Subject: New Fighter Series--McDonnell F-4 Phantom (14 of 49)

From: [email-masked]
Date: 26 May 94 16:23:44 GMT

>From [email-masked]

F-4EJ Kai was the designation applied to existing Japanese-built F-4EJ 
fighters that were upgraded in a modernization program initiated in 
July of 1984.  The goals of the program were to bring JASDF F-4EJs up 
to standards appropriate for the 1990s and to extend their service 
lives well into the 21st century.  

The F-4EJ Kai (the suffix "Kai" means "extra" or "augmented") is 
fitted with the Westinghouse AN/APG-66J pulse-Doppler radar, which is 
much smaller and lighter than the original APQ-120, but has more 
operating modes with better lookdown, shootdown capability.  
Externally, the installation of the new radar can be distinguished by 
the presence of a new radome which has fore and aft strengthening 
ribs.  

The F-4EJ Kai has a a new central computer, a Kaiser heads-up display, 
a Hazeltine AN/APZ-79 IFF system, and a license-built Litton LN-39 
inertial navigation unit.  

A new J/APR-6 radar homing and warning system is fitted.  Twin 
aft-facing radomes for this system are mounted on the fin tip and 
forward-facing antennae are mounted on the wingtips.  A new, much 
taller UHF blade antenna is mounted on the dorsal spine, and the lower 
UHF antenna on the undercarriage door is larger in size.  

The aircraft often carries a 610-US gallon F-15 fuel tank on the 
centerline.  This tank is stressed to take higher g-loads than was the 
original F-4 centerline tank.  The F-4EJ Kai can also carry the 
Westinghouse AN/ALQ-131 advanced multimode electronic countermeasures 
pod.  This pod has a wide range of modules and has reprogrammable 
software which make it capable of quickly countering new threats.  

The F-4EJ Kai can launch the AIM-7E/F Sparrow and the AIM-9L/P 
Sidewinder air-to-air missiles.  In addition, the F-4EJ Kai can carry 
and launch the Mitsubishi ASM-1 antiship missile.  This missile has a 
launch weight of about 1345 pounds and is powered by a Nissan Motors 
solid rocket engine.  It has midcourse guidance provided by an 
inertial system acting in conjunction with a radar altimeter which 
maintains an altitude just above the tops of the waves during the 
final run-in to the target.  Terminal guidance is provided by an 
active radar seeker mounted in the nose.  A 440-pound high-explosive 
warhead is carried.  

Plans to fit slatted wings to the F-4EJ Kai were ruled out on the 
basis of cost.  

Fourteen RF-4EJs had been built by McDonnell for the JASDF.  In 
parallel with the Kai upgrade of the F-4EJ fighter, the existing 
RF-4EJs were also refurbished and upgraded as RF-4EJ Kai.  The RF-43J 
Kai was to incorporate many of the same modifications as did the F-4EJ 
Kai, and was to have the AN/APQ-99 radar replaced with a new Texas 
Instruments APQ-172 radar.  A new inertial navigation system was to be 
fitted, as well as an infrared reconaissance system, digital cockpit 
displays, and a VHF radio to replace the existing UHF system.  

Because the JASDF perceived a need for more RF-4EJs, a contract was 
given to Mitsubishi Electric for the conversion of 17 F-4EJ fighters 
to reconnaissance configuration.  Some confusion has resulted from 
this conversion, since these aircraft are also designated RF-4EJ Kai.  
These converted fighters are being equipped with digital avionics, 
including a Texas Instruments APQ-172 radar, a heads-up display, a 
podded Thomson-CSF Raphael SKAR, and a large Elint pod developed by 
Mitsubishi.  These aircraft retain combat capability, including the 
20-mm M61A1 cannon.  The first example converted was 37-6406.  

The first F-4EJ Kai was delivered to the JASDF on November 24, 1990, 
entering service with 306 Hikotai.  It had originally been planned to 
upgrade 110 of the 125 surviving F-4EJs to Kai standards, but this was 
later changed to only 96.  Seventeen of the remaining 29 are to be 
adapted to the reconnaissance role under the designation RF-4EJ Kai.  
12 will be retired.  Three JASDF squadrons are currently equipped with 
the F-4EJ Kai, and they should remain with the JASDF until well after 
the year 2000.  

The following JASDF serial numbers are known to have been converted to 
F-4EJ Kai standards: 

37-8314, 37-8315, 37-8321, 37-8322, 37-8323, 47-8324, 47-8328, 
47-8329, 47-8330, 47-8331, 47-8332, 47-8334, 47-8342, 47-8345, 
47-8346, 47-8348, 47-8369, 57-8335, 57-8357, 67-8378, 67-8379, 
67-8388, 67-8390, 77-8394, 77-8398, 77-8402, 77-8404, 87-8407, 
87-8414, 97-8423, 97-8425, 97-8426, 97-8427, 07-8428, 07-8431, 
07-8434, 17-8436, 17-8437, 17-8440.  

Sources:

  McDonnell Douglas Aircraft Since 1920: Volume II, Rene J.
  Francillon, Naval Institute Press, 1990.

  McDonnell F-4 Phantom: Spirit in the Skies.  Airtime Publishing, 1992.

  The American Fighter, Enzo Angelucci and Peter Bowers, Orion, 1987.

  United States Military Aircraft Since 1909, Gordon Swanborough and
  Peter M. Bowers, Smithsonian, 1989.

  The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft Armament, Bill Gunston,
  Orion, 1988. 

Joe Baugher		AT&T Bell Laboratories   	
263 Shuman Boulevard 		Naperville, Illinois 60566-7050