Difference between revisions of "F-4E Phantom II"

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== Description ==
 
== Description ==
 
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The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} American jet fighter {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.97 "Viking Fury"]]. This twin-engine aircraft is powered by two General Electric J79-GE-17 jets, each producing an incredible 8,010 kgf on maximum afterburner.  This multi-role vehicle is among the top fighter jets in the game and also a supremely capable ground attacker.
+
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} American jet fighter {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.97 "Viking Fury"]]. This twin-engine aircraft is powered by two General Electric J79-GE-17 jets, each producing an incredible 8,010 kgf on maximum afterburner.  This multi-role vehicle is among the top fighter jets in the game and a supremely capable ground attacker.
  
 
== General info ==
 
== General info ==
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The F-4E Phantom II is well-suited for any in-game situation. For attacking ground targets, the plane is armed with an assortment of bombs and rockets, and against air targets, players may employ the vehicle's deadly air-to-air missiles and frontal cannon. If desired, three externally-mounted gunpods may be equipped, but note that these may not be useful in certain situations. Although they will undoubtedly increase the vehicle's destructive capabilities, they also appreciably hinder flight performance through induced drag. In many situations, one front-facing cannon is all that is required to dispatch an opponent aircraft. As for the missiles, the ones used by this plane are among the best in the game, comparable to the [[R-60]] missiles equipped by the [[MiG-21MF (Germany)]] and the [[MiG-21SMT]]. The AIM-9J missiles are most effective when fired from between 1 to 2 km away from the target. Any closer and they will struggle to track and likely veer off target for a miss.
 
The F-4E Phantom II is well-suited for any in-game situation. For attacking ground targets, the plane is armed with an assortment of bombs and rockets, and against air targets, players may employ the vehicle's deadly air-to-air missiles and frontal cannon. If desired, three externally-mounted gunpods may be equipped, but note that these may not be useful in certain situations. Although they will undoubtedly increase the vehicle's destructive capabilities, they also appreciably hinder flight performance through induced drag. In many situations, one front-facing cannon is all that is required to dispatch an opponent aircraft. As for the missiles, the ones used by this plane are among the best in the game, comparable to the [[R-60]] missiles equipped by the [[MiG-21MF (Germany)]] and the [[MiG-21SMT]]. The AIM-9J missiles are most effective when fired from between 1 to 2 km away from the target. Any closer and they will struggle to track and likely veer off target for a miss.
  
−
The F-4E has one of the highest rates of climb out of any vehicle in the game, and is also one of the fastest, especially below 5,000 m altitude.  It also has good to excellent acceleration at all speeds, unlike the MiG-21SMT, which only has above-average acceleration at speeds above 700 kph. This means that the Phantom is much more forgiving in dogfights since any lost speed can be regained fairly quickly.
+
The F-4E has one of the highest rates of climb out of any vehicle in the game, and is also one of the fastest, especially below 5,000 m altitude.  It also has good to excellent acceleration at all speeds, unlike the MiG-21SMT, which only has above-average acceleration at speeds above 700 km/h. This means that the Phantom is much more forgiving in dogfights since any lost speed can be regained fairly quickly.
  
−
Unlike the [[F-4C]], this vehicle is equipped with leading-edge slats, which increase the aircraft's manoeuvrability. The plane has the best turning ability between 700 and 900 kph, although it has competitive turn rates at all speeds. However, as with all top-tier fighter jets, extended turn-fights should be avoided, since they bleed much speed out of this heavy aircraft and leave the pilot defenceless against nearby vultures. Specifically, watch out for the [[J35D]] ''Draken'', which will beat any of its contemporaries in an extended turn, and also keep an eye on nearby [[Mitsubishi T-2]] and MiG-21 pilots: although these aircraft don't do as well in extended turns, they can pull a significant angle of attack in the first few moments of a turn-fight.
+
The plane has the best turning ability between 700 and 900 kph, although it has competitive turn rates at all speeds. However, as with all top-tier fighter jets, extended turn-fights should be avoided, since they bleed much speed out of this heavy aircraft and leave the pilot defenseless against nearby vultures. Specifically, watch out for the [[J35D]] ''Draken'', which will beat any of its contemporaries in an extended turn, and also keep an eye on nearby [[Mitsubishi T-2]] and MiG-21 pilots: although these aircraft don't do as well in extended turns, they can pull a significant angle of attack in the first few moments of a turn-fight.
  
