The Royal Australian Air Force leased and operated 24 F-4E Phantom aircraft from the United States Air Force in a ground attack role between the years of 1970 and 1973. This was about the time the federal government was withdrawing military forces engaged in the Vietnam war but the aircraft never served in the conflict. 

The F-4 Phantoms were leased from the United States Air Force only as an interim measure owing to continual delays in the delivery of 24 F-111C bomber aircraft. It could be argued the delays with the F-35 JSF bear many similarities to the F-111 with a further 24 F/A-18F Super Hornets purchased as a stop gap measure flying with 71 earlier F/A-18A/B aircraft purchased in the 1980s. Whilst the F-4s were considered well suited the Royal Australian Air Force, the federal government refused to agree with a Royal Australian Air Force proposal to retain the Phantoms after delivery of the F-111 aircraft in 1973 and the F-4s were returned to the USAF.