Starting in 1973 the Japan Air Self-Defense Force received 154 F-4EJ
Phantoms that were based on the USAF F-4E. 138 of these aircraft were
manufactured under license by Mitsubishi who produced the last F-4 Phantom
II. Several changes were made to the F-4E to make it an F-4EJ. Basically it
had any offensive weapons removed but eventually these restrictions were
lifted and the aircraft were updated with missiles and the latest electronic
equipment.

Between 1971 and 1981 Japan ordered 140 F-4EJ Phantoms of which 138
were built in Japan by Mitsubishi. Ninety-six were later upgraded to the Kai
(modernized) standard. One of the Kai F-4EJ is 97-8426 was manufactured in
1979. The aircraft was assigned to the 304th Hikotai and operated with them
until 2001. The aircraft was next used by the 3rd Kokudan/8th Hikotai 'Black
Panther' before going to the 7th Kokudan/302nd Hikotai. 302 Hikotai emblem
has 3 tail feathers, the triangle is the 0 and the eagle has 2 claws.

Specifications for the F-4E Phantom II / F-4EJ

They are virtually identical except for the restricted equipment:
This included removal of the in-flight refueling receptacle that was later
retrofitted, no leading edge slats, ground attack control equipment such as
weapons and bomb delivery systems and the addition of modern electronic
equipment including a data link system and radar warning receiver. Most or
all this equipment was eventually reinstalled.

Number Built: F-4E - 5,195 / F-4EJ - 154 with 138 built in Japan under license.

Interesting trivia:
Each aircraft has 54,197 feet of wiring and 643,000 fasteners holding it
together.

Engines:
2 X General Electric J79-GE-17 turbojets, 11,870 lb.s.t dry, 17,900 lb.s.t. with
afterburner.

Performance:
Maximum speed - 1430 mph at 36,000 feet (Mach 2.21), 914 mph at sea
level (Mach 1.19).
Cruising speed - 585 mph.
Landing speed - 158 mph.
Initial climb rate - 61,400 feet per minute.
Service ceiling - 62,250 feet.
Combat ceiling - 59,600 feet.
Combat range - 595 miles.
Normal range - 1,100 miles.
Maximum range – 1,885 miles with maximum external fuel.

Weights:
Empty - 29,535 pounds.
Gross - 40,562 pounds.
Combat weight - 38,019 pounds.
Maximum takeoff weight - 61,651 pounds.

Dimensions:
Wingspan - 38 feet 5 inches.
Wing area - 530 square feet.
Length - 63 feet 0 inches.
Height - 16 feet 6 inches.

Fuel:
Maximum internal fuel in the fuselage tanks - 1364 US gallons (up to block
40) or 1225 US gallons (block 41 and beyond). An additional 630 gallons of
fuel could be carried in internal tanks inside the wings.
Maximum external fuel - 600 US gallons in a centerline tank carried
underneath the fuselage.
Plus 370 US gallons in each of two tanks carried underneath the outer wing
pylons.
Total fuel load – 3,334 US gallons (up to block 40) or 3,195 US gallons (block
41 and beyond).

Armament:
1 X 20-mm M61A1 cannon with 639 rounds.
4 X AIM-7 Sparrow semi-active radar homing air-to-air missiles in semi-
recessed slots in the fuselage belly.
2 to 4 X AIM-9 Sidewinder infra-red homing air-to-air missiles carried under
the wings on the inboard pylons.
A total offensive load of up to 16,000 pounds could be carried on the
centerline and four under-wing hard-points.

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