By Justin Hayward
Over 5,000 aircraft were delivered, with just a handful still flying.
Summary
- The Phantom F-4, developed in the 1950s, was a highly successful fighter bomber and set many records in its early years.
- The major operators of the Phantom F-4, including the US Navy and Air Force, have retired the aircraft, but it remains in limited service in some countries.
- Iran, Turkey, Greece, and South Korea are the countries that still operate the Phantom F-4 in their military forces.
The Phantom F-4 was an important fighter bomber development, being one of the most delivered supersonic jets to date. It first flew in service in 1958 and although it has been retired by its major operators, it remains in limited service with some countries.
The Phantom F-4
The F-4 Phantom II jet was developed in the 1950s by McDonnell Aircraft for the United States Navy. It is a two-seat, twin-engine, long-range fighter bomber. It broke many records in its early years, including for speed, high-altitude flight, time to altitude, and speed to altitude.
Photo: Flight Video and Photo | Shutterstock.com
It first flew with the US Navy on May 27th 1958. The initial Navy use expanded into the US Air Force and US Marine Corps as well, and the aircraft became one of the most important in the US military for many years. It was used extensively in campaigns including in Vietnam and Operation Desert Storm in the 1990s.
Related
Everything You Need To Know About The McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II Fighter Jet
The aircraft was originally developed by McDonnell Aircraft for the United States Navy.
Retired from major operators
McDonnell Douglas delivered almost 5,200 F-4 Phantom II aircraft. Production in the US ended in 1979 - the US Navy withdrew the type in 1986, and the US Air Force withdrew it from active service by 1996 (although it continued in drone use for some years after this). The US Air Force replaced the Phantom with the F-15 Eagle and F-16 Fighting Falcon, while the Navy and Marines replaced it with the F-14 Tomcat and the F/A-18 Hornet.
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Germany was a leading overseas operator, with the type in service from 1971 until 2013 (a German and USAF F-4E pair is pictured below). The UK also used the Phantom II, and it saw service in the Falklands.
Photo:USAF | Wikimedia Commons
Israel was another significant operator, with over 200 Phantoms in use until 2004. Japan operated around 140 Phantom jets, up to the retirement of the last example only in 2021. The Greek Hellenic Air Force operated the type since the late 1970s, taking on both new and ex-German aircraft. The type was retired in 2017.
Photo: Flight Video and Photo | Shutterstock
Currently operating with several military forces
The Phantom F-4 is still in service in a few countries' military forces. As of early 2024, these are believed to include:
- Iran. The Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force originally had 225 Phantom II aircraft delivered by the US - making it the second largest export customer for the type. These were delivered before the Iranian Revolution in 1979. They were used extensively in the Iran-Iraq war, and some aircraft continue in service today. There are as many as 63 F-4 aircraft still in service (numbers here are based on data from FlightGlobal's World Air Forces 2024 report).
- Greece. The Hellenic Air Force still operates 32 F-4E aircraft.
- Turkey. As a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the United States sells military equipment to Turkey. The Turkish Air Force operates a fleet of 48 recently upgraded F-4E Phantoms (pictured below).
Photo: Flight Video and Photo | Shutterstock.com
- South Korea. The Republic of Korea Air Force has operated the type since the late 1960s. Both new and ex-service aircraft were supplied as part of US peace agreements, and deliveries continued until 1988. In January 2023, the Air Force confirmed plans to retire its remaining F04 aircraft (believed to be up to 19 active F-4E variant aircraft) in 2024.
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The F-4 Phantom has been an important military aircraft for many decades. While its main run is over, it remains in active use in some countries. Feel free to discuss the type further, its history, and operators both past and present.
