>>64166101 (OP)
I've long been wondering, why didn't the Japanese upgrade their F-4s to the same standard as the German F-4s? The German ones were able to carry weapons like the Aim 120 back in the 2000s when they were retired but the Japanese ones were still carrying Sparrows in the 2020s when they retired.
Besides that I wish we could have seen a Super Phantom in service, replacing turbojets with turbofans is such a cool idea.
>>64167392
Japan didn't have AIM-120 until relatively recently, instead domestic AAM-4 (developed in the 80-90s to replace AIM-7 because they weren't sure if AIM-120 was going to be available for non NATO countries) has long been the standard MRAAM for JASDF fighters. F-35 made them introduce AIM-120 though, as it can't carry Japan's domestic missiles.
>>64171418 >in order to strike fear into any ground units, certain phantoms imitate the appearance of an F104 Starfighter, the natural predator of the ground and experimental bombers