McDonnell Douglas F-4 Wild Weasel (2024)

History of the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Wildweasel

"Wild Weasel" is a concept associated with various aircraft that serve the role of Electronic Warfare Aircraft (EWA) for the US military. These planes are specially equipped to detect and neutralize surface-to-air missile (SAM) threatsoften using anti-radiation missiles. The series began in 1965 as the "Wild Weasel I" with North American F-100 Super Sabres and Douglas A-4 Skyhawks during the Vietnam War, and was upgraded to the "Wild Weasel II" with its McDonnell Douglas F- 4C Phantom II and Republic F-105F Thunderchief platform.

To gain better success from this approach, the F-4C Phantom II was retried with 36 standard fighter modifications for the "Wild Weasel IV". With the arrival of the F-4E and - mainly - the F-4G Phantom II branding, this transformed into "Wild Weasel V".

In practice, these specialized aircraft escort conventional attack aircraft and search for SAM threats. This proved to be crucial in the skies over northern Vietnam, where SAM systems of Soviet origin constantly scan the sky for incoming threats. Once detected, these ground forces will fire multiple missiles at one or more targets in the hope of destroying them. Wild weasel hunts are often the type of creepy and deadly mission for American pilots, as they act as a sort of prey to clear the way for oncoming bomber swarms. One of the NVA's most powerful SAM systems is the SA-2 "Guideline" - a pole-length missile with a large warhead and Mach speed.

Between the speed of the approaching wild weasel and the rocket, it was mostly seconds before it could react.

The U.S. Air Force converted approximately 36 F-4C variants to Wild Weasel IV standard for the Vietnam War with 2 AGM-45 Shrike anti-radiation missiles on underwing hardpoints. These weapons work with ER-142/ALR-53 receivers and AN/ALQ-119 ECM pods to track and scan signals from enemy radars.

The plane was tested in 1969 with mixed results.

In the postwar years, the F-4G model formed the basis for the new generation Wild Weasel through the "Wild Weasel V" standard. The F-4G Wild Weasels are now based on the improved F-4G Airframe Phantom, considered by many to be one of the best fighter jets ever made.

While outwardly similar to their traditional fighting brethren, the Phantom Wild Weasels initially lost their internal cannons for close range work. This compartment was used to install the AN/APR-38(t) Radar Homing and Warning Receiver (RHWR) system, which was later upgraded to the APR-47 series. The regular F-4G Phantom itself was born out of an F-4E modification and made its first flight on December 6, 1975nearly missing out on serving in the Vietnam War.

The 1st Squadron was formed in 1978.

Like the original F-4G, the Wild Weasel model features a two-seater co*ckpit for two crew members. The forward position is occupied by the pilot and the rear position is occupied by the Electronic Warfare Officer (EWO). With her cannon armament stripped down in favor of a more suitable outfit, the Wild Weasel is fairly compensated by retaining the Phantom II's healthy gun-carrying abilities. In addition to being able to carry air-to-air missiles, the aircraft can also fire air-to-surface missiles, missiles, conventionally dropped bombs, or other available munitions.

Its main weapon became the AGM-88A, B and C anti-radar/anti-radiation "HARM" (High Speed ??Anti-Radiation Missile) missiles.

The F-4G Wild Weasel, derived from the F-4 Phantom II fighter-bomber, retains the proven fighter's superior capabilities, including high-speed performance and workload sharing, including a second crew. Like their fighting brethren, the F-4G Wild Weasels are equipped with two General Electric J79-GE-17 series turbofan engines, each producing 17,900 pounds of thrust and afterburner capacity.

Specifications include a top speed of 1,430 mph and a range of 1,610 miles, with a service ceiling of 58,750 feet.

When deployed in more modern conflicts, the F-4G Wild Weasel continues the SAM fighter mission developed by early Vietnam pilots. It is used in the same way - directly against enemy radar installations and against missile threats in front of the main bomber force.

In addition, the F-4G Wild Weasel can use its sensitive tracking and targeting equipment to steer another fighter-bomber onto a target - a pairing also used in Vietnam, known as a "hunt and kill" tactic. The F-4G Wild Weasel was used against Iraqi air defenses during Operation Desert Storm in 1991, helping to wipe out the "world's fourth largest army".

Like most other aircraft chosen for the dangerous wild weasel role, the F-4 Phantom II series inevitably reached the pinnacle of technology in American service and was inevitably replaced by newer, more powerful General Dynamics Replaced by the F-16 "Fighting Falcon". Multirole Fighter.

Although the F-16 has an excellent service record with multiple operators, now starting to show its age, the fifth-generation Lockheed F-35 Lightning II fighter in development is expected to finally fill the void of Cold War players and will replace time.

McDonnell Douglas F-4 Wildweasel Specification

Basic

Year:

1969

Status:

Retired, out of service

Staff:

2

Production

[116 units]:

McDonnell Douglas - USA

Roles

- Electronic Warfare (EW)

Dimensions

Length:

62.99 ft (19.2 m)

Width:

11.76m

Height:

16.70 ft (5.09 m)

Weight

Curb Weight:

12,825 kg

MTOW:

61,793 lbs (28,029 kg)

(Difference: +33.519lb)

Performance

2 x General Electric J79-GE-17 afterburner turbojets, 17,900 lbs thrust.

Performance

Maximum Speed:

1,432 mph (2,305 km/h; 1,245 knots)

Service Limit:

58,750 ft (17,907 m; 11.13 mi)

Maximum range:

1,612 miles (2,594 km; 1,401 nautical miles)

Rate of climb:

48,000 ft/min (14,630 m/min)

Armor

Other mission-specific weapons include AIM-65 Maverick air-to-surface missiles, conventionally thrown bombs, cluster bombs, rocket pods, and countermeasure pods. In addition to ordnance, fuel tanks can also be carried.

Changes

XF4H-1 - Prototype model designations, two of which have been produced.