−
In air realistic battles, it is recommended to take a balanced fuel load of 20 minutes, allowing ample usage of afterburner but also reducing the mass of the aircraft to improve its performance. It is also recommended to take armoured-target belts for the internal 20 mm cannon, as well as 4 AIM-9J air-to-air missiles. This setup will maximize the vehicle's anti-air capabilities.
+
In air realistic battles, it is recommended to take a balanced fuel load of 20 or 30 minutes, depending on how aggressive you fly. The most useful Air RB armament for the F-4E are the 4 AIM-9Js and 4 AIM-7Es. The best strategy is to climb to altitude (5km or higher) between Mach 0.85 and Mach 0.92. Lock on to targets with your radar and use your Sparrows to shoot down enemy aircraft when in range. Sparrows should ideally be launched above Mach 1 to take maximum advantage of their range and maneuverability. Once the initial volley of Sparrows hits or misses, work in pods of 2-4 planes to protect each other and use your AIM-9Js to deal with enemies on a friend's tail as you gradually shoot down enemies from the highest altitudes to the lowest. Speed is the Phantom's life, so try to avoid turning or dogfighting unless necessary, and avoid flying on the deck in the first few minutes of the game, and there are very few situations in which going below 700km/h is a good idea. Regarding dogfighting, the F-4E in the American tech tree is modeled as an early F-4E, and is not equipped with leading-edge slats. The Phantom was designed around missiles, so try to use them as much as possible, and use the gun as a backup weapon and for opportune targets. Try to avoid getting into dogfights with earlier MiG-21s, especially the MF and SMT, which can easily outturn you.
 +
 
 +
Notable air realistic enemies include:
 +
 
 +
* MiG-21MF and SMT, which will easily outturn all but the lightest fuel loads with full flaps on an F-4.
 +
* MiG-21bis, which can use its amazing acceleration to catch you in a matter of seconds and evade missiles with flares.
 +
* J35 Draken, which is faster than you by 100km/h and more at low altitudes, and will outturn any other aircraft.
 +
* Mirage, which is armed with two of the best infrared missiles in the game, the R.550 Magic, and a long-range radar-guided missile with similar performance to the AIM-7.
 +
* FGR.2, which can out accelerate and outrun you, armed with 4 longer-ranged AIM-9Ds, while also having flares.
  
 
=== Pros and cons ===
 
=== Pros and cons ===
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'''Pros:'''
 
'''Pros:'''
  
−
* Leading-edge slats allow for an above-average turn rate
+
* AIM-9J and AIM-7E air-to-air missiles are among the best in the game
−
* AIM-9J air-to-air missiles are among the best in the game
+
* Can carry up to eight missiles, with up to four AIM-9Js and four AIM-7Es
−
* Gets 4 IR guided missiles as well as 4 SARH missiles in the same loadout (for 8 missiles total)
 
 
* Equipped with flares for evading enemy missiles
 
* Equipped with flares for evading enemy missiles
 
* A wide range of suspended armaments, suitable for any play-style
 
* A wide range of suspended armaments, suitable for any play-style
−
* Deadly frontal armament with high burst mass
+
* Deadly frontal armament with high burst mass is practically guaranteed to critically damage an enemy aircraft if hit
 
* Makes use of a ballistic computer for assisting in the aim of cannons, rockets, and bombs
 
* Makes use of a ballistic computer for assisting in the aim of cannons, rockets, and bombs
  
 
'''Cons:'''
 
'''Cons:'''
  
−
* Easily and frequently rips wings, especially when doing negative G manoeuvres or rolls
+
* Easily and frequently rips wings, especially when doing negative G maneuvers or rolls
 
* Limited ammunition in the frontally-mounted cannon
 
* Limited ammunition in the frontally-mounted cannon
−
* Quite large and heavy compared to other fighters at its tier
+
* Large target for aircraft and AA alike
 +
* The weight of the aircraft makes it have a lower turn rate
 +
* Two engines make for a large heat signature, making it harder to dodge missiles
 
* Rate of climb suffers immensely when carrying large amounts of ordinance.
 
* Rate of climb suffers immensely when carrying large amounts of ordinance.
  
