The F-104 Starfighter is famed as the first fighter to break the Mach 2 barrier. Nicknamed the "missile with a man in it" soon after the maiden flight of the XF-104 prototype in February 1954, the Starfighter garnered attention as the world's fastest fighter after setting a speed record of 2,259km/h in May 1958.
However, delays in getting the fighter operational caused large-scale order cancellations, resulting in the Starfighter losing its spot as the Air Force's premier fighter to the F-106 and F-101 types. Changing marketing strategies, the F-104's manufacturers targeted various NATO air forces, knowing that their fighter forces were rapidly becoming obsolete.
This paid off when the West German Air Force opted to go with the Starfighter to replace its fleet of aging F-84 Thunderjets in February 1959. Given a "G" (for "Germany") sub-designation, the primary mission of the F-104G was to fly tactical nuclear attack missions against East Germany.
Mission requirements of carrying tactical nuclear devices in low-level, high speed attacks necessitated extensive modifications to, and strengthening of, the Starfighter airframe. In addition, the Fire Control System was upgraded to the AN/ASG-14 NASARR F-15A, and Litton inertial navigation system, an armaments computer and autopilot equipment were also installed.
The engine was changed to the J79-GE-11A.
One significant characteristic of the G-type was the spray mat electrically-heated de-icer system installed in the air intake of the aircraft as a countermeasure to harsh European winter conditions.
Ejection seats were originally of the same C-2 type as USAF aircraft, but these were changed to the Martin-Baker CQ-7 model when Denmark and Italy, also using the Starfighter, decided to go with the latter type of seat.
Following the lead of the West German Air Force, the air forces of Holland, Belgium, Italy, Denmark, Norway, Greece and Spain all used the aircraft at some point. The aircraft was also produced under license in West Germany, Holland, Belgium and Italy.
