F-104S.ASA
| This page is about the Italian jet fighter F-104S.ASA. For other versions, see F-104 (Family). |
Contents
Description
The F-104S.ASA Starfighter is a rank VII Italian jet fighter with a battle rating of 11.3 (AB/RB) and 11.0 (SB). It was introduced in Update "Wind of Change".
The F-104S is an Italian supersonic interceptor based on the American Lockheed F-104 "Starfighter" series. The external appearance is much the same besides the additional ventral fins, but as the final variant of the Starfighter family, it boasts the best speed and payload capacity of any F-104. It can be used as a high-speed ground attacker with a sizeable load of assorted bombs and rockets. Alternatively, it can be a deadly interceptor if equipped with air-to-air missiles. Unique among Starfighters is its ability to carry a pair of Slenia Aspide semi-active radar homing missiles.
General info
Flight performance
| 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 | 2,344 | 2,316 | 16000 | 34.5 | 34.7 | 225.5 | 216.5 | 850 |
| Upgraded | 2,431 | 2,387 | 33.5 | 34.0 | 297.4 | 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 | ~4 |
| 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-19 | 1 | 6,850 kg | 562 kg/m2 | ||||
| Engine characteristics | Mass with fuel (no weapons load) | Max Takeoff Weight | |||||
| Weight (each) | Type | 9m fuel | 20m fuel | 30m fuel | 32m fuel | ||
| 1,740 kg | Afterburning axial-flow turbojet | 7,710 kg | 8,621 kg | 9,506 kg | 9,718 kg | 24,000 kg | |
| Maximum engine thrust @ 0 m (RB/SB) | Thrust to weight ratio @ 0 m (WEP) | ||||||
| Condition | 100% | WEP | 9m fuel | 20m fuel | 30m fuel | 32m fuel | MTOW |
| Stationary | 4,992 kgf | 7,688 kgf | 1.00 | 0.89 | 0.80 | 0.79 | 0.32 |
| Optimal | 5,044 kgf (1,200 km/h) |
10,253 kgf (1,200 km/h) |
1.33 | 1.18 | 1.07 | 1.06 | 0.43 |
Survivability and armour
The F-104S ASA is not equipped with any armour plating, and is therefore rather vulnerable to enemy fire, especially given the fact that most enemies at this rank sport high-calibre cannons. Taking any critical damage in the F-104S ASA will almost instantly cripple it, to the point where you will have to fly back to base, or be a sitting duck for the enemy team. Taking a critical hit to the fuselage will disable you so badly you won't be able to reach supersonic speeds, which is your greatest advantage. The same goes for taking any sort of wing damage or tail damage: it will instantly result in a huge amount of drag on the air frame, reducing your already poor energy retention in manoeuvres making you an easy target to pick off from afar and in effective gun range. Lastly, the engine is a massive target for guns and missiles alike. Having a slightly orange engine will effectively put you out of the fight. And with the already heavy weight of the F-104S ASA, you require the engine power to stay in the fight.
Modifications and economy
| Flight performance | Survivability | Weaponry | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
Armaments
| Ballistic Computer | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| CCIP (Guns) | CCIP (Rockets) | CCIP (Bombs) | CCRP (Bombs) |
 |
|
|
|
Offensive armament
The F-104S.ASA is armed with:
- A choice between two presets:
- Without offensive armament
- 60 x countermeasures
Suspended armament
The F-104S.ASA can be outfitted with the following ordnance presets:
- 1 x 20 mm M61A1 cannon (750 rpg)
- 1 x 20 mm M61A1 cannon + 2 x AIM-9L Sidewinder missiles
- 1 x 20 mm M61A1 cannon + 4 x AIM-9L Sidewinder missiles
- 2 x Aspide-1A missiles
- 2 x Aspide-1A missiles + 2 x AIM-9L Sidewinder missiles
- 1 x 20 mm M61A1 cannon + 6 x 500 lb LDGP Mk 82 bombs (3,000 lb total)
- 1 x 20 mm M61A1 cannon + 6 x 750 lb M117 cone 45 bombs (4,500 lb total)
- 1 x 20 mm M61A1 cannon + 6 x 750 lb M117 cone 45 bombs + 2 x AIM-9L Sidewinder missiles (4,500 lb total)
- 1 x 20 mm M61A1 cannon + 2 x 1,000 lb LDGP Mk 83 bombs (2,000 lb total)
- 1 x 20 mm M61A1 cannon + 2 x 1,000 lb LDGP Mk 83 bombs + 2 x AIM-9L Sidewinder missiles (2,000 lb total)
- 1 x 20 mm M61A1 cannon + 1 x 2,000 lb LDGP Mk 84 bomb (2,000 lb total)
- 1 x 20 mm M61A1 cannon + 1 x 2,000 lb LDGP Mk 84 bomb + 2 x AIM-9L Sidewinder missiles (2,000 lb total)
- 1 x 20 mm M61A1 cannon + 76 x FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets
