6 Iranian F-4 Phantoms Ambush a US F-35 – What Happened Next Stunned Tehran

Even today, some countries continue to operate upgraded versions of the aircraft.

Iran’s Continued Use of the Phantom
Iran is one of the few countries that still maintains F-4 Phantom aircraft in operational service.

The aircraft were originally purchased by Iran before the 1979 revolution, when the country maintained close defense ties with the United States.

After the revolution, Iran faced difficulties obtaining spare parts and support for its American-made aircraft.

However, Iranian engineers worked to keep the Phantom fleet operational through extensive maintenance, reverse engineering, and upgrades.

Today, analysts estimate that Iran maintains dozens of operational F-4 aircraft.

Some of these jets have received modern avionics upgrades and locally produced missile systems.

Despite these improvements, the aircraft still fundamentally reflects the design philosophy of a much earlier era of aviation.

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