service united_kingdom operated phantom principal combat aircraft 1960s early 1990s export customer phantom ordered context political economic difficulties indigenous british designs roles eventually purchased undertake phantom serve fleet air arm royal_air_force roles including air defence close air support low level strike tactical reconnaissance assembled united_states special batch built separately containing significant british technology means pressure domestic industry wake major project individual variants eventually built variant designed outset air defence operated royal_navy aircraft carriers version raf serve tactical strike reconnaissance roles mid-1980s phantom variant obtained quantity second hand aircraft purchased augment air defences following war phantom entered service fleet air arm raf royal_navy secondary strike role addition primary use fleet air defence raf soon replaced strike role aircraft designed specifically strike close air support missions mid-1970s transferred principal role continued late 1980s background late 1950s began process replacing early second generation jet combat aircraft service royal_air_force fleet air arm time british industry major source equipment designs different companies service roles defence white paper brought significant change working practices government compelling major manufacturers large groups formed merger bristol hunting formed merger intention industry cut costs government offering incentives amalgamation promises contracts new aircraft orders armed forces time raf looking replace english light bomber long range role close air support role royal_navy sought aircraft assume fleet air defence role subsidiary begun developing new high performance strike aircraft intended undertake long range low level strike missions conventional tactical nuclear weapons conduct tactical reconnaissance developing new aircraft based proposed version marketed raf royal_navy number roles close air support air superiority fleet air defence early 1960s aircraft development increasingly expensive result major projects political economic concerns development saw increasing cost combined presence potentially cheaper alternative development united_states subject ongoing inter service rivalry royal_navy raf led wildly differing specifications submitted aircraft impossible fit single airframe royal_navy withdrew project instead moves new fleet air defence eventually selected phantom service navy primary air defence aircraft intended operated existing new built aircraft carriers better suited royal_navy phantom engines providing event engine failure cheaper immediately available left wholly raf project later year brought labour_party power new government undertook defence review led defence white paper cancelled projects including consequence government forced order new aircraft replace canberra hunter raf eventually chose types replace canberra long range role intended selected plans redesigned variant roles undertaken hunter undertaken purchase phantom developed primarily fleet air defence royal_navy happy choice aircraft replacement given type operational role navy whilst aircraft successfully undertaken touch landings hms victorious raf enthusiastic phantom primarily designed operate air defence close air support role selected hunter replacement way decreasing unit cost overall order partly means employment british industry agreement reached significant amounts structure built domestically variant primary version service navy taken basis aircraft major redesign significant change larger powerful rolls allow operations royal_navy carriers received major upgrades smaller carriers powered operated accommodate larger engines redesigned built entire rear fuselage section radar carried built licence aircraft raf overall changes aircraft led variants given separate series letters version designated raf version initially intention aircraft royal_navy raf development cost associated changes specified accommodate meant unit price eventually ended times price government policy negotiating fixed price contracts costs large production run left total order variants prototypes ordered total prototypes pair pre production aircraft phantom prototype designated flew june plant second flight august pre production aircraft constructed alongside prototypes initially fit check trials systems fitted catapult deck landing trials second primarily testing radar missile systems delivered continued use testing work armament experimental establishment pre production examples subsequently delivered raf operational use lost prototype designated flew february fit check work delivery operators united_kingdom phantom royal_navy total new build ordered fleet air arm serve royal_navy primary fleet air defence aircraft combined secondary strike capability replace service role intention operate decks brand new aircraft carriers time royal_navy carrier force consisted primarily fleet light fleet carriers differing sizes ages service eagle displacing approximately tons big accommodate phantom sufficient numbers plans place rebuild ships enable operation aircraft time plans place construct new aircraft carriers new design termed requirements intended force carriers meant squadrons planned purchased defence white paper government decided cancel led reductions total order royal_navy initially ordered went finally options seven intention form pair line squadrons aircraft operate remaining heavily fleet carriers remainder fleet reserve training royal_navy received received british designation april assigned serve completion successful flight trials commissioned january training squadron followed end march commissioned royal_navy operational phantom unit intended embark year refit completed time fleet air arm receiving aircraft armament experimental establishment delivered squadron flight deck trials aboard eagle sets trials successfully carried march june set set approaches touch landings second set trials involved catapult launch arrested recovery result ship jet blast instead steel plate fixed deck absorb heat engines building launch fire needed launch prevent melting entered refit accommodate phantom involved major reconstruction number elements undertaken allow ship operate aircraft flight deck increased area fully angled arresting gear replaced new water spray system allow phantom higher weight landing speed water cooled fitted work complete eagle scheduled undergo similar modernization planned refit eagle cancelled options seven additional taken consequence decided reduce phantom fleet aircraft remaining aircraft allocated royal_air_force embarked total aircraft air group time operational use royal_navy come embarked training aircraft carrier uss mediterranean undertaken air defence missions alongside ship deployment showed necessity modifications fitted heat combined increased resulting initial launches caused deck plates leading subsequent catapult launches undertaken reduced weight use heat year commission initially somerset home base moved periods embarked undertook quick reaction alert duties