the zeitgeist), "Eisenschwein", "Ölofen", were jokingly used by ground crew and pilots. "Air defense diesel" or "Luftwaffe diesel" (for the black, treacherous plumes of smoke from the two engines), it is still immensely popular with this group of people as one of the safest military jets to date (fewer than 1.3 incidents per 10,000 flight hours).
The aerodynamics of the F-4, which are apparently not always ideal, is sometimes ridiculed, for example in the form of the "flying brick" jokes ("America's proof to the world that a brick can fly if only the engines are powerful enough!" ). However, the large power reserves of the engines at the time, coupled with the versatility, ensured a long service life and service life. In English there are also word games with the PH of the Phantom, such as Phabulous Phantom Phixers for the workshop team.
Technical specifications
| Parameter | F-4B data | F-4E data |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Interceptor | Multipurpose fighters and fighter-bombers |
| length | 17.76 m | 19.20 m |
| Wingspan | 11.71 m | 11.71 m |
| Wing area | 49.24 m² | 49.24 m² |
| Wing extension | 2.81 | 2.81 |
| Wing loading | k. A. |
|
| height | 4.97 m | 5.02 m |
| Empty weight | approx.12,700 kg | 13,757 kg |
| Normal takeoff weight | k. A. | 18,825 kg |
| Maximum take-off weight: | 26,308 kg | 28,030 kg |
| Fuel capacity | k. A. |
|
| Top speed | Mach 2.27 or 2,414 km / h (at optimal flight altitude) |
|
| Marching speed | k. A. | 940 km / h (at optimal flight altitude) |
| Service ceiling | 18,182 m | 19,685 m |
| Rate of climb | k. A. | 210 m / s |
| Use radius | k. A. | 680 km |
| Transfer range | 2,560 km | 2,817 km |
| Take-off run | approx. 1,500 m | 1,370 m |
| Landing runway | approx. 900 m | 1,120 m |
| Landing speed | 215 km / h | 270 km / h |
| Maximum weapon load | 6,219 kg | 8,480 kg |
| Engines | two jet engines General Electric J79 -GE-15 | two General Electric J79-GE-17 jet engines |
| thrust |
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| Thrust-to-weight ratio |
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Armament
- Permanently installed on-board cannon
- 1 × 20 mm Gatling automatic cannon GE M61A1 "Vulcan" with 639 rounds of ammunition (only variants E, F)
- Explosive ordnance up to 8,480 kg at 9 external load stations
- Air-to-air guided missile
- 2 × LAU-114 / A double runner supports for 2 × Raytheon AIM-9B / J / L "Sidewinder" each - infrared controlled for short distances
- 4 × Hughes AIM-7D / E "Sparrow" - radar / semi-active guided
- 4 × Raytheon AIM-120 B "AMRAAM" (only variants F ICE, E Greece) - radar-guided
- 4 × Mitsubishi Heavy Industries AAM-3 (only variant EJ Kai)
- 4 × Diehl BGT Defense "IRIS-T" (only variants F ICE, E Greece)
- 4 × BAe "Skyflash" (only variant M) - radar / semi-active-steered
- Air-to-surface guided missile
- 2 × LAU-88A triple launch rails for 3 × Raytheon AGM-65A / B "Maverick" each - infrared or TV-controlled
- 4 × LAU-117A starter rails for 1 × Raytheon AGM-65A / B "Maverick" - infrared or tv-controlled
- 2 × Boeing AGM-84A / B "Harpoon" anti-ship missiles
- 4 × LAU-118 star rails for each 1 × Texas Instruments AGM-45A / B "Shrike" - self-targeting anti-radar missile
- 4 × LAU-118 star rails for each 1 × Texas Instruments AGM-88A / B "HARM" - self-targeting anti-radar missile
