The Forgotten Phantom: Why the F-4J (UK) Struggles in Full Uptiers!

Machinery of War Discussion Aircraft
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Hello everyone,

Today I’ll be discussing the F-4J in the British tech tree and several ways it could be improved so that it can better compete against the aircraft it regularly faces in full uptiers. This will be a relatively short post, as I only have three main issues with the aircraft.

My first issue with the F-4J (UK) is its inability to carry AIM-9Ls. I’ve found myself in many situations where AIM-9Ls would have been extremely useful, particularly when ambushing enemies while flying low to the deck. The aircraft frequently faces opponents with significantly more capable weaponry, and access to AIM-9Ls would help it remain competitive.

My second issue is the lack of countermeasures. At 12.3 BR and below, I never found the standard 60 countermeasures to be a major problem because Fox-1 missiles aren’t that difficult to notch. However, in full uptiers, you can run out of countermeasures pretty quickly due to the threat posed by more advanced missiles. One possible solution would be to give the aircraft access to ALE-40 wing-pylon countermeasures. While I understand this may not be historically accurate, it would significantly improve the aircraft’s survivability. I have similar problems with the F-4S and the F-4J (US). From what I understand, those aircraft were capable of carrying AN/ALE-37 countermeasure pods, which are already in game on the A-6E TRAM.
https://community.gaijin.net/issues/p/warthunder/i/fmGk5uYj45M2
https://community.gaijin.net/issues/p/warthunder/i/OwYEpQ7wGUkY
https://community.gaijin.net/issues/p/warthunder/i/kd0AUvuVBCJO
https://community.gaijin.net/issues/p/warthunder/i/F7KYlqnc4qaQ
Screenshot 2026-06-04 122536
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My final issue concerns drop tanks, and this problem applies to all Phantom variants in the game. They are currently missing their outer wing drop tanks, which would be incredibly useful in Enduring Confrontation matches, especially now that these matches are much more common. The additional fuel capacity would improve endurance and reduce the need to return to base as frequently.
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Fully-Armed-Phantom

Implementing these changes would help bring the British Phantom variants up to modern standards without making them overpowered. The F-4J (UK) would become a more competitive and attractive aircraft, making a return to the store a more appealing option. In the end, both players and developers benefit: players receive a more enjoyable gameplay experience, and the aircraft itself becomes a more desirable premium purchase.

Gaijin could always test these changes and monitor how the aircraft perform. If any of them end up overperforming, adjustments can be made later. However, I highly doubt any of these changes would make the aircraft excessively strong given the current state of the game.

The F-4J (UK) and FGR.2 could receive AIM-9Ls and Skyflash SuperTEMPs, while the F-4J (UK) could also receive additional countermeasures similar to those available on the FGR.2. The FGR.1 could then be moved down to 11.7. From there, Gaijin could evaluate the performance data and make further adjustments if necessary.

Balance changes don’t have to be permanent. If an aircraft genuinely proves to be too effective, changes can always be reverted or refined. Based on the current matchmaking environment and the performance of these aircraft, though, I don’t see any of these proposals resulting in something that’s too broken.

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Another option is Skyflash SuperTEMP, that would bring it directly on-par with the US F-4s in this regard. There is an accepted report

I think this is just a compression issue and not necessary to deal with at the moment. Certainly doesnt need an ahistorical fix

Dont get me started on how idiotic the decision was to add centre-only instead of wing tanks for the F-4s…

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My experience with the Skyflash has generally been positive, and I don’t have any major issues with it. While Skyflash SuperTEMP missiles would certainly be a welcome addition, I believe they should be considered alongside AIM-9Ls to provide a complete upgrade package rather than as a standalone change.

A good comparison can be made with the Tornado F.3. Despite having slightly worse flight performance than the Phantom, the Tornado F.3 sits at 12.0 and has access to BOL countermeasures (x320), AIM-9Ls, and Skyflash SuperTEMP missiles. Given this, there is little reason why the British Phantoms should not receive AIM-9Ls as well.

Adding AIM-9Ls would not be game-breaking. The era of Phantom dominance has long passed; adding AIM-9Ls would not be game-breaking. The AIM-9L is still a solid all-aspect missile, but at the battle ratings where the British Phantoms operate, it would simply help them remain competitive rather than give them a significant advantage over their opponents. Furthermore, several aircraft already have access to comparable or superior weapons at similar or even lower battle ratings. The JA37D receives AIM-9Ls, while the Mirage F1 has access to Magic 2 missiles. Gaijin has previously made balance adjustments of this nature, so extending similar treatment to the British Phantoms would not be unprecedented.

As for the addition of ALE-40 countermeasures, this would be a sensible quality-of-life and survivability improvement. Other British Phantom variants already have access to ALE-40 dispensers, making it neither unrealistic nor inconsistent within the tech tree. The F-4J (UK) simply lacks the countermeasure capacity needed to comfortably operate in the current missile-heavy meta, where carrying sufficient chaff and flares is increasingly important.

Given the number of non-historical additions such as anime tanks and cosmetic collaborations already present in the game, adding additional countermeasure capacity to improve the viability of an underperforming aircraft would be a relatively minor and reasonable change.

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The same applies to a lot of planes, Gaijin should do a round or two of droptanks additions

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did gaijin say something about it?

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Only that it never came and still hasn’t.

Though there is the statement that they prioritise aircraft to get 1 more than aircraft that already have 1 to get a second. Which I get for the most part, except for exceptions like the F4

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The concern is that Gaijin has operated on the assumption that 9Ls + F-4 = 12.3. Just look at the Kurnass and KAI.

STs would at least be on par with the other F-4s at 12.0

The F3 is a bit of an outlier here. It probably should be 12.3. Especially if BOL ever gets fixed, But with the compression… Its just messy.

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A lot of people already consider the F-4EJ Kai to be overtiered. Its main strengths are its missile loadout and improved radar, and I don’t think it would be out of place at 12.0 given its relatively poor flight performance and lack of the Agile Eagle package.

Likewise, I don’t believe giving the F-4J (UK) additional countermeasures, AIM-9Ls, and the missing drop tanks would suddenly make it overpowered. We’re talking about an aircraft that many players jokingly refer to as the “F-4 Junk” because of how poorly it performs compared to many aircraft at and above its BR. Against aircraft such as F-18s, its flight performance is already a major disadvantage.

Even DEFYN has advised players not to carry all four Skyflash missiles in an uptier because of the performance penalty, recommending only two instead. That alone highlights some of the aircraft’s limitations.

The main issue with your comparison is that the FG.2 and the F-4J (UK) are not equivalent. The FG.2 is generally regarded as the stronger Phantom thanks to its more powerful engines, and while you’ve played the FG.2, you haven’t actually played the F-4J (UK). As a result, you’re judging the aircraft based on a variant that performs noticeably better than the one being discussed.

That’s exactly why I believe AIM-9Ls would be a reasonable addition. They wouldn’t make the F-4J (UK) overpowered; they would simply help offset some of its existing weaknesses and allow it to compete more effectively in uptiers. Before arguing against changes to the aircraft, I think it’s important to have firsthand experience with how it performs in its current state.