Aeromedia
corso Giambone 46/18
10135 Torino (Italy)
F-104 ASA-M Programme
The timing of the Eurofighter 2000 programme urged the Italian Air Force to upgrade its interceptor and air defence roles by the lease of 24 ex RAF Panavia Tornado ADVs and by the upgrade of the capabilities of 106 out of its longeval F-104 ASA/TF-104G fleet, through the F-104 ASA-M (M=modificato), up to date programme.
The F-104 ASA (Aggiornamento Sistema d'Arma) version was the result of the previous F-104S's avionics and armament up to date programme, ran from the mid eighties on.
The F-104 ASA-M upgrade areas comprise the engine, the avionics package integration and some structural strenghtenings. Flight testing activity is under way by Alenia, using three modification programme demostrators: an IAF single-seater F-104 ASA (MM6935), a company single-seater F-104 ASA (CM X 611 ex MM6945) and a two-seater trainer TF-104G-M (MM54254), the last one having been flown, for the first time, during February this year.
The number of ASA-Ms may be cut, by budget reduction, to 49 single-seater and 15 two-seater aircraft.
In the picture: Alenia F-104 ASA-M demonstrator CM X 611, during take-off.
