- Yes
- No
Greetings, I’d like to re-introduce and suggest the McDonnell Douglas F-4D Phantom II, a second version of the F-4 entered in the United States Air Force service. To put it briefly, it is a modified F-4C with enhanced avionics and access to advanced missiles and countermeasures during its late service. It is known for scoring only five confirmed kills with AIM-4D Falcons.
Key Characteristics
- Fighter-Bomber / Interceptor / Jet Fighter
- Modified F-4C with newer avionics
- Second most produced variant in the F-4 Phantom II family
- New AN/APQ-109A capable of guiding AGM-62 Walleyes and AGM-65 Mavericks with TV imagery
- Access to new AIM-4D Falcon missiles
- Capable of equipping newer missiles such as AIM-9J and AIM-7E-2
- Capable of equipping countermeasures whereas the F-4C lacked it
History
Design and DevelopmentThe McDonnell Douglas F-4D Phantom II is the second version of the F-4 to enter the United States Air Force service. The F-4D was designed to respond to USAF requirements to deliver air-to-ground weapons with high accuracy during the Vietnam War, whereas the F-4C lacked modern avionics for its ground-attack capabilities.
The F-4D shares the same engines and basic airframe as the F-4C; however, the primary difference is found in avionics. the F-4D’s newer avionics has improved air-to-ground and air-to-air capabilities.
An APQ-100 radar from the F-4C was replaced with a smaller and lighter AN/APQ-109A for the F-4D. The AN/APQ-109A can broadcast and guide the TV imagery weapons such as AGM-62 Walleyes.
An AJB-7 all-altitude bomb delivery system was installed, allowing the F-4D to use the ASQ-91 weapons release computer to deliver the laser-guided bombs more accurately. The F-4C’s fixed gun sight was replaced with an AN/ASG-22 leading computer to be installed in the F-4D, improving its air-to-air combat effectiveness.
Air-to-air combat experience and lessons during the Vietnam War had shown the need for an improved 20mm cannon pod to replace the flawed SUU-16/A, equipped by the F-4Cs; the F-4D was wired to acquire the upgraded SUU-23/A cannon pod. The F-4D’s ASG-22 leading computer gun sight allows it to aim with SUU-23/A pods at high accuracy.
During early production, the F-4Ds omitted its sidewinder capability on the inboard underwing pylon in favor of the Hughes AIM-4D Falcon infrared-homing missiles. The undernose pod for the AAA-4 infrared search and track was removed, only reverting in the late production.
A total of 825 F-4Ds was produced at the end of production, making it the second most produced F-4 variant.
Operational ServiceThe first flight of the F-4D was completed in June-December 1965, only two years after the F-4C made its first flight in May-November 1963. The F-4Ds officially entered USAF service and replaced the F-4Cs during the spring of 1967. The F-4D was also the only variant that scored five confirmed kills with AIM-4 Falcon missiles, shot down four MiG-17s and one MiG-21.
Despite this, the AIM-4 Falcon was ineffective against high-maneuverable enemy fighter aircraft in dogfights. Thus, the weapon was very unpopular with pilots of the F-4D, and even Colonel Robin Olds, a commander in the F-4D, was highly critical of it. Following Olds’ criticism, the USAF eventually restored the Sidewinder capability on the F-4D’s inboard underwing pylons under the “Rivet Haste” program.
Nevertheless, the F-4D variant had historically scored 44.5 confirmed kills during the Vietnam War, beating the F-4C variant with 42 kills and the F-4E variant with 21 kills.
| Aircraft | Weaponry | Aircraft Shot Down | Squadron |
|---|---|---|---|
| F-4D | AIM-4D | 4 MiG-17s, 1 MiG-21 | 13th TFS, 435th TFS |
| F-4D | AIM-7E | 4 MiG-17s, 2 MiG-21s | 433rd TFS, 435th TFS, 555th TFS |
| F-4D | AIM-7E-2 | 18 MiG-21s, 3 MiG-19s | 4th TFS, 13th TFS, 34th TFS, 523rd TFS, 555th TFS |
| F-4D | AIM-9E | 2 MiG-21s | 13th TFS, 469th TFS |
| F-4D | AIM-9J | 2 MiG-21s, 1 MiG-19s | 523rd TFS, 555th TFS |
| — | — | — | — |
Air National Guard ServiceAfter the Vietnam War, the F-4Ds were transferred into the inventory of the Air National Guard in the late 1970s and early 1980s. They remained in service as fighter interceptors for national defense purposes. They were ultimately retired from the service and replaced by ANG F-16A/Bs in the early 1990s.
