F-104G (Italy)

▄F-104G

▄F-86K

F-104S

▄F-104G

▄F-86K

F-104S

Italy

VI Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
10.7	11.0	10.7

Class:

Fighter

Jet fighter

Research:220 000

Purchase:620 000

Show in game

Description

The ▄F-104G Starfighter is a rank VI Italian jet fighter with a battle rating of 10.7 (AB/SB) and 11.0 (RB). It was introduced in Update "Direct Hit".

General info

Flight performance

Arrestor gear

Accelerates braking by grabbing the brake cable on the deck of the aircraft carrier

Air brakes

Allows you to dramatically reduce the flight speed by releasing special flaps

Drogue parachute

Reduces braking distance when landing on any runway

Max speed

at 15 240 m2 387 km/h

Turn time34 s

Max altitude16 000 m

EngineGeneral Electric J79-GE-11

Type

Cooling systemAir

Take-off weight24 t

Characteristics	Max Speed (km/h at 15,240 m)		Max altitude (metres)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (metres/second)		Take-off run (metres)
	AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
Stock	2,341	2,315	16000	34.5	35.1	230.3	222.2	850
Upgraded	2,433	2,387		33.5	34.0	292.1	260.0

Details

Features
Combat flaps	Take-off flaps	Landing flaps	Air brakes	Arrestor gear	Drogue chute
X	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓

Limits
Wings (km/h)	Gear (km/h)	Flaps (km/h)			Max Static G
		Combat	Take-off	Landing	+	-
1,527	546	N/A	827	444	~12	~5

Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons	Rudder	Elevators	Radiator
< 720	< 950	< 800	N/A

Engine performance

Engine			Aircraft mass
Engine name		Number	Basic mass		Wing loading (full fuel)
General Electric J79-GE-11		1	6,552 kg		532 kg/m2
Engine characteristics			Mass with fuel (no weapons load)				Max Takeoff Weight
Weight (each)	Type		10m fuel	20m fuel	30m fuel	35m fuel
1,615 kg	Afterburning axial-flow turbojet		7,344 kg	8,057 kg	8,809 kg	9,194 kg	24,000 kg
Maximum engine thrust @ 0 m (RB/SB)			Thrust to weight ratio @ 0 m (WEP)
Condition	100%	WEP	10m fuel	20m fuel	30m fuel	35m fuel	MTOW
Stationary	4,128 kgf	6,357 kgf	0.87	0.79	0.72	0.69	0.26
Optimal	4,128 kgf (0 km/h)	8,391 kgf (1,200 km/h)	1.14	1.04	0.95	0.91	0.35

Survivability and armour

Flares/Chaff

Aircraft countermeasures to distract IR and radar-guided missiles and also AA radar

Crew1 person

Speed of destruction

Structural0 km/h

Gear546 km/h

The F-104G has no armour; be it in the form of armour plates or armoured glass. Fuel tanks are self-sealing, which is pretty much a standard feature at this rank. The F-104G also has access to countermeasures as a tier I modification (unlike Chinese F-104G) and Radar Warning Receiver as a tier IV modification.

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference

AB3 018 → 4 077

RB8 798 → 11 886

SB10 132 → 13 688

Total cost of modifications195 000

302 000

Talisman cost2 700

Crew training175 000

Experts620 000

Aces2 600

Research Aces1 010 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

120 / 300 / 600 %

226 / 226 / 226 %

Modifications

Flight performance	Survivability	Weaponry
Compressor Research: 6 500 Cost: 10 000 260 New boosters Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 430 Wings repair Research: 9 800 Cost: 15 000 390 Engine Research: 21 000 Cost: 33 000 830	Fuselage repair Research: 6 500 Cost: 10 000 260 Airframe Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 430 G-suit Research: 9 800 Cost: 15 000 390 Cover Research: 21 000 Cost: 33 000 830	M60_belt_pack Research: 6 500 Cost: 10 000 260 Mk82 Research: 6 500 Cost: 10 000 260 BLU-1 Research: 6 500 Cost: 10 000 260 Flares/Chaff Research: 6 500 Cost: 10 000 260 M117 Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 430 LAU-3/A Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 430 M60_new_gun Research: 9 800 Cost: 15 000 390 Mk83 Research: 9 800 Cost: 15 000 390 LAU-10/A Research: 9 800 Cost: 15 000 390 Mk84 Research: 21 000 Cost: 33 000 830

Armaments

Ballistic Computer
CCIP (Guns)	CCIP (Rockets)	CCIP (Bombs)	CCRP (Bombs)

Offensive armament

The F-104G (Italy) is armed with:

