#f 4e phantom

[usafphantom2]

Missed approach? IDK.

@CcibChris via X

[ghostwarriorrrr]

A sunset view of the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II

[usafphantom2]

[nocternalrandomness]

Phantoms from the 86th TFW over Germany - 1985

[coldwarairforce]

Parked in a line on a flight line are, from front to back, a 493rd Tactical Fighter Squadron F-111F, an 81st Tactical Fighter Wing A-10A Thunderbolt II, a 525th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-15 Eagle, an 81st Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4E Phantom II, 496th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-16 Fighting Falcon and an F-5E Tiger II aircraft. 1987.

[eyestothe-skies]

McDonnell Douglas RF-4E Kai Phantom II, JASDF

Source: masahi

[opelman]

Old Soldier by Treflyn Lloyd-Roberts Via Flickr: This year marks 50 years since the introduction of the Phantom into Turkish Air Force service. Here F-4E-2020 77-0286 takes to the air at Fairford having been on static display during the 2024 Royal International Air Tattoo. Aircraft: Turkish Air Force (Türk Hava Kuvvetleri) McDonnell Douglas F-4E-2020 Phantom II 77-0286 from 111 Filo. Location: RAF Fairford, Gloucestershire.

[fancypantsrecords]

Meteor - Of Ghosts And Thunder (Original Heatblur F-4E Phantom II Soundtrack) | Heatblur | 2024 | Silver & Black Swirl

[monkeyssalad-blog]

Exit by Niall Grant Via Flickr: Pulling up from the valley, Turkish Air Force special 50th anniversary F-4E-2020 Phantom II from 111 Filo

[desertmarauder]

McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantom 2 | Castle Air Museum, Atwater, California | 6/10/2023

[spyskrapbook]

McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantom II _ Hellenic Air Force _ Tanagra Air Force Base _ Athens Flying Week, Greece [02.09.2023] _ Photos by: Spyros Kaprinis.

https://www.haf.gr/arsenal/f-4e-phantom-ii/

[usafphantom2]

TurAirForce F-4Es Phantom

@perpetuaosombro via X

[ghostwarriorrrr]

🇹🇷🔥 Turkish Air Force - F-4E 2020 Terminator

The F-4E 2020 Terminator represents a significant leap forward in the capabilities of the Turkish Air Force. This comprehensive upgrade enhances the venerable F-4E Phantom II with modern Turkish-made weapons systems, showcasing Türkiye’s commitment to self-reliance and advanced military technology.

Background

With a storied history dating back to the 1960s, the F-4E Phantom II has been a pivotal player on the global stage of air combat. Serving multiple nations and seeing numerous conflicts, the Phantom carved out its place in aviation history as a versatile and rugged aircraft. Türkiye’s decision to upgrade this aircraft stems from a strategic imperative to leverage existing assets while infusing them with cutting-edge technology to maintain relevance in modern aerial warfare. The 2020 Terminator program is the Turkish Air Force’s ambitious initiative to retrofit these fighters with state-of-the-art systems.

Strategic Importance

The ability to exert air superiority and conduct precision strikes is paramount in a region marked by dynamic security challenges. The F-4E 2020 Terminator’s enhanced capabilities contribute significantly to deterrence, and the demonstration of Türkiye’s advancing aerospace industry serves both a strategic and diplomatic purpose.

Upgrade Overview

The 2020 Terminator upgrade, realized by Turkish Aerospace Industries in collaboration with ASELSAN, constitutes a multifaceted improvement over the aircraft’s original design. It touches every aspect of the aircraft’s systems, bringing its avionics, armaments, and electronic warfare systems into the 21st century.

Avionics:

The modernized multi-mode pulse Doppler radar extends the aircraft’s detection range, allowing it to lock onto and engage targets from greater distances. Integrating a Hands-On Throttle-And-Stick (HOTAS) system enhances pilot control, minimizing response time during high-stakes manoeuvres. Color Multifunctional Displays (MFDs) replace outdated gauges, providing pilots with real-time data visualization for improved situational awareness.

