- Side
- Israel
Israeli F-4 Phantom II aircraft arrived during the War of Attrition and took part in Operation Priha deep-strike missions against Egyptian targets.
Aircraft & UAVs
F-4 Phantom II
Also known as
- F-4
- McDonnell F-4
- McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II
- Phantom II
- Kurnas
The F-4 Phantom II is an American twin-engine, two-seat supersonic fighter-bomber developed by McDonnell for U.S. Navy fleet defense and later adopted by U.S. and allied air arms for interception, strike, reconnaissance, and electronic-warfare roles. More than 5,000 were built, with source-backed catalog use spanning Israeli War of Attrition strikes, U.S. F-4G Wild Weasel missions in the Gulf War, Turkish F-4E 2020 strikes against PKK targets, Turkey's RF-4E loss over the Syria crisis, and attributed Iranian anti-ISIS strikes in Iraq.
Role in Conflicts
- Side
- Coalition forces
The F-4G Wild Weasel, an F-4E-derived Phantom II conversion, flew U.S. suppression-of-enemy-air-defenses missions during Operation Desert Storm.
Role details- Side
- Turkey
Turkish F-4E 2020 aircraft participated with F-16s and unmanned drones in November 2015 airstrikes against PKK targets in northern Iraq's Qandil Mountains.
- Side
- Turkey
A Turkish RF-4E Phantom II reconnaissance aircraft was shot down by Syria in June 2012, making the Phantom directly documented in the Syrian Civil War's Turkey-Syria air-defense incidents.
Role details
U.S. officials and defense reporting attributed F-4 Phantom II airstrikes in Iraq's Diyala province to Iran in late 2014, while Iranian officials denied carrying out the anti-ISIS strikes.
Role detailsProfile / Specs
Profile
- Origin
- United States
- Type
- Twin-engine, two-seat supersonic fighter-bomber
- Service note
- Cold War
- Designer
- McDonnell Aircraft Corporation
- Designed
- First flown in May 1958
- Produced
- 1958-1979
- Number built
- More than 5,000
Specifications
- Crew
- 2
- Top speed
- 1,400 mph (F-4C fact sheet)
- Range
- 1,750 miles (F-4C fact sheet)
- Ceiling
- 59,600 ft (F-4C fact sheet)
- Powerplant
- 2 × General Electric J79-GE-15 afterburning turbojets
- Armament
- Up to 16,000 lb of externally carried ordnance
- Documented mission roles
- Fleet-defense fighter, fighter-bomber, reconnaissance aircraft, and Wild Weasel electronic-warfare conversion
Variants
Phantom II designations cover service-specific fighter, fighter-bomber, reconnaissance, and electronic-warfare configurations; later national upgrade names such as Kurnas 2000 and Terminator 2020 identify operator modernization programs rather than new airframes.
| Variant | Configuration | Designation notes |
|---|---|---|
| F-4C | USAF fighter-bomber | The F-4C was the U.S. Air Force's first Phantom II version, first flying in May 1963 with production deliveries beginning six months later. Sources: McDonnell Douglas F-4C Phantom II | National Museum of the United States Air Force |
| F-4D | USAF fighter-bomber | Tinker Air Force Base's Phantom II history identifies the F-4D as an Air Force version after the initial F-4C. |
| F-4E | Fighter-bomber with internal gun | The National Museum F-4E photo caption identifies an F-4E with AIM-7 Sparrow, AIM-4D Falcon, and M61A1 Vulcan armament. Sources: McDonnell Douglas F-4E | National Museum of the United States Air Force |
| RF-4E | Reconnaissance Phantom | CFR and NATO coverage of the 2012 shootdown identifies Turkey's lost aircraft as a reconnaissance Phantom tied to the Syria crisis. Sources: CFR - Turkey: Phantom Shoot-Down?, NATO - NAC Statement on Turkish Aircraft Shootdown |
 | Electronic-warfare and SEAD conversion | The F-4G was a Wild Weasel conversion of the F-4E airframe used for locating and suppressing radar-guided air defenses. Sources: McDonnell Douglas F-4G Wild Weasel | National Museum of the United States Air Force |
Carried Munitions
The Phantom II family is documented with short-range air-to-air missiles, iron bombs, and later Wild Weasel armament options across its F-4C, F-4E, and F-4G variants.
