McDonnell Douglas F-4G Wild Weasel V

The F-4G Wild Weasel V, also known as the F-4G "Advanced Wild Weasel," was the last of the USAF's dedicated Suppression of Enemy Air Defense (SEAD) aircraft.

Description

F-4G Wild Weasel V

The prototype F-4G first flew on December 6, 1975 and the aircraft entered service in 1978. The F-4G entered service to replace the F-105F/G "Wild Weasel" Thunderchief (which replaced the F-100F "Wild Weasel" Super Sabre). Most of the F-4Gs in service were conversions of old USAF McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II airframes (some of which had seen service in Vietnam). The conversion involved the removal of the gun for the installation of the AN/APR-38 radar warning and homing receiver which has 52 antennas in the airframe. The main weapons of the F-4G are specialized Anti-Radiation Missiles (ARMs) for the destruction of enemy radar sites. These missiles include the AGM-45 Shrike, AGM-78 Standard ARM, and the AGM-88 HARM. The F-4G can also carry AGM-65 Mavericks and for self-defense: a pair of AIM-9 Sidewinders and an AN/ALQ-119 jamming pod. The F-4G's last hurrah was in the Gulf War of 1990-91, and the last of the type were retired in 1995 due to Pentagon budget cuts. This ended over 30 years of Phantom II service with the USAF. The F-4G is being replaced by F-16 Fighting Falcons equipped with HARMs and HARM targeting pods.

Specifications

General Characteristics

• Crew: 2
• 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)
• Wing area: 530.0 ft² (49.2 m²)
• Airfoil: NACA 0006.4-64 root, NACA 0003-64 tip
• Empty weight: 30,328 lb (13,757 kg)
• Loaded weight: 41,500 lb (18,825 kg)
• Max takeoff weight: 61,795 lb (28,030 kg)
• Powerplant: 2× General Electric J79-GE-17A axial compressor turbojets, 17,845 lbf (79.4 kN) each
• Zero-lift drag coefficient: 0.0224
• Drag area: 11.87 ft² (1.10 m²)
• Aspect ratio: 2.77
• Fuel capacity: 1,994 U.S. gal (7,549 L) internal, 3,335 U.S. gal (12,627 L) with three external tanks (370 U.S. gal (1,420 L) tanks on the outer wing hardpoints and either a 600 or 610 U.S. gal (2,310 or 2,345 L) tank for the centerline station).
• Maximum landing weight: 36,831 lb (16,706 kg)

Performance

• Maximum speed: Mach 2.23 (1,472 mph, 2,370 km/h) at 40,000 ft (12,190 m)
• Cruise speed: 506 kn (585 mph, 940 km/h)
• Combat radius: 367 nmi (422 mi, 680 km)
• Ferry range: 1,403 nmi (1,615 mi, 2,600 km) with 3 external fuel tanks
• Service ceiling: 60,000 ft (18,300 m)

  

  An F-4G with WW payload; near to far: AGM-88 HARM, AGM-65 Maverick, ALQ-119 ECM pod, AGM-78 Standard ARM and AGM-45 Shrike, circa 1981.

• Rate of climb: 41,300 ft/min (210 m/s)
• Wing loading: 78 lb/ft² (383 kg/m²)
• lift-to-drag: 8.58
• Thrust/weight: 0.86 at loaded weight, 0.58 at MTOW
• Takeoff roll: 4,490 ft (1,370 m) at 53,814 lb (24,410 kg)
• Landing roll: 3,680 ft (1,120 m) at 36,831 lb (16,706 kg)

Armament

• Up to 18,650 lb (8,480 kg) of weapons on nine external hardpoints, including general purpose bombs, cluster bombs, TV- and laser-guided bombs, rocket pods, air-to-ground missiles, anti-runway weapons, anti-ship missiles, targeting pods, reconnaissance pods, and nuclear weapons. Baggage pods and external fuel tanks may also be carried.
• 4× AIM-7 Sparrow in fuselage recesses plus 4 × AIM-9 Sidewinders on wing pylons
• 1× 20 mm (0.787 in) M61 Vulcan 6-barreled gatling cannon, 640 rounds
• 4× AIM-9 Sidewinder, Python-3.
• 4× AIM-7 Sparrow, 4× AIM-120 AMRAAM for F-4F ICE, F-4E AUP
• 6× AGM-65 Maverick
• 4× AGM-62 Walleye
• 4× AGM-45 Shrike, AGM-88 HARM, AGM-78 Standard ARM
• 4× GBU-15
• 18× Mk.82, GBU-12
• 5× Mk.84, GBU-10, GBU-14
• 18× CBU-87, CBU-89, CBU-58

See also

• McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II
• IAI F-4X Phantom II