Developed exclusively for the German Luftwaffe, the F-4F Early (Germany) was intended to be a cheaper and lighter version of the F-4E. At the time, Germany considered alternative fighters like a single-seat version of the F-4 and the Mirage F1 but ultimately chose the regular 2-seater Phantom for budget reasons. To keep the cost down, the ability to utilize the Sparrow missile was removed, the number 7 fuel tank was removed (most aft position), and more modifications were done to reduce weight and cost. Ultimately, the F-4F Early was around 3,300 pounds (1,496 kg) lighter than a normal F-4E and deliveries began in late 1973.

Introduced during the Update "Ixwa Strike" as a high-tier reward for the Future Technology event, the F-4F Early is one of the lowest BR Phantoms in-game, second only to the F-4C Phantom. The F-4F Early has significant improvements over the F-4C such as an internal gun, and access to AIM-9Js. However, it also lacks any ability to use guided weapons like Bullpups or Mavericks due to the removal of those systems in real life.