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Posted

Not by the 90s, but with Eurofighter delayed they were modernised as nothing else was on the pipeline to improve reliability, eventually being replaced by Tornados and F-16s until the EF-2000 came into line.

  • 3 weeks later...
Posted

I don't have a first-hand perspective, just what was written in the Italian defense media.

it was considered a relatively cost-effective measure since local aero industry was already tooled up for F-104G.

It doesn't seem as if anyone considered it a great plane.

More controversial was the upgrade to F-104 ASA, with more advanced missiles, etc., at a time when the 104s were really becoming obsolete and rahter old machines and the rest of NATO had long re-equipped with more modern systems.

Posted

It's ironic I think that the advent of things like HOBS / AIM-9X and reliable medium ranged missiles (AIM-120) could have gone a long way to making it a viable platform even today against contemporary threats.

Posted

It's ironic I think that the advent of things like HOBS / AIM-9X and reliable medium ranged missiles (AIM-120) could have gone a long way to making it a viable platform even today against contemporary threats.

You can take any ancient plane with adequate flight characteristics, put neatest toys on it and it will be effective. See MiG-21-93(was pretty okay for 90s). Put AESA on it, arm with R-77-1 and Izdelye 760 with HOBS - and it would beat most F-15/16 out there.
  • 4 years later...
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