The F-4EJ was a version of the F-4E developed for the Nihon Koku Jieitai (Japanese Air Self Defense Force, or JASDF). Since the Japanese armed forces were at that time forbidden by treaty from having even a hint of an offensive capability, the F-4EJ was optimized for the air defense role, the AN/ASQ-9A nuclear weapon control system, the AN/ARW-77 Bullpup ASM control system, the AN/ASQ-91 weapons delivery system, and the AN/AJB-7 bombing system all being omitted. There was no provision for the carrying or delivery of air-to-ground weapons. Aerial refuelling was limited to use in ground refuelling ports only.
Like the USAF F-4E, the F-4EJ was fitted with the Westinghouse AN/APQ-120 radar fire control system, the 20-mm M61A1 cannon with 640 rounds, plus AIM-7 and AIM-9 air-to-air missile capability. For navigation, the An/ASN-63 and the AN/ASN-46A navigation computer set were retained. It differed in having many Japanese-built electronic systems being fitted, including the Japanese-built J/APR-2 tail-warning radar, plus a Japanese-designed AN/APR-670 datalink system that interfaced with the Japanese BADGE (Base Air Defense Ground Environment) system. Externally, the F-4EJ differed from the USAF F-4 in having non-slatted wings and stabilators.
The F-4EJ was ordered on November 1, 1968. Two F-4EJs (JASDF serials 17-8301 and 17-8302) were built by McDonnell in St Louis and tested beginning on January 14, 1971. The next eleven (JASDF serials 27-8303/8307, 37-8307/8310, and 47-8311/8313) were built by McDonnell in kit form and were assembled in Japan by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. The first Japanese-assembled aircraft (27-8303) flew on May 12, 1972. Subsequently, Mitsubishi built 127 F-4EJs under license, bringing the total to 140. The last example was delivered on May 20, 1981. This was the last Phantom built.
As built, the Mitsubishi-built Phantoms were not fitted with inflight refuelling receptacles because of the treaty restrictions that forbade Japan to acquire offensive weapons. However, the hardware needed for such a capability was delivered and stored. Eventually, the restrictions were relaxed and the standard F-4E boom receptacle was retrofitted to most F-4EJs. I don’t think that the JASDF has any midair refuelling aircraft, but the refuelling capabilities of the F-4EJ were used during training exercises with USAF KC-135s.
Fourteen unarmed reconnaissance versions of the F-4EJ were built by McDonnell and delivered to the JASDF between November 1974 and June 1975. They were designated RF-4EJ. They were virtually identical to the USAF RF-4C, with the only differences being the deletion of certain equipment such as the radar homing and warning suite. Because of the limited number of RF-4EJs required, there was no licence production of this variant in Japan.
The F-4EJ first entered service with the JASDF in August of 1972. In the JASDF, six interceptor squadrons (hikotai) have operated the F-4EJ. These were the 301st, 302nd, 303rd, 304th, 305th, and 306th. The RF-4EJ was operated by the 501st Hikotai.
In later years, the restrictions against the F-4EJ carrying offensive weapons were lifted, and the aicraft could carry Mk 82 500 lb and JM117 750 lb bombs. The Phantom could also carry the Japanese-developed GCS-1 IR guidance system for precision attacks.
Throughout the 1980s, the force of 140 F-4EJs gradually dwindled by attrition and reached 125 in 1992. Conversions to the F-15J began in the late 1980s. Since 1984, a major SLEP (Service Life Extension Program) was undertaken in which most JASDF F-4EJs were upgraded to F-4EJ Kai standards. Currently, the F-4EJ Kai serves with three hikotai, and should remain serving until well after the year 2000. This version will be described later.
The JASDF serials of the F/RF-4EJs were as follows. In the Japanese system of serial numbers, the first digit is the final digit of the year of delivery, the second digit identifies the aircraft type (7 for the Phantom).
McDonnell F-4EJ-45-MC Phantom 17-8301/8302
8301 c/n 4038
8302 c/n 4044
McDonnell F-4EJ-45-MC Phantom 27-8303/8306 (last two assembled by Mitsubishi)
8303 c/n 4049
8304 c/n 4055
8305 c/n 4059
8306 c/n 4065
McDonnell F-4EJ-45-MC Phantom 37-8307/8310
8307 c/n 4070
8308 c/n 4076
8309 c/n 4082
8310 c/n 4089
McDonnell F-4EJ-47-MC Phantom 37-8311/8313
8311 c/n 4202
8312 c/n 4203
8313 c/n 4204
Mitsubishi F-4EJ 37-8314/8323
8314 c/n M11-001
8315 c/n M11-002
8316 c/n M11-003
8317 c/n M11-004
8318 c/n M11-005
8319 c/n M11-006
8320 c/n M11-007
8321 c/n M11-008
8322 c/n M11-009
8323 c/n M11-010
Mitsubishi F-4EJ 47-8324/8352 (8324 to 8331 later renumbered with prefix 37)
8324/8352 c/n M11-011/M11-039
8343 w/o Oct 13, 1982.
McDonnell RF-4EJ-56-MC Phantom 47-6901/6905
McDonnell RF-4EJ-57-MC Phantom 57-6906/6914
Mitsubishi F-4EJ 57-8353/8376
8353/8376 c/n M11-040/M11-063
8358 w/o Nov 10, 1986
8363 w/o Nov 17, 1976
8364 w/o Nov 17, 19778
8370 w/o Jun 16, 1986
Mitsubishi F-4EJ 67-8377/8391
8377/8391 c/n M11-064/M11-078
8382 c/o Nov 10, 1986
Mitsubishi F-4EJ 77-8392/8403
8377/8403 c/n M11-079/c/n M11-090
8396 w/o Jun 25, 1979
Mitsubishi F-4EJ 87-8404/8415
8404/8415 c/n M11-091/M11-102
8405 w/o Aug 24, 1978
Mitsubishi F-4EJ 97-8416/8427
8416/8427 c/n M11-103/M11-114
Mitsubishi F-4EJ 07-8428/8436
8428/8436 c/n M11-115/M11-123
8430 w/o Oct 28, 1982
8432 w/o Oct 29, 1984.
Mitsubishi F-4EJ 17-8437/8440
8437/8440 c/n M11-124/M11-127
McDonnell RF-4EJ 47-6901/6905
6901 c/n 4551
6902 c/n 4565
6903 c/n 4574
6904 c/n 4582
6905 c/n 4590
McDonnell RF-4EJ 57-6906/6914
6906 c/n 4596
6907 c/n 4603
6908 c/n 4608
6909 c/n 4616
6910 c/n 4621
6911 c/n 4626
6912 c/n 4634
6913 c/n 4639
6914 c/n 4645
References:
-
McDonnell Douglas Aircraft Since 1920: Volume II, Rene J.
Francillon, Naval Institute Press, 1990.
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McDonnell F-4 Phantom: Spirit in the Skies. Airtime Publishing, 1992.
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The American Fighter, Enzo Angelucci and Peter Bowers, Orion, 1987.
-
United States Military Aircraft Since 1909, Gordon Swanborough and
Peter M. Bowers, Smithsonian, 1989.
- Koku Phantom, Yoshitomo Aoki, Air Forces Monthly, March 2000.