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<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the aircraft in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' -->
 
<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the aircraft in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' -->
 
[[File:F-4E Phantom.jpg|thumb|400x400px|An F-4E of Holloman Air Force base.]]
 
[[File:F-4E Phantom.jpg|thumb|400x400px|An F-4E of Holloman Air Force base.]]
−
The F-4E was initially designed as an incremental upgrade to the standard F-4C airframe used by the US Air Force. The aircraft carried a new radar in a redesigned radome, and more importantly, an internal M61 Cannon mounted in the mose. As well, later-production aircraft featured the Agile Eagle upgrade, which gave the Phantom leading edge slats which improved manuveruability at the expense of top speed. The addition of an internal cannon was a highly anticipated upgrade, as it fixed the problem that F-4C squadrons faced when operating over Vietnam.
+
The F-4E was initially designed as an incremental upgrade to the standard F-4C airframe used by the US Air Force. The aircraft carried a new radar in a redesigned radome, and more importantly, an internal M61 Cannon mounted in the mose. As well, later-production aircraft featured the Agile Eagle upgrade, which gave the Phantom leading edge slats which improved manuveruability at the expense of top speed. The addition of an internal cannon was a highly anticipated upgrade, as it fixed a problem that F-4C squadrons faced when operating over Vietnam.
  
−
The first F-4Es entered service in the 1960s and were dispatched to serve in Vietnam, where they complemented the existing inventories of F-4C and D variant aircraft. The aircraft type was credited with 21 kills in Vietnam, most of which were achieved using the AIM-7E-2 'Dogfight Sparrow'. Several pilots achieved Ace status while flying the F-4 in Vietnam, including Charles B. DeBellevue, who was the highest-scoring American ace in Vietnam. The F-4 went on to form the bulkbone of the US fighter force for the bulk of the 1960s and 70s. As well, F-4E was flown by the USAF Thunderbirds Demonstration Team between 1969 and 1974. The large, noisy Phantom performed around the world until 1974, when rising fuel costs forced the Thunderbirds to convert to the smaller T-38 Talon.
+
The first F-4Es entered service in the 1960s and were dispatched to serve in Vietnam, where they complemented the existing inventories of F-4C and D variant aircraft. The aircraft type was credited with 21 kills in Vietnam, most of which were achieved using the AIM-7E-2 'Dogfight Sparrow'. Several pilots achieved Ace status while flying the F-4 in Vietnam, including Charles B. DeBellevue, who was the highest-scoring American ace in Vietnam. The F-4 went on to form the backbone of the US fighter force for the bulk of the 1960s and 70s. As well, F-4E was flown by the USAF Thunderbirds Demonstration Team between 1969 and 1974. The large, noisy Phantom performed around the world until 1974, when rising fuel costs forced the Thunderbirds to convert to the smaller T-38 Talon.
  
 
The F-4E was exported to a variety of countries. Israel was the largest foreign user of the F-4 Phantom, having purchased 124 F-4 Phantoms from the United States betwen 1971 and 1974; the Israelis were credited with at least 115 kills using the F-4 Phantom during various conflicts. As well, Germany and Japan both procured modified versions of the F-4E, being the F-4F and F-4EJ, respectively. Other notable foreign users of the F-4E include Australia (24 aircraft), Egypt (35 aircraft), Greece (34 aircraft), and Turkey (40 aircraft).
 
The F-4E was exported to a variety of countries. Israel was the largest foreign user of the F-4 Phantom, having purchased 124 F-4 Phantoms from the United States betwen 1971 and 1974; the Israelis were credited with at least 115 kills using the F-4 Phantom during various conflicts. As well, Germany and Japan both procured modified versions of the F-4E, being the F-4F and F-4EJ, respectively. Other notable foreign users of the F-4E include Australia (24 aircraft), Egypt (35 aircraft), Greece (34 aircraft), and Turkey (40 aircraft).
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== External links ==
 
== External links ==
 
''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
 
''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
 +
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
 
* ''encyclopedia page on the aircraft;''
 
* ''encyclopedia page on the aircraft;''

Revision as of 15:02, 4 January 2021

Rank 7 USA
F-5C Pack
This page is about the American jet fighter F-4E Phantom II. For other versions, see F-4 Phantom II (Family).
F-4E Phantom II
f-4e.png
GarageImage F-4E Phantom II.jpg
F-4E Phantom II
USA flag.png USA
VII Rank
Battle rating:
AB RB SB
11.3 11.3 10.7
Class:
Research:350 000 Specs-Card-Exp.png
Purchase:950 000 Specs-Card-Lion.png
Show in game

