Despite widespread claims circulating online, there is currently no confirmed real-world footage showing a cruise missile being launched at an American F-4 Phantom II, according to defense analysts.

The confusion appears to stem from a misunderstanding of how different missile systems are designed and used in combat. Cruise missiles, such as the Tomahawk missile, are primarily developed for long-range strikes against fixed ground targets. These weapons rely on pre-programmed navigation systems, including GPS and terrain mapping, and typically travel at subsonic speeds.

“Cruise missiles are not built to chase or intercept fast-moving fighter jets,” one military expert noted. “They lack the speed and real-time tracking capability required to engage agile aircraft like the F-4.”

Historically, aircraft such as the F-4 Phantom—widely used during the Vietnam War and throughout the Cold War—faced threats from surface-to-air missiles (SAMs), anti-aircraft artillery, and enemy fighter jets equipped with air-to-air missiles. These systems are specifically engineered to track and engage maneuvering aerial targets.

The absence of authentic footage has not stopped misleading videos from appearing online. Analysts say many of these clips are either computer-generated simulations, video game recordings, or heavily edited content that misrepresent real military capabilities.