Mitsubishi F-104J Starfighter
Japan's 'Eiko' — a pure air-defence Starfighter with the G-model's airframe and the strike gear left out · First flight 1961 · Retired 1986
The F-104J was an air-defence version of the F-104G for the Japan Air Self-Defense Force. It kept the strengthened G-model airframe but dropped the strike role, carrying the cannon and up to four Sidewinders. Lockheed built the first three, and the first of them flew on 30 June 1961. Mitsubishi then assembled 29 from Lockheed-supplied parts and built the remaining 178 itself. Twenty two-seat F-104DJs were added, with Lockheed building the first and Mitsubishi and Kawasaki assembling the rest.
In Japanese service the type was nicknamed 'Eiko' (glory). It equipped several Hikotai (squadrons) of the JASDF's air-defence wings. The last fighter unit, the 207th Hikotai at Naha, disbanded in 1986.
That was not quite the end. Some retired F-104Js were converted into UF-104J radio-controlled target drones and expended in the 1990s, and the United States passed other ex-Japanese F-104Js and DJs to the air force of Taiwan.
