What happened to the six RF-4Es ordered by Iran?

Short answer

Iran did not order six RF-4Es, but 27. The RF-4E was an unarmed reconnaissance version of the Phantom built strictly for export. Iran received 16: the first arrived in 1971 and fifteen more in subsequent years. The final 11 were cancelled in February 1979 for political reasons, after the fall of the Shah.

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

What happened to the six RF-4Es ordered by Iran?

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

The largest RF-4E customer after Germany

After Germany, Iran was the largest buyer of the RF-4E. That variant was an unarmed reconnaissance version of the F-4E, built strictly for export. The Iranian order totaled 27 aircraft. With few budget restrictions, Iran also ordered 177 F-4Es. The first aircraft from that order arrived in March 1971. The historical inventory of the Iranian air force lists 32 McDonnell Douglas F-4D Phantom IIs. To those are added 177 F-4Es and 16 RF-4Es.

Deliveries of the reconnaissance version

The first RF-4E deliveries took place in 1970. The first aircraft of that type arrived in Iran in 1971. Fifteen more RF-4Es were delivered in subsequent years.

The order's end in 1979

The final 11 RF-4Es intended for Iran were cancelled in February 1979. The cancellation was decided for political reasons, after the fall of the Shah. Against the 27 ordered, the Iranian inventory counts 16 RF-4Es.