F-4E Phantom II

Design
Developed from older models of the F-4 Phantom II, the F-4E differed most notably in its inclusion of an internal M61A1 Vulcan cannon. Other modifications included installation of the AN/APQ-120 radar and the fitting of a seventh fuselage fuel cell to counterbalance the increase nose weight. The F-4E was in production from 1966 to 1979, the longest of any F-4 variant except the RF-4.

Service History (Post-2011)
Seeing service on both sides of Operation Noble Hammer, the F-4 has been recently used in combat by Egypt, Iran, Turkey, Greece, and the USA. Greek and Turkish Phantoms, ironically considering the two countries' age-old rivalry, fought alongside US, Israeli, and Russian forces against an alliance of Iran, Syria, and Egypt. Mostly employed for ground-attack in roles roughly analogous to the F-15E, Phantoms nonetheless scored several confirmed kills against Syrian MiGs and Turkish F-16s.

The Second American Civil War saw open warfare on a scale not expected since the Cold War, on battlefields not seen since the first War for Southern Independence in the 1860s. This time, Phantoms were seen in smaller numbers, with the air forces of the pro-American Southern Alliance. New Confederate F-4s were all aircraft previously retired to the 'Boneyard' at Davis-Monthan AFB in Arizona, and restored to flightworthy condition for use as target drones. Several state governments, those of Georgia, Alabama, and Texas, acquired a total of about 24 airframes, consisting of F-4Ds, F-4Es, and RF-4Cs. These were used in the strike and close air support roles, often using their superior range and payload to supplant F-16s in this role. Combat losses, amounting to 4 airframes, were mostly attributed to SAMs, AAA, and a single case of an Su-22 Fitter downing an F-4D directly after takeoff with a UPK-23 gunpod, though both crew ejected with only minor injuries.

In-Game
The F-4E is an Air Support unit available for any Southern Alliance army.