Foreign ServiceIran placed an order for new F-4Ds for its air force in 1967. Only 32 F-4Ds were sold and delivered to the Imperial Iranian Air Force in Iran by the end of 1969. Today, a few of Iran’s F-4Ds remain in service; however, they are mostly grounded due to the lack of spare parts and are no longer serviceable due to the sanctions placed by the USA.
South Korea also expressed an interest in ordering 18 F-4Ds in 1968. At least 42 ex-USAF F-4Ds were sold and transferred to South Korea, and the last F-4D was delivered to South Korea in 1988. Afterward, the Republic of Korea Air Force F-4Ds were replaced by the Boeing F-15K “Slam Eagle.”
Specifications
McDonnell Douglas F-4D Phantom IIGeneral Characteristics
- Crew: 2 (Pilot and Weapon Systems Officer)
- Length: 58 ft 2.4 in (17.74 m)
- Height: 16 ft 5 in (5.00 m)
- Wingspan, spread: 38 ft 5 in (11.71 m)
- Wingspan, folded: 27 ft 7 in (8.41 m)
- Wing Area: 530 ft sq (49.24 sq m)
- Powerplant: 2 x General Electric J79-GE-15 afterburning turbojet engines
→ 34,000 lbf (151 kN) thrust A/B @ sea level
→ 21,800 lbf (97 kN) thrust dry @ sea level- Internal Fuel: 1,889 US Gal. (7,150 L)
- External Fuel: 1,340 US Gal. (5,072 L) with three drop tanks
- Oil Tankage: 10.3 US Gal. (39 L)
- Empty Weight: 29,873 lb (13,550 kg)
- Combat Weight: 38,781 lb (17,590 kg)
- Maximum Takeoff Weight: 59,380 lb (26,934 kg)
Powerplant Ratings
Maximum (A/B):
→ 17,000 lbf (75.6 kN) each @ 7,685 rpm @ sea level
Military:
→ 10,900 lbf (48.5 kN) each @ 7,685 RPM @ sea level
Normal:
→ 10,300 lbf (45.8 kN) each @ 7,385 RPM @ sea level
Performance w/ (4) AIM-7 + (1) 600 + (2) 370 Gal. Tanks:
- Thrust-to-Weight Ratio: 0.88
- Sea Level Max. Speed: 826 mph (1,329 km/h)
- Combat Altitude Speed: 1,467 mph @ 40,000 ft (2,361 km/h @ 12,802 m)
- Stall Speed: 168 mph (271 km/h)
- Wing Loading: 73.2 lb/sq ft (357.4 kg/sq m)
- Takeoff Distance: 3,050 ft (929 m)
- Rate of Climb: 49,000 fpm (249 m/s)
- Service Ceiling: 59,650 ft (18,181 m)
- Combat Radius: 494 miles (795 km/h)
Weapons System
Avionics:
- AN/APQ-109A (Radar Set)
- AN/APA-165 (Intercept Computer)
- AN/ASG-22 (Optical Sight)
- AN/ASN-63 (Inertial Navigation)
- AN/AAN-46A (Navigation Computer)
- AN/ASQ-91 (Weapons Release Computer)
- AN/ALR-26 or AN/ALR-27 (Radar Warning Receiver)
- AN/ALQ-109 (Jammer)
- AN/APS-107A (RHAWS)
Countermeasures:
- ALE-38 Chaff Dispensers
- AN/ALE-40 Chaff/Flare Dispensers
- AN/ALQ-131(V) Electronic Countermeasures Pod
Targeting Pods:
- Pave Knife Laser Designator Pod
- Pave Spike Laser Designator Pod
Gunpods:
- 7.62x51-mm SUU-11/A (15x)
- 20-mm SUU-16/A (5x)
- 20-mm SUU-23/A (3x)
Air-to-Air Missiles:
- AIM-4D Falcon (4x)
- AIM-7D Sparrow (4x)
- AIM-7E Sparrow (4x)
