F-4E Phantom II
McDonnell Douglas · United States · first flew 1967 · fighter
The F-4E is the gun-armed, slatted-wing production Phantom, the most-built and most-exported variant of the type.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, swept |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × turbojet, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 19.2 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Elongated nose housing the 20 mm M61 Vulcan gun barrel visible beneath the radome
- Slotted leading-edge wing slats on outer panels giving a scalloped wing-root look
- Absence of the infrared seeker blister under the nose that marks earlier B/C/D variants
Distinguished from earlier B/C/D models by the longer nose with gun muzzle visible below the radome tip, and from the rear by the scalloped outer-wing slat segments. No IR seeker blister beneath the nose differentiates it from the F-4D.
Specifications
- The F-4E Phantom II has a length of 19.2 m (63 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 11.7 m (38 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 2370 km/h (1473 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Combat experience in Vietnam showed the gunless Phantom was vulnerable in close-in manoeuvring combat; the F-4E, which first flew in June 1967, addressed this with an internal 20 mm rotary cannon in a lengthened nose and leading-edge slats for better turn performance. Over 1,400 were built for the USAF and twelve export customers.
Variants
The gun-equipped nose was adopted on the German F-4F, Japanese F-4EJ and Israeli Kurnass. The RF-4E was a dedicated reconnaissance export. Surviving airframes have been upgraded into the 2000s by Israel, Turkey, Greece and South Korea.
Where you'll see it
The F-4E flew with USAF units in Europe, including Bitburg and Ramstein, and was a frequent Cold War presence at UK airshows and exercises. While never directly RAF-operated, it shared UK airspace with British Phantoms. Preserved examples are displayed at various US air museums.
Related aircraft
- Douglas A-4G Skyhawk
- McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II FG.1
- McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II FGR.2
- McDonnell Douglas F-4J Phantom II
- Aermacchi / CAC MB-326H
- BAC Jet Provost T.5
- BAC Strikemaster
- Dassault Mirage 5
AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 5,024 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.