Just Defence: Nigerian RF-4E Phantom II

[comrade harps]

McDonnell Douglas RF-4E Phantom II
a/c 271, 27 August 1980, 108 Squadron, 103 Strike Wing, Nigerian Air Force (NAF), Lubango/Mukanka Base Aérea No.2, Angola



The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) received its first F-4E Phantom IIs in 1969. Acquired to form a wing capable of direct confrontation with Red airpower over North Africa, the 4 fighter-bomber F-4E squadrons of 103 Strike Wing Wing were supplemented by 108 Squadron, with RF-4E reconnaissance jets. 108 Squadron flew combat missions across the Maghreb, Sahara and Sahel regions of northern Africa from 1971 and, from 1975, through southern airspace as the threat from Anzania and the Southern African Union (SAU) grew. Based at Makurdi in Nigeria, 108 Squadron maintained permanent detachments at Tamanrasset in UN-occupied Algeria and, from 1975, at Lubango/Mukanka in Angola. The NAF had received 33 RF-4Es by the time the UN-backed Nigerian government collapsed in September 1980. Like other NAF Phantom IIs, their RF-4Es had a refueling receptacle and a US-Navy style retractable probe for air-to-air tanking using either the flying boom or probe and drogue methods.




Equipped with internal gear for photo, infrared linescan and side-looking radar reconnaissance, the Nigerian RF-4Es could additionally carry Philips Canada Alabaster Artisan reconnaissance pods from 1976. The codename Alabaster Artisan covered a series of pods designed for use on Jaguars and Phantom IIs. The pods featured compartments for the carriage of a variety of equipment, including wet film cameras (including LOROP), IR-linescan equipment, surface mapping radar and SIGINT sensors. The pod seen here appears to be configured with two SIGINT sensor packages, likely the Slate Table COMINT and Terracotta Exam ELINT systems, both produced by Phillips Canada.




America supplied ALQ-71, ALQ-87, ALQ-101 and ALQ-119 ECM pods were used by NAF Phantom IIs. But when flying against the SAU the ECM of choice was the Indian Ordnance Factories Wizard pod. Reverse engineered from Moscow Pact ECM pods, Wizards were initially built to counter Pakistan's US, Australian and Canadian supplied radars. They subsequently found a UN export market in African nations confronting the SAU, which used similar radars and was working with Pakistan to jointly develop an integrated air defence system.






The RF-4E depicted here carries an Alabaster Artisan on the centreline, plus a Wizard, 4 ALE-40 pods for chaff and a White Stripe flare pod on inner underwing stations, as photographed at Lubango/Mukanka in Angola in August 1980. This was during Operation Just Defence, the 3 month long bombing campaign against the SAU launched in response to the Anzanian-led invasion of Angola and an associated series of uprisings across sub-Saharan Africa. The NAF's Angolan-based RF-4Es flew tactical and strategic reconnaisance missions against the SAU throughout Just Defence. This aircraft, tactical number 271 was subsequently found damaged and abandoned at Makurdi after the UN's withdrawal.

[zenrat]

As always Comrade your camo is inspired.
Wonderful work my friend.   

[SPINNERS]

Yep, that camo is superb. Well done!

[comrade harps]

l thought people might like the camo. I like painting curves.

The first coat didn't have the Revell M9 almost black paint, but l wanted a camo with bite, to make it striking, so l added that after looking at how black was used on an A-4 agreessor in a desert scheme. That make the difference.

I don't know if it would work, but it's certainly attractive (and dramatic).

PS: the next one is only 2 colours, low contrast, but wrap-around and no less curvaceous.

[Vulcan7]

Beautiful camo, works a treat             

[Old Wombat]

Pretty!

[DogfighterZen]

Can't disagree, that is a sweet looking Phantom...   

[chrisonord]

Veey nice Toom Comrade 

[kerick]

What they said! Good colors too.

[Weaver]

Yep, that's a pretty one - well done.