- 1 x 20 mm M61A1 cannon + 8 x Zuni Mk32 Mod 0 ATAP rockets
- 1 x 20 mm M61A1 cannon + 8 x Zuni Mk32 Mod 0 ATAP rockets + 38 x FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets
- 1 x 20 mm M61A1 cannon + 5 x BLU-1 incendiary bombs
Custom loadout options
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |  | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 mm M61A1 cannons (750 rpg) | 1 | ||||||||||
| 500 lb LDGP Mk 82 bombs | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||||
| 750 lb M117 cone 45 bombs | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||||
| 1,000 lb LDGP Mk 83 bombs | 1 | 1 | |||||||||
| 2,000 lb LDGP Mk 84 bombs | 1 | ||||||||||
| BLU-1 incendiary bombs | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||||
| FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | |||||||
| Zuni Mk32 Mod 0 ATAP rockets | 4 | 4 | |||||||||
| AIM-9L Sidewinder missiles | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||||||
| Aspide-1A missiles* | 1 | 1 | |||||||||
| Aspide aim block* | 1 | ||||||||||
| Maximum permissible weight imbalance: 500 kg | |||||||||||
| * The "Aspide aim block" must be selected to use Aspide-1A missiles, replacing the 20 mm M61A1. | |||||||||||
Usage in battles
The F-104S ASA does one thing extremely well is speed, it is one of the vehicle's greatest advantage, and can be used to great effect if the pilot is careful about choosing which engagements to pursue. It is recommended to keep up a high air-speed at all times, which will allow the F-104S ASA to swoop in and out of the combat zone while evading enemies. Sometimes, it is even possible to outrun enemy air-to-air missiles.
However, the F-104S ASA struggles with manoeuvrability. With such small wings, it simply can't produce the lift necessary to throw itself around the sky, and therefore has a very poor turning circle. This means that any turning engagement is most likely futile, and also re-emphasises the utility of a boom and zoom playstyle.
When used in conjunction with its speed, the available armaments really allow the F-104S ASA to shine. The AIM-9Ls, already difficult to dodge with their decent manoeuvrability and flare-resistance, become nigh-on impossible to avoid when launched at supersonic speeds, particularly against much slower targets. And with 6 of them, the pilot can be a little less frugal than would be the case with other aircraft. The Selenia Aspide can also be a welcome addition in a high-altitude, long-range, all-aspect engagement however you will have to compromise for the 20mm Vulcan. Speaking of which, the extremely accurate and powerful M61A1 Vulcan cannon can be used instead for quick head-ons and to mop any remaining opponents at close-range.
When it comes to countermeasures, unlike the F104-S, this jet is able to bring both Flare and Chaff countermeasures to give it a fighting chance against the top dogs of the air. Your main enemies will be aircraft such as the F-14 Tomcat or the MIG-27, its best you try and avoid close engagements and instead focus on picking people from afar. As previously mentioned you will not be able to turn well at high speeds so make sure that every person you engage won't become a threat if things dont go your way.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Good top speed and acceleration
- Fantastic climb rate
- All-aspect AIM-9Ls have very good tracking and range
- Aspide SARH missiles with great tracking and range, plus a look-down/shoot-down radar
- 60 countermeasures
Cons:
- Very poor manoeuvrability
- No internal M61A1 cannon when Aspide missiles are equipped
- No guided air-to-ground weaponry
History
The Lockheed F-104 Starfighter was a supersonic jet fighter known for its distinctive appearance, described as a "missile with a man in it". At the time of its introduction in 1958 with the US Air Force as an interceptor, the F-104 set multiple performance records and was the first production fighter capable of flying at twice the speed of sound. Flaws of the design included engine troubles, limited range, and poor handling characteristics that led to a poor safety record, earning it several morbid nicknames like "Widowmaker". The F-104G variant was modified for multi-role capabilities in line with German requirements and ultimately was adopted by several other NATO countries, including Italy.
