Not is clear what types of AIM-9 were employed in the mainly exported F-104 Starfighters. The follow considerations are basically informed guesses with puntual evidences. Also, we must remember a missile is designed to keep his integrity when loaded in a plane because the vibrations only a few flight hours (most between 40 or 400), and late it will be discarded or remanufactured.

 

One of the most confusing elements is the double designation of the AIM-9F as AIM-9B FGW Mod.2, shortened to AIM-9B in the texts, the confussion provoked to think late Starfighters were equipped with the low performance, old and original AIM-9B.

As consequence, most of the literature says AIM-9B when it should mean AIM-9F.

 

Also, I think the original AIM-9B are habitually originally white, and reworked AIM-9F habitually deep green, and both externally very similar if not identical, I think the only easy difference is the AIM-9F has a longer nose.

 

The AIM-9E has a longer and narrowed forward extreme, habitually white, and very different to the AIM-9B/F shape, and the confussion is almost impossible.

 

As evidences:

 

Not presence of AIM-9E in German or exported Starfighters:

 

- Very low comparative number of AIM-9E produced (and most converted to AIM-9J).

- No photografic evidence (has a nose clearly longer than AIM-9F).

- Book ADPS 04, Bildband Pictorial German Starfighters (2006), by Wilfried Zetsche, AirDoc publishers, page 2, shows a 1978 photo (This photo can be the origin of confussion?) of a German F-104G with US markings in the training center of Luke AFB, Arizona, with a AIM-9J (but captioned AIM-9E), and mentions “At that time the Luftwaffe was only equipped with the AIM-9B” (AIM-9F)).

- The AIM-9L was employed by German F-4F Phantom only from 1980. I doubt the German F-104 were adapted to employ AIM-9L some six years previously to retirement.

 

 

Use of AIM-9F/AIM-9B FGW Mod.2 in German Starfighters:

 

- Book F-40, Flugzeuge der Bundeswehr 024, Lockheed F-104G Starfighter (Teil 2), by Siefried Wache (1995) (ten years after the last use of Starfighter), page 21, states clearly the use of only AIM-9B and later of AIM-9F/AIM-9B FGW Mod. 2 in the German Starfighters.

- Book ADPS 04, Bildband Pictorial German Starfighters (2006), by Wilfried Zetsche (2006), AirDoc publishers, page 57, a 1972 photo with clearly a (white) AIM-9F (longer nose than in AIM-9B, but rounded, not slender as in AIM-9E/J and derivatives).

- Book Warpaint number 43, Lockheed F-104 Starfighter, by Charles Stafrace (no year), German F-104 with AIM-9B/F on pages 18-19.

 

 

Use of AIM-9F in Italian Starfighters (Replaced by AIM-9L in Italian service):

 

- Clear mention in the Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aeritalia_F-1...id-life_updates

F-104S-ASA

The F-104ASA (Aggiornamento Sistemi d'Arma), developed in 1986, introduced a Fiar Setter radar, with 'look-down' capability and compatibility with the Selenia Aspide missile. AIM-9Ls were then used as the main armament, replacing the previous "B" and "F" version of this missile, while the older AIM-7s were retained.

- Article Aeronautica Militare Italiana at 70 in Air International by Renzo Sacchetti, July 1993, page 48, mentioned the use of only AIM-9B (probably AIM-9F, and AIM-7E) in the Italian Starfighter previously to AIM-9L. Also mentions the deletion of the AIM-9B (AIM-9F) some earlier, 1992?.

 

 

Use of (white) AIM-9B in Norwegian Starfighters on this site:

http://starfighter.no/web/life331.html

 

 

Use of AIM-9J in Belgian and Dutch Starfighters:

- Book Lock-On number 1, F-104G/J, by the Verlinden team (1983), AIM-9J stated and pictured on Belgian and Dutch F-104G in page 48, also in page 59.

 

 

Use of AIM-9J (or N) in Danish Starfighters :

- Book Warpaint number 43, Lockheed F-104 Starfighter, Danish F-104 with AIM-9J (minus forward fins, long and slender nose) on page 52.

 

Use of AIM-9B/E (I doubt the use of AIM-9E because the aforementioned reasons, it must refered to the AIM-9E derivative, the AAM-1) in F-104J stated in the Japanese Wiki: http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-104_(%E6%88...97%98%E6%A9%9F)

Also with 2.75 inch FFAR.

 

I will looking for more data and photos …

 

Starfighter sites and pictures:

http://www.starfighters.nl/

 

 

Production numbers of very similar missiles employed on F-104 Starfighter:

 

AIM-9B/Rb24 (IOC 1956): some 81.000 build to 1962. USN variant, employed by USAF and exported. Short and rounded nose, triangular forward planes.

 

AIM-9E (IOC 1967): some 5000 converted from AIM-9B, for the USAF (but 7300! were converted in AIM-9J). Long and slender nose, triangular forward planes.

 

The Japanese AAM-1 (IOC 1969) is described as based in the AIM-9E with greater diameter fuselage than AIM-9 and shorter range, and smaller, only 76 Kg weight. 330 build.