Description

The F-4E Phantom II is a rank VII American jet fighter with a battle rating of 11.3 (AB/RB) and 10.7 (SB). It was introduced in Update 1.97 "Viking Fury". This twin-engine aircraft is powered by two General Electric J79-GE-17 jets, each producing an incredible 8,010 kgf on maximum afterburner. This multi-role vehicle is among the top fighter jets in the game and a supremely capable ground attacker.

General info

Flight performance

Arrestor gear
Accelerates braking by grabbing the brake cable on the deck of the aircraft carrier
Air brakes
Allows you to dramatically reduce the flight speed by releasing special flaps
Drogue parachute
Reduces braking distance when landing on any runway
Max speed
at 12 192 m2 140 km/h
Turn time26 s
Max altitude16 000 m
Engine2 х General Electric J79-GE-17
TypeJet
Cooling systemAir
Take-off weight24 t
Characteristics Max Speed
(km/h at 12,192 m) 		Max altitude
(metres) 		Turn time
(seconds) 		Rate of climb
(metres/second) 		Take-off run
(metres)
AB RB AB RB AB RB
Stock 2,097 2,074 16000 26.5 27.5 160.8 151.2 850
Upgraded 2,202 2,140 25.5 26.0 221.6 190.0

Details

A ROKAF F-4E Phantom II from to 153th Combat Squadron deploying its drogue chute for landing
Features
Combat flaps Take-off flaps Landing flaps Air brakes Arrestor gear Drogue chute
X ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Limits
Wings (km/h) Gear (km/h) Flaps (km/h) Max Static G
Combat Take-off Landing + -
1458 463 N/A 625 463 ~11 ~4
Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons Rudder Elevators Radiator
< 810 < 750 < 700 N/A

Engine performance

Engine Aircraft mass
Engine name Number Basic Mass Wing loading (full fuel)
General Electric J79-GE-17 2 14,115 kg 406 kg/m2
Engine characteristics Mass with fuel (no weapons load) Max Takeoff
Weight
Weight (each) Type 8m fuel 20m fuel 26m fuel
1,750 kg Afterburning axial-flow turbojet 15,919 kg 18,626 kg 19,979 kg 24,000 kg
Maximum engine thrust @ 0 m (RB / SB) Thrust to weight ratio @ 0 m (WEP)
Condition 100% WEP 8m fuel 20m fuel 26m fuel MTOW
Stationary 5,200 kgf 8,008 kgf 1.01 0.86 0.80 0.67
Optimal 5,200 kgf
(0 km/h) 		9,610 kgf
(1,200 km/h) 		1.21 1.03 0.96 0.80

Survivability and armour

Flares/Chaff
Aircraft countermeasures to distract IR and radar-guided missiles and also AA radar
Crew2 people
Speed of destruction
Structural1 458 km/h
Gear463 km/h
  • 8.5 mm Steel - Armour plate under forward fuel tank
  • Self-sealing fuel tanks (1 in each wing, 6 in the fuselage)