• A choice between two presets:
  • 1 x 20 mm M61A1 cannon, chin-mounted (725 rpg)
  • 1 x 20 mm M61A1 cannon, chin-mounted (750 rpg) + 60 x countermeasures

Suspended armament

The F-104G (Italy) can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

• Without load
• 2 x AIM-9J Sidewinder missiles
• 3 x 750 lb M117 cone 45 bombs (2,250 lb total)
• 3 x 500 lb LDGP Mk 82 bombs (1,500 lb total)
• 3 x 1,000 lb LDGP Mk 83 bombs (3,000 lb total)
• 1 x 2,000 lb LDGP Mk 84 bomb (2,000 lb total)
• 38 x FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets
• 8 x Zuni Mk32 Mod 0 ATAP rockets
• 2 x AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles + 3 x 750 lb M117 cone 45 bombs (2,250 lb total)
• 2 x AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles + 3 x 500 lb LDGP Mk 82 bombs (1,500 lb total)
• 2 x AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles + 3 x 1,000 lb LDGP Mk 83 bombs (3,000 lb total)
• 2 x AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles + 1 x 2,000 lb LDGP Mk 84 bomb (2,000 lb total)
• 2 x AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles + 1 x 2,000 lb LDGP Mk 84 bomb + 2 x 1,000 lb LDGP Mk 83 bombs (4,000 lb total)
• 2 x AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles + 38 x FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets
• 2 x AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles + 8 x Zuni Mk32 Mod 0 ATAP rockets
• 2 x AIM-9J Sidewinder missiles + 3 x 750 lb M117 cone 45 bombs (2,250 lb total)
• 2 x AIM-9J Sidewinder missiles + 3 x 500 lb LDGP Mk 82 bombs (1,500 lb total)
• 2 x AIM-9J Sidewinder missiles + 3 x 1,000 lb LDGP Mk 83 bombs (3,000 lb total)
• 2 x AIM-9J Sidewinder missiles + 1 x 2,000 lb LDGP Mk 84 bomb (2,000 lb total)
• 2 x AIM-9J Sidewinder missiles + 1 x 2,000 lb LDGP Mk 84 bomb + 2 x 1,000 lb LDGP Mk 83 bombs (4,000 lb total)
• 2 x AIM-9J Sidewinder missiles + 38 x FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets
• 2 x AIM-9J Sidewinder missiles + 8 x Zuni Mk32 Mod 0 ATAP rockets
• 3 x BLU-1 incendiary bombs
• 3 x BLU-1 incendiary bombs + 2 x AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles
• 3 x BLU-1 incendiary bombs + 2 x AIM-9J Sidewinder missiles

Usage in battles

F-104G is a hit-and-run type of airplane, for the simple fact that the wings of this airplane are very small, and this means the aircraft has little manoeuvrability. Its strong point is its engine that makes it very fast and gives it a thrust of 4,530 kgf while with afterburner 6,360 kgf, this makes it capable of regaining speed very quickly after a manoeuvre.

The Italian F-104G, unlike other F-104, carries chaff and flares so players also have the possibility to defend from both IR and Radar missile threats. When using flares, do not continue going straight and instead try to manoeuvre so the missile loses track of the F-104G's engine exhaust and focuses on the flares.

Recommended payloads:

• 2x AIM-9J for air battles
• 1x 2000 lb, 2x 1000 lb, AIM-9J for mixed battles to shoot down planes and destroy tanks with the bombs tanks

Air RB:

As soon as taking off, players can use two tactics with the F-104G. The first tactic is to go head-on at low altitude against enemy jets. The second tactic is to flank around the map and attack the enemy from behind.

Ground RB:

When using the F-104G, remember to stay at lower altitude to avoid enemy anti-aircraft from locking on, then go out and launch the bombs or rockets that was brought into the battle against the enemy. After expending all the payload against the enemy, return to the base and come back for another round of attack runs. If bringing anti-air missiles, the F-104G can also loiter and help maintain air superiority by shooting down enemy aircraft that appear.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Good top speed.
• Great rate of climb; even the F-4 Phantom may struggle to match it.
• Decent high-speed manoeuvrability.
• Good roll rate for a plane with tiny wings.
• M61 Vulcan cannon can do some serious damage to an enemy plane.
• Wide selection of secondary ordnance; much better than early F-104s.
• High thrust to weight ratio.
• Access to countermeasures.

Cons:

• Lousy low-speed manoeuvrability.
• Bleeds energy quickly in sustained turn-fights.
• Large turning radius due to small wing surface and high speed.
• High takeoff and landing speeds.
• Only 2 IR missiles.

