Japan scheduled to retire its last frontline F-4 Phantom fighters

Specially painted F-4EJ Kai Phantom fighters mark the retirement of the type from frontline service. Photo c/o JASDF.

The Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) has started preparations to cease frontline operations of the remaining McDonnell Douglas F-4EJ Phantom fighter aircraft from frontline service. This is after 48 years of operating the type since 1972.

The F-4EJ Kai Phantom fighters, flown by the 301st Tactical Fighter Squadron based in Hyukari Air Base in Ibaraki Prefecture, are to cease flying the type by next month.

The squadron was also the first squadron to operate the F-4EJ Phantom. The unit will move to Misawa Air Base and will shift to operating the Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter.

With this development, only the JASDF’s Air Development and Test Wing will continue to fly the F-4EJ Phantom for testing, non-combat purposes.

The JASDF ordered a total of 140 F-4EJ Phantom fighters, which are based on US Air Force standard F-4E variant. 2 units were built by McDonnell Douglas in St. Louis, Missouri are delivered in 1971, while the rest were built locally under license by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI).

A total of 6 squadrons were equipped with the F-4EJ, which most shifting to newer fighters like the F-15J Eagle and the Mitsubishi F-2.

The F-4EJ Kai Phantom, which are upgrade versions of the standard F-4EJ, were provided with updated equipment including AN/APG-66J pulse-Doppler radars, an AN/ASN-141 inertial navigation system, improved heads up display, and other avionics.

The improved variants were also made compatible to fire the indigenous ASM-2 anti-ship missile and AAM-3 air-to-air missiles, and the Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM)

[1] The Warzone