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference
AB2 994 → 4 044 Sl icon.png
RB8 833 → 11 933 Sl icon.png
SB9 129 → 12 333 Sl icon.png
Total cost of modifications294 200 Rp icon.png
457 000 Sl icon.png
Talisman cost3 000 Ge icon.png
Crew training270 000 Sl icon.png
Experts950 000 Sl icon.png
Aces3 200 Ge icon.png
Research Aces1 210 000 Rp icon.png
Reward for battleAB / RB / SB
100 / 320 / 600 % Sl icon.png
244 / 244 / 244 % Rp icon.png
Modifications
Flight performance Survivability Weaponry
Mods jet compressor.png
Compressor
Research:
8 600 Rp icon.png
Cost:
13 000 Sl icon.png
350 Ge icon.png
Mods booster.png
New boosters
Research:
11 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
17 000 Sl icon.png
450 Ge icon.png
Mods aerodinamic wing.png
Wings repair
Research:
12 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
19 000 Sl icon.png
490 Ge icon.png
Mods jet engine.png
Engine
Research:
16 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
25 000 Sl icon.png
650 Ge icon.png
Mods aerodinamic fuse.png
Fuselage repair
Research:
8 600 Rp icon.png
Cost:
13 000 Sl icon.png
350 Ge icon.png
Mods armor frame.png
Airframe
Research:
11 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
17 000 Sl icon.png
450 Ge icon.png
Mods g suit.png
G-suit
Research:
12 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
19 000 Sl icon.png
490 Ge icon.png
Mods armor cover.png
Cover
Research:
16 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
25 000 Sl icon.png
650 Ge icon.png
Mods air to air missile.png
AIM-9E
Research:
8 600 Rp icon.png
Cost:
13 000 Sl icon.png
350 Ge icon.png
Mod arrow 0.png
Mods ammo.png
M60_belt_pack
Research:
8 600 Rp icon.png
Cost:
13 000 Sl icon.png
350 Ge icon.png
Mod arrow 0.png
Mods agm missile.png
AGM-12C Bullpup
Research:
8 600 Rp icon.png
Cost:
13 000 Sl icon.png
350 Ge icon.png
Mod arrow 0.png
Mods pilon bomb.png
M117
Research:
8 600 Rp icon.png
Cost:
13 000 Sl icon.png
350 Ge icon.png
Mod arrow 0.png
Mods heli false thermal targets.png
Flares/Chaff
Research:
8 600 Rp icon.png
Cost:
13 000 Sl icon.png
350 Ge icon.png
Mods air to air missile.png
AIM-9J
Research:
11 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
17 000 Sl icon.png
450 Ge icon.png
Mod arrow 0.png
Mods weapon.png
M60_new_gun
Research:
11 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
17 000 Sl icon.png
450 Ge icon.png
Mods pilon block rocket.png
LAU-3/A
Research:
11 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
17 000 Sl icon.png
450 Ge icon.png
Mod arrow 0.png
Mods pilon bomb.png
Mk83
Research:
11 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
17 000 Sl icon.png
450 Ge icon.png
Mod arrow 0.png
Mods air to air midrange missile.png
AIM-7E
Research:
12 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
19 000 Sl icon.png
490 Ge icon.png
Mod arrow 0.png
Mods gunpods.png
Gun pod SUU-23/A.
Research:
12 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
19 000 Sl icon.png
490 Ge icon.png
Mods pilon block rocket large.png
LAU-10/A
Research:
12 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
19 000 Sl icon.png
490 Ge icon.png
Mod arrow 0.png
Mods pilon bomb.png
Mk84
Research:
12 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
19 000 Sl icon.png
490 Ge icon.png
Mod arrow 0.png
Mods air to air midrange missile.png
AIM-7E-2
Research:
16 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
25 000 Sl icon.png
650 Ge icon.png
40px
AGM-65B
Research:
16 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
25 000 Sl icon.png
650 Ge icon.png
Mods optical guided bomb.png
AGM-62A
Research:
16 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
25 000 Sl icon.png
650 Ge icon.png
Mod arrow right 0.png
Mods optical guided bomb.png
GBU-8/15
Research:
16 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
25 000 Sl icon.png
650 Ge icon.png

Armaments

Offensive armament

Main article: M61 (20 mm)

The F-4E Phantom II is armed with:

  • 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon, chin-mounted (640 rpg)

Due to this cannon's high rate of fire, trigger discipline is a must.

Suspended armament

Main articles: LDGP Mk 82 (500 lb), M117 cone 45 (750 lb), LDGP Mk 83 (1,000 lb), LDGP Mk 84 (2,000 lb)
Main articles: AGM-12C Bullpup, AIM-7E Sparrow, AIM-9E Sidewinder, AIM-9J Sidewinder
Main articles: FFAR Mighty Mouse, Zuni Mk32 Mod 0 ATAP, M61 (20 mm)

