UK-specific variant based on F-4J; designed initially for use as close air support and tactical reconnaissance aircraft for Royal Air Force; eventually transferred to air defence role and operated as interceptor.

The F-4J was chosen as it was the variant from which the RAF's F-4Ks and F-4Ms had been developed, and thus the closest available to the British aircraft. The 15 that were selected were extensively refurbished and brought to a standard almost equivalent to the F-4S, which was the last variant in service with the US Navy, with the only ...

Based upon the F-4J, two UK versions of the Phantom II were produced. The Royal Navy was to receive the F-4K, and the RAF were to get the F-4M. The F-4K, the RN's carrier variant, needed to be made compatible with the RN's carriers, which were rather undersized in comparison with their US counterparts.

The Phantom F-4J (UK), or just the ‘J’ as it became known to the air and ground crew, will always be inextricably linked to 74 (F) Tiger Squadron, somewhat like the English Electric Lightning F.1 before it. So how did the RAF come to be operating this unique type? Tony Clay explains all.

The McDonnell Douglas Phantom F-4J(UK) was a unique breed within the RAF’s inventory. Tony Clay examines the type’s short yet colourful service history

2004年11月25日 · After the Falklands war in the early 1980s, 23 RAF Squadron, using Phantom FGR Mk.2s (F-4Ms), was transferred to Stanley to maintain air defense of the Falkland Islands Protection Zone. To keep British home-defense on strength …

After an extensive refurbishment and the fitting of some British equipment they were designated F-4J (UK). The collapse of the threat from the Eastern Europe led to an accelerated run down of the Phantom fleet and the last unit disbanded at the end of September 1992.

ZE360 began its life as F-4J BuNo 155574 at McDonnell Douglas’ Lambert Field facility in St Louis, USA. Its maiden flight was on 6th April 1968 and it was subsequently accepted by the US Navy on 9th April, then issued to fighter squadron VF-31 ‘Tomcatters’ on 22nd May.

Duxford's Phantom F-4J was built in 1967 and entered service with the US Navy in March 1968. While based aboard the USS America, this aircraft operated for ten months in the Vietnam war zone and in November 1972 alone flew 88 hours of combat missions.

F-4J(UK) Phantoms: Vietnam Vets in RAF Service In the wake of the Falklands conflict of 1982, one of the most pressing problems facing UK defence planners was how to replace the F-4M Phantom squadron (initially 29 Sqn from RAF Coningsby, but ultimately the Wattisham-based 23 Sqn) that had been dispatched to the South Atlantic to provide air ...