Aircraft & UAVs

F-4G Wild Weasel

Also known as
  • F-4G Phantom II
  • McDonnell F-4G Phantom II
  • F-4G Wild Weasel V
  • F-4G Advanced Wild Weasel
  • Advanced Wild Weasel

The F-4G Wild Weasel was a McDonnell Douglas conversion of the F-4E Phantom II built for the U.S. Air Force suppression-of-enemy-air-defenses mission. During Operation Desert Storm, F-4G crews used electronic-warfare equipment and AGM-88 HARM missiles to locate, suppress, and attack Iraqi radar-guided air defenses for coalition strike packages.

F-4G Wild Weasel, Electronic warfare fighter aircraft, Aircraft & UAVs
Image source: McDonnell Douglas F-4G Wild Weasel USAF

Role in Conflicts

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
United States
Type
Electronic warfare fighter aircraft
Service note
Cold War and 1990 Gulf War era
Produced
1970s-1980s F-4E conversions
Number built
116 rebuilt from F-4E fighters
Developed from
F-4E Phantom II

Specifications

Crew
2: pilot and Electronic Warfare Officer
Primary role
Electronic warfare and air-defense suppression
Wild Weasel system
AN/APR-38 radar attack and warning equipment in early F-4G configuration, later upgraded to AN/APR-47
Conversion change
F-4E internal M61 gun removed to house Wild Weasel electronic-warfare equipment
Armament
AGM-45 Shrike, AGM-88 HARM, and AGM-65 Maverick; AIM-7F or AIM-9L for self-protection
Powerplant
Two General Electric J79-GE-17A afterburning turbojets
Maximum speed
1,430 mph
Range
1,978 statute miles
Ceiling
59,000 ft
Wingspan
38 ft 7.5 in
Length
63 ft 0 in
Maximum weight
61,795 lb
Wild Weasel Mission Fit

The F-4G kept the Phantom II's two-seat crew arrangement but replaced the F-4E cannon installation with electronic-warfare equipment for finding and attacking radar-guided air-defense threats.

Crew roles

A pilot flew the aircraft while an Electronic Warfare Officer helped navigate, communicate, and coordinate attacks on SAM sites.

Sensor change

The AN/APR-47 installation occupied the space formerly used by the F-4E cannon and supported the radar-hunting mission.

Desert Storm role

F-4Gs worked ahead of or alongside strike packages, using HARM missiles and threat-radar cues to suppress Iraqi surface-to-air missile sites.

Variants

The USAF F-4G was the Phantom II Wild Weasel V/Advanced Wild Weasel conversion of the F-4E airframe.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
F-4 Phantom II, Twin-engine, two-seat supersonic fighter-bomber, Aircraft & UAVsF-4 Phantom IIParent airframe

The F-4G conversion used the F-4E airframe and removed the internal gun installation to carry Wild Weasel radar attack and warning equipment.

Sources: Planting the Seeds of SEAD: The Wild Weasel in Vietnam, McDonnell Douglas F-4G Wild Weasel | National Museum of the U.S. Air Force

YF-4GPrototype designation

The YF-4G designation was applied to the prototype development aircraft before F-4G production conversions entered service.

Sources: McDonnell F-4G Phantom II

Carried Munitions

The National Museum of the U.S. Air Force identifies the F-4G's armament options as anti-radiation and tactical air-to-surface missiles, with air-to-air missiles retained for self-protection.

Carried itemItem typeCarriage evidence
AGM-45 Shrike, Air-to-surface anti-radiation missile, MunitionsAGM-45 ShrikeAnti-radiation missile

The museum's technical notes list AGM-45 Shrike among the F-4G's possible anti-radar missile loads.

Sources: McDonnell Douglas F-4G Wild Weasel | National Museum of the U.S. Air Force

AGM-88 HARM, Air-to-surface anti-radiation missile, MunitionsAGM-88 HARMAnti-radiation missile

The F-4G carried AGM-88A/B/C HARM missiles for the Wild Weasel mission, and U.S. Air Force histories document HARM launches by F-4Gs during Desert Storm.

Sources: McDonnell Douglas F-4G Wild Weasel | National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, USAF Manned Aircraft Combat Losses Since 1990, Misawa Air Base Newcomers Guide - 35th Fighter Wing History

AGM-65 Maverick, Air-to-surface guided missile, MunitionsAGM-65 MaverickAir-to-surface missile

The museum's technical notes list AGM-65 Maverick among the F-4G's possible missile armament.

Sources: McDonnell Douglas F-4G Wild Weasel | National Museum of the U.S. Air Force

SEAD Teammates

The F-4G could work with other Wild Weasels or act as a hunter aircraft directing fighter-bombers against SAM sites.

