Starting in 1973 the Japan Air Self-Defense Force received 154 F-4EJ
Phantoms that were based on the USAF F-4E. 138 of these aircraft were
manufactured under license by Mitsubishi who produced the last F-4 Phantom
II several changes were made to the F-4E to make it an F-4EJ. Basically it
had any offensive weapons removed but eventually these restrictions were
lifted and the aircraft were updated with missiles and the latest electronic
equipment.


Between 1971 and 1981 Japan ordered 140 F-4EJ Phantoms of which 138
were built in Japan by Mitsubishi. Ninety-six of these aircraft were later
upgraded to the Kai (modernized) standard. One of the Kai F-4EJ is 67-8377
which entered service with the JASDF in 1976 and is assigned to the 302
Hikotai stationed at Hyakuri AB since 2009. Prior to 2009 the 302 was
stationed at Naha, Okinawa. Also stationed at Hyakuri are the 305 TFS flying
the F-15J and the 501TRS flying RF-4E and RF-4EJ Phantoms.

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