- Yes
- No
McDonnell Douglas/Mitsubishi F-4EJ (early)(マクドネル・ダグラス/三菱 F-4EJ)
The McDonnell Douglas/Mitsubishi F-4EJ (early) is a Japanese fighter introduced in 1972 after winning the second F-X competition. This suggestion describes the F-4EJ aircraft in the form of introduction into service, i.e. on August 1, 1972, when the temporary 301 Fighter Squadron was formed.
History
In 1966, the JASDF (Japan Air Self-Defense Force) was looking for a new fighter that would eventually allow the withdrawal of F-86 aircraft from fighter units. In the previous competition, the F-X won the F-104, which was also planned to be replaced with a new fighter. In October 1967, the F-111, F-4E, P-530 (future F-18), F-5, CL-1010-2 (improved F-104), Jaguar, Saab 37, Mirage F1 and Lightning were entered into the F-X competition. By July 1968, the F-4E, CL-1010-2 and Mirage F1 aircraft were in the competition. The CL-1010-2 aircraft was only a design at that point, so it was decided to reject it, and the Mirage F1 aircraft at that point was still at the prototype stage (in addition, in May 1967 the prototype crashed), so the Japanese decided to use the produced and combat-tested F-4E aircraft from McDonnell Douglas. In November 1968, it was finally decided that the new Japanese aircraft would be the F-4E. On January 10, 1969, the National Defense Council decided to purchase 104 F-4E aircraft for a unit price of 2 billion yen. The new aircraft was to be designated F-4EJ and was to be modified to suit Japanese requirements (modifications will be described later). The first two F-4EJ aircraft were built by McDonnell in St Louis and on January 14, 1971, these aircraft were tested in the USA. These aircraft were then sent to Japan, where on 25 July 1971 the aircraft were accepted into service and given the numbers 301 and 302. Then, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries began assembling 11 F-4EJ aircraft from parts supplied by McDonnell Douglas. The first Japanese-built F-4EJ took to the air on May 12, 1972. Mitsubishi then received licenses to produce F-4EJ aircraft, and JASDF on August 1, 1972 created the temporary 301 Fighter Squadron, which was equipped with F-4EJ fighters. This is where the story of the beginnings of the F-4EJ aircraft ends, and its further fate is a different story.
Construction description
The McDonnell Douglas/Mitsubishi F-4EJ (early) aircraft is very similar to the F-4E on which it is based, but has some important modifications that I will describe here.
- AN/ASQ-9A nuclear weapons control unit, AN/AJB-7 bomb computer, AN/AWR-77 bomb computer, AGM-12 Bullpup missile control system, AN/ASQ-77 weapon delivery system and air-to-air refueling system removed
- Bomb armament mounts and systems have been removed
- Aircraft equipped with the Japanese RWR J/APR-2 system
- the aircraft is equipped with a JM61A1 cannon instead of the M61A1
Armament
The F-4EJ aircraft is armed with a 20 mm JM61A1 cannon. The outboard armament consists of AIM-9 B/E, AIM-4D and AAM-1 missiles. At the time of their introduction into service, work was underway on AAM-2 missiles, which were tested on the F-4EJ. The aircraft can be equipped with three additional GAU-4 cannons. It is not confirmed whether it could carry unguided missiles.
General characteristics
- Crew: 2
- Length: 19.2 m
- Wingspan: 11.71 m
- Height: 5.03 m
- Wing area: 49.24 m2
- Empty weight: 13,760 kg
- Gross weight: 18,825 kg
- Maximum Take-off Weight: 26,332 kg
- Fuel capacity: 7 549 L
- Powerplant: 2 x General Electric J79-GE-17 with 52.80 kN thrust/79.62 kN with afterburner
Performance
- Maximum speed: 2366 km/h
- Cruising speed: 940 km
- Range: 2,591 km
- Service ceiling: 17,435 m
- Climb Rate: 210.3 m/s
Armament
1.Guns:
- 1 x JM61A1 20mm cannon (639 rounds)
- Underbarrel armament
- 2 or 4 x AIM-9B (handles on the wings)
- 2 or 4 x AIM-9E (handles on the wings)
- 2 or 4 x AAM-1 (handles on the wings)
- 4 x AIM-4D (handles on the wings)
- 4 x XAAM-2 (?) (handles on the wings)
- FFAR Mighty Mouse Rockets (?)
- 3 x GAU-4 cannons under the wings and fuselage (?)
- Fuel dump tanks
- 2 x 1,400 L (370 US gal) dump tanks under the wings
- 1 x 2,300 L (600 US gal) dump tanks under hull
Summary
The McDonnell Douglas/Mitsubishi F-4EJ (early) is an interesting aircraft for Japan in War Thunder. This aircraft will provide a good fighter that will be below the current F-4EJ aircraft. This aircraft will be a useful fighter for protecting allies and destroying enemy aircraft. I encourage you to discuss in the comments and to share your own knowledge on this subject.
Finally, I apologize for the linguistic and logical errors because unfortunately English is not my main language and I had to use google translator.
Internet sources
F-4 (戦闘機) - Wikipedia
F-X (航空自衛隊) - Wikipedia
McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II - Wikipedia
航空自衛隊の装備品一覧 - Wikipedia
航空自衛隊 F-4EJ/RF-4E 戦闘機研究 (hikokikumo.net)
samolotypolskie.pl - McDonnell Douglas F-4 “Phantom II”
Japan’s Phantom Phinal Pharewell (vintageaviationnews.com)
McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II Multirole / Carrierbased Fighter / Strike Fighter Aircraft (militaryfactory.com)
McDonnell Douglas F-4EJ Phantom II : McDonnell / McDonnell Douglas (valka.cz)
McDonnell F-4EJ Phantom II (joebaugher.com)
Уголок неба ¦ McDonnell Douglas F-4F Phantom II (airwar.ru)
F-4 ファントムIIってなんなのさ? デビューから退役までを「5つのポイント」で見てみよう! – Hobby JAPAN Web (hjweb.jp)
4_3_nihonnokoukuki3-4.pdf (sjac.or.jp)
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. Global Website | F-4EJ Fighter Plane (mhi.com)
Japanese AAMs - Japan - War Thunder - Official Forum
AAM-2 father of AAM-3 - Suggestions / Aircraft - War Thunder — official forum
Book sources
- Defenders of Nippon F-4EJ RF-4EJ
Defenders of Nippon F 4EJ RF 4EJ PDF | PDF (scribd.com)
