- F-4 Phantom II variants
The
McDonnell-Douglas F-4 Phantom II variants were numerous versions and designations of the F-4 and are described below.Variants
;XF4H-1:Two prototypes for the
US Navy , first flown 1958.;F4H-1F (F-4A):Two-seat all-weather carrier-based fighter for theUS Navy , J79-GE-2 and -2A engines with 16,100 lbf (71.6 kN) of afterburner thrust each. Named Phantom II in 1959 and redesignated F-4A in 1962; 45 built.;TF-4A:A small number of F-4As converted into two-seat training aircraft.;F4H-1 (F-4B):Two-seat all-weather carrier-based fighter andground-attack aircraft for the US Navy and Marine Corps. J79-GE-8A or -8B engines with 16,950 lbf (75.4 kN) of afterburner thrust each. Redesignated F-4B in 1962; 649 built.;DF-4B:F-4Bs converted intodrone control aircraft.;EF-4B:One F-4B converted into anECM training aircraft.;NF-4B:The redesignation of one F-4B for testing purposes.;QF-4B:F-4Bs converted into unmanned supersonic target drones; 25 converted.;F4H-1P (RF-4B):Tactical reconnaissance version of F-4B forUS Marine Corps , nose stretched 4 ft 9 in (1.4 m), smallerAN/APQ-99 radar. Three camera bays typically carriedKS-87 forward oblique/vertical camera on Station 1,KA-87 low-altitude camera on Station 2, andKA-55 A orKA-91 high-altitude panoramic camera on Station 3. Also carriedAN/APQ-102 reconnaissanceSLAR ,AN/AAD-4 infrared reconnaissance system, andALQ-126 ECM suite. Unlike RF-4C, cameras were on rotating mounts and could be aimed by the pilot. In 1975, modernized under Project SURE (Sensor Update and Refurbishment Effort); 46 built. Retired in 1990.;F-110A Spectre:The original US Air Force designation for the F-4C.;F-4C:Two-seat all-weather tactical fighter, ground-attack version for theUS Air Force ; supported a wide spectrum of weapons includingAIM-4 Falcon ,AGM-12 Bullpup , and nuclear weapons; wider main wheel tires resulted in distinctive wing bulges; J79-GE-15 engines with provision for cartridge start;boom refueling instead of Navy'sprobe and drogue refueling ;AN/APQ-100 radar; duplicated flight controls in the rear cockpit. The aircraft exceeded Mach 2 during its first flight on27 May 1963 ; 583 built.;EF-4C Wild Weasel IV:F-4Cs converted intoWild Weasel ECM aircraft. Equipped withAN/APR-25 RHAWS ,AN/APR-26 missile launch warning system,ER-142 ECM receiver, andAN/ALQ-119 external ECM pod. Armed withAGM-45 Shrike anti-radiation missiles and cluster bombs but unable to carry theAGM-78 Standard ARM missile. Many survivors were reverted to F-4C.;RF-4C:All-weather tactical reconnaissance version for the US Air Force, AN/APQ-99 (laterAN/APQ-172 ) radar. Equipped similar to RF-4B but with a wider choice of camera fits, including a centerline pod for the giganticHIAC-1 LOROP (Long Range Oblique Photography) camera, capable of taking high-resolution images of objects 100 miles (160 km) away. Many aircraft were refitted with a more spacious bulging streamlined nose. A sub-variant, to be designated RF-4C(H) was proposed as a night "hunter" aircraft using infrared equipment instead of cameras under Operation Shed Light. In the end none were converted. While usually unarmed, RF-4Cs retained the ability to carry a nuclear weapon on the centerline pylon. Modernized RF-4Cs extensively participated in theDesert Storm war; 503 built.;YRF-110A (YRF-4C):Two prototypes were used in the development of the RF-4C reconnaissance version.;F-4D:F-4C with updated avionics,AN/APQ-109 radar. First flight June 1965. Three USAF pilots became aces in F-4Ds; 825 built.;EF-4D Wild Weasel IV:F-4Ds converted into Wild Weasel ECM aircraft. Unlike the EF-4C, the EF-4D had the capability to use the largerAGM-78 Standard ARM . Only 2 converted.;F-4E:USAF version with an integralM61 Vulcan cannon in the elongated RF-4C nose,AN/APQ-120 radar with smaller cross-section to accommodate the cannon, J79-GE-17 engines with 17,900 lbf (79.379 kN) of afterburner thrust each. Late-series aircraft equipped with leading-edge slats to improve maneuverability at the expense of top speed under the