McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II

F-4 F

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F-4F upgrades and disposal

12 F-4Fs were initially modified for dual controls and were later de-modified.

In 1980–83 the F-4F fleet was fitted with air-refuelling probes, utilizing USAF tankers to make longer flights to Canada and Spain.

The AIM-9B and F were replaced with the "L" version Sidewinder.

The "ICE" (Improved Combat Efficiency) program commenced in 1983 to upgrade the F-4F's air-to-air capabilities.

This involved the APG-65 radar and [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] as the main elements, along with many minor upgrades.

The original plan was to upgrade 75 F-4Fs, but the number was increased to 110 in the late 1980s.

Initially the ICE upgrades were intended only for the interceptor wings, but more were upgraded due to delays in the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] program.
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Phase 1 of ICE commenced in 1989–90 and included upgrades such as the ALR-68 [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien], the Honeywell H-423 laser [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien], the GEC Avionics CPU-143/A digital central [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien], and the Mil Std 1553R digital data bus.[Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien]

In July 1989, the first F-4F ICE Phase 2 aircraft was completed, and on 22 November 1991 the first firing of an AIM-120 AMRAAM took place.

In 1992, the first batch of six upgraded aircraft was delivered to JG 71 (Fighter Wing 71), but the AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles were not available at that time.
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The F-4Fs were employed to fill operational gaps twice; the first time due to [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] delays, while the F-4F ICE was needed due to the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] delays.

The units equipped with F-4F ICE were JG 71, JG 72, JG 74 and JG 73. This latter was a mixed unit, sent to Preschen airbase and had one staffel of F-4s and one with [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien].

This was a unique situation, until the phasing out of the Fulcrums.[Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien]

The F-4F ICE program offered a reasonably inexpensive and capable aircraft for the interceptor role, albeit with limitations.

Apart from natural deficiencies of the air frame design itself, the greatest drawbacks of the F-4F ICE are the missing [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] system and the non-existent [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] capability.

In beyond-visual-range scenarios, it therefore has to rely on target-identification by AWACS aircraft with which it has to communicate in a conventional voice-based manner.

This together with the low number of procured AIM-120Bs (only 96, because Germany has ordered the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien], which however will not be available until 2013) and the outdated APG-65 radar makes it a rather defensive system.

In 1992–94 the EFA program was reviewed by German Defence Minister Volker Rühe and there was extensive debate about the Luftwaffe's future.

At the end of 1994, there were about 70 F-4F ICE aircraft already modified, 40 were still waiting for APG-65 radar, and 40 were not modified but still in service.

The costs sustained in the upgrades had incurred a delay in AMRAAM acquisition.

At that time, it was hoped that the AIM-120 could be received by 2005 and then there were only funds for 96 missiles with an option for 288 more.

The program review considered ending F-4F conversions and buying new fighters as "gap fillers", such as the MiG-29, [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] or [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien].

There was doubt that even a simplified version of the Typhoon could be acquired.

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The review resulted in F-4F ICE being completed.

The lack of AMRAAMs was a serious handicap and the MiG 29s were retained for longer than had been planned.