View source for Morgenroete F-104 Ghost

{|{{Infobox aircraft begin
 |name = Morgenroete F-104 Ghost
 |image = F104ghost.png
 |caption = <!-- Image caption; if it isn't descriptive, please skip. -->
 |alt = <!-- Alt text for main image -->
}}{{Infobox aircraft type
 |type = Stealth Air Superiority Fighter
 |national origin = {{flag|Gristol-Serkonos}}, [[Moxaney]], {{flag|Ghant}}
 |manufacturer = [[Morgenroete Aerospace]]
 |design group = F-104 Design Consortium
* Morgenroete Skunkworks 
* Office of Defence Research
* Marklin-Ashton Engines
* Red Rock Defence 
* GEEM
 |designer = <!-- Only appropriate for one-person designers, not project leaders or chief designers -->
 |builder = 
 |first flight = <br>
* XDF-104 Alpha: {{Start date and age|1996|07|18|df=yes}}
* XDF-104 Beta: {{Start date and age|2006|03|07|df=yes}}
 |introduction = {{Start date and age|2015|09|19|df=yes}}
 |introduced = <!--Date the aircraft entered or will enter military or revenue service -->
 |retired = <!--Date the aircraft left service. If vague or more than a few dates, skip this. -->
 |status = In service, currently in production
 |primary user = see [[Morgenroete F-104 Ghost#Operators|Operators]]
 |more users = <!-- Limited to THREE (3) "more users" here (4 total users).  List users with {{plainlist}} or {{unbulleted list}}. -->
 |unit cost= $113.1 million per unit
 |produced = 2013-present
 |number built = 126
 |developed from = Morgenroete XF-104
 |variants with their own articles = <!--Variants OF this aircraft-->
 |developed into = <!--For derivative aircraft based on this aircraft-->
}}
|}
The '''Morgenroete F-104 Ghost''' is a single-seat, twin-engine, all-weather stealth tactical fighter aircraft. The aircraft was designed primarily as an air superiority fighter, with ground attack, electronic warfare, and signal intelligence capabilities. The aircraft was designated as the F-104 in 2008 and formally entered service in September 2015. The aircraft is currently in service with multiple nations: the [[Royal Gristo-Serkonan Air Force]], air combat units of the [[Moxaney Armed Forces]], and the [[Ghantish Air Force]]. 

The aircraft was initially a joint development project between the Office of Defence Research, a government research and development agency, and of Morgenroete Skunkworks, the advanced development division of Morgenroete Aerospace. The F-104 aircraft development program began in 1993, however the increasing development costs and the development of new production techniques forced the Gristo-Serkonan government to approach foreign partners to co-develop the aircraft in 2000. The aircraft is designed by the F-104 Design Consortium, a multinational design group set up by under a cooperation agreement between [[Gristol-Serkonos]], [[Moxaney]], and [[Ghant]]. Final manufacturing of the F-104 provided by [[Morgenroete Aerospace]].
== Development ==
=== Production and International Participation ===
Gristol-Serkonos announced it has signed an agreement to produce the aircraft with two other countries; [[Moxaney]] and [[Ghant]] in 2000. The agreement also created the F-104 Design Consortium, a design group made up of five partners; [[Morgenroete Aerospace|Morgenroete Skunkworks]], the Office of Defence Research of the Gristo-Serkonan government, aerospace engine manufacturer Marklin-Ashton Aircraft Engines, the Ghantish aerospace firm [[GEEM]], and the Moxaney-based defence firm [[Red Rock Defence]]. [[Morgenroete Aerospace]] manufactured the majority of the airframe and final assembly in its production facility in Valois, Gristol-Serkonos. Program partner GEEM provided manufacturing of additional airframe components as well as training systems. Red Rock Defence and Morgenroete Aerospace collaborated on the development of the avionic systems. Engine manufacturer Marklin-Ashton Engines participated in the program to produce the powerplant.