- AIM-7E-2 Sparrow (4x)
- AIM-9B Sidewinder (4x)
- AIM-9E Sidewinder (4x)
- AIM-9J Sidewinder (4x)
Air-to-Ground Low-Drag Bombs:
- MK 81 (24 x 250 lb)
- MK 82 (24 x 500 lb)
- MK 83 (11 x 1000 lb)
- MK 84 (3 x 2000 lb)
- M117 (17 x 750 lb)
- M118 (1 x 3000 lb)
Incendiary Bombs:
- BLU-1 (11x)
- BLU-27 (4x)
Air-to-Ground High-Drag Bombs:
- MK 81 (24 x 250 lb) Snakeye
- MK 82 (24 x 500 lb) Snakeye
Laser Guided Bombs:
- GBU-10C/B (2x)
Rockets:
- Zuni 5-inch (127-mm) LAU-10
- 19-Tube 2.75-inch (70-mm) LAU-3/A
- 7-Tube 2.75-inch (70-mm) LAU-32
Air-to-Ground Guided Missiles:
- AGM-12B Bullpup (4x)
- AGM-12C Bullpup (2x)
- AGM-12E Bullpup (2x)
- AGM-45 Shrike (4x)
- Guided Weapon Mk 1 Mod 0 (4 x AGM-62A Walleyes)
- AGM-65A Maverick (6x)
Fuel Tanks:
- 600-gal centerline tank (1x)
- 370-gal wing tank (2x)
F-4Ds do acquire AIM-9Js and countermeasures
There are photographs of F-4Ds with AIM-9J missiles and countermeasure dispensers as proof that they had received them in ANG service. Below, you can see serial numbers on these F-4 Phantoms that belonged to the F-4D variant in the photographs.
F-4D livery
If F-4D Phantom II is to be made into War Thunder, it should have a list of unlock-able skins such as the SEA scheme, Colonel Robin Olds’ F-4D, several ANG schemes, the Iranian Air Force scheme, and the Republic of Korea Air Force scheme. Below are photographs as examples of diverse liveries.
SEA Scheme
European One Scheme
Air National Guard (Light Gray) Scheme
Conclusion | Why it should be in the game
The McDonnell Douglas F-4D Phantom II is another variant of the F-4 Phantom II that offers more modern avionics and weaponry over the F-4C. This F-4D variant would be a logical addition, and it could be foldered with the F-4C in the US aviation tech tree. The F-4D will enjoy many advantages over the F-4C as it can get flares and AIM-9J and AIM-7E-2 where the F-4C struggles with its lack of countermeasures and subpar missiles. I highly believe the F-4D deserves to be added to complete the Phantom family in War Thunder.
- T.O. 1F-4C-1 Flight Manual USAF Series F-4C, F-4D, and F-4E Aircraft (1 October 1970)
- T.O. 1F-4C-34-1-1 Aircrew Weapons Delivery Manual (Non-Nuclear) USAF Series F-4C, F-4D, and F-4E Aircraft (15 March 1970)
- F-4C - F-4D - F-4E Armament Systems (1 December 1967)
- Aerofax Minigraph 4 - McDonnell F-4D Phantom II (1985)
- F-4, F-4D & RF-4C Phantom II in Detail & Scale (1994)
- [2.0] Phantom Variants
- AIRFIGHTERS.COM - McDonnell Douglas F-4D Phantom II Data and History
- McDonnell Douglas F-4D "Phantom II" Historical Marker
- McDonnell F-4D Phantom II
- McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II - Wikipedia
Thank you for taking the time to read my suggestion! 😃
