The Messerschmitt Bf 162 was a light bomber aircraft designed in Germany prior to World War II that only flew in prototype form.

The Bf 162 was designed in response to a 1935 RLM (Reichsluftfahrtministerium - "Reich Aviation Ministry") specification for a schnellbomber ("fast bomber") for tactical use. Messerschmitt's design was a modified Bf 110 with a glazed nose to accommodate a bombardier. In 1937, three prototypes were flown against designs by rival manufacturers, the Junkers Ju 88 and the Henschel Hs 127, both of which were entirely new designs. Eventually, it was the Ju 88 that was selected for production, and development of the Bf 162 ended at that point. As a disinformation tactic, images of the Bf 162 were widely circulated in the German press captioned as the "Messerschmitt Jaguar", a name never used outside this context. This aircraft's number of 162 was later re-used for the Heinkel He 162 jet fighter.

The aircraft was also the last Messerschmitt aircraft officially designated with the firm's old "Bf" prefix (for Bayerische Flugzeugwerke - "Bavarian aircraft works"). All subsequent types would be prefixed "Me".

Specifications (Bf 162)

General Characteristics

• Crew: three - pilot, tail gunner, and bombardier/navigator
• Length: 12.75 m (41 ft 10 in)
• Wingspan: 17.16 m (56 ft 4 in)
• Height: 3.58 m (11 ft 9 in)
• Wing Area: m&sup2 ( ft&sup2)
• Empty: 4,400 kg (9,700 lb)
• Loaded: 5,800 kg (12,787 lb)
• Maximum takeoff: kg ( lb)
• Powerplant: 2x Daimler-Benz DB 600 A, 735 kW (986 hp) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 480 km/h (298 mph)
• Range: 780 km (485 miles)
• Service ceiling: m ( ft)
• Rate of climb: m/min ( ft/min)
• Wing loading: kg/m² ( lb/ft²)
• Power/Mass: kW/kg ( hp/lb)

Armament

• 10x 50 kg (110 lb) bombs

Related content

Related development: Bf 110 - Bf 161

Comparable aircraft:

Designation sequence: Fw 159 Ju 160 - Bf 161 - Bf-162/He 162 - Bf 163 /Me 163 - Me 164 - Fk 166 /Fi 166