Junkers EF 128
| Company type | Jet fighter concept |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aerospace |
| Founded | December 1944 |
| Fate | Project cancelled after World War II |
| Headquarters | Germany |
| Products | Jet fighter aircraft design |
The Junkers EF 128 was a jet fighter concept with a single engine, designed for the Luftwaffe’s Emergency Fighter Program competition during the Second World War.
Its design incorporated a tailless swept-wing layout, intended to be powered by a Heinkel HeS 011 turbojet engine and equipped with four MK 108 cannon. The aircraft aimed to achieve speeds of approximately 1000 km/h at an altitude of 7000 meters.
Although a development contract was granted in March 1945, meaningful advancement on the project did not occur before the conclusion of hostilities.
History
At the beginning of 1945, the OKL launched the Emergency Fighter Program () to develop a successor to the He 162 "Volksjäger" capable of engaging high-altitude bombers such as the B-29. The new fighter was intended to utilize a single Heinkel HeS 011 turbojet for improved performance.
Junkers presented their EF 128 design in December 1944. This aircraft featured a tailless configuration with a high-mounted swept wing and twin vertical fins positioned mid-span. Air intakes were integrated flush into the sides beneath the wings. To conserve critical materials, construction was planned using a combination of wood and metal. By January, modifications included implementing boundary layer suction techniques to manage transonic airflow challenges near the engine intakes.
The finalized design was submitted in February 1945 alongside competitors such as the Messerschmitt P.1110, Heinkel P.1078, Focke-Wulf Ta 183, and Blohm & Voss P 212. In March, both the EF 128 and Focke-Wulf Ta 183 were chosen for rapid production as stopgap single-engine jet fighters. Junkers received an official development contract; however, Allied forces captured their manufacturing facility within weeks. During this time, a wind tunnel model of the completed design underwent testing.
See also
Aircraft with similar roles, configurations, and periods
Associated Lists
Bibliography
- Dan Sharp; Luftwaffe: Secret Wings of the Third Reich, Mortons, 2017. pp.78-81.
- Dan Sharp; Secret Projects of the Luftwaffe: Jet Fighters 1939-1945, Mortons, 2020.