The F-4EJ Kai (F-4EJ改) was a vital upgrade for Japan’s aging F-4EJ Phantom IIs, extending their service life and enhancing combat effectiveness through the Aircraft Structural Integrity Program (ASIP). Introduced in the 1980s and first flown in 1984, the upgrade included advanced radar, improved avionics, and modern weapon systems, enabling the aircraft to remain operational until 2021. Sharing its radar and weapon suite with the F-16A, the F-4EJ Kai excels in long-range engagements using AIM-7Fs and dogfights with AIM-9Ls, though it struggles in close combat due to limited manoeuvrability. Pilots can exploit overshooting enemies by slowing down and using airbrakes, then striking with missiles or the gun, leveraging the ballistic computer for precise hits.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| AN/APG-66 (F-16) radar with advanced scanning, tracking modes, and strong resistance to notching and chaff. | Poor manoeuvrability and average acceleration/top speed, especially compared to typical opponents |
| Strong and plenty of missile suite, 4x AIM-9Ls and 4x AIM-7Fs | No guided ordnance, reducing ground attack effectiveness |
| Advanced cockpit HUD for easy target tracking in simulator mode. |
Flight performance
The F-4EJ Kai, like all Phantoms, embodies the phrase "triumph of thrust over aerodynamics." It retains its original engines, which can feel underwhelming at higher BRs but compensates with a superior missile and avionics suite.
Additionally, the Japanese Phantom lacks the Agile Eagle upgrade package available to American and other variants. This absence limits its manoeuvrability but solidifies its role as a dedicated missile platform. While this may sound limiting, the Phantom Kai more than makes up for it with impressive capabilities.
Armament
While its flight performance is unremarkable, the true strength of the Phantom Kai lies in its missile arsenal and avionics suite. As one of the final Phantom variants, it boasts the latest technology from the 1980s, including AIM-9Ls, AIM-7Fs, and the AN/APG-66 radar, which is primarily on the F-16. These missiles work exceptionally well with the radar, offering strong target engagement capabilities. Pilots in simulator mode or those who enjoy cockpit views will also benefit from the Kaiser HUD, which highlights radar targets directly on-HUD, making tracking easier.
Like other Phantoms, the F-4EJ Kai remains a multi-role fighter with hard points for bombs and rockets. However, due to Japan’s Self-Defense policies, it lacks guided munitions such as Mavericks, GBUs, or JDAMs.
Usage in battles
The F-4EJ Kai is the ultimate Japanese package of the F-4 "Phantom II". Equipped with the same pulse-Doppler radar as on the F-16 "Fighting Falcon", the EJ Kai possesses the ability to use a fantastic radar for its airframe, battle rating, and missile arsenal to employ it in the best possible way, allowing it to quickly lock targets for AIM-9Ls and AIM-7Fs which can guarantee aerial kills above ~20 m ground clearance.
While the radar and cockpit avionics get a whole upgrade package (which greatly enhances its simulator capabilities due to its cockpit HUD), the airframe is still a Phantom II after all, lacking any real manoeuvrability without access to the "Agile Eagle" modification found on the American F-4E Phantom II. The F-4EJ Kai is, ultimately, a missile bus which hits hard.
As with all Phantom IIs, the EJ Kai is a multi-role fighter with the capability to carry plenty of rockets, gun pods and bombs. However, due to it serving under the Japanese JASDF and its defensive doctrine, it lacks GBUs, AGMs, or Napalm bombs found on other (late) model Phantoms. While it is certainly possible to go multi-role, due to its large amount of carry capacity, it will turn its missile bus experience into a freight train towards bases or ground targets. This is only advised for quick carpet passes in ground battles or when trying to unlock later modules in air battles with priority towards AAMs, as the enemies facing the F-4EJ Kai won't have any issues intercepting a loaded Phantom.
