Basis for the Lockheed F-94 Starfire began with the company's earlier T-33 trainer, itself a development of the famous P-80 jet fighter thus marking the third and final phase in the evolution of this remarkable series of jet aircraft. The Starfire was in many ways similar to the T-33 sharing most of its components but was equipped with new afterburning engines, fuel tanks hung under the wingtips, and a lengthened nose which housed the radar. Early variants had numerous performance deficiencies which ultimately were corrected through various structural modifications and the installation of license-built Rolls-Royce Nene engines. Armed with unguided rockets and extensive electronic equipment (such as autopilot, automatic tracking and firing, and ILS) the F-94 became the USAF's first all-weather jet interceptor and was only retired until 1959 from front-line service with ANG reserve units phasing out in 1960.

The first flight of the YF-94 prototype (basically a converted T-33) took place on 16 April 1949 entering service as the F-94A. The F-94B featured revised hydraulics and larger wingtip tanks while the F-94C was a considerably redesigned follow-up which had originally been designated F-97A. It featured Nene engines locally produced, swept back tailplanes and could carry unguided rockets. A ground attack version known as the F-94D was never built.