Phantom Survivors: Rising Sun 'Rhinos'

The Japan Air Self-Defense Force operates an exotic mix of F-4s, with its reconnaissance variants now being retired and a single squadron of air defenders remaining.

Of all the Phantoms still active, the exotic examples of the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) must surely be among the most striking of them all, sporting an array of incredibly vibrant colors, reflecting a diversity of roles. On November 1, 1968, the Japanese Defense Agency selected the F-4E as the new fighter for the JASDF to replace the F-104 Starfighter under the FX program. The F-4EJ bears a close resemblance externally to a standard F-4E, but was optimized for air-defense. To limit its capabilities, air-to-ground roles were deleted, as was its ability to receive fuel in mid-air. The F-4EJ lacks the popular slatted-wing, and despite its prolific use of locally produced systems, it retained the standard Westinghouse AN/APQ-120 radar.

The first batch …