Junkers Ju 187
| Company type | Aircraft concept |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aviation, Military aircraft |
| Founded | 1940s |
| Fate | Development discontinued in 1943 |
| Products | Dive bomber aircraft concept |
| Parent | Junkers |
The Junkers Ju 187 was a German-designed dive bomber concept developed to succeed the outdated Junkers Ju 87 Stuka. This initiative was ultimately discontinued in 1943.
Design
During the Battle of Britain, the Ju 87's susceptibility to enemy fighter attacks became evident, leading to the search for a successor after the Ju 87F variant was dismissed. The Ju 187 preserved certain elements such as the inverted gull wing configuration and a two-person crew arrangement, while incorporating new features including retractable landing gear, a lengthened nose to enhance pilot visibility, reinforced armor protection, and improved weaponry. A distinctive feature was its rotating vertical stabilizer, intended to expand the rear gunner’s firing range when lowered; however, its influence on flight characteristics has not been determined.
In autumn 1943, the Reich Air Ministry terminated the Ju 187 development due to its anticipated performance—a maximum speed when fully loaded estimated at —which failed to surpass that of the contemporary Ju 87D model.
Further reading
- RLM: V-Muster-Programm, November 1942
- JFM AG: Anhang I der Aufsichts- und Verwaltungsratsitzung der JFM AG am 15. und 16. Mai 1942
- JFM AG: Vierteljahresbericht für den Aufsichtsrat der JFM AG – Januar bis März 1942