Aeritalia F-104S Starfighter

Aeritalia · Italy · first flew 1968 · fighter

The Aeritalia F-104S was an Italian-developed all-weather interceptor variant of the Lockheed F-104 Starfighter, built under licence by Aeritalia with enhanced avionics and the ability to carry AIM-7 Sparrow air-to-air missiles.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Mid-mounted, straight
E — Engines	1 × turbojet, fuselage-mounted
F — Fuselage	16.69 m fuselage
T — Tail	T-tail

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Spot it by:

Italian-built all-weather interceptor variant of the Starfighter
Tiny razor-thin mid-set wings with prominent T-tail
SPARROW missile-capable development of the F-104G

Identifiable as an F-104 by its extreme length-to-wingspan ratio, tiny trapezoidal mid-set wings, T-tail, and prominent ventral fin; the Italian F-104S carried SPARROW radar-guided missiles distinguishing it from other Starfighter variants.

Specifications

The Aeritalia F-104S Starfighter has a length of 16.69 m (55 ft).
It has a wingspan of 6.68 m (22 ft).
Its maximum speed is 2330 km/h (1448 mph).
Typical crew: 1 pilot.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

First flown in 1968 and entering Italian Air Force service in 1969, the F-104S was the ultimate interceptor development of the Starfighter family. Italy produced 246 aircraft and operated them as the primary air defence fighter until the 1990s, when the Eurofighter Typhoon began to replace them.

Variants

The F-104S ASA (Aggiornamento Sistema d'Arma) was a mid-life upgrade with improved radar; the ASA-M was a further upgraded version extending service life.

Where you'll see it

Served as the primary Italian Air Force interceptor from 1969 through to 2004; also exported to Turkey, which operated the F-104S extensively.

Related aircraft

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