Mitsubishi F-104DJ Starfighter
Mitsubishi / Lockheed · Japan · first flew 1962 · fighter
The F-104DJ is the two-seat conversion trainer version of the Starfighter licence-built by Mitsubishi for the Japan Air Self-Defense Force, retaining full combat capability in a tandem-seat configuration. It shares the F-104J's airframe with a lengthened fuselage to accommodate the second seat.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × turbojet, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 16.69 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | T-tail |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Two-seat Japanese-built Starfighter trainer
- Tiny razor-thin mid-mounted stub wings
- T-tail with downward-ejecting seats
Identified by the tandem two-seat canopy section on an otherwise standard Starfighter fuselage — the tiny mid-mounted wings, T-tail, and very long pointed nose remain the dominant recognition features.
Specifications
- The Mitsubishi F-104DJ Starfighter has a length of 16.69 m (55 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 6.68 m (22 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 2333 km/h (1450 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Japan selected the F-104 Starfighter in 1960 as its primary interceptor, with Mitsubishi building the single-seat F-104J and a small batch of two-seat DJ trainers under licence from Lockheed. The DJ entered service in 1962 alongside the J, providing dual-control familiarisation for JASDF pilots converting to the demanding Mach 2 type.
Variants
The DJ is the JASDF-specific two-seater; it corresponds broadly to the TF-104G used by European NATO operators, with Japanese-specific avionics and downward-ejecting seats retained from early Starfighter philosophy.
Where you'll see it
Served exclusively with the Japan Air Self-Defense Force from 1962 until the type's JASDF retirement in the 1980s.
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