F-4J Phantom II

This page is about the American jet fighter F-4J Phantom II. For the premium British version, see F-4J(UK) Phantom II. For other versions, see F-4 Phantom II (Family).

F-4J Phantom II

F-8E

F-14A Early

F-4J Phantom II

F-8E

F-14A Early

USA

VII Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
11.7	12.0	12.0

Class:

Fighter

Jet fighter

Naval aircraft

Research:350 000

Purchase:950 000

Description

The F-4J Phantom II is a rank VII American jet fighter with a battle rating of 11.7 (AB) and 12.0 (RB/SB). It was introduced in Update "Winged Lions".

The F-4J is a long range support aircraft equipped with long-range AIM-7F and AIM-9G missiles, as well as a very powerful pulse-Doppler radar. Due to it not having the "Agile Eagle" upgrade like the F-4E and having to mount an external gunpod to be able to carry a cannon, it is less manoeuvrable than the F-4E so dogfighting is not recommended.

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-10

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	2,067	2,018	16,000	26.5	27.3	154.4	144.3	850
Upgraded	2,216	2,139		25.5	26.0	217.6	184.5

Details

Features
Combat flaps	Take-off flaps	Landing flaps	Air brakes	Arrestor gear	Drogue chute
✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓

Limits
Wings (km/h)	Gear (km/h)	Flaps (km/h)			Max Static G
		Combat	Take-off	Landing	+	-
1458	463	614	588	473	~11	~4

Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons	Rudder	Elevators	Radiator
< ___	< ___	< ___	N/A

Engine performance

Engine			Aircraft mass
Engine name		Number	Basic mass		Wing loading (full fuel)
General Electric J79-GE-10		2	14,213 kg		408 kg/m2
Engine characteristics			Mass with fuel (no weapons load)			Max Takeoff Weight
Weight (each)	Type		9m fuel	20m fuel	30m fuel
1,750 kg	Afterburning axial-flow turbojet		15,972 kg	18,055 kg	20,078 kg	26,420 kg
Maximum engine thrust @ 0 m (RB/SB)			Thrust to weight ratio @ 0 m (WEP)
Condition	100%	WEP	9m fuel	20m fuel	30m fuel	MTOW
Stationary	5,240 kgf	8,090 kgf	1.01	0.90	0.81	0.61
Optimal	5,240 kgf (0 km/h)	10,340 kgf (1,400 km/h)	1.29	1.15	1.03	0.78

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

Examine the survivability of the aircraft. Note how vulnerable the structure is and how secure the pilot is, whether the fuel tanks are armoured, etc. Describe the armour, if there is any, and also mention the vulnerability of other critical aircraft systems.

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference

AB2 994 → 4 044

RB8 848 → 11 953

SB9 624 → 13 002

Total cost of modifications295 000

450 000

Talisman cost3 000

Crew training270 000

Experts950 000

Aces3 200

Research Aces1 210 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

100 / 320 / 600 %

244 / 244 / 244 %

Modifications

Flight performance	Survivability	Weaponry
Compressor Research: 10 000 Cost: 15 000 340 New boosters Research: 13 000 Cost: 20 000 450 Wings repair Research: 15 000 Cost: 23 000 510 Engine Research: 19 000 Cost: 29 000 650	Fuselage repair Research: 10 000 Cost: 15 000 340 Airframe Research: 13 000 Cost: 20 000 450 G-suit Research: 15 000 Cost: 23 000 510 Cover Research: 19 000 Cost: 29 000 650	Mk11_belt_pack Research: 10 000 Cost: 15 000 340 Mk81 Research: 10 000 Cost: 15 000 340 Flares/Chaff Research: 10 000 Cost: 15 000 340 AIM-9D Research: 10 000 Cost: 15 000 340 Mk82 Research: 13 000 Cost: 20 000 450 LAU-3/A Research: 13 000 Cost: 20 000 450 AIM-9G Research: 13 000 Cost: 20 000 450 Mk11_new_gun Research: 15 000 Cost: 23 000 510 M117 Research: 15 000 Cost: 23 000 510 AIM-7E-2 Research: 15 000 Cost: 23 000 510 Mk83 Research: 19 000 Cost: 29 000 650 LAU-10/A Research: 19 000 Cost: 29 000 650 AIM-7F Research: 19 000 Cost: 29 000 650

Armaments

Ballistic Computer
CCIP (Guns)	CCIP (Rockets)	CCIP (Bombs)	CCRP (Bombs)