| Carried item | Item type | Carriage evidence |
|---|---|---|
 | Anti-ship cruise missile | Iran Press says the Qader anti-ship cruise missile can be installed on aircraft such as the F-4 Phantom fighter. Sources: Qader anti-ship missile capable against coastal targets, boats |
 | Short-range air-to-air missile | The F-4C fact sheet lists four AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles in a typical 1967 loadout. Sources: McDonnell Douglas F-4C Phantom II | National Museum of the United States Air Force, AIM-9 Sidewinder |
 | Medium-range air-to-air missile | NAVAIR identifies U.S. Air Force and Navy F-4 Phantoms as heavy AIM-7 Sparrow users during the missile's first combat use in Vietnam. Sources: AIM-7 Sparrow - NAVAIR |
 | Infrared air-to-air missile | The National Museum photo caption identifies an F-4E Phantom II carrying four AIM-4D Falcon missiles. Sources: McDonnell Douglas F-4E | National Museum of the United States Air Force |
 | 750-pound general-purpose bomb | The F-4C fact sheet lists eight 750-pound Mk 117 bombs in a typical 1967 loadout. Sources: McDonnell Douglas F-4C Phantom II | National Museum of the United States Air Force, M117 General Purpose Bomb |
 | Tactical air-to-surface missile | The F-4G Wild Weasel fact sheet lists AGM-65 Maverick missiles among its armament options. Sources: McDonnell Douglas F-4G Wild Weasel | National Museum of the United States Air Force, AGM-65 Maverick Fact Sheet |
 | Anti-radiation missile | The F-4G Wild Weasel fact sheet lists AGM-45 Shrike among the Phantom-derived Wild Weasel armament options. Sources: McDonnell Douglas F-4G Wild Weasel | National Museum of the United States Air Force |
 | High-speed anti-radiation missile | The F-4G Wild Weasel fact sheet lists AGM-88 HARM missiles among its armament options. Sources: McDonnell Douglas F-4G Wild Weasel | National Museum of the United States Air Force, AGM-88 HARM |
 | Television-guided glide bomb | The National Museum Walleye I fact sheet says USAF F-4s used the television-guided Walleye glide bomb starting in 1967. Sources: Martin Marietta AGM-62 Walleye I - National Museum of the USAF |
Electronic Warfare Equipment
Museum loadout evidence documents the F-4C with podded electronic-countermeasures equipment in addition to weapons.
| Carried item | Item type | Carriage evidence |
|---|---|---|
 | Electronic countermeasures pod | The National Museum of the U.S. Air Force lists one ALQ-87 pod on the right inboard pylon in a typical 1967 F-4C loadout. Sources: McDonnell Douglas F-4C Phantom II | National Museum of the United States Air Force |
Firing Weapons
| Ammunition | Ammunition type | Firing evidence |
|---|---|---|
 | 20 mm aircraft cannon | The National Museum F-4E photo caption identifies the aircraft with an M61A1 Vulcan 20 mm cannon, and the M61A1 fact sheet says the Vulcan was carried internally on the F-4E Phantom II. Sources: McDonnell Douglas F-4E | National Museum of the United States Air Force, M61A1 Vulcan Cannon | National Museum of the United States Air Force |
Timeline
F-4 Phantom II Key Events
First flight
The Phantom II first flew in May 1958 after being developed for U.S. Navy fleet defense.
Sources: McDonnell Douglas F-4C Phantom II | National Museum of the United States Air Force
USAF deliveries begin
The USAF's first F-4C version made its first flight in May 1963, and production deliveries began six months later.
Sources: McDonnell Douglas F-4C Phantom II | National Museum of the United States Air Force
1969 War of Attrition service
The Israeli Air Force says the Phantom arrived during the 1969 War of Attrition and took part in Operation Priha strike activity against Egyptian targets.
Sources: Operation “Priha” - The Israeli Air Force
Gulf War Wild Weasel missions
F-4G Wild Weasel crews used the Phantom II airframe for U.S. air-defense-suppression missions during Operation Desert Storm.
Sources: McDonnell Douglas F-4G Wild Weasel | National Museum of the United States Air Force
Turkish RF-4E shot down near Syria
NATO condemned Syria's shootdown of a Turkish aircraft, while CFR identified the incident as the loss of an unarmed Turkish reconnaissance F-4.
Sources: CFR - Turkey: Phantom Shoot-Down?, NATO - NAC Statement on Turkish Aircraft Shootdown
Attributed Iranian anti-ISIS strikes
RFE/RL and USNI reported U.S. official attribution of F-4 Phantom II strikes against Islamic State targets in Iraq, alongside Iranian denials.
Sources: RFE/RL - Iran Denies F-4 Air Strikes on Islamic State, USNI - Iran Denies ISIS Airstrikes, Pentagon Says Different
Turkish F-4E 2020 airstrikes
Hurriyet Daily News reported Turkish F-4E 2020 aircraft, F-16s, and drones in a cross-border campaign against PKK targets in northern Iraq's Qandil Mountains.
