D
Air ForcesUnited States

F-4E Phantom II

Interceptor aircraftFielded 1972Pending verification
Air ForcesUSA
F-4E Phantom II
Photo: Aeroprints.com · CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Fact cardConfidence · Source
System
TypeInterceptor aircraft
Date of introduction1972
ProliferationAt least 9 countries
ManufacturerMcDonnell Aircraft Corporation McDonnell DouglasMed[1]
Crew2Med[1]
Dimensions and weight
Length17.76 m58 ftMed[1]
Height4.96 m16 ftMed[1]
Wingspan11.71 m38 ftMed[1]
Wing area49.24 m sqMed[1]
Empty weight13,990 kg30,843 lbMed[1]
Max takeoff weight25,455 kg56,119 lbMed[1]
Flight performance
Engine2 x General Electric J79-GE-10Med[1]
Thrust / power17,900 lb (8,119 kg) static thrust eachMed[1]
Rate of climb28,000 ft/min (8,534 m/min)Med[1]
Service ceiling71,000 m232,940 ftAutomated check: outside the expected range for this type; verify against the source.Low[1]
Range2,963 km1,841 mi · 1,600 nmi1,600 nm (1,841 mi, 2,963 km) external fuelMed[1]
Armament and payload
HardpointsUp 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…Med[1]
Main Missile Systems4 x AIM-7 Sparrow and 4 AIM-9 Sidewinder AAMMed[1]
Bomb Weapon Systems: basic load6 x 500-lb (227-kg) bombsMed[1]
ArmamentM61 VulcanMed[1]
Fire control
Fire Control RadarWestinghouse series of digital radar/fire-control systemsMed[1]
Variants
F-4A, B, J, N and SVariants 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.[1]
F-110 Spectre, F-4C, D and EVariants 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.[1]
F-4G Wild Weasel VA 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.[1]
F-4K and MVariants for the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force, respectively, re-engined with Rolls-Royce Spey turbofan engines.[1]
F-4EJSimplified F-4E exported to and license-built in Japan.[1]
F-4FSimplified F-4E exported to Germany.[1]
QRF-4C, QF-4B, E, G, N and SRetired aircraft converted into remote-controlled target drones used for weapons and defensive systems research by USAF and USN / USMC.[1]
RF-4B, C, and ETactical reconnaissance variants.[1]
Weapons and payload options · 1Confidence · Source
M61 VulcanGatling Gun
Med[1]
Type
Gatling Gun
Caliber
20 mm
Rate of fire
7,200 rpm
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.

Draft entry. Values come from the cited public sources and are awaiting editor verification.
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Operators
United StatesEgyptGreeceIranKazakhstanKyrgyzstanSouth KoreaTurkmenistanTürkiye
Sources
  1. F-4E Phantom II American Interceptor Aircraft, U.S. Army TRADOC G-2 Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN)
    Published/updated 2026-03-20 · Tier 1 · checked 2026-10-10
Change log
  • 2026-10-10 Entry created from the Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN), bulk import
  • 2026-10-10 Added photo (CC BY-SA 3.0)