The Phantom Today
More than 800 F-4 Phantom II aircraft are still on active duty with the defense forces of eight nations: Egypt, Germany, Greece, Israel, Japan, South Korea, Spain and Turkey. Almost 100 Phantoms that have been converted into QF-4 drones and missile targets still serve the U.S. Navy and Air Force.
Israel, Japan and Germany have upgraded their Phantoms with new avionics and capabilities. Turkey will modernize its aircraft under a contract with Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) to add new radar systems, displays, navigation systems, etc. IAI also will modify the structure on the Turkish Phantoms. Greece awarded an avionics upgrade contract to Daimler-Benz of Germany in 1997 to add systems similar to the Turkish program. Greece will also modify the airframe structure and has selected Derco Aerospace, Milwaukee, Wis., and Kitco, Springville, Utah, to supply the mod kits. Derco and Kitco are U.S. companies that are licensees of Boeing. Both Korea and Egypt are looking into avionics and structure upgrades.
Given the upgrades already performed and those under contract, the F-4 Phantom II will probably still be flying in 2015 -- nearly 60 years after its first flight.
And the F-4 Phantom II will continue to fly in spirit as its design innovations live on in some of the most modern aircraft:
- Engine inlet duct movable ramp system for high-speed performance
- Braided wire bundles using hookup wire that substantially reduce weight and space requirements.
- Boron epoxy composite rudders
- Extensive use of titanium in primary structural members to resist high temperatures
- Pulse Doppler radar with look-down and shoot-down capability
Boeing supports the F-4 today with a team of six engineers, under contracts with Hill Air Force Base, Utah. Combined, the six have more than 150 years of experience with the Phantom.