- 4 × General Dynamics AGM-78 "Standard" - self-targeting anti-radar missile
- 2 × Rafael "Popeye" or AGM-142G / H - tv-controlled
- Unguided missiles on up to three BRU-42 TER (Triple Ejection Rack)
- 9 × rocket tube launch container LAU-3 / A (7 × unguided Zuni air-to-surface rockets; caliber 70 mm / 2.75 inch)
- 9 × rocket tube launch container LAU-10 / A (4 × unguided Zuni air-to-ground missiles; caliber 127 mm / 5 inch)
- Guided bombs
- 2 × BRU-42 TER (Triple Ejection Rack) for 3 × GBU-12 "Paveway" each - laser-guided glide bomb (227 kg)
- 4 × GBU-16 "Paveway" - laser-guided glide bomb (454 kg)
- 2 × GBU-10 "Paveway" - laser-guided glide bomb (907 kg)
- 2 × Martin Marietta AGM-62 "Walleye" (TV-guided glide bomb)
- Unguided bombs on up to five BRU-41 MER (Multiple Ejection Rack) or BRU-42 TER (Triple Ejection Rack)
- 18 × Mark 81 LDGP (113 kg / 250 lb free fall bomb )
- 18 × Mark 82 LDGP (227 kg / 500 lb free fall bomb)
- 10 × Mark 83 LDGP (454 kg / 1000 lb free fall bomb)
- 5 × Mark 84 LDGP (907 kg / 2000 lb free-fall bomb)
- 10 × M117 free-fall bomb
- 12 × Mark 20 "Rockeye II" (CBU-100) (222 kg / 490 lb anti-tank cluster bomb with 247 Mk.118 bomblets)
- 15 × CBU-52 / CBU-58 / CBU-71 / CBU-87 / CBU-89
- 6 × Hunting Engineering BL755 (264 kg anti-tank cluster bomb with 7 × 21 bomblets)
- 1 × Mk 8, tactical nuclear free-fall bomb
- 1 × Mk 12, tactical nuclear free-fall bomb
- 1 × Mk 91, tactical nuclear free-fall bomb
- 1 × B43, tactical nuclear free-fall bomb
- 1 × B57, tactical nuclear free-fall bomb
- 1 × B61-2 / 5 (tactical free-fall bomb with nuclear explosive device 0.3–170 kT)
- Additional container
- 1 × EKF jamming container Westinghouse ALQ-101
- 1 × EKF jamming container Westinghouse ALQ-119
- 1 × EKF malfunction container ALQ-130
- 1 × EKF malfunction container ALQ-131
- 1 × 2,345 / 2,310 liter additional tank (for 600/610 gal kerosene)
- 2 × 1,420 liter additional tank (for 370 gal kerosene)
- 1 × CNU-188 / A luggage container
- 1 × AN / AVQ-12 “Pave Spike” laser target illumination container
- 1 × different reconnaissance containers or with a nose cover (RF-4 variants)
maintenance
Example of the average maintenance and inspection measures for a 35-year-old Air Force F-4F Phantom with an average of 6,500 flight hours:
- Major overhauls, initially every 54 months, later every 72 months. Implementation by industry (here: EADS) and by the Air Force Maintenance Group (LwInsthGrp). On average there are six major overhauls, whereby this measure has increased in time from 4.5 months at the beginning to 14 months today and totaling around 50 months in 35 years.
- Hourly Postflight Inspection (HPO)
- Periodic Inspection (PE), regular inspection, initially every 75 flight hours, later 100 flight hours and today 150 flight hours.
- There were seven to ten inspections (HPO and PE) between two major overhauls, and later around six to seven. The aircraft had to stand still for an average of 2.5 weeks from the beginning to 5 to 6 weeks today, a total of 36 months in 35 years.
- 12/24 month inspections (MC) every 12 months one week or every 24 months two weeks. An average of 14 months within 35 years.
- Downtimes for special measures, e.g. new equipment or troubleshooting measures, are not taken into account.
On average, a machine spends around 100 months (approx. 8 years) in 35 years in maintenance.
