F-4s Over Iceland? Feels Like Old Times!

But These F-4s Are Not Your Father's Phantoms
Hat Tip: Ares Blog, with a nod to Solomon at SNAFU! in the comments

Luftwaffe F-4Fs of Jagdgeschwader 71, the Richthofen Squadron, are returning for their second round of keeping the Icelandic ADIZ free of intruders. This has been a rotating NATO mission since the US pulled their F-15Cs out in 2006. Before the F-15s flew out of Keflavik, the 57th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, aka "The Black Knights of Keflavik" flew F-4Es from about 1978 to 1985, with F-4Cs, F-106s (for a few months) F-102s, and F-89s going back to the mid-50's before that.

This photo comes from Wikipedia Commons showing what we did A LOT of between 1980 and 1982 (but it looks similar to some slides I have that were given to the 57FIS by a LIFE magazine photographer who flew with us on condition they NOT be published -just sayin') .

But the JG71 F-4Fs are not the same planes they were when they came off the assembly line. German F-4Fs received the Improved Combat Efficiency (ICE) mods (Greek F-4s received similar treatment for a multi-role upgrade under Peace Icarus 2000),

The ICE package made the F-4F a lot more of a threat than earlier Phantoms. It basically upgrades everything that made the F-4F a fighter, including:

• Hughes/Raytheon APG-65 digital multi mode radar (derived from the one on the F-18C/D) 
• Honeywell H-423 laser gyro inertial navigation system
• GEC Avionics CPU-143/A digital air data computer
• Mil Std 1553R digital data bus.
• Digital fire control computer
• New radar control console
• New weapon ejection system

All the above created an F-4 that could carry AMRAAMs and employ them by tracking and engaging multiple targets in a 'fire and forget' fashion. The mods created an F-4F that was like a longer-range F-18D that could go Mach 2.2  but also leaks more hydraulic fluid.

Here's a Wiki commons photo of some F-4Fs with JG74

(BTW: What had to be the prettiest F-4F in JG71 history was their 50th anniversary commemorative bird here.)

The F-4F's top speed is about 10% higher than the Eurofighter's (Mach 2.2 vs 2.0) which would give them only a very slight edge intercepting Tu-160s if the Russians start sending them down the GIUK gap more frequently.

Alas, all the references I can find as to the future of the F-4F is that all are to be replaced sometime this year by Eurofighters.

So this is probably the Phantom's 'last hurrah' in Iceland. Regular readers know that I eschew sentimentality on the subject of defense, but that doesn't mean I don't experience it. One doesn't forget his first aerial view of Snæfellsjökull in winter: especially when it comes from the back seat of an F-4.

Note: The 'FIS' didn't fly with G-suits at that time. Nothing that could pull high-Gs had the legs to come play with us, and underneath that flight suit is a very bulky exposure (aka 'poopie' suit) that provided nominal compression. Without the exposure suit a man couldn't survive in the North Atlantic long enough to get into his life raft. With it, he just might.