The McDonnell-Douglas F-4 aircraft was the primary Air Defense, Close Air Support, and Tactical Nuclear Strike weapon system of the USAF for 20 years, retiring only when a similarly-capable aircraft, the F-15E, became fully operational in 1988.In its air-to-ground role the F-4 can carry twice the normal bomb load of a world War II B-17. Its analog bombing computer (ASQ-91) target accuracy was better than 50 feet for a 500 lb. bomb tossed more than three miles - without the aircraft ever passing over the dangerous target. One series was fitted with the ARN-101 digital bombing system, which enabled Continuously Computed Impact Point (CCIP) bombing, increasing the kill ratio for targets of opportunity ( but only after they reprogrammed it to accept that a radar mile is 6,000 feet - not 5,280 !).
Later series had TISEO (Target Identification System, Electro-Optical) built-in; this TV system improved target tracking at close ranges, and provided some stealth tracking capabilities. Certain F-4Es were converted to F-4G "Wild Weasel" configuration, replacing the F-105G WWs as SAM-missile site hunter-killers/electronic countermeasures aircraft.
[ CONTINUE to the F-4E FAQ ]
Standard load for the Wild Weasel included an extra fuel tank occupying the bomb bay, an external centerline tank slung beneath it, two outboard AGM-45 Shrike anti-SAM missiles, and an external tank on ONE wing. The other wing contained the almost-magical AGM-78 Standard ARM, a huge anti-radiation missile - which had never failed to destroy a threatening SAM-missile site; it was 100 percent effective, even if the site's SAM-guiding radar had shut down, or the launching aircraft had passed the target. The Wild Weasel was armed with an internal 20mm Gatling gun, it's only self-protection against another attacking aircraft, even though it could carry AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles.
