Japan selected the F-4 Phantom II as its new fighter at the end of the 1960s.
On 1 November 1968, this choice was made public and Japan became one of the few countries that license-produced this aircraft.
The Japan Air Self-Defence Force, received a total of 154 F-4EJ and RF-4Es.
While the F-4EJs were built almost entirely by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, the RF-4Es were bought directly from McDonnell-Douglas.
Due to Japanese military limitations prohibiting air-to-ground ordnance, the F-4EJs were delivered without the AN/AJB-7 bombing computer system and also did not have an air-refuelling probe or receptacle.
In service F-4EJs replaced the JASDF’s fleet of Lockheed F-104 J Starfighters.
McDonnell Douglas built the two prototype F-4EJs, which first flew on 14 January 1971.
The next 11 aircraft were assembled in Japan and the first Japanese-built example flew on 12 May 1972.
Mitsubishi built all the EJs over the next nine years and the production ended with 127th F-4EJ, on 20 May 1981.
This was the last F-4 built in the world.
Fourteen RF-4Es were delivered between November 1974 and June 1975.
These were similar to the RF-4C, but, as for the F-4EJs, Japanese-built radar warning receivers and other equipment were substituted to replace equipment which was not released for export to Japan.
The F-4EJ entered service with the JASDF in August 1972 with a total of Six Squadrons operating the aircraft, the 301, 302, 303, 304, 305 and 306th.
The RF-4E equipped the 501st, that had previously operated one of the less-well-known Sabre models, the RF-86F.
Japanese procurement involved small, multi-year orders, which made for slow production of small batches ordered every year.
Specifications
Crew
2
Length
63 ft 0 in (19.2 m)
Wingspan
38 ft 5 in (11.7 m)
Height
16 ft 5 in (5 m)
Wing area
530 sq ft (49.2 m2)
Aspect ratio
2.77
Airfoil
Root
NACA 0006.4–64
Tip
NACA 0003-64
Empty weight
30,328 lb (13,757 kg)
Gross weight
41,500 lb (18,824 kg)
Max take-off weight
61,795 lb (28,030 kg)
Maximum landing weight
36,831 lb (16,706 kg)
Fuel capacity
1,994 US gal (1,660 imp gal; 7,550 l) internal, 3,335 US gal (2,777 imp gal; 12,620 l) with 2x 370 US gal (310 imp gal; 1,400 l) external tanks on the outer wing hardpoints and either a 600 or 610 US gal (500 or 510 imp gal; 2,300 or 2,300 l) tank for the centre-line station.
Powerplant
2 × General Electric J79-GE-17A after-burning turbojet engines, 11,905 lbf (52.96 kN) thrust each dry, 17,845 lbf (79.38 kN) with afterburner
Performance
Maximum speed
1,280 kn (1,470 mph, 2,370 km/h) at 40,000 ft (12,000 m)
Maximum speed
Mach 2.23
Cruise speed
510 kn (580 mph, 940 km/h)
Combat range
370 nmi (420 mi, 680 km)
Ferry range
1,457 nmi (1,677 mi, 2,699 km)
Service ceiling
60,000 ft (18,000 m)
Rate of climb
41,300 ft/min (210 m/s)
Lift-to-drag
8.58
Wing loading
78 lb/sq ft (380 kg/m2)
Thrust/weight
0.86 at loaded weight, 0.58 at MTOW
Take-off roll
4,490 ft (1,370 m) at 53,814 lb (24,410 kg)
Landing roll
3,680 ft (1,120 m) at 36,831 lb (16,706 kg)
Armament
E-model has a 20 mm (0.787 in) M61A1 Vulcan cannon mounted internally under the nose, 640 rounds
Up to 18,650 lb (8,480 kg) of weapons on nine external hard points, including general-purpose bombs, cluster bombs, TV- and laser-guided bombs, rocket pods, anti-ship missiles, gun pods, and nuclear weapons.
Reconnaissance, targeting, electronic countermeasures and baggage pods, and external fuel tanks may also be carried.