Agile Eagle program. Starting with Block 53, aircraft addedAGM-65 Maverick capability and smokeless J79-GE-17C or -17E engines. First flight7 August 1965 . The most numerous Phantom variant; 1,389 built.;F-4E(F):Proposed single-seat simplified version of F-4E for German Luftwaffe; none built.;F-4E Kurnass 2000:Modernized Israeli F-4Es,AN/APG-76 radar, AGM-142 Popeye capability.;F-4E Peace Icarus 2000:Greek Air Force modernized F-4Es, AN/APG-65GY radar, AIM-120 AMRAAM capability, Litening targeting pod, modern A/G weapons capability.;F-4E Terminator 2020:Turkish AF F-4Es modernized by Israel. They have small strakes above the air intakes to improve agility, new attachment fittings, engine mountings, stronger wing fold ribs, updated canopy sill bar, 20km of wiring replaced (reducing weight by 750 kg) as well as most hydraulic and pneumatic lines and hoses, and fuel tank reinforcements. [http://warriorsoul.4t.com/airforce.html F-4 Phantom on the "warriorsoul"] , Turkish Armed Forces website, Retrieved:
8 February 2008 ]:They have been fitted with New MFD (multifunction display) in the front cockpit plus two in the rear, new Kaiser El-OP 976 wide-angle HUD and
HOTAS system, high performance Elta ELO/M-2032 ISAR-capable high-resolution SAR/GMTI (ground moving target indicator) multi-mode fire control radar (developed for theIAI Lavi ), IAIC mission computer, new navigation equipment including GPS/INS connected to mapping mode, dual MIL-STD-553B databus managing avionics package, Astronautics Central Air Data Computer, new UHF and IFF packages, airborne video tape recorder (AVTR), Elta EL/L-8222 active ECM pod and Mikes (Aselsan) AN/ALQ-178V3 passive embedded SPEWS, and RWR.Donald and Lake 1996]:Additionally they had AGM-142 Popeye/Have Nap integration, Litening-II targeting pods, and the capability to launch AGM-65D/G Maverick,
AGM-88 HARM , GBU-8 HOBOS, GBU-10/12 Paveway IILGB s, general purpose andcluster bomb s for air-to-ground missions, while retaining the capability to launchAIM-7 Sparrow andAIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles. It is also possible to installPave Spike targeting pods and rocket pods of all sizes.Proposals
;F-4T:Proposed air superiority-only fighter version; none built.;F-4VG:Proposed version with
variable geometry wing s; none built.;F-4X:Proposed high-performance reconnaissance version with HIAC-1 LOROP camera for Israel developed under program Peace Jack in conjunction with General Dynamics. Water injection was projected to give the aircraft a top speed in excess of Mach 3 (over 2,000 mph (3,200 km/h) at high altitudes). The water would be contained in a pair of 2,500 US gal (9,600 l) conformal tanks on the sides of the fuselage spine. State Department became worried about developing an aircraft with performance similar toSR-71 Blackbird and offensive capability beyond anything in USAF inventory for a foreign customer and forbade its export. The aircraft was then modified to RF-4X with the camera in the nose which removed offensive capability. However, USAF withdrew from the project over concerns that a high-performance Phantom would jeopardize funding forF-15 Eagle . Without USAF financial support, Israel settled for a simpler and less expensive F-4E(S).;Boeing Super Phantom:A 1984 joint venture between Boeing and Pratt & Whitney for a Phantom variant withPratt & Whitney PW1120 turbofan engines with a significant performance gain over J79 Phantoms. The aircraft would also have an 1,100 US gal (4,230 L) conformal fuel tank under the fuselage. Cancelled early in development. [http://home.att.net/~jbaugher1/f4_34.html]The F-4 "Super Phantom" or F-4-2000 was demonstrated at the Paris Air Show in 1987. It could exceed Mach 1 without afterburners. McDonnell Douglas scuttled Kurnas 2000 development because it equaled the F/A-18C/D in performance and endangered any future sales of the F/A-18.
References
* [http://home.att.net/~jbaugher1/f4.html Baugher's Index of Phantom Variants]
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