The Phantom is one of the most classic fighter planes of all time. However, they are the oldest fighters in service not only in Iran, but also in three other countries where the veteran still flies. About 225 F-4 fighters of the D, E and RF-4E reconnaissance variants were sold to Iran, at a time when the Persian giant was not an enemy of Washington. Most of these aircraft were shot down during the Iran-Iraq War, with a considerable portion lost in accidents. Today, around 63 aircraft remain in service, with some having received minor upgrades. Iran is also the only country that still operates the F-4D variant.