Armament:

The Terminator’s weapons suite has been revolutionized with a mixture of Western and indigenous munitions. Long-standing armaments like the AIM-9X Sidewinder are joined by Türkiye’s own precision-guided munitions, such as the SOM cruise missile, capable of striking strategic land and sea targets with formidable accuracy. The UAV-230, a domestic innovation, represents the pinnacle of Türkiye’s missile development, offering supersonic ballistic delivery of a range of warhead types over substantial distances. The BOZOK, MAM-C, MAM-L, and Cirit missiles exemplify Türkiye’s expertise in laser guidance and smart munition technology, enabling the Terminator to engage and defeat a broad spectrum of target profiles with unerring precision.

Electronic Warfare:

To contend with the contemporary battlefield’s electronic warfare environment, the F-4E 2020 Terminator incorporates an advanced Electronic Support Measures (ESM) system for rapid threat identification and an Electronic Countermeasures (ECM) suite to confound hostile tracking systems. Moreover, chaff and flare dispensers have been integrated to provide decoys against incoming missile threats, enhancing the aircraft’s survivability in hostile airspace.

Operational Capability:

The F-4E Phantom II, transformed by these integrated systems, emerges as a multirole platform capable of dominating beyond-visual-range air-to-air engagements and precision ground-attack missions. It can operate in complex electronic warfare environments and deliver various ordnances based on mission requirements, making it a flexible asset in the Türkiye Air Force’s inventory.

Significance:

The F-4E 2020 Terminator project is a hallmark of Türkiye’s aerospace ambition and its push toward defence autonomy. By retrofitting and modernizing its Phantoms, Türkiye maximizes the value of its existing fleet while also establishing a foundation for future indigenous aircraft development projects.

Munitions Details:

The advanced, indigenous Turkish weaponry integrated into the F-4E 2020 Terminator underlines a significant shift toward self-reliance in defence technologies. Each munition type brings unique capabilities that enhance the platform’s lethality:

UAV-230: A domestically-developed ballistic missile, this supersonic weapon delivers high-precision strikes at long ranges, challenging enemy defences with its speed and reduced radar cross-section.

BOZOK: The versatility of this laser-guided munition makes it ideal for engaging both stationary and moving targets with high precision, ideal for close air support.

MAM-C/L: These smart micro munitions are designed for tactical flexibility, allowing for precision targeting in complex engagement scenarios, from anti-armour operations to counter-insurgency roles.

Cirit: A highly accurate laser-guided missile system designed for low collateral damage, Cirit is adept at striking soft and lightly armoured targets with pinpoint accuracy.

SAGE Munitions: TUBITAK SAGE, Türkiye’s leading defence research and development institute, has contributed a range of munitions enhancing the Terminator’s operational capabilities across various domains.

Conclusion:

The upgraded F-4E 2020 Terminator is a testament to Türkiye’s determination to retain a competitive edge in aerospace and defence technologies. The integration of modern avionics, armaments, and electronic warfare capabilities ensures the aircraft’s continued relevance in modern air combat, and its presence in the skies serves as a deterrent in a strategically complex region.

[planesawesome]

USAF F-4E Phantom over Ramstein AB, Germany. 1983

[nocternalrandomness]

Low pass at KBAD

[enriquemzn262]

Have you ever wondered how the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II, famous for not having an internal gun and paying the price during the first few years of the Vietnam War, actually got one during the course of the war and in relatively short order?

F-4B of the US Navy

Well, it’s really simple: McDonnell Douglas had also developed a recon variant of the Phantom, the RF-4, which basically traded the radar for a camera set, requiring a longer nose to fit it, but which was otherwise identical to the combat variants.

So once the need for an internal gun was made, it was a simple matter of swapping the camera equipment for a gun, and adding the radar back

And thus, the gun-equipped F-4E, was born, giving a starting point for subsequent advanced variants, all equipped with guns.