The F-4E Phantom II can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

  • Without load
  • 3 x 20 mm M61 cannons (1,200 rpg = 3,600 total)
  • 24 x 500 lb LDGP Mk 82 bombs (12,000 lb total)
  • 16 x 750 lb M117 cone 45 bombs (12,000 lb total)
  • 11 x 1,000 lb LDGP Mk 83 bombs (11,000 lb total)
  • 3 x 2,000 lb LDGP Mk 84 bombs (6,000 lb total)
  • 2 x AGM-12C Bullpup missiles
  • 285 x FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets
  • 60 x Zuni Mk32 Mod 0 ATAP rockets
  • 4 x AIM-9E Sidewinder missiles
  • 4 x AIM-9J Sidewinder missiles
  • 18 x 500 lb LDGP Mk 82 bombs + 4 x AIM-9E Sidewinder missiles (9,000 lb total)
  • 18 x 500 lb LDGP Mk 82 bombs + 4 x AIM-9J Sidewinder missiles (9,000 lb total)
  • 10 x 750 lb M117 cone 45 bombs + 4 x AIM-9E Sidewinder missiles (7,500 lb total)
  • 10 x 750 lb M117 cone 45 bombs + 4 x AIM-9J Sidewinder missiles (7,500 lb total)
  • 7 x 1,000 lb LDGP Mk 83 bombs + 4 x AIM-9E Sidewinder missiles (7,000 lb total)
  • 7 x 1,000 lb LDGP Mk 83 bombs + 4 x AIM-9J Sidewinder missiles (7,000 lb total)
  • 3 x 2,000 lb LDGP Mk 84 bombs + 4 x AIM-9E Sidewinder missiles (6,000 lb total)
  • 3 x 2,000 lb LDGP Mk 84 bombs + 4 x AIM-9J Sidewinder missiles (6,000 lb total)
  • 4 x AIM-9E Sidewinder missiles + 171 x FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets
  • 4 x AIM-9J Sidewinder missiles + 171 x FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets
  • 4 x AIM-9E Sidewinder missiles + 36 x Zuni Mk32 Mod 0 ATAP rockets
  • 4 x AIM-9J Sidewinder missiles + 36 x Zuni Mk32 Mod 0 ATAP rockets
  • 4 x AIM-7E Sparrow missiles + 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon (1,200 rpg)
  • 4 x AIM-7E Sparrow missiles + 4 x AIM-9E Sidewinder missiles
  • 4 x AIM-7E Sparrow missiles + 4 x AIM-9J Sidewinder missiles
  • 4 x AIM-7E Sparrow missiles + 24 x 500 lb LDGP Mk 82 bombs (12,000 lb total)
  • 4 x AIM-7E Sparrow missiles + 16 x 750 lb M117 cone 45 bombs (12,000 lb total)
  • 4 x AIM-7E Sparrow missiles + 11 x 1,000 lb LDGP Mk 83 bombs (11,000 lb total)
  • 4 x AIM-7E Sparrow missiles + 4 x AIM-9E Sidewinder missiles + 18 x 500 lb LDGP Mk 82 bombs (9,000 lb total)
  • 4 x AIM-7E Sparrow missiles + 4 x AIM-9J Sidewinder missiles + 18 x 500 lb LDGP Mk 82 bombs (9,000 lb total)
  • 4 x AIM-7E Sparrow missiles + 4 x AIM-9E Sidewinder missiles + 10 x 750 lb M117 cone 45 bombs (7,500 lb total)
  • 4 x AIM-7E Sparrow missiles + 4 x AIM-9J Sidewinder missiles + 10 x 750 lb M117 cone 45 bombs (7,500 lb total)
  • 4 x AIM-7E Sparrow missiles + 4 x AIM-9E Sidewinder missiles + 7 x 1,000 lb LDGP Mk 83 bombs (7,000 lb total)
  • 4 x AIM-7E Sparrow missiles + 4 x AIM-9J Sidewinder missiles + 7 x 1,000 lb LDGP Mk 83 bombs (7,000 lb total)

Usage in battles

The F-4E Phantom II is well-suited for any in-game situation. For attacking ground targets, the plane is armed with an assortment of bombs and rockets, and against air targets, players may employ the vehicle's deadly air-to-air missiles and frontal cannon. If desired, three externally-mounted gunpods may be equipped, but note that these may not be useful in certain situations. Although they will undoubtedly increase the vehicle's destructive capabilities, they also appreciably hinder flight performance through induced drag. In many situations, one front-facing cannon is all that is required to dispatch an opponent aircraft. As for the missiles, the ones used by this plane are among the best in the game, comparable to the R-60 missiles equipped by the MiG-21MF (Germany) and the MiG-21SMT. The AIM-9J missiles are most effective when fired from between 1 to 2 km away from the target. Any closer and they will struggle to track and likely veer off target for a miss.