Use outside of the United States
In Germany 175 F-4F were procured and since then modernized several times from 1973 to 1975 as a whole. The F-4F Phantom II was used by Jagdgeschwader 74 in Neuburg / Danube until June 12, 2008 . The last aircraft were bid farewell on June 29, 2013 at an event called “Phantom Pharewell” at Jagdgeschwader 71 “Richthofen” at Wittmundhafen Air Base and officially decommissioned one day later. The successor to the Phantom is the Eurofighter multi- role fighter .
In addition to the directly delivered F-4s, many countries also received used F-4s. The following deliveries of new and used "Phantoms" are known:
-
Egypt 46 F-4E -
Australia 24 F-4E (leased to the USAF, September 14, 1970 to 1973, 1 crashed June 16, 1971 (No. 69-7203)) -
Germany
- 10 F-4E US serial number / Bundeswehr registration number 75-0628 to 75-0637
- 175 F-4F US serial number / Bundeswehr registration number 72-1111 / 37 + 01 to 72-1285 / 38 + 75
- 88 RF-4E US serial number / Bundeswehr registration number 69-7448 / 35 + 01 to 69-7535 / 35 + 88
- The RF-4E were handed over to Turkey and Greece in the 1990s, the F-4F used as an interceptor until summer 2013.
-
Greece 121 F-4E and 35 RF-4E -
Iran ( Air Force ) 32 F-4D, 177 F-4E and 16 RF-4E -
Israel 274 F-4E and 12 RF-4E -
Japan ( Air Self-Defense Forces ) 140 F-4EJ and 27 RF-4EJ -
South Korea 27 RF-4C, 92 F-4D, 103 F-4E -
Spain 40 F-4C and 18 RF-4C -
Turkey 233 F-4E and 54 RF-4E
- After a fatal accident on February 25, 2015, the Turkish government decided to decommission the remaining RF-4E. During the collision, two RF-4E's collided on a night approach in bad weather, killing all four crew members of both machines.
-
United Kingdom
- Royal Air Force 15 F-4J (UK) and 116 F-4M
- Royal Navy 52 F-4K
In Israel , too , the F-4E quickly became the mainstay of the Israeli air force from 1970 . In the War of Attrition and the Yom Kippur War , it proved itself in the role of an air superiority fighter and fighter-bomber and is responsible for several kills of Arab aircraft. In the Yom Kippur War, however, the losses on ground attack missions due to the dense anti-aircraft missile belts of the Arab armies were high, similar to those of corresponding USAF missions in North Vietnam. Over the years, Israeli phantom pilots claimed 116 victories over Arab planes; 56 of its own machines were shot down for this purpose, most of them by surface-to-air missiles and flak. The last F-4 in Israel was retired in 2004.
This later version became the mainstay of the US Air Force in Vietnam and later served in the air forces of many other states, e.g. B. Australia , Great Britain , Greece , Israel , Iran , Japan , Spain , South Korea , Turkey and the Federal Republic of Germany . The F-4E was not used by the Navy or the Marines, but the older F-4B were replaced there by the new F-4J, which however also had no on-board guns.
After the "normal" F-4s had already been replaced by more modern types such as the F-14 Tomcat , F / A-18 Hornet and F-16 Fighting Falcon in the Navy, Marines and Air Force , the last active American Phantom were those on Wild Weasel missions specialized and therefore indispensable F-4G for a long time. These jets were last used over Iraq during Operation Provide Comfort in 1995 , after which they too were largely sent to the "aircraft graveyard " at the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group in Arizona, but some are still used as manned or unmanned target display aircraft .
Station locations in Germany
In the 1970s and 1980s there were more than a dozen main bases of the Phantom , at the beginning of the 2010s this type was only stationed in Wittmund at Jagdgeschwader 71 “Richthofen” until June 2013 .
