F-4EJ Phantom II

The Mitsubishi F‑4EJ Phantom II is a license‑built version of the American McDonnell Douglas F‑4 Phantom, produced for the Japan Air Self‑Defense Force from 1969 to 1979. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries assembled 354 airframes, adapting the fighter to the specific needs of Japan’s defensive posture and incorporating domestic avionics such as the J71A fire‑control radar and the J79‑T44A engine, a slightly uprated variant of the J79‑10. The F‑4EJ entered service in 1971 as a supersonic, twin‑engine interceptor capable of Mach 2.2, carrying both air‑to‑air missiles (AIM‑9 Sidewinder, AIM‑7 Sparrow) and a modest air‑to‑ground load for strike missions. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s the aircraft formed the backbone of Japan’s air‑defense fleet, participating in numerous joint exercises with allied forces and proving the effectiveness of domestically produced fighter technology. Although later supplanted by the F‑15J and F‑2, the F‑4EJ’s longevity—remaining operational until 2020—demonstrated its reliability and adaptability, influencing subsequent Japanese aircraft development and solidifying Mitsubishi’s reputation as a skilled fighter manufacturer. In the 1990s a substantial number were modernized to the F‑4EJ Kai standard, gaining a new J/AWG‑21 radar, digital flight‑control computers and the ability to fire AIM‑120 AMRAAM missiles, extending their service life into the 21st century.