The Development Prototype XDF-104 Beta first flew in 2006. It was the first aircraft that flew under the new design group following lengthy development process. The numerous new technologies in the F-104 resulted in substantial cost overruns and delays. Many capabilities were deferred to post-service upgrades, reducing the initial cost but increasing total program cost. In 2015, the first batch of eight F-104s were delivered to the Royal Gristo-Serkonan Air Force, with deliveries to Moxaney and Ghant coming three months later. So far, a total of 126 F-104s were delivered to partner countries. 
=== Upgrades ===
In 2021, Morgenroete Aerospace introduced the '''FGR.12''' upgrade block to resolve the deteriorating radiation absorption paint on the nose cone. It also includes improved avionics and electronic countermeasures. These upgrades are expected to take place from 2021 to 2025 for all the F-104 users.
== Design ==
=== Overview ===
The F-104 is the third fifth generation fighter to enter military service. The aircraft has as a wing-tail configuration with two vertical stabilizers canted for stealth. Flight control surfaces include leading-edge flaps, flaperons, rudders, and all-moving horizontal tails (stabilators); leading edge root extensions also run forwards to the inlets. Morgenroete Aerospace and its partners collaborated on new production techniques in the development of the F-104. At least 40% of the airframe weight comprise of composites. The F-104's kinematics is competitive with fourth generation fighters due to the ordinance mounted in the aircraft's internal weapons bay, eliminating parasitic drag from external weapons. The aircraft's two Marklin-Ashton J/A-670 augmented afterburning turbofans are capable of top speed of 1.21 with internal payload. 

The Royal Gristo-Serkonan Air Force considers the aircraft the primary strike fighter for conducting suppression of enemy air defence missions due to the advanced sensors and mission systems. The F-104 has a considerably greater combat radius compared most fourth generation aircraft, due to its larger internal fuel storage.

== Specifications ==
=== General Characteristics ===
* '''Crew:''' 1
* '''Length:''' 20.1 m
* '''Wingspan:''' 13.56 m
* '''Height:''' 5.08 m
* '''Gross weight:''' 29,410 kg
* '''Max takeoff weight:''' 38,000 kg
* '''Fuel capacity:''' 8,200 kg internally, or 12,000 kg with two 2× 2,270 gal tanks
* '''Powerplant:''' 2x Marklin-Ashton Aircraft Engines J/A-670 augmented afterburning turbofans, 116 kN dry, 156 kN with afterburner
* '''Max Speed:''' Mach 2.25 in altitude
** Mach 1.21 at sea level
** Mach 1.82 supercruise at sea level
* '''Range:''' 3000 km with external fuel tanks
* '''Combat Range:''' 850 km clean, 185 km in supercruise
=== Armament ===
* '''Guns:''' 1× 20 mm Royal Armouries RC-716 rotary cannon, 480 rounds
* '''Air to Air Loadout (Using internal weapons bays)'''
** 6x AIM-110 BVRAAM
** 2x AIM-112 SRAAM
* '''Air to Ground Loadout (using internal weapons bays)'''
** 2x 450 kg DAM-45 bombs or 8x 110 kg PGG-30 bombs
** 2x AIM-110 BVRAAM
** 2x AIM-112 SRAAM
* '''Hardpoints''' 
** 4x under-wing hardpoints (2 per wing) rated for 2,270 kg.
** 6x internal hardpoints inside main weapons bay rated for 2,270 kg.
=== Avionics ===
*Morgenroete AN/APG-779 AESA Radar: 201 km against 1m<sup>2</sup> targets on radar.
*Morgenroete AN/AAR-932 Missile Approach Warning System 
*Morgenroete AN/ALR-300 Radar Warning Receiver: 460 km detection range
*Red Rock Defence AN/ASQ-476 Electronic Warfare System
*Red Rock Defence AN/AAQ-546 E/O Targeting System
*Red Rock Defence AN/ASQ-922 CNI Suite
== Operators ==
* {{flag|Gristol-Serkonos}} 
**[[Royal Gristo-Serkonan Air Force]]: 48 aircraft divided between four squadrons.
* [[Moxaney]]
**[[Moxaney Armed Forces]]: 30 aircraft divided between its Army and Navy air combat units. 
* {{flag|Ghant}}
**[[Ghantish Air Force]]: 48 aircraft divided between four squadrons.
[[Category:Gristol-Serkonos]] [[Category:Fighters]] [[Category:Ajax]]