McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II

The McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II is an American <a href="/facts/Tandem/mbqYoDCg">tandem</a> two-seat, <a href="/facts/Twinjet/eahpYVVr">twin-engine</a>, all-weather, long-range <a href="/facts/Supersonic_aircraft/Spue1MRH">supersonic</a> jet <a href="/facts/Interceptor_aircraft/HhjPMdnf">interceptor</a> and <a href="/facts/Fighter-bomber/263tB5NF">fighter-bomber</a> that was developed by <a href="/facts/McDonnell_Aircraft/aR8CJ81x">McDonnell Aircraft</a> for the <a href="/facts/United_States_Navy/xYK0fUou">United States Navy</a>. It entered service with the Navy in 1961, then was adopted by the <a href="/facts/United_States_Marine_Corps/J8JDlJG2">United States Marine Corps</a>, and the <a href="/facts/United_States_Air_Force/7MxWBYlc">United States Air Force</a>, and within a few years became a major part of their air arms. A total of 5,195 Phantoms were built from 1958 to 1981, making it the <a href="/facts/List_of_most_produced_aircraft/6t42zpre">most-produced American supersonic military aircraft in history</a> and a signature combat aircraft of the <a href="/facts/Cold_War/spJdJQ3q">Cold War</a>.
The Phantom is a large fighter with a top speed of over <a href="/facts/Mach_number/Ee01MIgw">Mach</a> 2.2. It can carry more than 18,000 pounds (8,400 kg) of weapons on nine external <a href="/facts/Hardpoint/FzK7XtA3">hardpoints</a>, including <a href="/facts/Air-to-air_missile/82Dccmul">air-to-air missiles</a>, <a href="/facts/Air-to-surface_missile/aA8SE7FV">air-to-ground missiles</a>, and various bombs. Like other interceptors of its time, the F-4 was initially designed without an internal cannon, but some later models incorporated an internal <a href="/facts/M61_Vulcan/8APAQoDK">M61 Vulcan</a> rotary cannon. Beginning in 1959, it set 15 world records for in-flight performance, including an absolute speed record and an absolute altitude record.
The F-4 was used extensively during the <a href="/facts/Vietnam_War/W0gfbGTE">Vietnam War</a>, first as the principal <a href="/facts/Air_superiority_fighter/FmwaInsI">air superiority fighter</a> for the U.S. Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps, and later as a <a href="/facts/Attack_aircraft/Rkc7Ft5I">ground-attack</a> and <a href="/facts/Aerial_reconnaissance/xvWXgLKT">aerial reconnaissance</a> aircraft. During the Vietnam War, all <a href="/facts/List_of_Vietnam_War_flying_aces/ul7dbRsI">five American servicemen</a> who became <a href="/facts/Flying_ace/qxUsQSPf">aces</a> – one U.S. Air Force pilot and two weapon systems officers (WSOs), one U.S. Navy pilot and one <a href="/facts/Radar_intercept_officer/lpx2foff">radar intercept officer</a> (RIO) – did so in F-4s. The Phantom remained a major part of U.S. military air power into the 1980s, when it was gradually replaced by more modern aircraft such as the <a href="/facts/McDonnell_Douglas_F-15_Eagle/8ublq0RC">F-15 Eagle</a> and <a href="/facts/General_Dynamics_F-16_Fighting_Falcon/0KRD0Gqy">F-16 Fighting Falcon</a> in the U.S. Air Force, the <a href="/facts/Grumman_F-14_Tomcat/Ana2Iw4D">F-14 Tomcat</a> in the U.S. Navy, and the <a href="/facts/McDonnell_Douglas_F%2fA-18_Hornet/hsKrCHym">F/A-18 Hornet</a> in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps.
The Phantom was used for reconnaissance and <a href="/facts/Wild_Weasel/Cd5fNUaU">Wild Weasel</a> (<a href="/facts/Suppression_of_Enemy_Air_Defenses/xAcsqTqr">Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses</a>) missions in the 1991 <a href="/facts/Gulf_War/6LdLnGdo">Gulf War</a>, and finally left combat service in 1996. It was the only aircraft used by both U.S. flight demonstration teams: the <a href="/facts/United_States_Air_Force_Thunderbirds/6LXYrdyF">United States Air Force Thunderbirds</a> (F-4E) and the United States Navy <a href="/facts/Blue_Angels/kMd8t15M">Blue Angels</a> (F-4J). The F-4 was also operated by the armed forces of 11 other nations. Israeli Phantoms saw extensive combat in several <a href="/facts/Arab%25E2%2580%2593Israeli_conflict/2MYWXMWk">Arab–Israeli conflicts</a>, while Iran used its large fleet of Phantoms, acquired before the <a href="/facts/Iranian_Revolution/frTYhJ0F">fall of the Shah</a>, in the <a href="/facts/Iran%25E2%2580%2593Iraq_War/DqD7W8vd">Iran–Iraq War</a>. The F-4 remains in active service with the air forces of <a href="/facts/Islamic_Republic_of_Iran_Air_Force/up92PhTe">Iran</a>, <a href="/facts/Hellenic_Air_Force/RBzpfCcE">Greece</a>, and <a href="/facts/Turkish_Air_Force/USfxBhyk">Turkey</a>.

McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II open-in-new

McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II