 
Production ran until 1979 in the US and 1981 in Japan, by which time 5,195 had been built, of those, 2,874 went to the USAF and 1,264 to the Navy and Marine Corps, the rest were sold to foreign customers. The last US built F-4 went to Turkey in 1979.
F-4E variant
Initially the F-4 was designed without an internal cannon, however by 1972 with the F-4E variant an internally mounted 20 mm (.79 in) M61 Vulcan Cannon was added. Leading edge slats improved the variant’s high angle of attack manoeuvrability but adversely reduced its top speed. In 1973 F-4E’s were fitted with target-identification systems for long-range visual identification of airborne or ground targets. The Pave-Tack system provided day and night all-weather capability to acquire, track and designate ground targets for laser, infrared and electro-optically guided weapons. A digital intercept computer that includes launch computations for AIM-9 Sidewinder and AIM-7 Sparrow air-to-air missiles was added.
The ‘Peace Icarus’ program
Hellenic Air Force (HAF) ordered 58 F-4E Phantom II’s in 1971 under the ‘Peace Icarus’ program deliveries started in 1974 and were completed in 1978.
The first unit to receive the F-4E was 339 ‘Ajax’ Mira based at Andravida converted from the F-84F Thunderstreak. 339 MPK is tasked with the all-weather interception role it is also the Phantom OCU (Operational Conversion Unit). 338 ‘Ares’ Mira which is also at Andravida, began to convert in 1975. 338 MPK is assigned the ground attack role.
In 1978 F-4E’s and reconnaissance version RF-4E’s were issued to 337 ‘Fantasma’ Mira at Larissa. 337 Mira converted from the Northrop F-5A at Nea Ankhialos. The RF-4Es were delivered to 348 ‘Matia’ Mira also at Larissa to replace the RF-84F in the reconnaissance role.
28 former and US Air National Guard F-4E’s were delivered to Greece in 1991 and entered service with 338 Mira. In 1993 a further 29 ex-Luftwaffe RF-4Es were also issued to 348 Mira in 1994, the HAF Phantom fleet now totalled 121 aircraft.
Peace Icarus 2000
 In 1997 38 F-4E’s from the original 1971 contract were ear-marked for an upgrade under the ‘Peace Icarus 2000’ program by DASA of Germany and Hellenic Aerospace Industries (EAB) at Tanagra. The upgrade, designed to keep the aircraft flying until 2015 at least, included; the Raytheon Hughes AN/APG-65 radar, new colour multi-functional cockpit screens, new Heads Up Display (HUD) and a new Hands On Throttle and Stick (HOTAS) system, AMRAAM and AIM-9M capability and a Hazeltine AN/APX-113 IFF advanced friend/foe identification system (AFIDS).
 The two part program consisted of ‘Peace Icarus 2000 (I)’ with aircraft from the serial range 72-1500 through 72-1535.72-1523 (nicknamed ‘Princess of Andravida’) served as the prototype it was updated in Manching, Germany and first flew in 1999. It was eventually returned in 2001 minus its nose-mounted cannon following weapons trials. The second part ‘Peace Icarus 2000 (II)’ utilised aircraft in the serial range 77-1743 through 77-1760 with 77-1760 serving as the prototype.
The ‘Peace Icarus 2000’ F-4E AUP’s (Avionics Update Programme) lost their original AIM-7 capability due to the new electronics and the launcher, which could only fire the AIM-120 missile. The program was completed in Greece in 2004 with the addition of the Rafael Litening II sensor pod for targeting and navigation for close air support weapons such as precision-guided bombs and Raytheon AGM-65 Maverick missiles and the advanced IRIS-T air-to-air missile. The F-4E (AUP) were all delivered to 117th Combat Wing at Andravida painted in the ‘Aegean Ghost’ paint scheme.
The training route to the F-4 starts with 15 hours (originally 40) on the Cessna T-41 at Tatoi, than to Kalamata on the T-6 which invloves 130 hours flight training over two years. A further two years and 160 hours on the T-2 Buckeye and the student is ready for the F-4 at Andravida. However before thye can fly it they must first do 3.1/2 years in the backseat.
Above left: A number of pilots have passed the 2,000 hour mark on the F-4. Lt Col George Christodoulou, 338 Mira Squadron Commander had achieved over 2,800 hours by September 2010 after 20 years on the type. The 117 Wing Commander has passed 3,500 hours and the Lt. General Ioannis Giagkos, Chief of the Hellenic Air Force also has over 3,000 hours on the F-4.
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