The F-104 Starfighter is a well-known American supersonic jet fighter, developed at the start of the Cold War by the Lockheed company. Soon, pilots in War Thunder will have the chance to fly this truly iconic and unique aircraft as it arrives at the top rank of several nations with the release of the incoming major update!

F-104 Starfighter, jet fighter, Rank VI.

Pros

• Top speed exceeding Mach 2
• Good handling at supersonic speed
• Superb climb rate and energy retention

Cons

• Limited strike capability (in early versions)
• Poor maneuverability

In War Thunder, the legendary F-104 Starfighter is coming to the game with the next major update as a new top ranking jet fighter to the aviation trees of several nations and in a number of different variants at the same time. This means that not only American and German pilots can look forward to flying the Starfighter, but also fans of Italian, Japanese and Chinese aviation. So strap yourselves in pilots, we have a lot to cover in today’s devblog!

Fans of American aviation can look forward to getting access to two versions of the Starfighter - namely, the F-104A and F-104C. The F-104A is the first production version of the Starfighter, fitted with a J79-GE-3 afterburning turbojet engine, allowing it to reach a top speed of 1,450 mph (2,333 km/h) at altitude. The ‘A’ model of the F-104 features a single 20mm M61 Vulcan cannon as its primary armament while also being able to carry a pair of Sidewinder missiles. The F-104C awaits more ground attack oriented pilots, having much in common with the ‘A’ model, but expanding upon its secondary weapons arsenal substantially.

German pilots on the other hand, will receive access to a later model of the Starfighter - the F-104G. As the most versatile variant of the F-104, the ‘G’ model gives pilots access to a greater range and quantity of secondary weapons, thanks to the increased number of pylons. Furthermore, the F-104G also features minor improvements to overall handling and possesses a slightly more powerful version of the J79 engine.

Pilots from the land of the rising sun won’t be left out of the fun either as Japanese pilots too will get access to their own domestic version of the Starfighter - namely, the F-104J. Being a variant derived from the F-104G, the ‘J’ model unsurprisingly features a great deal of similarity to the ‘G’ model with the exception that Japanese aviators won’t have access to such an extensive array of secondary ordnance. As a result, their F-104 is more centered around combating hostile air threats with its cannon and missile armament, while strike missions can only be effectively carried out against lighter targets with the use of unguided rockets. Another Asian operator of the F-104 will become China: their pilots will put their hands on controls of versions F-104A and F-104G.

Lastly, Italian pilots will also finally be able to breach the sound barrier - not once, but twice, thanks to the introduction of the F-104S to the top rank of the Italian aviation tree! Being one of the last variants of the Starfighter to be developed, the F-104S features a more powerful J79-GE-19 engine, which not only improves flight performance overall, but also allows the aircraft to carry even more ordnance than any of its predecessors. The resulting inclusion of two further underwing pylons will give the F-104S even greater versatility in combined battles, while pilots in air battles will be able to reap the benefits of improved performance in order to gain the upper hand in an intense aerial engagement.

Meet the F-104 Starfighter in the upcoming War Thunder "Starfighters" major update and be the first to experience what it’s like being virtually strapped to a rocket! In the meantime, make sure to stay tuned to the news as we share more information on the next major update, coming to the game very soon. Until then, clear skies pilots!

The War Thunder Team

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