Junkers Ju EF 128

High-Altitude Interceptor Proposal

Nazi Germany | 1945

"The Junkers EF 128 was another in the long line of late-war German projects intended to satisfy the Emergency Fighter Program requirement."

Image copyright www.MilitaryFactory.com; No Reproduction Permitted.

Power & Performance
Those special qualities that separate one aircraft design from another. Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for the Junkers Ju EF 128 High-Altitude Interceptor Proposal.

1 x Heinkel HeS 011 turbojet engine.
Propulsion

562 mph
905 kph | 489 kts
Max Speed

45,112 ft
13,750 m | 9 miles
Service Ceiling

1,375 ft/min
419 m/min
Rate-of-Climb

Structure
The nose-to-tail, wingtip-to-wingtip physical qualities of the Junkers Ju EF 128 High-Altitude Interceptor Proposal.

1
(MANNED)
Crew

23.1 ft
7.05 m
O/A Length

29.2 ft
(8.90 m)
O/A Width

8.7 ft
(2.65 m)
O/A Height

5,754 lb
(2,610 kg)
Empty Weight

8,995 lb
(4,080 kg)
MTOW

Armament
Available supported armament and special-mission equipment featured in the design of the Junkers Ju EF 128 High-Altitude Interceptor Proposal .

PROPOSED (Standard)
4 x MK 108 cannons under the nose.

Variants
Notable series variants as part of the Junkers Ju EF 128 family line.

EF 128 - Base Series Designation; only wind tunnel model and a portion of the fuselage completed by war's end.

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 04/10/2019 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site; No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

The Emergency Fighter Program (EFP) brought about by the German Luftwaffe during the latter stages of World War 2 (1939-1945) was brought about through desperation in countering the threat being posed by the Allied air bombing campaign as well as the arrival of the new Boeing B-29 Superfortress. Early work had already delivered the futuristic-looking Heinkel He 162 "Volksjager" single-seat, single-engine fighter but this design was already becoming obsolete due to the frenetic pace of technology advancements being seen in the war. As such, a successor to this design was sought that fell under the EFP program directive.

Junkers beat out Messerschmitt and others to secure a contract for developing a new high-altitude interceptor. Engineers approached the design with simplicity in mind - one pilot, one engine and wood used through the construction where possible (metals were at a premium by war's end). The resulting design became the EF 128, a stout fighter with high-mounted wings and lacking a tail unit. Instead, small rudders were added to each wing mainplane's trailing edge. The mainplanes were noticeably swept rearwards to promote aerodynamic efficiency at greater speeds. The single seat cockpit was fitted aft of the stub nose cone assembly. The deep fuselage encased vital components such as avionics, fuel, and the engine - the latter which was to be a Heinkel HeS 011 series turbojet. Aspirating the installation was a pair of low-profile intakes set to either side of the fuselage. This allowed space under the cockpit floor to be reserved for up to 4 x 30mm MK 108 autocannons. The undercarriage was a retractable tricycle type arrangement.

Junkers engineers projected their aircraft to reach speeds over 900 kmh - making for one fast interceptor. The tailless design would also have contributed to an agile system.

Junkers submitted their winning design in February of 1945 and work progressed to the point that a wind tunnel model was in use (with data being actively collected and assessed) and a mock-up of the fuselage was underway. Unfortunately for the German war effort (and Junkers workers), the end of the war came in May following Hitler's suicide. This effectively ended all work on the ambitious and intriguing little Junkers EF 128 interceptor product.

By the time of the German surrender, Junkers was also hard at work on a two-seat night-fighter. This version would have seen the fuselage of the original EF 128 extended to make room for the extra crewman.

Content ©MilitaryFactory.com; No Reproduction Permitted.

Operators
Global customers who have evaluated and/or operated the Junkers Ju EF 128. Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national aircraft listing.

Total Production: 0 Units
Contractor(s): Junkers - Nazi Germany

[ Nazi Germany ]

1 / 1

Image copyright www.MilitaryFactory.com; No Reproduction Permitted.

Going Further...
The Junkers Ju EF 128 High-Altitude Interceptor Proposal appears in the following collections:

HOME

AVIATION INDEX

AIRCRAFT BY COUNTRY

AIRCRAFT MANUFACTURERS

Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Cookies

2024 Military Pay Scale Military Ranks of the World U.S. Department of Defense Dictionary Conversion Calculators Military Alphabet Code Military Map Symbols Breakdown U.S. 5-Star Generals List WWII Weapons by Country World War Next

The "Military Factory" name and MilitaryFactory.com logo are registered ® U.S. trademarks protected by all applicable domestic and international intellectual property laws. All written content, illustrations, and photography are unique to this website (unless where indicated) and not for reuse/reproduction in any form. Material presented throughout this website is for historical and entertainment value only and should not to be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance, or general operation. We do not sell any of the items showcased on this site. Please direct all other inquiries to militaryfactory AT gmail.com. No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

Part of a network of sites that includes GlobalFirepower, a data-driven property used in ranking the top military powers of the world, WDMMA.org (World Directory of Modern Military Aircraft), WDMMW.org (World Directory of Modern Military Warships), SR71blackbird.org, detailing the history of the world's most iconic spyplane, and MilitaryRibbons.info, cataloguing military medals and ribbons. Special Interest: RailRoad Junction, the locomotive encyclopedia.

©2024 www.MilitaryFactory.com • All Rights Reserved • Content ©2003-2024 (21yrs)