Compatible itemItem typeCompatibility evidence
F-16 Fighting Falcon, Multirole fighter aircraft, Aircraft & UAVsF-16 Fighting FalconMultirole fighter

The museum fact sheet says F-4G Wild Weasels worked with other F-4Gs or directed fighter-bombers such as the F-16 against SAM sites.

Sources: McDonnell Douglas F-4G Wild Weasel | National Museum of the U.S. Air Force

Timeline

F-4G Wild Weasel Key Events

  1. F-4G first flight

    The National Museum of the U.S. Air Force records 1975 as the F-4G Wild Weasel's first-flight year.

    Sources: McDonnell Douglas F-4G Wild Weasel | National Museum of the U.S. Air Force

  2. Wild Weasel training at George AFB

    A U.S. Air Force 35th Fighter Wing history says the first F-4G reached George Air Force Base in April 1978 as the wing helped test and train crews for the new SAM-hunter configuration.

    Sources: Misawa Air Base Newcomers Guide - 35th Fighter Wing History

  3. Desert Storm air campaign begins

    F-4G Wild Weasels preceded the first coalition strike packages into Iraqi target areas and launched AGM-88 HARM missiles against Iraqi air-defense radar sites.

    Sources: Misawa Air Base Newcomers Guide - 35th Fighter Wing History

  4. Retirement from U.S. Air Force service

    The National Museum of the U.S. Air Force records 1996 as the F-4G Wild Weasel retirement year.

    Sources: McDonnell Douglas F-4G Wild Weasel | National Museum of the U.S. Air Force

Media

F-4G Wild Weasel Videos

F-4G Wild Weasel Images

F-4G Wild Weasel, Electronic warfare fighter aircraft, Aircraft & UAVs - view 1
Source: An F-4G Phantom II wild weasel 1991
F-4G Wild Weasel, Electronic warfare fighter aircraft, Aircraft & UAVs - view 2
Source: AN air-to-air left side view of an F-4G Phantom II Advanced Wild Weasel aircraft
Related Weapon Systems
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ALQ-99 Tactical Jamming System, Tactical jamming pod system, Electronic WarfareElectronic WarfareALQ-99 Tactical Jamming SystemTactical jamming pod systemThe ALQ-99 Tactical Jamming System is a U.S. external-carriage airborne electronic attack pod family used to jam radar and communications targets for suppression of enemy air defenses. NAVAIR says it entered service in 1971, served on the EA-6B Prowler before transitioning to the EA-18G Growler in 2010, and remains in use alongside Next Generation Jammer pods, including documented VAQ-133 carriage during 2026 Iran War strike operations.
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Sources

McDonnell Douglas F-4G Wild Weasel | National Museum of the U.S. Air ForcePublisher: National Museum of the U.S. Air Force | Note: Supports F-4G background, F-4E conversion, AN/APR-47 electronic warfare equipment, and direct 1990 Gulf War use by a 35th Tactical Fighter Wing F-4G that launched missiles during Operation Desert Storm. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Planting the Seeds of SEAD: The Wild Weasel in VietnamPublisher: Air University | Note: Supports F-4G Advanced Wild Weasel background, F-4E conversion, APR-38 and APR-47 equipment, gun-removal configuration, and HARM integration context. | Accessed: 2026-07-02McDonnell F-4G Phantom IIPublisher: Joe Baugher | Note: Supports F-4G designation background and YF-4G prototype designation context. | Accessed: 2026-07-02USAF Manned Aircraft Combat Losses Since 1990Publisher: Air Force Historical Research Agency | Note: Directly supports 1990 Gulf War F-4G Wild Weasels firing HARM missiles at Iraqi SAM sites and escorting strike aircraft. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Air Force Performance in Desert StormPublisher: U.S. Air Force | Note: Directly supports 1990 Gulf War use by F-4G Wild Weasels that flew Desert Storm sorties and suppressed Iraqi integrated air defenses with HARM missile pressure. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Misawa Air Base Newcomers Guide - 35th Fighter Wing HistoryPublisher: U.S. Air Force | Note: Directly supports 1990 Gulf War use by 35th Tactical Fighter Wing Provisional F-4G Wild Weasels that flew Desert Storm sorties, launched HARM missiles, and suppressed Iraqi radar sites. | Accessed: 2026-07-02McDonnell Douglas F-4G Wild Weasel USAFPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Public-domain image provenance for the primary F-4G image. | Accessed: 2026-06-23An F-4G Phantom II wild weasel 1991Publisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Public-domain image provenance for a gallery photo of the F-4G. | Accessed: 2026-06-23AN air-to-air left side view of an F-4G Phantom II Advanced Wild Weasel aircraftPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Public-domain image provenance for a gallery photo of the F-4G in flight. | Accessed: 2026-06-23