Two-seat interceptor and tactical strike fighter. First F-4E flown June 1967. and production continuing at beginning of 1974. First F-4F (for Federal Germany) completed May 1973 with deliveries through 1974. Phantom deliveries exceeded 4,500 by the beginning of 1975 when the backlog was some 400 aircraft and production rate was 18 per month.
Current production models of the Phantom in addition to the F-4E (see 1973 edition) are the RF-4E (see 1972 edition) the F-4EJ for Japan and the F-4F for Federal Germany. The last-mentioned version (illustrated on opposite Page) optimised for the intercept role, entered service with the Luftwaffe from January 1, 1974. and features leading-edge slats and Various weight-saving features.
| Country of origin | USA |
| Performance | (F-4E) Max. speed without external stores, 910 mph (1 464 km/h) or Mach 1.2 at 1,000 ft (305 m), 1.500 mph (2 414 km/h) or Mach 2.27 at 40.000 ft (12 190 ml) tactical radius (with four Sparrow III and four Sidewinder AAMs). 140 mls (225 km), (plus one 500 Imp gal/2 273 I auxiliary tank). 196 mls (315 km), (hi-io-hi mission profile with four 1.000-1b/453.6-kg bombs, four AAMs, and one 500 Imp gal/2 273 I and two 308 Imp gal/ 1 400 1 tanks), 656 mls (1 056 km): max. ferry range, 2.300 mls (3 700 km) at 575 mph (925 km/h). |
| Power Plant | Two 11.870 lb (5 385 kg) dry and 17.900 lb (8 120 kg) reheat General Electric J79-GE-17 or (F-4F) MTU-built J79.MTU-17A turbojets. |
| Armament | One 20-mm M-61A1 rotary cannon and (intercept) four or six AIM-7E plus four AIM-9D AAMs. or (attack) up to 16.000 lb (7 257 kg) of external stores. |
| Weights | (F-4E) Empty equipped. 30.425 lb (13 801 kg) loaded (with four Sparrow Ills). 51.810 lb (21 500 kg), (plus tour Sidewinders and max. external fuel). 58.000 lb (26 308 kg). |
| max. overload. 60.630 lb (27 502 kg). | |
| Dimensions | Span. 38 ft 4 ¾ in (11.70 m) |
| Length, 62 ft 10 ½ in (19.20 m) | |
| Height. 16 ft 3 1/3 in (4.96 m) | |
| Wing area. 530 sq h (49.2 m2). |
