Aeritalia F-104S Starfighter

The Aeritalia F‑104S Starfighter is an Italian‑built variant of the Lockheed F‑104. After the U.S. program ended, Aeritalia (formerly Aerfer) obtained a licence in the early 1960s to produce the aircraft for the Italian Air Force. Its first flight was in 1965 and production continued until 1978, delivering over 300 units to Italy, Germany, Greece and Switzerland.

The S version used a more powerful J79‑GE‑19 engine with after‑burner, delivering 17,900 lbf thrust and a top speed of Mach 2.2. It featured an enlarged wing leading‑edge extension, upgraded avionics, the NASARR R‑21S fire‑control radar, and could carry AIM‑9 Sidewinders, AIM‑7 Sparrows, Italian‑made Aspides and a bomb load. Structural reinforcements allowed repeated high‑g manoeuvres required for interception tactics.

From the early 1990s the fleet underwent the F‑104S‑ASA upgrade, which installed modern navigation computers, a digital flight‑control system and compatibility with the AIM‑120 AMRAAM, keeping the aircraft operational until its final retirement in 2004.

In service the F‑104S became the backbone of Italy’s air‑defence network during the Cold War, proving the viability of a supersonic interceptor built under licence. Its high‑altitude performance and adaptability influenced later European fighter programs and cemented the Starfighter’s place as a symbol of post‑war aviation cooperation.