How many Phantoms were built in total?

Short answer

5,195 Phantoms were built between 1958 and 1981: 5,057 by McDonnell Douglas and 138 in Japan by Mitsubishi, which delivered the last one, an F-4EJ, on May 20, 1981. US production had ended in 1979. It is the most-produced American supersonic military aircraft in history.

Published: October 31, 2026 · Updated: October 31, 2026 · Edited by Above Ten Thousand · Editorial policy

Mc Donnell F-4C Phantom I Is of the 558th TFS in flight over South Vietnam, in December 1968

5,195 aircraft between 1958 and 1981

A total of 5,195 Phantoms were built between 1958 and 1981, a figure that makes the F-4 the most-produced American supersonic military aircraft in history. The breakdown was 5,057 aircraft from McDonnell Douglas and 138 built in Japan by Mitsubishi. Phantom II production ended in the United States in 1979, and the last F-4 built was a Mitsubishi Heavy Industries F-4EJ, delivered on May 20, 1981.

A fighter chosen in competition

On May 26, 1955, the US Navy issued new requirements for the project, which had to meet the need for an all-weather fleet defense interceptor. The F4H soon entered competition with the XF8U-3 Crusader III. Because of the cockpit workload, the Navy wanted a two-seater, and a second crew member was added to operate the powerful radar; on December 17, 1958, the F4H was declared the winner.

A long production run with wide export success

Besides the US armed forces, the F-4 was operated by those of eleven other countries. The Royal Australian Air Force leased 24 USAF F-4Es between 1970 and 1973 while awaiting delivery of the General Dynamics F-111Cs it had ordered. Iran received 225 Phantoms from the United States in the F-4D, F-4E and RF-4E versions, making it the aircraft's second-largest export customer. The type kept evolving while the production line was still open: the F-4E received leading-edge slats on the wing, which greatly improved maneuverability at high angles of attack at the cost of top speed.