The F-4E has one of the highest rates of climb out of any vehicle in the game, and is also one of the fastest, especially below 5,000 m altitude. It also has good to excellent acceleration at all speeds, unlike the MiG-21SMT, which only has above-average acceleration at speeds above 700 km/h. This means that the Phantom is much more forgiving in dogfights since any lost speed can be regained fairly quickly.

The plane has the best turning ability between 700 and 900 kph, although it has competitive turn rates at all speeds. However, as with all top-tier fighter jets, extended turn-fights should be avoided, since they bleed much speed out of this heavy aircraft and leave the pilot defenseless against nearby vultures. Specifically, watch out for the J35D Draken, which will beat any of its contemporaries in an extended turn, and also keep an eye on nearby Mitsubishi T-2 and MiG-21 pilots: although these aircraft don't do as well in extended turns, they can pull a significant angle of attack in the first few moments of a turn-fight.

In air realistic battles, it is recommended to take a balanced fuel load of 20 or 30 minutes, depending on how aggressive you fly. The most useful Air RB armament for the F-4E are the 4 AIM-9Js and 4 AIM-7Es. The best strategy is to climb to altitude (5km or higher) between Mach 0.85 and Mach 0.92. Lock on to targets with your radar and use your Sparrows to shoot down enemy aircraft when in range. Sparrows should ideally be launched above Mach 1 to take maximum advantage of their range and maneuverability. Once the initial volley of Sparrows hits or misses, work in pods of 2-4 planes to protect each other and use your AIM-9Js to deal with enemies on a friend's tail as you gradually shoot down enemies from the highest altitudes to the lowest. Speed is the Phantom's life, so try to avoid turning or dogfighting unless necessary, and avoid flying on the deck in the first few minutes of the game, and there are very few situations in which going below 700km/h is a good idea. Regarding dogfighting, the F-4E in the American tech tree is modeled as an early F-4E, and is not equipped with leading-edge slats. The Phantom was designed around missiles, so try to use them as much as possible, and use the gun as a backup weapon and for opportune targets. Try to avoid getting into dogfights with earlier MiG-21s, especially the MF and SMT, which can easily outturn you.

Notable air realistic enemies include:

  • MiG-21MF and SMT, which will easily outturn all but the lightest fuel loads with full flaps on an F-4.
  • MiG-21bis, which can use its amazing acceleration to catch you in a matter of seconds and evade missiles with flares.
  • J35 Draken, which is faster than you by 100km/h and more at low altitudes, and will outturn any other aircraft.
  • Mirage, which is armed with two of the best infrared missiles in the game, the R.550 Magic, and a long-range radar-guided missile with similar performance to the AIM-7.
  • FGR.2, which can out accelerate and outrun you, armed with 4 longer-ranged AIM-9Ds, while also having flares.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • AIM-9J and AIM-7E air-to-air missiles are among the best in the game
  • Can carry up to eight missiles, with up to four AIM-9Js and four AIM-7Es
  • Equipped with flares for evading enemy missiles
  • A wide range of suspended armaments, suitable for any play-style
  • Deadly frontal armament with high burst mass is practically guaranteed to critically damage an enemy aircraft if hit
  • Makes use of a ballistic computer for assisting in the aim of cannons, rockets, and bombs

Cons:

  • Easily and frequently rips wings, especially when doing negative G maneuvers or rolls
  • Limited ammunition in the frontally-mounted cannon
  • Large target for aircraft and AA alike
  • The weight of the aircraft makes it have a lower turn rate
  • Two engines make for a large heat signature, making it harder to dodge missiles
  • Rate of climb suffers immensely when carrying large amounts of ordinance.

History

An F-4E of Holloman Air Force base.

The F-4E was initially designed as an incremental upgrade to the standard F-4C airframe used by the US Air Force. The aircraft carried a new radar in a redesigned radome, and more importantly, an internal M61 Cannon mounted in the mose. As well, later-production aircraft featured the Agile Eagle upgrade, which gave the Phantom leading edge slats which improved manuveruability at the expense of top speed. The addition of an internal cannon was a highly anticipated upgrade, as it fixed a problem that F-4C squadrons faced when operating over Vietnam.

