Why Iran still flies the ancient F-4 Phantom fighter

Maya Carlin November 29, 2023
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Originally published by National Interest

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How Iran still flies the F-4 Phantom Since Hamas’ October 7 massacre in Israel, Iranian-backed militias across the Middle East have launched scores of attacks targeting the U.S. and its assets in the region. As America’s self-declared top adversary, the Islamic Republic of Iran poses perhaps the largest threat to U.S. national interests in the Near East.

Tehran’s proxy apparatus may be quite formidable.

However, its aviation corps struggles from a lack of advanced airframes. In fact, Iranian pilots primarily rely on third and fourth-generation airframes first introduced back in the Cold War. In addition to its fleet of Soviet MiG-29s, Su-24s, and Su-22s, Iran continues to fly the American-made F-14 Tomcat and F-4 Phantom.

Introducing the F-4 Phantom:

In the early 1950s, internal studies concluded by the Navy indicated the need for a new type of attack fighter airframe. Around this time, manufacturer McDonnell Douglas got to work on developing more modern prototypes.

McDonnel’s design was ultimately worked into an al-weather fighter-bomber aircraft equipped with 11 external hardpoints for armaments. By the mid-1950s, however, the Navy incorporated new requirements to be fitted to its future airframe.

The service was already flying the Douglas A-4 Skyhawk and the F-8 Crusader for ground attack and dogfighting, respectively and now needed an all-weather airframe. In response to the Navy’s new request, McDonnell created the XF4H-1 prototype, culminating in the F-4 Phantom.

Named to honor the FH-1 Phantom, the first fighter jet developed by McDonnell, the F-4 was a powerhouse when first introduced to service. Powered by two nearly 18,000-pound-thrust J79-GE-17 General Electric engines, the F-4 could reach speeds of almost 1,500 miles per house with a range of 1,750 miles.

The sophisticated airframe was also equipped to lug almost 16,000 pounds of weapons, including air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles. Additionally, the Phantom can carry unguided, guided, and nuclear bombs.

While the F-4 was armed to the teeth, its initial lack of a built-in cannon and dependence on subpar newly-introduced missiles back in the day marred its track record in both the Korean and Vietnam Wars.

However, the Navy did not give up on the Phantom. Over the years, the fighter underwent a series of facelifts in order to retain its edge over U.S. adversaries. The service notably enhanced the Phantom’s wing slats and established the Top Gun training program to promote air combat training.

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Maya Carlin
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