To be concise…
] What did the F-4 have that was better than the F-104?
For comparison, the JASDF chose the F-4EJ as the (then) Next F-X to replace its F-104J/DJ.
One of the criteria when the JASDF chose the F-4EJ and later F-15J/DJ, was these have two engines. The F-86D/F and F-104J/DJ had one engine, and had to be ditched when they had engine trouble and couldn’t mid-air restart the engine. With two engines, reliable or not, as Japan is an island country, the aircraft had a better chance to return to over ground.
BTW, when Japan designed the FS-X, a two-engine aircraft was initially preferred.
] The F-104 had very temperamental performance characteristics.
The F-104 was a high-performance aircraft, not very suitable for newbie pilots, IMO.
] Read some of the manuals on tactics devised for the aircraft in the Vietnam War.
During the Viet Nam War era, the only USAF F-104 air-to-air loss was when one USAF F-104 that got lost near Hai Nan Island, Commie China, was gunned down by a PLAN J-6.
Else, the other USAF F-104 losses were by North Viet Nam SAMs, when the F-104s escorted attackers and bombers, and the F-104s were poorly equipped against SAMs.
OTOH, over the Taiwan Strait, during the 113 Air Battle, the PLAAF claimed to shoot down one ROCAF F-104 that was returning to base. The four ROCAF F-104s and one ROCAF RF-104 were going home, within radio contact but without visual contact with each other, and one of them failed to return. The missing pilot’s final message was a sudden gasp or grunt.
] On the other hand, its actual combat record seems to put it in the losing end to MiGs.
AFAIK, the Pakistani AF F-104s weren’t too hot against the Indian AF MiG-21s?
] This, despite the dangers, makes the Starfighter a potent low altitude strike jet, where a smooth stable ride down low is vital.
IIRC, the PLAAF/PLAN didn’t shoot down any ROCAF RF-104?
] The “export success” of the F-104 itself is mired by bribery scandals in Germany and Japan.
If not because of the Lockheed Incident, the JASDF could’ve chosen the F-11F.
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