The F-104G began to replace the Canadair Sabre in Italian service beginning in 1963-1965. Although the airframes were not very old, the subsonic Sabres were already outdated compared to the new Mach-2 capable supersonic aircraft available to NATO and the Warsaw Pact. The Starfighters also supplanted the similarly outdated F-84 Thunderjet fighter-bomber. As was the case for many foreign designs in Italian service, the F-104Gs were for the most part assembled locally by Fiat. They were configured in interceptor, strike, and reconnaissance variants. Trainer variants were also obtained. The original Lockheed ejection seats were replaced with Martin-Baker seats. In Italian hands, the F-104 earned the nickname of Spillone ("Hairpin"), no doubt due to its pointed, needle-like shape.
Despite its poor accident record, the F-104 proved to be popular with the Italian Air Force. In the mid 1960s, the Italian military began to look for new and more advanced aircraft. Options considered included the American F-4 Phantom II, British English Electric Lighting, and French Mirage III. Lockheed's proposal was an upgraded version of the Starfighter with the company designation of CL-901. This was to feature a new J79-GE-19 engine, slight modifications to the air intakes, improved avionics, extra pylons, and additional ventral fins. The CL-901 was ultimately selected due to its low price and the Italian industry's familiarity with the F-104, and it was produced as the F-104S. The first examples were modified from the F-104G.
Two configurations of the F-104S were produced. The F-104S/CI interceptor version replaced the internal cannon with additional avionics required to support the semi-active radar homing Sparrow missiles while the F-104S/CB fighter-bomber variant retained the gun. The two variants may have had different radars with features suited to their roles, though sources are unclear about this distinction.
A total of 246 examples of the F-104S were produced over ten years from 1969-1979. An upgrade program was carried out in the 1980s while the Italian military was working on the Eurofighter Typhoon, resulting in the F-104S-ASA (ASA Standing for Amodernamento Sistema Arma). The ASA is differentiated by the additions of the AIM-9L sidewinder missile and the Italian Selenia Aspide semi-active homing radar missile. The avionics, countermeasure systems, and weapons were improved, sadly however, the cannon could not be carried along with the missile guidance equipment due to improvements in avionics. The ASA was also tested with Flare and Chaff pods, which was also one of the notable improvements over the S variant. The ASA would be updated once more beginning in 1995-1997 to the ASA/M standard. The changes were relatively minor and limited to the addition of modern AIM-9L's, overhauling the electrical system and adding new navigation features. These changes also resulted in a pure interceptor and therefore could not carry rockets or bombs.
The only combat service seen by the F-104 was in Serbia as part of Operation Allied Force, where they flew combat air patrols. They were finally retired by Italy in 2004, being replaced by the General dynamics F-16 Fighting falcon. This was due to the Eurofighter Typhoon not being fully operational yet. This brought the F-104's career worldwide to an end. The only other user of the F-104S was Turkey, who received 40 aircraft and used them alongside other F-104 models obtained from many countries. Turkey retired all its Starfighters by 1995.
The F-104 was a remarkable plane for its time and offered NATO countries a relatively simple aircraft with spectacular performance. Though Italy adopted the F-104 a few years after the United States and Germany, it used the F-104 for longer than any other country and the domestically produced F-104S was the most advanced variant built. Its service was marred by a frightening accident record, as over a third of all Italian F-104s were lost in crashes. By the time the F-104S was retired, 50 years had passed since the F-104's first flight in 1954.
A large number of F-104S Starfighters have survived today and are on display throughout Italy. A full list of survivors can be found here.
Media
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- Videos
See also
Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:
External links
Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:
- https://forum.warthunder.com/index.php?/topic/548752-f104-s-asa-and-its-missing-capabilities-wrong-radar-loadouts-and-more/
- https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/news/features/history/f-104.html
| 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 | |
|---|---|
| Aefer | 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 |
| Panavia | Tornado ADV · ▄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 |
