The F-4E Phantom was designed to rectify the F-4C's and F-4D's poor dog-fighting performance, this was achieved by internally mounting a 20 mm (.79 in) M61 Vulcan Cannon as well as other less noticeable changes (a gun-sight helped!), this increased the production cost in 1965 to $2.4 million per airframe. It is of note that the German Air-force (Luftwaffe) operated the McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantom from 1971 until 1982, and it's McDonnell Douglas F-4F Phantoms are to remain operational with the Luftwaffe until 2012 when they will be replaced by the Eurofighter 2000. McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantom Specifications: - Crew: Crew: Pilot and observer/navigator
- Length: 63 ft 0 in (19.2 m)
- Wingspan: 38 ft 4.5 in (11.7 m)
- Height: 16 ft 6 in (5.0 m)
- Empty weight: 30,328 lb (13,757 kg)
- Loaded weight: 41,500 lb (18,825 kg)
- Maximum takeoff weight: 61,795 lb (28,030 kg)
- Engines: Twin 11,905 lbf thrust (17,845 lbf with afterburner) General Electric J79-GE-17A turbojets
- Fuel capacity: 1,994 U.S. gal (7,549 L) internal, 3,335 U.S. gal (12,627 L) with external tanks
- Maximum speed: Mach 2.23 (1,472 mph, 2,370 km/h) at 40,000 ft (12,190 m)
- Combat radius: 367 nmi (422 mi, 680 km)
- Ferry range: 1,403 nmi (1,615 mi, 2,600 km) with external fuel tanks
- Service ceiling: 60,000 ft (18,300 m)
- Rate of climb: 41,300 ft/min (210 m/s)
McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantom Armament: - Four AIM-7 Sparrow in fuselage recesses plus 4 × AIM-9 Sidewinders on wing pylons
- One 20 mm (0.787 in) M61 Vulcan 6-barreled Gatling cannon
- Six AGM-65 Maverick
- Four AGM-62 Walleye
- Four AGM-45 Shrike, AGM-88 HARM, AGM-78 Standard ARM
- Four GBU-15
- Eighteen: Mk.82, GBU-12
- Five Mk.84, GBU-10, GBU-14
- Eighteen CBU-87, CBU-89, CBU-58
- B28EX, B61, B43 and B57 Nuclear weapons
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