alongside raf squadron phantom served fleet air arm finally withdrawn service leaving ship left royal_navy capable operating type final catapult launch phantom november air group following ship final deployment squadron aircraft delivered raf wales handed raf type service royal_navy total total fleet lost royal_air_force following cancellation planned refit allow operate phantom total originally ordered fleet air arm diverted royal_air_force serve air defence role time raf primary suffered badly terms range time weapons fit hampered effectiveness especially long soviet naval aviation bombers reconnaissance aircraft north_sea north_atlantic new phantom squadron formed northerly air defence base time advantage improvements phantom provided lightning carry fuel fly longer fitted powerful radar carry missiles compared lightning september squadron formed operating northern zone alongside squadron withdrawal turned raf form second squadron time squadron stationed operating version phantom having save costs resulting differences squadron converted navy aircraft existing phantom units squadrons retained converted new tornado following standing operational squadrons final withdrawal type service bulk raf scrapped raf lost total crashes type year service operators armament experimental establishment royal navy naval air squadron naval air squadron naval squadron squadron squadron gallery phantom close air support following cancellation programmes raf left requirement replace canberra hunter long range strike close air support reconnaissance roles resulted aircraft intended long range roles carried canberra close air support role undertaken hunter cancelled year ordered order went ahead alongside phantom order royal_navy final units order eventually cancelled given designation broadly similar naval version minor variations terms engines structure related use land based carrier based aircraft unit operational conversion unit stood august phantom entered operational service squadron formed tactical strike role squadron formed september year squadron came tactical reconnaissance unit squadrons formed phantom roles squadrons formed squadrons assigned addition conventional strike role tactical nuclear strike role weapons supplied united_states initial work squadron moved operated tactical reconnaissance role aircraft assigned tactical reconnaissance units fitted pod containing optical cameras infrared sideways looking radar 1970s raf process developing new aircraft specifically tactical strike reconnaissance missions eventually introduced service led think use phantom time limitations lightning apparent conversion raf squadrons operate jaguar combined use purchased assume strike roles intended meant possible begin transferring operate purely air defence role air defence october squadron converted lightning unit operate type air defence role notwithstanding squadron version delivered enabling strike squadrons germany convert released enabling existing lightning squadrons converted squadron squadron forward deployed air defence units germany converted respectively time moving closest raf base east german border taking advantage phantom superior range lightning based squadrons converted squadron unit use converted version following transfer royal_navy remaining raf phantom subsequently served raf primary decade introduction service delivered squadrons remained grey green camouflage colour scheme associated strike close air support missions undertaken late 1970s raf began experimenting new colours air defence units squadron tasked proposed new schemes october squadron painted new air superiority grey colour combined small low visibility markings remained low visibility colours individual squadron markings eventually returned sizes colours squadron forward deployed provide air cover raf operations replacing squadron war zone august following end conflict reconstruction runway squadron detached number aircraft provide air defence late following year squadron took role remaining stationed october replaced flight loss entire squadron air defence region raf second hand previously navy aircraft operated squadron replaced released squadrons following conversion tornado initially intended serve alongside total tornado ordered raf convert squadrons insufficient completely convert air defence squadron squadrons converted phantom tornado alongside conversion final remaining lightning squadrons intention retain pair based phantom squadrons alongside pair tornado units provide air defence cover southern half air defence region squadrons stationed germany end cold war led rapid withdrawal phantom units originally planned defence review phantom withdrawn service germany based units disbanded gradual run raf presence reduction number air defence squadrons leading based units disbanded late prior final withdrawal phantom recalled operationally result participation gulf war total aircraft squadrons forward deployed provide air defence cover replace originally deployed exercise subsequently sent gulf region following final withdrawal service exceptions bulk raf fleet scrapped service life lost crashes operators royal_air_force gallery following end war government began programme upgrading defences guard potential aggression argentina measures taken deployment squadron islands squadron forming october time air defence variant tornado development meaning phantom primary air defence aircraft supported remaining squadrons removal squadron left gap air defences immediately available fill given tornado years entering service consequence government decided purchase additional squadron aircraft service raf special production batch built specifications possible obtain identical aircraft total second hand best navy stored davis air force base arizona naval air facility chosen variant raf developed closest available british aircraft selected extensively refurbished brought standard equivalent variant service navy differences absence leading edge helmet gun sight major difference absence instead aircraft fitted produced power british engine faster light giving better performance high altitude expense slightly poorer acceleration low level high altitude performance helped reduced drag smaller air initially delivered capable carrying air air missiles soon compatible gun pod bringing line rest raf spite modifications allow operate rest fleet retained vast bulk equipment originally fitted led crews requiring american flying helmets new assigned british designation generally referred assigned squadron stood october months flight aircraft remained service transition tornado began entering service thanks conversion squadrons tornado raf able transfer best remaining squadron meant able withdrawn january couple exceptions raf broken scrap lost crash killing crew members operators royal_air_force squadron gallery variations phantom built similar fitted broadly engines cases minor differences fitted mark version mark fundamentally modified control system allowed light faster enable power applied quickly event small decks royal_navy aircraft carriers variants fitted