Summary
- Korea retired its F-4 Phantoms after 55 years of service, marking the end of an era.
- Greece plans to retire F-4 Phantoms along with other aircraft and upgrade to F-35s and Rafales.
- Turkey and Iran will become the final operators of the F-4 Phantoms as Greece and Korea phase them out.
The legendary F-4 Phantom II’s days are finally coming to a close, and soon, only Turkey and Iran will operate them. The F-4 Phantom is generally regarded as one of its era’s best supersonic fighter jets. When the F-4 Phantom was produced, the idea was a fighter jet could run, but it couldn’t hide and had a max speed of Mach 2.23. Today, fighter jets like the stealthy F-35 are slower (Mach 1.6) and built with the idea that a fighter jet can’t run but can hide.
1
Korea Retired Them
Around 55 years of Phantom service in the South Korean Air Force came to an end as Korea retired its Phantoms in June 2024
Airbase: |
Suwon Air Base (former) |
---|---|
Squadron: |
53rd Fighter Squadron (former) |
Period: |
1969 to 2024 |
South Korea finally retired the last of its F-4 Phantoms in June 2024. The Korean Air Force retired its last two Phantoms at a ceremony on 7 June after they had completed their final patrol that lasted around an hour. This marked the end of over five decades of service in the Korean military.
Photo: Parkdolly l Shutterstock
The first F-4 Phantoms arrived in Korea in 1969 during the Cold War in what was then a major boost for South Korea’s air force. So much has changed since then. Back then, North Korea had a larger and more industrial economy while receiving some of the most advanced jets from the USSR. Today, the North Korean Air Force is little more than a flying museum, while the prosperous South is receiving advanced fifth-generation F-35 fighter jets.
![A McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II on display.](https://static1.simpleflyingimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/shutterstock_2139364941.jpg)
Related
Everything You Need To Know About The McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II Fighter Jet
The aircraft was originally developed by McDonnell Aircraft for the United States Navy.
2
Greece Will Retire Them
Greece has announced it will divest its F-4 Phantoms, F-16 Block 30s, and Mirage 2000-5s
Retirement date: |
unclear |
---|---|
Squadron: |
338 Squadron |
Inventory: |
33 |
Greece announced earlier in 2024 that it will soon retire its aging F-4 Phantoms (while also selling off its aging Mirage 2000-5s and F-16 Block 30 fighters). Greece fields a single squadron of 34 F-4E Phantoms. They are operated by the Greek (Hellenic) Air Force 338 Squadron – originally established in 1952. While it is possible Greece might be able to find a buyer for the Phantoms, their advanced age means it is more likely they will be scrapped.
Photo: Flight Video and Photo l Shutterstock
Greece is also upgrading its airforce with new American F-35 fighter jets and French-made Rafales. This will significantly increase the capabilities of the Greek Air Force. The transformation has been described as the largest the Greek Air Force has undertaken.
![F-4 Pahntom shutterstock_1185391351](https://static1.simpleflyingimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/shutterstock_1185391351.jpg)
Related
Are Any McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantoms Still Flying?
Over 5,000 aircraft were delivered, with just a handful still flying.
3
US Air Force blew them up
Many of the US F-4 Phantoms were converted to zombie targets and blown up
Designation: |
QF-4 |
---|---|
Role: |
Full-scale aerial target |
Active inventory: |
84 (listed on the website – likely dated) |
In a certain sense of the word, the US Air Force is also one of the final operators of the F-4 Phantom. The US retired hundreds of them and then converted them into drones called the QF-4. The QF-4 is a remotely piloted aerial target the US Air Force uses for training, weapons testing, and shooting, providing “a realistic full-scale target for air-to-air weapons system evaluation...”
Photo: US Air Force
But the US can only blow up so many of them. It is unclear if any QF-4s are still being used by the Air Force (the website may not have been updated but lists an active inventory of 84). Having exhausted the supply of retired F-4 Phantoms, the Air Force is now converting retired F-16 Fighting Falcons into zombie aerial targets.
![F-16 painted in Greek national flag](https://static1.simpleflyingimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/shutterstock_1307703034.jpg)
Related
Greece Modernizes Its Air Force With US F-35s & French Rafales
Greece has announced a major modernization project that will see the acquisition of dozens of F-35s and more Rafales.
4
Turkey & Iran: the final operators
It is unclear when Turkey and Iran will retire their final F-4 Phantoms
Final F-4 operators: |
Turkey & Iran |
---|---|
Turkish inventory: |
approx. 19 |
Iranian inventory: |
approx. 63 |
Once Greece finally retires its F-4E Phantoms, Turkey and Iran will be the last air forces still operating the aging F-4 Phantom. It is unclear how long Turkey will continue to operate the aircraft, but it is bound to retire once more recently contracted F-16s enter service or at least when the domestic Kaan fighter jet enters service.
Photo: yiannisscheidt | Shutterstock.com
Before the revolution of 1979, Iran was a close American ally and received a large amount of American military equipment. Since then, it has been largely cut off from international arms sales. With no other choice, Iran has kept its fleets of F-4 Phantoms and F-14 Tomcats flying despite sanctions. It’s anyone’s guess how long it will be able to keep them in service and flying.
![Iranian Air Force Boeing 747-200](https://static1.simpleflyingimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Iranian_Air_Force_Boeing_747-200_Sharifi.jpg)
Related
Iran Air Force Boeing 747-200 Damaged After Engine Test Run
5
F-4 Phantom II lost its last fight
A Phantom was shot down in what could be the last fight the F-4 Phantoms see
Date: |
June 22, 2012 |
---|---|
Cause: |
Syrian surface-to-air missile |
Belligerents: |
Turkey/Syria |
A Turkish Phantom lost what could prove to be the last F-4 Phantom engagement. On June 22, 2012, a Turkish RF-4E Phantom II reconnaissance jet was intercepted and shot down by the Syrian Army in international airspace after it had strayed into Syrian airspace during the Syrian Civil War.
Photo: twintyre l Shutterstock
Both of the Turkish pilots were killed in the incident. The Turkish Phantom was hit by a Syrian surface-to-air missile, and it was the first time a Phantom had been shot down since the Gulf War. It is unclear if Turkey will use the aging aircraft again in combat; this could be the last time the F-4 engages or is engaged in anger. That said, it is also possible that the Phantoms could see combat again if a war breaks out with Iran.
![F-4 Phantom flying](https://static1.simpleflyingimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/artboard-2-3_2-15-2.jpg)
Related
Why Is The F-35 Lightning Slower Than The 64-Year-Old F-4 Phantom?
The F-35 is significantly slower than the F-4 Phantom, and yet it is infinitely more lethal and capable.