-
Federal Office for Defense Technology and Procurement or Air Force
- Bremgarten Air Base , January 1971 to December 1992, RF-4E Phantom II ( Reconnaissance Wing 51 )
- Hopsten Air Base , February 1975 to December 2005, F-4F Phantom II ( Jagdbombergeschwader 36 / Jagdgeschwader 72, most recently F-4F flight training center )
- Laage Air Base , July 1997 to April 2002, F-4F Phantom II ( Jagdgeschwader 73 )
- Leck Air Base , September 1971 to December 1993, RF-4E Phantom II ( Reconnaissance Wing 52 )
- Manching Air Base , April 1971 to July 2013, RF-4E / F-4F Phantom II ( Wehrtechnische Dienststelle 61 )
- Fliegerhorst Pferdefeld , April 1975 to July 1997, F-4F Phantom II ( Jagdbombergeschwader 35 )
- Wittmundhafen Air Base , August 1973 to June 2013, F-4F Phantom II ( Jagdgeschwader 71 )
- Neuburg Air Base , September 1974 to June 2008, F-4F Phantom II ( Jagdgeschwader 74 )
For crew training, the Air Force maintained an Air Force Training Squadron ( 3rd DtLwAusbStff USA ) in the USA, initially equipped with F-4E and later F-4F . The machines had tactical marks of the Bundeswehr , but were operated with those of the USAF . Until 1992 the squadron, temporarily as the 20th Fighter Squadron , belonged to the 35th Tactical Fighter Wing at George Air Force Base in the Mojave Desert , then until December 2004 to the 49th Fighter Wing at Holloman AFB .
-
Royal Air Force Germany
- RAF Brüggen , June 1970 to December 1976, F-4M Phantom FGR.2 ( 2nd , 14th , 17th and 31st Squadron )
- RAF Laarbruch , April 1971 to February 1976, F-4M Phantom FGR.2 ( 2nd Squadron )
- RAF Wildenrath , January 1977 to January 1992, F-4M Phantom FGR.2 ( 19th and 92nd Squadron )
-
United States Air Forces in Europe
- Bitburg Air Base , 1966-1977, F-4D / E ( 36th Tactical Fighter Wing )
- Hahn Air Base , October 1966 to June 1982, F-4D / E ( 50th Tactical Fighter Wing )
- Ramstein Air Base , January 1973 to June 1986, F-4E ( 86th Tactical Fighter Wing )
- Spangdahlem Air Base , January 1969 to February 1994, (E) F-4C, F-4D / E / G ( 36th and 52nd Tactical Fighter Wing )
- Zweibrücken Air Base , January 1970 to April 1991, (E) F / RF-4C ( 26th , 50th and 86th Tactical Reconaissance (26) and Fighter (50/86) Wing )
See also
literature
- Karl-Heinz Schäfer: The F-4F Phantom II in the Air Force. Finke printing works, ISBN 978-3-942241-02-1 .
- Karl-Heinz Schäfer: Richthofen info. Magazine, published by Jagdgeschwader 71 "Richthofen", issue 5/2008, no. 284, Wittmund 2008.
- Peter M. Bowers : United States Navy Aircraft since 1911. Naval Institute Press, Annapolis (Maryland) 1990, ISBN 0-87021-792-5 .
- Robert F. Dorr: The McDonnell F-4 Phantom. TAB Books, 1989, ISBN 0-8306-8617-7 .
- Bert Kinzey: F-4 Phantom II. Arms & Armor Press, London 1981. 3 volumes:
- Vol. 1: USAF F-4C, F-4D, RF-4C. Detail & Scale Vol. 1, ISBN 0-85368-501-0 .
- Vol. 2: USAF F-4E & F-4G. Detail & Scale Vol. 7, ISBN 0-85368-525-8 .
- Vol. 3: USN & USMC Versions. Detail & Scale Vol. 12, ISBN 0-85368-588-6 .
- Marcelle Size Knaack: Encyclopedia of US Air Force Aircraft and Missile Systems Vol. 1: Post-World War II Fighters 1945–1973. Office of Air Force History, Washington DC 1978, ISBN 0-912799-19-6 , pp. 265-286.
