The RF-4 is a multi-sensor tactical reconnaissance aircraft. Compared to previous fighter reconnaissance aircraft, this aircraft had a much larger capacity, and was an all-weather multi-sensor aircraft equipped with electronic and infrared sensors in addition to the usual cameras.

The RF-4E (Model 98LG) is an aircraft in which the nose of the RF-4C was transplanted onto the airframe of an F-4E type without leading edge slats. The first production aircraft made its first flight on September 15, 1970, and all 150 aircraft produced were exported to Western countries, including West Germany, Japan, Israel, Iran, Turkey, and Greece. The Japan Air Self-Defense Force ordered 14 aircraft in April 1973 as a successor to the RF-86F, and received all of them in March 1975, launching the 501st Reconnaissance Squadron at Hyakuri Air Base in Ibaraki Prefecture. During the eruption of Mount Usu in 2000, it also played an active role in collecting information during disasters, such as conducting photo reconnaissance from the air.