The F-104S is a develop of the original F-104G whit a more powerfull engine, stronger body structure, improvements to avionics and ordinance capabilities and two new lateral tail fins for better stability at high speeds. Originally known as Lockheed Project CL-980, the S version of the Starfighter was designed by Kelly Johnson to assure the success of his F-104 Project also in the '70s and it first flew in 1966. It could carry the AIM-7E Sparrow medium range missile. The F-104S was choosed by the Italian Air Force in 1966 to replace its fleet of F-104G and to accomplish to the specification AWX (All Weathr X) which requested a new all weather interceptor fighter whit secondary attack mission (especially "Strike" mission). The "S" was the best aircraft examined. In 1968 the first two Lockheed-produced F-104S flew in Italy. All the other 206 F-104S were directly produced in Italy by Aeritalia which produced also 40 aircrafts for the Turkish Air Force. Italian Air Force and Trkish Air Force were the only to own the "S" version of the Starfighter. In 1979 the production of the Aeritalia F-104S stopped. This aircraft is from the 9th Wing "Francesco Baracca" of the 10th Group of the Italian Air Force (AMI) which received its first F-104S in early 1972. This F-104S has the "Europe Camo" color scheme as it appeared in 1970s and 1980s. Its primary role was interception and air superiority. The 9th Wing of the Italian Air Force was (and is...) based on Grazzanise "Carlo Romagnoli" Air Base, Caserta. The F-104S was updated to ASA and ASA/M versions since 1987. The 9th wing received the first ASA Starfighter in 1988 replacing the F-104S versions.
