The F-4 Phantom II is an American supersonic fighter-bomber reconnaissance (reconnaissance aircraft) made in the United States. It is a large, twin-engine aircraft and is primarily used by the United States Air Force, United States Navy, and United States Marine Corps. Currently the F-4 is retired in the United States, but is still active in several countries outside the United States, such as in Iran and Israel. Until 2001 there were still 1000 types of this aircraft used in 11 countries.
QF-4 Phantom 74-626 at McGuire Air Force Base, May 12, 2007. A-10 Thunderbolt II in the background.USAF F-4s downed 107½ Southeast Asian MiGs (50 with the Sparrow, 31 with the Sidewinder, 5 with the Falcon, 15.5 with the machine gun, and 6 with the others:
The McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II is a two-seat, twin-engine, all-weather, long-range interceptor/bomber fighter aircraft developed for the US Navy by McDonnell Aircraft. This aircraft proved to be highly adaptable, and became one of the main parts of the airwings of the US Navy, US Marine Corps and US Air Force. It was used extensively by the trio during the Vietnam War, became the primary air superiority fighter for the US Navy and Air Force, and played an important role as ground attack and reconnaissance in the war.
Entering service in 1960, the Phantom continued to be part of US military air power throughout the 1970s and 1980s, gradually being replaced by more modern aircraft such as the F-15 Eagle and F-16 Fighting Falcon in the US Air Force; F-14 Tomcat and F/A-18 Hornet in the US Navy, and F/A-18 in the Marine Corps. It remained in use by the United States in reconnaissance and Wild Weasel roles in the 1991 Gulf War, eventually being retired in 1996. The Phantom is also operated by the armed forces of 11 other countries. Israeli Phantoms were used extensively in the Arab-Israeli conflict, whereas Iran used a large fleet of Phantoms in the Iran-Iraq War. The Phantom remains at the forefront of service with seven nations, and is used as an unmanned target by the US Air Force.
Production of the Phantom ran from 1958-1981, for a total of 5,195. This extensive production is the second Western aircraft produced, after the F-86 Saber with production approaching 10,000.
