Top 10 U.S. fighter jets
See the best U.S. fighter aircrafts.
10. F-4 PHANTOM The McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II[N 1] is a tandem two-seat, twin-engine, all-weather, long-range supersonic jet interceptor fighter/fighter-bomber originally developed for the United States Navy by McDonnell Aircraft.[1] It first entered service in 1960 with the U.S. Navy. Proving highly adaptable, it was also adopted by the U.S. Marine Corps and the U.S. Air Force, and by the mid-1960s had become a major part of their respective air wings. The Phantom is a large fighter with a top speed of over Mach 2.2. It can carry over 18,000 pounds (8,400 kg) of weapons on nine external hardpoints, including air-to-air missiles, air-to-ground missiles, and various bombs. The F-4, like other interceptors of its time, was designed without an internal cannon. Later models incorporated a M61 Vulcan rotary cannon. Beginning in 1959 it set 15 world records for in-flight performance,[3] including an absolute speed record, and an absolute altitude record. During the Vietnam War the F-4 was used extensively; it served as the principal air superiority fighter for both the Navy and Air Force, and became important in the ground-attack and reconnaissance roles late in the war. The Phantom has the distinction of being the last U.S. fighter flown to attain ace status in the 20th century. During the Vietnam War the USAF had one pilot and two weapon systems officers (WSOs),[5] and the US Navy one pilot and one radar intercept officer (RIO), achieve five aerial kills against other enemy fighter aircraft and become aces in air-to-air combat.[6] The F-4 continued to form a major part of U.S. military air power throughout the 1970s and 1980s, being gradually replaced by more modern aircraft such as the F-15 Eagle and F-16 in the U.S. Air Force; the Grumman F-14 Tomcat in the U.S. Navy and the F/A-18 Hornet in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps.The F-4 Phantom II remained in use by the U.S. in the reconnaissance and Wild Weasel (suppression of enemy air defenses) roles in the 1
More Photo Galleries
Inside the expansive collection of Washington football memorabilia
When Samu Qureshi sits down in the middle of his 4,100-square-foot “museum” in Bethesda, the longtime Washington football fan is surrounded by his life’s work.
Iconic, decrepit SS United States seeks home after Philadelphia eviction
The SS United States, a historic ship that still holds the transatlantic speed record it set more than 70 years ago, must leave its berth on the Delaware River in Philadelphia. Photo credit: Mike Glenn / The Washington Times
Poop statue erected across from U.S. Capitol ‘honors’ Jan. 6 participants
There’s something new blocking the view of the Capitol Building — a bronze turd sitting on a desk “honoring” the people who took part in the Jan. 6, 2021, riot.
Hamas terror site-turned-memorial has feel of America's 9/11
Cheryl Chumley travels to the Nova Festival site near Gaza which is now a makeshift memorial.
Taylor Swift at the Kansas City Chiefs game
Taylor Swift at the Kansas City Chiefs game
Commanders show improvements, but can't close out Eagles in overtime
The Washington Commanders dropped to 2-2 on the season after losing to the Philadelphia Eagles in overtime 34-31 at Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Pa., October 1, 2023. (Photos by Brian Murphy for the Washington Times)
Under the radar: U.S. stealth aircraft
See the stealth aircraft that revolutionized air combat.
Trump dances onstage, takes post-election nation by storm
President-elect Trump dances onstage
Washington Commanders team name and logo reveal from Fedex Field
Photography: All-Pro Reels
Greatest gun-toting movie action heroes
See Hollywood’s best action movie characters
Second best: Greatest actors who've never won an Oscar
See the best actors who have never won an Academy Award
Oorah! United States Marine Corps weapons
Standard issue weapons given to US Marines
Pro athletes who were war heroes
See the professional athletes who became real American heroes for their military service
100-year-old headlines tell of baseball, protest, war
100-year-old headlines tell of baseball, protest, war
Inside Donald Trump's White House
A behind the scenes look at the Trump administration
Remembering Phyllis Schlafly
Conservative icon Phyllis Schlafly, the leader of the 1970s Stop ERA movement, has died.