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The Aeronautica Militare Italiana, the Italian Air Force, entered the first F-104G Starfighter into service with the 9th Gruppo (Squadron) 4th Stormo (Wing) at Grosseto AB in 1963. The aircraft is a Lockheed Martin design licensed for production to Fiat (now Alenia) in March 1961. In 1968, AMI updated to the F-104S, the most potent Starfighter built and the only Starfighter type built new since 1967. It, too, is a Lockheed Martin design, this time the winner of an all-weather interceptor competition held by AMI in 1965. The F-104S was produced entirely by Alenia.

The F-104S is a single-pilot air superiority fighter that can carry two Sparrow missiles (hence the S designation). Until two years ago, AMI used the F-104 as a fighter-bomber as well. The aircraft is fitted with the more powerful J79-GE-19 engine, which provides thirteen percent more power than the J79 engine that powers the F-104G. Avionics include an NASARR R-21G/H radar with moving-target indication and tracking. The RS2G/H uses contour/ground mapping and terrain avoidance to enable the fighter-bomber capabilities.

AMI ordered a total of 206 F-104S aircraft. Deliveries began in spring 1969 and completed by March 1979, with the last delivery marking the end of Starfighter production throughout the world. In all, over 2,500 Starfighters of all models were built in the United States, Canada, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the Netherlands.

In 1984, AMI began the F-104S ASA (Aggiornamento Sistema d’Arma, or Updated Weapons System) to extend the operational life of the F-104S. The update added the capability to carry the AIM-9L Sidewinder and the Selenia Aspide 1A, a beyondvisual-range missile still used today. Most Italian F-104Ss were brought up to this new standard. The last upgrade occurred in early 1996 with the ASA-M avionics. AMI plans to operate the F-104S until 2003 or 2004 at which time the aircraft will likely be replaced by a more modern fighter.

The first AMI F-104S entered service at Grosseto in 1970 where two gruppi (of five total F-104S in AMI) continue to operate thirty interceptors today in the air defense mission only, the 9th Gruppo and the 20th Gruppo of the 4th Stormo. The 20th performs F-104 training, which involves one month of ground training and about forty hours of flight training before a student is qualified as an operational F-104 pilot.

AMI pilots appreciate the unique qualities of the F-104 — good acceleration, a powerful engine, a high ceiling, and excellent climbing performance. They say the Starfighters are very stable but demanding to fly.

Katsuhiko Tokunaga is an aviation photographer based in Japan.
See more of Mr. Tokunaga's photos