The F-4E Phantom: Still Soaring After 40 Years! Is It Time to Retire?

The Iconic Aging Aircraft F-4E
Still Dominates in Bomb Load
It’s Time to Step Aside

Just because a weapon is old doesn’t mean it’s inferior to modern weapons. Some weapons used in the past had to sacrifice other drawbacks to emphasize one advantage. Even then, experts saw technically perfect aircraft not as drawbacks but as accomplishments.

When developed, the F-4E, for instance, stood as a formidable fighter jet comparable to today’s F-22. Although it’s now nearly 50 years old and seriously outdated, this aircraft still has areas that are as powerful as the latest models. Let’s take a closer look.

Once the Strongest Fighter Jet in the West
The Bomb Load Still Matters

As mentioned earlier, the F-4E, also known as the Phantom, was the strongest fighter jet in the West, comparable to the F-22. The Phantom, the final upgraded version of the F-4 series, demonstrated its performance in wars from Vietnam to the Middle East and the Gulf.

In particular, its enormous bomb load, appropriate for its large size, allowed it to carry more bombs and missiles than even the next-generation F-16. Significantly, the long-range cruise missile AGM-142 Popeye, with a range of 48.5 miles, is a weapon that even the current FA-50 cannot carry.

It’s Now Too Old

However, experts now consider the Phantom, introduced in 1976 and 1978, an aging aircraft after nearly 50 years in operation. Crashes of the aging F-4 series have claimed pilots’ lives, and the complete retirement of the series is scheduled for 2024.