- Andreas Klein: Air Force Phantoms. AirDOC Publishing, 2001, ISBN 3-935687-00-1 .
- Wilfried Zetsche, Marcus Herbote: British Phantoms. AirDOC Publishing, 2003, ISBN 3-935687-05-2 .
- Patrick Martin, Christian Gerard: USAFE Phantoms Part 1. AirDOC Publishing, 2005, ISBN 3-935687-02-8 .
- Tuncay Deniz, Andreas Klein: Pictorial Turkish Phantoms. AirDOC Publishing, 2008, ISBN 978-3-935687-73-7 .
- Andreas Klein, Shlomo Aloni: Israeli Phantoms Part 1 1969–1988. AirDOC Publishing, 2009, ISBN 978-3-935687-81-2 .
- Andreas Klein, Shlomo Aloni: Israeli Phantoms Part 2 1989 until Today. AirDOC Publishing, 2009, ISBN 978-3-935687-82-9 .
- Patrick Martin, Andreas Klein: US Navy Phantoms 1960-2004. AirDOC Publishing, 2010, ISBN 978-3-935687-83-6 .
Web links
- AirStation.de version descriptions, pictures, history and dates
- flugzeugclassic.de Magazine article about development and records of the Phantom II
- Federation of American Scientists: F-4 Phantom II (English)
- Bundeswehr Classix - Phantom and General (1971) ( YouTube video)
- Bundeswehr Classix: Phantom fighter aircraft - an ugly bird? (1972) (YouTube video)
Individual evidence
- ↑ Jon Lake, David Donald (Ed.): McDonnell F-4 Phantom - Spirit in the Skies , AIRtime Publishing, 2002, p. 265
- ↑ Chris Hobson: Vietnam Air Losses . USAF, USN, USMC, Fixed-Wing Aircraft Losses in Southeast Asia 1961–1973. Specialty Press, North Branch, Minnesota 2001, ISBN 1-85780-115-6 , pp. 268-270 .
- ↑ Craig Hoyle: German air force to bid 'Pharewell' to last F-4Fs. Retrieved July 2, 2013 .
- ↑ Jpw: STRATEGY & TECHNOLOGY: Farewell Phantom! In: STRATEGY & TECHNOLOGY. July 1, 2013, accessed June 16, 2019 .
- ↑ Hellenic Air Force retires recce squadron, RF-4Es, Janes, May 8, 2017 ( Memento of May 8, 2017 in the Internet Archive )
- ↑ USAF QF-4 target drone flies final unmanned mission, Janes, August 30, 2016 ( Memento of August 31, 2016 in the Internet Archive )
- ↑ Statistical Digest of the USAF 1962, p. 72 f .; 1963, p. 71 f .; 1964, p. 58 f .; 1965, pp. 60 f .; 1966, p. 115 f .; 1967, p. 122 f .; 1968, p. 132 f .; 1969, p. 111 f .; 1970, p. 107 f .; 1971, p. 102 f .; 1972, p. 154 f .; 1973, p. 52 f .; 1974, p. 48 f .; 1975, p. 52 f .; 1976, p. 80 f .; 1977, p. 55 f .; 178, p. 79 f.
- ↑ Air Britain: www.ab-ix.co.uk/firstfiles.html:McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II - USN and USMC assigned aircraft histories
- ↑ Statistical Digest of the USAF 1980, p. 84
- ↑ Air Britain: Aeromilitaria 1987/4, p. 104 ff., 1988/1, p. 20 ff.
- ^ Adoption of the "Phantom" on NDR.de , accessed on July 1, 2013
- ↑ Tolga Ozbek: Twin crash prompts Turkey to order RF-4E retirement. In: Flightglobal.com. March 11, 2015, accessed on March 11, 2015 (English): "After the latest incident involving McDonnell Douglas RF-4E / TMs, in which four crew members were killed when two of the aircraft crashed southeast in Turkey, the nation has decided to retire the type after a 35-year service life. "