Offensive armament

The F-4J Phantom II is armed with:

• A choice between two presets:
  • Without offensive armament
  • 90 x countermeasures

Suspended armament

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

• 1 x 20 mm Mk 11 mod 5 cannon (750 rpg)
• 1 x 20 mm Mk 11 mod 5 cannon + 2 x AIM-9D Sidewinder missiles
• 4 x AIM-9D Sidewinder missiles
• 4 x AIM-9G Sidewinder missiles
• 6 x AIM-7E-2 Sparrow missiles
• 6 x AIM-7F Sparrow missiles
• 60 x Zuni Mk32 Mod 0 ATAP rockets
• 247 x FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets
• 24 x 250 lb LDGP Mk 81 bombs (6,000 lb total)
• 24 x 500 lb LDGP Mk 82 bombs (12,000 lb total)
• 15 x 750 lb M117 cone 45 bombs (11,250 lb total)
• 11 x 1,000 lb LDGP Mk 83 bombs (11,000 lb total)

Custom loadout options

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11
20 mm Mk 11 mod 5 cannons (750 rpg)						1
250 lb LDGP Mk 81 bombs	6	3				6				3	6
500 lb LDGP Mk 82 bombs	6	3				6				3	6
750 lb M117 cone 45 bombs	3	3				3				3	3
1,000 lb LDGP Mk 83 bombs	2	2				3				2	2
FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets	38	57				57				57	38
Zuni Mk32 Mod 0 ATAP rockets	12	12				12				12	12
AIM-7E-2 Sparrow missiles		1*†		1†	1†		1†	1†		1*†
AIM-7F Sparrow missiles		1*†		1†	1†		1†	1†		1*†
AIM-9D Sidewinder missiles			1, 2*						1, 2*
AIM-9G Sidewinder missiles			2*						2*
Maximum permissible weight imbalance: 1,500 kg
* Sparrows on hardpoints 2/10 cannot be carried in conjunction with Sidewinders on hardpoints 3/9 respectively † AIM-7E-2 and AIM-7F Sparrow missiles cannot be mixed, only one type may be equipped across hardpoints

Usage in battles

When compared to the F-4E, the F-4J is rather sluggish. It lacks the leading edge slats the F-4E has, and as such is less manoeuvrable. Therefore, the F-4J should be used rather as a sniper due to its AIM-7F Sparrow missiles and long range pulse-Doppler radar, which allows it to snipe unsuspecting enemies up to 20 km in frontal attacks. Always remember that most planes at the BR range will out-accelerate the F-4J, and as such, it is vital to maintain your speed.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Equipped with a pulse-Doppler radar, allowing targets close to the ground to be tracked and engaged
• Large selection of unguided munitions for ground attack
• Has a helmet mounted sight to launch AIM-9Gs off-boresight
• Good air-to-air missile combinations
  • Can carry up to six powerful AIM-7F Sparrow missiles, which have a long burn time resulting in great range and sustained manoeuvrability
  • AIM-9G IR missiles have good range and decent 18G overload capability
• An ample amount of countermeasures

Cons:

• Large target
• No guided air-to-ground weaponry
• No internal gun; while an external centerline 20 mm Mk 11 Mod 5 gunpod can optionally be mounted, this impacts performance
• Has poor manoeuvrability as it lacks the F-4E’s leading-edge slats
• Top speed and acceleration, while decent, isn’t nearly enough to outrun the majority opponents; this is disadvantageous considering the bad manoeuvrability means you absolutely cannot be caught and forced into a dogfight

History

The F-4J Phantom is an upgrade of the previous F-4B variant, designed with the intent to improve the Phantom's air-to-air combat capabilities, based on lessons learned in combat during the Vietnam War. These upgrades included a more advanced radar (the AN/APG-59 pulse-Doppler radar), an improved fire control system, upgraded engines, increased options for secondary ordnance, while the infrared sensor under the nose was omitted. Over 500 F-4Js were built from 1966, and saw action at the end of the Vietnam War during Operation Linebacker in 1972. Lt. Randy "Duke" Cunningham and Radar-Intercept Officer Lt. Junior-Grade Willy Driscoll became aces while flying an F-4J, after shooting downing three MiG-17s on May 10, 1972.

Media

Skins

• Skins and camouflages for the F-4J Phantom II from live.warthunder.com.

See also

Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:

• reference to the series of the aircraft;
• links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.

External links

Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:

• topic on the official game forum;
• 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