Arado Ar 240
Arado Flugzeugwerke · German Reich · first flew 1940 · fighter
The Arado Ar 240 was an ambitious German twin-engine heavy fighter and reconnaissance prototype featuring a pressurised cockpit and remote-controlled defensive armament — technically well ahead of its contemporaries. Despite promising performance it suffered persistent handling problems that prevented operational service.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Slim twin-engine fuselage with extensively glazed nose |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Slim twin-engine fuselage with extensively glazed nose
- Remotely controlled barbette gun positions fore and aft of fuselage
- Pressurised cockpit — advanced feature for a 1940 German prototype
Look for the slender, cigar-shaped twin-engine fuselage, mid-set tapered wings, and the distinctive remotely-operated gun barbettes above and below the rear fuselage.
Specifications
- The Arado Ar 240 has a length of 12.81 m (42 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 13.34 m (44 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 618 km/h (384 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Development began in 1938 and the prototype flew in May 1940, but the design was plagued by instability and heavy control forces. The Reichsluftfahrtministerium eventually cancelled the programme in favour of the Focke-Wulf Ta 154 and Heinkel He 219. A handful of pre-production Ar 240s flew limited reconnaissance missions on the Eastern Front.
Variants
Several sub-variants were tested, including the Ar 240 C with different armament fits and the Ar 440 enlarged development, but none reached squadron service in meaningful numbers.
Where you'll see it
Never entered frontline service in quantity; a small number flew armed reconnaissance sorties with Luftwaffe test units on the Eastern Front in 1942–43.
Related aircraft
- Arado Ar 199
- Arado Ar 231
- Arado Ar 232
- Arado Ar 198
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- Bloch MB.700
- CANSA FC.12
- Caproni Campini N.1
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