Sources: Hurriyet Daily News - Turkish Military Hit 44 PKK Targets
Media
F-4 Phantom II Videos
Related Weapon Systems
Sources
McDonnell Douglas F-4C Phantom II | National Museum of the United States Air ForcePublisher: National Museum of the United States Air Force | Note: Supports F-4 Phantom II background, first flight, fleet-defense origin, production period, production count, U.S. service timeline, and F-4C technical notes. | Accessed: 2026-06-26Tinker History: McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom IIPublisher: Tinker Air Force Base | Note: Supports Phantom II service background and Air Force variant context, including F-4C and later USAF versions. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Operation “Priha” - The Israeli Air ForcePublisher: The Israeli Air Force | Note: Supports Israeli F-4 Phantom arrival during the 1969 War of Attrition and Operation Priha strike activity against Egyptian targets. | Accessed: 2026-06-26McDonnell Douglas F-4G Wild Weasel | National Museum of the United States Air ForcePublisher: National Museum of the United States Air Force | Note: Directly supports 1990 Gulf War use by F-4G Wild Weasel aircraft during Operation Desert Storm, plus F-4E conversion context, armament that includes AGM-45 Shrike, and public-domain image provenance for the aircraft photo. | Accessed: 2026-06-27McDonnell Douglas F-4E | National Museum of the United States Air ForcePublisher: National Museum of the United States Air Force | Note: Supports the photo caption identifying an F-4E carrying four AIM-4D Falcon missiles. | Accessed: 2026-06-27AIM-9 SidewinderPublisher: U.S. Air Force | Note: Supports the AIM-9 Sidewinder as a fighter-carried air-to-air missile and the F-4 Phantom II carriage relationship. | Accessed: 2026-06-28Hurriyet Daily News - Turkish Military Hit 44 PKK TargetsPublisher: Hurriyet Daily News | Note: Directly supports 1984 Kurdish-Turkish Conflict use by Turkish F-4E 2020 aircraft in November 2015 airstrikes against PKK targets in northern Iraq's Qandil Mountains. | Accessed: 2026-07-04AIM-7 Sparrow - NAVAIRPublisher: Naval Air Systems Command | Note: Supports AIM-7 Sparrow background and F-4 Phantom carriage/use context by identifying U.S. Air Force and Navy F-4 Phantoms as heavy Sparrow users during Vietnam. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Qader anti-ship missile capable against coastal targets, boatsPublisher: Iran Press | Note: Supports the F-4 Phantom fighter as one of the aircraft that can carry the Qader anti-ship cruise missile. | Accessed: 2026-06-28M117 General Purpose BombPublisher: National Museum of the United States Air Force | Note: Supports the M117 as a 750-pound general-purpose bomb and the F-4 Phantom II carriage relationship. | Accessed: 2026-06-28Martin Marietta AGM-62 Walleye I - National Museum of the USAFPublisher: National Museum of the USAF | Note: Supports Walleye I background and the claim that USAF F-4s used the television-guided glide bomb starting in 1967. | Accessed: 2026-07-04AGM-65 Maverick Fact SheetPublisher: U.S. Air Force | Note: Supports the AGM-65 Maverick as a tactical air-to-surface missile and the F-4G Wild Weasel carriage relationship. | Accessed: 2026-06-28AGM-88 HARMPublisher: U.S. Air Force | Note: Supports the AGM-88 HARM as an air-to-surface anti-radiation missile and the F-4G Wild Weasel carriage relationship. | Accessed: 2026-06-28M61A1 Vulcan Cannon | National Museum of the United States Air ForcePublisher: National Museum of the United States Air Force | Note: Supports the M61A1 Vulcan cannon's 20 mm aircraft-gun role and the F-4E Phantom II internal gun context. | Accessed: 2026-06-27F-4E-Phantom-Kurnas-2000-with-camera-pod-hatzerim-1 | Wikimedia CommonsPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports Wikimedia Commons image provenance for an Israeli F-4E Phantom II at Hatzerim airbase. | Accessed: 2026-06-26F-4E Israel HAPIM0321 | Wikimedia CommonsPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance for an Israeli F-4E Phantom II at Tel Nof. | Accessed: 2026-06-26F-4E-81st-tfs | Wikimedia CommonsPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports public-domain image provenance for a U.S. Air Force F-4E Phantom II loadout photo. | Accessed: 2026-06-26CFR - Turkey: Phantom Shoot-Down?Publisher: Council on Foreign Relations | Note: Supports 2011 Syrian Civil War context for Turkey's official account that Syria shot down an unarmed Turkish reconnaissance F-4 after it briefly crossed Syrian airspace. | Accessed: 2026-07-04NATO - NAC Statement on Turkish Aircraft ShootdownPublisher: NATO | Note: Supports 2011 Syrian Civil War context by documenting NATO's condemnation of Syria's shootdown of a Turkish aircraft. | Accessed: 2026-07-04RFE/RL - Iran Denies F-4 Air Strikes on Islamic StatePublisher: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty | Note: Supports 2014 War Against the Islamic State context by reporting U.S. official attribution of F-4 Phantom strikes in Iraq's Diyala province and Iranian denial of the strikes. | Accessed: 2026-07-04USNI - Iran Denies ISIS Airstrikes, Pentagon Says DifferentPublisher: USNI News | Note: Supports 2014 War Against the Islamic State context by reporting Pentagon and CENTCOM statements about indications that Iranian F-4 Phantom II aircraft struck ISIS targets in Iraq. | Accessed: 2026-07-04