Editing Lockheed F-104 Starfighter (section)

===Redesign for NATO===

In response to a 1957 German Air Staff Paper asking for a single aircraft to fulfill its fighter, fighter-bomber, and reconnaissance mission requirements,<ref name="Kropf2002p16">Kropf 2002, p. 16.</ref> Lockheed redesigned the entire airframe, including 96 new forgings, additional skin panels, and reinforced landing gear with larger tires and improved brakes. The proposed F-104G (for Germany) "Super Starfighter" featured a more powerful J79-11A engine, a larger tail with powered rudder (the same used on the two-seat F-104B and D), improved blown flaps with a mode for improved maneuverability, electric de-icing equipment for the air intake inlets, and a larger drag chute. Avionics were improved as well, primarily with the [[Autonetics]] F15A NASARR (North American Search and Range Radar) multi-mode radar and the [[LN-3 inertial navigation system]] by [[Litton Industries]], the first such system to be placed into operational service. Altogether, these changes increased the amount of external weapons that could be carried to {{cvt|3000|lb}}, and also allowed the aircraft to fulfill the [[NATO]] requirement of carrying a {{cvt|2000|lb}} "special store" (nuclear weapon) under the fuselage.<ref name="Cacutt1988pp165–166">Cacutt 1988, pp. 165–166.</ref>

Belgium, the Netherlands, and Italy selected the F-104 soon after as well, and the four European nations set up four production groups to jointly manufacture the F-104G under license. ''Arbeitsgemeinschaft'' (ARGE) South consisted of [[Messerschmitt]], [[Heinkel]], [[Dornier Flugzeugwerke|Dornier]], and [[Siebel]]; ARGE North comprised [[Hamburger Flugzeugbau]], [[Focke-Wulf]], and [[Weserflug]] in Germany, as well as [[Fokker]] and [[Aviolanda]] in the Netherlands; the West Group was made of [[SABCA]] and [[Avions Fairey]] in Belgium; and the Italian Group was formed of [[Fiat Aviazione|Fiat]], [[Aermacchi|Macchi]], [[Piaggio Aerospace|Piaggio]], [[Societá per Azioni Costruzioni Aeronavali|SACA]], and [[SIAI-Marchetti]].<ref name="Kropf2002pp19–21">Kropf 2002, pp. 19–21.</ref> The four groups were contracted to manufacture 210, 350, 189, and 200 F-104G aircraft, respectively.<ref name="Donald2003p152">Donald 2003, p. 152.</ref> In addition, 1,225 J79 turbojets were also produced under license by [[BMW]] in Germany, [[Fabrique Nationale]] in Belgium, and [[Alfa Romeo]] in Italy.<ref name="Donald2003p154">Donald 2003, p. 154.</ref><ref name="Kropf2002p21">Kropf 2002, p. 21.</ref> Canada, who had also chosen the Starfighter to fulfill its NATO obligations, delivered 121 sets of wings, aft fuselages, and tail assemblies built by [[Canadair]] to Europe while it constructed 200 CF-104s with [[Orenda Engines|Orenda]]-built engines for the [[Royal Canadian Air Force]]. Later the two would also build an additional 110 MAP-funded F-104Gs destined for Europe.<ref name="Cacutt1988p166">Cacutt 1988, p. 166.</ref> Lockheed for its part built 191 two-seat trainers for both Europe and Canada, as well as supplying spares and technical support.<ref name="Donald2003p154"/>

The multinational consortium formed a central coordination office named NASMO (NATO Starfighter Management Office) in [[Koblenz, Germany]], which succeeded in achieving a high level of standardization and cooperation. This was evidenced by an F-104G being assembled in April 1963 at [[Erding Air Base]] in Germany consisting of components constructed in all four European partner countries. However, this central coordination resulted in long delays in implementing needed modifications and upgrades. Some of the modifications that were proposed during this time, mainly from the Joint Test Force at Edwards AFB in California, were the installation of an arrester hook, a standby attitude indicator, and the emergency engine nozzle closure system.<ref name="Kropf2002pp19–21"/>

In all, 2,578 F-104s were produced by Lockheed and under license by various foreign manufacturers.<ref name="Matricardi2006p129">Matricardi 2006, p. 129.</ref>