Portal:Military of the United States/Featured article/5

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The McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II is a two-seat supersonic long-range all-weather fighter-bomber developed for the U.S. Navy by McDonnell Douglas. The Phantom flew in U.S. service from 1960 to 1996; it also served with the armed forces of eleven other nations. As of 2001, more than 1,000 F-4s remained in service around the world.

The F-4 was designed as the first modern fleet defense fighter for the U.S. Navy. By 1963, it was adopted by the U.S. Air Force for the fighter-bomber role. When production ended in 1981, 5,195 Phantom IIs had been built, making it the most numerous American supersonic military aircraft. Innovations in the F-4 included an advanced pulse-doppler radar and extensive use of titanium in the airframe. The F-4 was capable of reaching a top speed of Mach 2.23, and set 16 world records.