Prior to 1953, McDonnell had already produced more than 1,000 carrier-based jet aircraft - the FH-1 Phantom (the Navy's first jet-powered, carrier-based aircraft), the F2H Banshee, and the F3H Demon. Preliminary design of what was to become the Phantom began in the summer of 1953 when McDonnell started to work on the McDonnell F3H-G, McDonnell Model 98B, loosely based on the F3H-G super Demon. In October 1954, the US Navy ordered two Wright J65 powered prototypes as YAH-1. In 1953, however, the company lost a new carrier-based fighter competition to the F8U Crusader, while A4D Skyhawkwas ordered for the attack/strike role and the AH-1 was rejected.

Determined to continue to design and produce carrier-based aircraft, McDonnell reconfigured the AH-1 design by removing the guns, changing the fire control system to be compatible with air-to-air missiles, and removing all external armament stations except one at the centreline for a large external fuel tank. At this time, Sparrow missiles were in the development phase, and the airplane was configured to carry four, semi submerged in the bottom of the fuselage. This was the first such installation of missiles in a fighter. More powerful General Electric J79 were substituted for the earlier J65, with corresponding changes in the duct area. Other features would make the airplane the Navy's first Mach 2-plus carrier-based aircraft. During this period, the Navy was undecided on a single or double place aircraft, but McDonnell prepared configurations of both and the US Navy selected the two-place version.

The configuration continued to change up to the signing of the detail specification in July 1955. By this time, the primary mission of the Phantom was all-weather fleet air defense, but the attack capability of the original design was retained, making the Phantom a logical choice for the USAF's TAC and many other air forces. On May 26, 1955, the designated was changed in F4H-1 and the YF4H-1 prototype flew May 27, 1958 from Lambert St. Louis International Airport. In December 1958, the Navy awarded McDonnell a limited production contract. From that point, things went fast. On 29 December 1960, the Phantom joined the fleet when Number 28 left St. Louis for delivery to squadron VF-121 at the Naval Air Station Miramar, California.

Designation for 178 modernised US Navy F-4B airframes. Retrofitted with J79-GE-10 turbojets and leading edge slats as fitted to the F-4E and F-4J avionics. Submodel is the QF-4N target drone.

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