Hobby Master Archive

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.

The 301st Squadron was formed at Hyakuri AB in October, 1973 equipped with McDonnell Douglas F-4EJ Phantom II. In 1984 an improvement plan named KAI began to upgrade 96 F-4EJs to keep them flying for many more years. In March 1985 302nd Hikotai moved to Nyutabaru AB and in 1991 the squadron updated to F-4EJ KAI Phantoms including F-4EJ 97-8416 c/n M116 built in 1979. The 302nd emblem is a frog wearing a scarf with 7 stars representing the 7th AW and wore 5 stars when assigned to the 5th AW.

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.

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series HA1998 McDonnell Douglas F-4EJ Kai 97-8416, 301 Squadron, JASDF, Hyakuri AB, Japan, 2016

True 1/72 scale. Great attention to detail. All markings are Tampoed (pad applied). Option to display the model on a stand that is provided. Model can be shown with the landing gear in the down or up positions. Canopy can be displayed open or closed. Pilot figures included. Extremely heavy metal with a minimum of plastic. Highly collectable.

JASDF roundel

JASDF ensign