Mitsubishi F-4 Phantom II

The **Mitsubishi F-4 Phantom II** was a tandem two-seat, twin-engine, all-weather, long-range supersonic jet interceptor and fighter-bomber based on the McDonnel-Douglas F-4 Phantom II for the United States Navy. It is license-built in Japan by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.

## Description

From 1968, the Japan Air Self Defense Force (JASDF) purchased a total of 140 F-4EJ Phantoms without aerial refueling, AGM-12 Bullpup missile system, nuclear control system or ground attack capabilities. Mitsubishi built 138 under license in Japan and 14 unarmed reconnaissance RF-4Es were imported.

Of these, 96 F-4EJs were modified to the **F-4EJ Kai** (改, modified) standard. 15 F-4EJ and F-4EJ Kai were converted to reconnaissance aircraft designated **RF-4EJ**. Japan had a fleet of 90 F-4s in service in 2007.

## Specifications

### **General characteristics**

* **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:** NACA 0006.4–64 root, NACA 0003-64 tip
* **Empty weight:** 30,328 lb (13,757 kg)
* **Gross weight:** 41,500 lb (18,824 kg)
* **Max takeoff 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 center-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
* **Takeoff 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 hardpoints, including general-purpose bombs, cluster bombs, TV- and laser-guided bombs, rocket pods, air-to-ground missiles, anti-ship missiles, gun pods, and nuclear weapons. Reconnaissance, targeting, electronic countermeasures and baggage pods, and external fuel tanks may also be carried.
* 4× AIM-9 Sidewinders on wing pylons, Japanese F-4EJ Kai carry AAM-3
* 4× AIM-7 Sparrow in fuselage recesses.
* 6× AGM-65 Maverick
* 4× AGM-62 Walleye
* 4× AGM-45 Shrike, AGM-88 HARM, AGM-78 Standard ARM
* 4× GBU-15
* 18× Mk.82, GBU-12
* 5× Mk.84, GBU-10, GBU-14
* 18× CBU-87, CBU-89, CBU-58
* Nuclear weapons, including the B28EX, B61, B43 and B57

## Service History

The F-4 Phantom II first saw service in the New World during the Japanese-Parpaldian War wherein an RF-4EJ surveyed the bombed major bases of the Parpaldia Empire during the Esthirant Air Strike if the damages in the bases was enough and a second bombing is not needed.

## Trivia

* The real-life counterparts of the F-4EJs in the story has already retired from JSDF service since 2020. Although the Phantom's current role is reconnaissance and not used in combat, it is likely that the Phantom is still in service with the JSDF in the story due to the fact that designing and building new frames will take time, not to mention they are expensive and the Japanese economy still in a long way to recovery to pre-transfer levels. They are extending the flight hours of every airframe as long as they can.