History

The story of the Italian F-104G originally began in America. In February of 1954 at the Lockheed facilities in America, the first 2 prototypes of the F-104 would take flight for the first time. America was looking to develop a new aircraft to combat the Soviet's new age of supersonic jet fighters. The aircraft would incorporate the smallest possible airframe with the most technologically advanced turbojet at the time, to create the base of what would become the F-104. Although the program would have some minor setbacks, such as the intended engine not being available during the beginning, development would continue and would lead to the first variant of the F-104, the F-104A. From the base variant of the F-104 many variants would begin to be developed, such as the F-104C, the F-104S and in this case, the F-104G.

F-104G (MM.6546) for the Ferrari competition

The main differences of the G variant compared to the others would be a reinforced airframe, larger vertical stabilizer, updated turbofans, and improved electronics. Due to these changes, the F-104G would be known as the "definitive" variant of the Starfighter. The G would first take flight on October of 1960, it would initially be built for the German Luftwaffe as at the time they were looking for a fast aircraft which would be able to deliver nuclear payloads, however that didn't stop it from generating enough interest to be exported and licence-produced in many countries, such as in Italy. The aircraft's licensing was handled by multiple manufacturers, notably Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm (MBB), FIAT Aviazione, Fokker, and Sociétés Anonyme Belge de Constructions Aéronautiques (SABCA).

F-104G of the 4°Stormo

The first aircraft (MM 6501) was delivered to Italy on March 3rd of 1961. It was built by Lockheed, however after being transferred to Italy it was dismantled and used as a model for the construction under license of the 105 units ordered by the Italian Air Force. Aeritalia ended up producing a total of 230 Starfighters in different versions, of which 124 would be made for the Italian Air Force. The F-104G in Italian service was mainly used as an all-weather interceptor armed with AIM-9B Sidewinder infrared guided air-to-air missiles. Other departments instead used the F-104G as a conventional or strike fighter-bomber. The F-104G would eventually be replaced in these roles by the "Tornado IDS", the F-104Gs were concentrated at the 3rd Aerobrigata (later 3rd Stormo) which already used the RF-104G reconnaissance variant. A unit of F/RF-104G of the 3rd Wing took part in the 1991 Gulf War, operating from the Turkish base of Incirlik. Most of the F-104G's would be turned into static displays or kept in museums, for example one resides in Vigna di Valle Airforce museum, this one was the first entirely Italian-built F-104G which first flew on the 5th October of 1962.

Media

Skins

• Skins and camouflages for the F-104G (Italy) from live.warthunder.com.

See also

• F-104 (Family)
  • F-104S

External links

Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:

• topic on the official game forum;
• other literature.

Fiat Aviation (Fiat Aviazione)
Fighters	CR.32 · CR.32 bis · CR.32 quater
	CR.42 · Marcolin's C.R.42 CN · ▀Marcolin's C.R.42 CN
	G.50 serie 2 · G.50 AS serie 7
	G.55 sottoserie 0 · G.55 serie 1 · G.55S
	G.56
Jet fighters	G.91 pre-serie · G.91 R/1 · G.91 Y · G.91 YS
	▄F-86K*
	▄F-104G* · F-104S* · F-104S.ASA* · ▄F-104S TAF*
Strike aircraft	F.C.20 Bis
Bombers	B.R.20DR · B.R.20M M1
Export/Captured	J11 · ▀CR.42
	▀G.50 serie 2 · ▀G.50 AS serie 7
	◄G.91 R/3 · ◄G.91 R/4 · G.91 R/4
	*Licensed
See also	North American Aviation · Lockheed Martin

Italy jet aircraft
Aerfer	Sagittario 2 · Ariete
Fiat	G.91 pre-serie · G.91 R/1 · G.91 R/4 (Portugal) · G.91 Y · G.91 YS
AMX International	AMX · AMX A-1A (Brazil)
Panavia	Tornado ADV · ▄Tornado IDS · ▄Tornado IDS (1995)
	Foreign:
Vampire	Vampire FB 52A
F-84	▄F-84F · ▄F-84G-21-RE
F-86	CL-13 Mk.4 · ▄F-86K
F-104	▄F-104G · F-104S · ▄F-104S TAF (Turkey) · F-104S.ASA
F-16	▄F-16A ADF
AV-8	▄AV-8B Plus
Hungary
Mikoyan-Gurevich	◔MiG-15bis · ◔MiG-17PF · ◔MiG-21MF · ◔MiG-21bis-SAU · ◔MiG-23MF · ◔MiG-29
Ilyushin	◔IL-28
Sukhoi	◔Su-22M3
Saab	◔JAS39EBS HU C