The first F-4Es entered service in the 1960s and were dispatched to serve in Vietnam, where they complemented the existing inventories of F-4C and D variant aircraft. The aircraft type was credited with 21 kills in Vietnam, most of which were achieved using the AIM-7E-2 'Dogfight Sparrow'. Several pilots achieved Ace status while flying the F-4 in Vietnam, including Charles B. DeBellevue, who was the highest-scoring American ace in Vietnam. The F-4 went on to form the backbone of the US fighter force for the bulk of the 1960s and 70s. As well, F-4E was flown by the USAF Thunderbirds Demonstration Team between 1969 and 1974. The large, noisy Phantom performed around the world until 1974, when rising fuel costs forced the Thunderbirds to convert to the smaller T-38 Talon.

The F-4E was exported to a variety of countries. Israel was the largest foreign user of the F-4 Phantom, having purchased 124 F-4 Phantoms from the United States betwen 1971 and 1974; the Israelis were credited with at least 115 kills using the F-4 Phantom during various conflicts. As well, Germany and Japan both procured modified versions of the F-4E, being the F-4F and F-4EJ, respectively. Other notable foreign users of the F-4E include Australia (24 aircraft), Egypt (35 aircraft), Greece (34 aircraft), and Turkey (40 aircraft).

During service, the Phantom gained a number of nicknames, including "Rhino" (referencing it's titanium construction and long nose), "Double-Ugly", and even "The world's largest distributor of MiG Parts", referencing the 277 MiGs downed by the Phantom during various conflicts. The USAF retired the aircraft in 1996, and the aircraft was used as a target drone until 2016. The aircraft remains in service with Iran, Japan, South Korea, Greece and Turkey, 62 years after it's maiden flight.

Media

Skins
Videos
The Shooting Range #198 - Metal Beasts section at 00:33 discusses the F-4E Phantom II.

See also

Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

External links

Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:

  • topic on the official game forum;
  • encyclopedia page on the aircraft;
  • other literature.


McDonnell Aircraft Corporation
Jet Fighters  F2H-2 · F3H-2
  F-4C Phantom II · F-4E Phantom II · F-4J Phantom II · F-4S Phantom II
  F-15A · F-15C MSIP II · F-15E
Strike Aircraft  AV-8B Plus · AV-8B (NA)
Helicopters  AH-6M
Export/Licensed 
Aircraft  ◄F-4F Early · ◄F-4F · ◄F-4F KWS LV · Phantom FG.1 · Phantom FGR.2 · F-4J(UK) Phantom II · F-4EJ Phantom II · F-4EJ ADTW · Kurnass · Kurnass 2000
  F-15J · F-15J(M) · Baz · Baz Meshupar · F-15I Ra’am
  ▄AV-8B Plus
Helicopters  Lahatut
  The McDonnell Aircraft Corporation merged with Douglas Aircraft Company in 1967 to form McDonnell Douglas Corporation. Later it was merged with The Boeing Company in 1997.
See Also  Mitsubishi Heavy Industries

USA jet aircraft
  Fighters
F9F  F9F-2 · F9F-5 · F9F-8
F-80  F-80A-5 · F-80C-10
F-84  F-84B-26 · F-84F · F-84G-21-RE
F-86  F-86A-5 · F-86F-25 · F-86F-2 · F-86F-35
F-89  F-89B · F-89D
F-100  F-100D
F-104  F-104A · F-104C
F-4  F-4C Phantom II · F-4E Phantom II · F-4J Phantom II · F-4S Phantom II
F-5  F-5A · F-5C · F-5E · F-20A
F-8  F8U-2 · F-8E
F-14  F-14A Early · ▄F-14A IRIAF · F-14B
F-15  F-15A · F-15C MSIP II · F-15E
F-16  F-16A · F-16A ADF · F-16C
Other  P-59A · F2H-2 · F3D-1 · F3H-2 · F4D-1 · F11F-1
  Strike Aircraft
FJ-4  FJ-4B · FJ-4B VMF-232
A-4  A-4B · A-4E Early
A-7  A-7D · A-7E · A-7K
AV-8  AV-8A · AV-8C · AV-8B Plus · AV-8B (NA)
A-10  A-10A · A-10A Late · A-10C
F-111  F-111A · F-111F
Other  A-6E TRAM · F-105D · F-117
  Bombers
B-57  B-57A · B-57B

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