 

AIM-9F/AIM-9B FGW Mod.2 (IOC 1969): some 15.000 remanufactured (or new build?) by BGT (now makers of IRIS-T) from AIM-9B, for Germany and other European countries. Short and rounded nose, but longer than in AIM-9B, triangular forward planes.

 

AIM-9J/Rb24J (IOC 1972): 6700 converted from AIM-9B, and 7300 from AIM-9E, some 10.000? new-build, for USAF and very exported. Long and slender nose, cranked forward planes. The cranked-delta forward planes does the AIM-9J (and some successors) more maneouvrable, but the bigger forward planes and his use causes a fast loss of kinetic energy and shorter range than in previous variants.

 

AIM-9N (IOC 1973): previously AIM-9J-1, some 7000 build, very similar to AIM-9J, for export.

 

AIM-9P (IOC 1978): some 21.000 build, many rebuild of AIM-9B/E/J. Exported and employed by USAF. Very similar to AIM-9J.

 

Sky Sword I (IOC 1993): Taiwan variant very similar to AIM-9J. Long and slender nose, cranked forward planes.

 

Some AIM-9 Sidewinder sites:

http://www.designation-systems.net/dusrm/m-9.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AIM-9_Sidewinder

http://wiki.scramble.nl/index.php/Raytheon...dewinder#AIM-9F

A more detailed and extensive site (in Brazilian Portuguese):

http://sistemadearmas.sites.uol.com.br/aam/aim91intro.html

http://sistemadearmas.sites.uol.com.br/aam...92iniciais.html

http://sistemadearmas.sites.uol.com.br/aam/aim93finais.html

A page relative to the Twilight 2000 game system, but very detailed:

http://www.pmulcahy.com/aams/us_aams.htm

Also, Italian, German and other European F-104 should be equipped with the AIM-9F (15000 build), not with the USAF model AIM-9E (only 5000 build)(both variants partly converted from previous AIM-9B). Belgian F-104 are proved with AIM-9J.

 

Got a source?

A large and not fully conclusive answer here :

http://harpgamer.com/harpforum/index.php?showtopic=17578

Not too sure according to the SIPRI registers, Germany vs other NATO nations:

 

 

Germany (FRG)

R: Denmark (1000) Cobra Anti-tank missile (1962) 1964-1965 (1000) Cobra-1600 version

Greece (2500) Cobra Anti-tank missile (1965) 1967 (2500) Financed by NATO; Cobra-1600 version

(50) SUT AS/ASW torpedo (1967) 1969-1970 (50) For Type-209 (Glavkos) submarines

(50) SST Seal AS torpedo (1969) 1971-1972 (50) For Combattante-2 (Navsithoi) FAC and Type-209 (Glavkos) submarines

(150) SST Seal AS torpedo (1974) 1975-1978 (150) For Combattante-3 (Laskos and Kavaloudis) and Jaguar (Hesperos) FAC and Type-209 (Glavkos) submarines

(50) SUT AS/ASW torpedo (1975) 1977-1978 (50) For Type-209 (Glavkos) submarines

34 MILAN Anti-tank missile 1986 1986 34

Italy (60) Kormoran-1 Anti-ship missile 1980 1982-1983 (60) For Tornado combat aircraft

Turkey (28) SST Seal AS torpedo (1973) 1976-1978 (28) For Type-209/1200 (Atilay) submarines

6250 MILAN Anti-tank missile (1975) 1976-1981 (6250) $632 m deal (incl 438 launchers)

(28) SST Seal AS torpedo (1978) 1981-1989 (28) For Type-209/1200 (Atilay Class) submarine

5000 MILAN Anti-tank missile 1980 1981-1985 (5000) Deal also incl 249 launchers; part of FRG aid programme

1110 AIM-9B Sidewinder-1A SRAAM (1989) 1990-1991 (1110) Ex-FRG; aid

 

L: Italy (15000) Cobra Anti-tank missile (1971) 1972-1983 (15000) Cobra-2000 version; most assembled/produced in Italy

(13000) MILAN Anti-tank missile 1981 1982-1999 (13000) MILAN-2 version; ordered from French-FRG Euromissile company; most produced in Italy

Netherlands 900 AIM-9L/M Sidewinder SRAAM 1983 1985-1989 (900) $78 m deal; AIM-9L version; from European production in FRG ( incl production of components in Netherlands)

Turkey (6000) Cobra Anti-tank missile (1963) 1964-1973 (6000) Probably most assembled/produced in Turkey; Cobra-1600 and probably Cobra-2000 version

UK (18000) MILAN Anti-tank missile 1976 1977-1989 (18000) Incl MILAN-2 version; ordered from French-FRG Euromissile company; most produced in UK (offsets incl production for export via Euromissile until 1991)

Thanks. I think the interpretation of those data are the AIM-9L/M are for use in F-16 and F-4F because the time period, after 1980 (first use of AIM-9L in F-4F).

