F-4 Phantoms: The Strategic Secret Weapon U.S. Readers Should Know About – Part 3

The Phantom was the mainstay of the Korean Air Force as a versatile, all-weather fighter equipped with a powerful 7.25-ton weapon capability and high-performance radar and navigation equipment. Until the KF-16s were operated by the Air Force in 1994, they were the representative fighters of the Republic of Korea Air Force, performing air-to-air and air-to-ground missions.

The F-4 Phantom was nicknamed “Immortal Goblin.” This was because many thought that the red flames emitted by the two engines between the horizontal tail wings resembled a goblin’s face. Another view was that the Phantom’s combat power was so strong that it became an object of fear by the enemies.

Currently, the Air Force is known to have about 20 Phantoms. In addition to the F-4, the Air Force operates about 100 fighters over 30 to 40 years old, including about 80 F-5s. This accounts for about 20% of the total number of Air Force fighters (over 410). It is known that the countries currently operating such old F-4s are few, including South Korea, Turkey, Greece, and Iran. The Air Force plans to phase out the F-4Es starting in 2024.

So what is the reason for the delayed retirement of the F-4 Phantom, which has been operated as the main force of the Air Force for over 50 years since its first introduction in 1969? In fact, since the 1990s, the Air Force has been introducing and operating the latest fighters, such as the KF-16, F-15K, F-35 stealth aircraft, and so on. However, the Air Force is still operating these old veteran F-4s due to its ability to operate the AGM-142 “Popeye” long-range air-to-ground missile and its tremendous weapon-carrying capability.

Popeye is an Israeli-made air-to-ground missile that can strike targets up to 112km away with an accuracy of within 1m. It is also known by the nickname “Popeye Missile.”

When examining the specifications, its length measures 482 cm with a diameter of 53.3 cm, weighing a staggering 1,300 kg. A 350-kg warhead attached can penetrate 1.5 meters of reinforced concrete. Additional enhancements include the installation of TV cameras and infrared guidance systems to increase accuracy.

The Popeye missile has been in service since 2001, with an allocated budget of 200 billion Korean won, introducing 100 units. Until the introduction of the SLAM-ER (with a range of 278 km) and Taurus (with a range of 500 km) missiles, it was the only strategic weapon in the Air Force capable of precision strikes on strategic targets in Pyongyang from long distances. It’s worth noting that only the F-4 Phantom could carry and deploy the PopEye missile, making the F-4’s strategic value within the Air Force substantial.

Military authorities considered developing software to enable the F-15K to carry the PopEye missile. Still, it was canceled with the introduction of longer-range missiles like the SLAM-ER and Taurus. While the Popeye may have a shorter range than the SLAM-ER, its warhead weighs 230 kg, making it more powerful than the SLAM-ER and thus an indispensable asset for the Air Force.

The Western world’s “best-seller” fighter, the F-4 Phantom, is known to have been produced in quantities exceeding 5,000 units. It can carry up to approximately 8.5 tons of bombs and missiles, a capability similar to the B-29 bomber (9 tons) that was active during World War II and the Korean War. Furthermore, its weapon payload surpasses the KF-16 fighter (7.7 tons) and the F-35 stealth aircraft (8 tons).

A military insider stated, “The F-4, with its ability to carry not only the PopEye missile but also many bombs and missiles, continues to play a crucial role in early-stage, all-out North Korean air strikes.”

Part 1
Part 2