RF-4EJ Kai Phantom II 77-6397, JASDF, 501 Hikotai, taking off from Hyakuri AB at dusk by Jeroen Bos Via Flickr: McDonnell Douglas (Mitsubishi) RF-4EJ Kai Phantom II 67-6397 (cn M097), Japanese Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF), Chubu Koku Homentai (Central Air Defence Force), Teisatsu Kokutai (Air Recce. Group), 501 Hikotai (Squadron), Hyakuri AB. F-4EJ / F-4EJ Kai / RF-4EJ Kai Two-seat all-weather specialized air defense fighter version of the F-4E. The F-4EJ has in common with the F-4E the Westinghouse AN/APQ-120 radar fire control system, the 20-mm M61A1 Vulcan cannon and the AIM-7 and AIM-9 air-to-air missile capability. The majority of the F-4EJs were built under license by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MIH) in Japan. 2 were directly delivered from McDonnell and built in St Louis. A further 138 were built by MIH, of which 8 were assembled using McDonnell delivered parts. The original F-4EJ had no air to ground capability to make clear to its neighboring countries that it was purely meant for air defense purposes. As a result the nuclear weapons control unit, the bombing computer (ASQ-91), the air-to-ground missile ‘Bullpup’ and its control device ARW-77 were omitted. Also the F-4EJs lacked the aerial refueling capability of standard F-4s. The air defense role was further emphasized by removing the slats and replacing them by leading wing edge flaps to improve acceleration when scrambled on QRA. Removing the slat mechanism saves weight and reduces drag. In a later stage air-to-ground capability as well as the aerial refueling capability were added on the improved (‘Kai’) version of the F-4EJ. The F-4EJ Kai has improved avionics, including the AN/APG-66J pulse-doppler radar and ground attack capability, including the ASM-1 anti-ship missile. 90 of the original 140 F-4EJs were converted to the ‘Kai’ standard. A further 14 F-4EJs were refurbished to RF-4EJs to strengthen the original RF-4E fleet which had been reduced in size due to aircraft being lost in accidents. This F-4 77-6397 is one of those F-4EJ’s converted to RF-4EJs. Sadly, the JASDF has withdrawn the F-4 fleet as of 2020 except for a few remaining at Gifu. Sources: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_McDonnell_Douglas_F-4_Phant... , ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-4_%28%E6%88%A6%E9%97%98%E6%A9%9F%29 (Wikipedia Japan) , designer.home.xs4all.nl/models/f4ej-32/f4-32-1.htm