Also, I think SIPRI confuses clearly the old and confuse "AIM-9B Sidewinder IA" designation (with the old use of the IA suffix, probably discontinued after the 1962 tri-service designation unification), employing it in reference to the updated AIM-9F/AIM-9B FGW Mod.2.

http://www.designation-systems.net/dusrm/m-9.html

Only 240 Sidewinder I missiles were built, and full-rate production missiles (built by Ford Aerospace (Philco) and General Electric) were known as AAM-N-7 Sidewinder IA. I have found no evidence that the AAM-N-7 designations ever used suffix letters (like AAM-N-7a, etc.). For ease of reference, I will use the post-1963 designations of AIM-9A (Sidewinder I) and AIM-9B (Sidewinder IA) throughout this text, even when referring to pre-1963 events.

The AIM-9F (also known as AIM-9B FGW.2) was a European development of the AIM-9B, of which 15000 were built by Bodensee Gerätetechnik (BGT) in Germany. It featured a now CO2-cooled seeker, some solid-state electronics, and a new nose dome. This version entered service in 1969, and most European AIM-9Bs were converted to AIM-9F standard.

Took some digging but finally found who was in the European Sidewinder Consortium led by Germany: Germany, Norway, Italy and the UK

 

http://www.disam.dsca.mil/pubs/Vol%207-3/Harper.pdf

 

Moving now to the trade registers we can assume the following are AIM-9F

 

Germany to Turkey:

1110 AIM-9B Sidewinder-1A SRAAM (1989) 1990-1991 (1110) Ex-FRG; aid

 

But the other transfers just don't appear IMO:

 

Germany to Netherlands:

900 AIM-9L/M Sidewinder SRAAM 1983 1985-1989 (900) $78 m deal; AIM-9L version; from European production in FRG ( incl production of components in Netherlands)

 

Italy to Turkey:

200 AIM-7E Sparrow BVRAAM (1974) 1975-1977 (200) For F-104S combat aircraft

 

Norway to Denmark:

(1500) AGM-12B Bullpup ASM (1962) 1963-1969 (1500) AGM-12B Bullpup-A version; for F-100D and F-104G combat aircraft; incl production of components in Denmark as part of European production line for AGM-12B (with assembly in Norway)

 

Norway to Turkey

(2500) AGM-12B Bullpup ASM (1962) 1962-1969 (2500) AGM-12B Bullpup-A version; incl production of components in Turkey as part of European

Thanks. Very interesting the concretion of AGM-12B Bullpup-A for use in Danish and Turkish F-100D (We can use the Taiwanese F-100A 57149 loadout), and in Norwegian, Danish and Turkish F-104 (We can use the Greek F-104G 57174 loadout).

 

As on comments in many books about the AIM-7E Sparrow delivered from Italy to Turkey for use in the exported F-104S, all the sources say the 20mm Vulcan gun was retained by the Turkish F-104S, precluding the installation of electronics relatives to Sparrow guide, and his use.

Confirmed the use of AGM-12 Bullpup in anti-ship role by at least the Norwegian CF-104 from 1973:

http://karo-aviation.nl/favorite/pages/f104/f104knl.htm

http://www.vectorsite.net/avf104_3.html

Ok, Here is the skinny on the AIM-9E numbers game as I understand it.

 

1) the number PRODUCED as in MADE NEW was ~5,000.

 

2) The Numbers in USAF Service are MUCH higher, on the order of 8,000-12,000 Missiles. Converted from AIM-9B + New Built AIM-9E.

 

Why the Huge Discrepancy? Simple for many of the missiles the USAF, was the Primary contractor for. Since it was a modification by inserting new parts from a sub-contractor, there was no "production." It is the same in regard to an Aircraft being modified to carry a new weapon. A New pylon/Weapon release device may be installed, and maybe a new piece of Software is added to the computer. But that does not mean it is a new aircraft.

 

I don't have my book handy but IIRC the number of AIM-9E Seeker/Control Heads made (the important part of our discussion,) was on the order of 16,000 total heads.

 

 

Hope that helps.

 

PS Many documents do not cover all the Variants of the AIM-9P because they never went into production. But they are in use around the world today... even though they never went into production..... I hope you see the conundrum this can create.

Hope that helps.

Thanks for the clear explanations. Also, I think the AIM-9E was never exported.

Mor fuel to the fire, I was rereading some of my Air International issues from 1993 and found some interesting nitpicks on the AMI:

 

The AIM-9B was the only air to air weapon for the F-104G, so when retired, they were toothless.

 

The F-104S used AIM-9Ps before AIM-9Ls.

 

Then on an old Air Forces monthly issue, I found an article by a former Sea Harrier pilot that mentioned that the radar on the F-104S was so poor that the AMI pilots relied on the AIM-9L as their main AtoA weapon.

Mor fuel to the fire, I was rereading some of my Air International issues from 1993 and found some interesting nitpicks on the AMI:

 

The AIM-9B was the only air to air weapon for the F-104G, so when retired, they were toothless.

 

The F-104S used AIM-9Ps before AIM-9Ls.

 

Then on an old Air Forces monthly issue, I found an article by a former Sea Harrier pilot that mentioned that the radar on the F-104S was so poor that the AMI pilots relied on the AIM-9L as their main AtoA weapon.

Yes, I've read recently this same article, but I think for AIM-9B they are meaning AIM-9F ...