licence built version package fitted differed primarily having nose able fold backwards aircraft fuselage allow storage hangar aircraft carrier system designed integrated missile required fitted featured better ground mapping mode account strike role type originally allied navigation attack system removed type converted air defence role able control gun pod royal_navy fitted british minor differences types phantom built significant ones built united_states obvious shorter length wider diameter meant redesigned higher making larger consequent increase drag fuselage widened position meant rear fuselage deeper addition auxiliary intake doors fitted rear fuselage estimates performance engined phantom opposed american equivalent aircraft requiring shorter distance faster climb altitude higher speed longer range certainly efficient lower altitudes better acceleration low speed giving british better range acceleration shown deployment mediterranean aboard uss repeatedly quicker deck americans efficient higher altitudes lacking speed compared powered versions owing increased drag designed fuselage apparent obtained regarded best variants serve raf small size aircraft carriers eagle royal_navy intended operate compared navy carriers period meant version required significant structural changes compared descended performed similar role addition folding nose allow storage smaller british ships significantly strengthened account higher landing weight british policy bring unused ordnance extended inches provide increased attitude extension phantom attitude shorter powerful enlarged leading edge flaps increased leading edge blowing improve lift handling characteristics operation smaller carriers royal_navy phantom continued service changes notably addition radar warning receiver installation mounted vertical phantom variants fitted installation fitted mid-1970s fitted derived began delivered units concurrently phantom variants eventually fitted operate versions compared list aircraft batch produced received range total production models prototypes pre production models given serial numbers bulk specially built delivered cancelled sets received numbers second hand examples obtained received range phantom locations raf operated phantom number bases germany operational service royal_navy initially based phantom units main air station following disbanding dedicated training squadron sole operational phantom squadron subsequently moved residence raf base basic specifications phantom proposals phantom ordered variants eventually constructed offered conducting studies possibility royal_navy phantom carriers concluded need power provided order operate smaller decks british carriers company talking rolls development use fitted aircraft approached raf model number later modifications including installation company continued studies engines proposed trials fitted took place aboard uss model proposed identical variant fitted version engine proposal came order finalized result need aircraft perform tactical reconnaissance role offered options standard fitted reconnaissance pod place centerline fuel tank modified airframe designated reconnaissance equipment carried internally advantages discounted cost greater consequently fewer aircraft purchased modified able undertake reconnaissance mission ultimately raf chose standard external pod allowed aircraft perform designated roles idea proposed variation carrier based phantom goal improving catapult performance lower approach speeds longer fuselage wingspan sweep increased area air auxiliary blow doors increase low speeds event proposal taken forward replacement early 1970s raf issued development new intended replace phantom lightning initial proposal plan introduced variable geometry wing phantom rejected raf owing fact little apparent improvement performance existing phantom affect development idea concept eventually evolved role ruled engines low level mission partners project displayed enthusiasm idea developing air defence version tornado began process came known tornado issued march aircraft development initial plan tornado replace remaining squadrons seven squadrons tornado development raf looked interim measures replace phantom service decade beginning suffer fatigue issues proposal looked possibility purchasing quantity equip squadrons units stationed germany suggestions replace phantom lightning squadrons service cancel tornado entirely purchase adaptations specifically fitted radar developed tornado capable carrying air air missile ultimately option seriously considered felt time cost savings plan tornado subsequent came decision tornado entered service equip phantom squadrons retained germany eventually tornado accounted squadrons squadrons plus units squadron squadron squadrons remaining phantom royal_navy withdrawal conventional aircraft carrier envisaged end fixed wing aviation sea policy black capital letter aircraft believed final fixed wing squadron commissioned 1970s royal_navy developing known deck cruiser ton ship length flight deck intended embark squadron large anti submarine warfare helicopters soon ship hms invincible ordered additional specification added design helicopters small squadron aircraft form air group act long range reconnaissance aircraft end version developed design process given addition air defence role responsibility reconnaissance maritime strike missions march months naval air squadron decommissioned turned raf naval air squadron formed operational squadron aircraft replaced replacing phantom sir chief designer years said british aircraft considered success able match capabilities phantom phantom versatility raf royal_navy direct replacement squadron service total different aircraft types separate variants turn phantom replaced service major roles required separate aircraft table aircraft display phantom aircraft display entered service royal_air_force royal_navy remaining aircraft lost crashes scrapped following withdrawal prototype somerset england airfield suffolk england public display northern_ireland scotland somerset england stored display raf lincolnshire england czech_republic suffolk england public display airfield suffolk england suffolk england airfield suffolk england airport england defence fire training development centre airport public display northumberland england england raf cyprus stored public display england airfield suffolk england england painted united_states_navy markings defence fire training development centre airport public display data general characteristics crew length wingspan height weight max takeoff weight powerplant rolls low bypass lbf dry thrust lbf performance maximum speed mph ferry range service ceiling armament air defence fuselage plus wing vulcan barrel cannon gun pod strike rockets free fall bombs tactical nuclear weapons multi mode radar radar warning receiver computer bearing distance navigation system reconnaissance pod containing forward facing camera oblique facing camera red emi band sideways looking reconnaissance radar
McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II in UK service