Junkers EF 132

The Junkers EF 132 was a late‑war German jet bomber conceived in 1944 as part of the Luftwaffe’s last attempt to regain air superiority. Designed under the direction of aeronautical engineer Brunolf Baade, the aircraft represented the most ambitious of the EF‑series projects, aiming to combine high speed, long range and a substantial payload. Its most striking feature was the twin‑engine swept‑wing layout, powered by the then‑experimental Jumo 012 axial‑flow turbojet, which promised cruise speeds exceeding 900 km/h. The fuselage incorporated a pressurised crew compartment and a large bomb bay capable of carrying up to 2,000 kg of ordnance, while the wings housed additional fuel tanks that gave the EF 132 an estimated range of 3,500 km. Structural innovations such as stressed‑skin construction and retractable landing gear were intended to reduce weight and improve aerodynamic efficiency. Although a full‑scale prototype was never completed due to the collapse of Nazi Germany, the design influenced post‑war jet bomber concepts in both East and West Germany. Baade’s work on the EF 132 demonstrated an early mastery of swept‑wing aerodynamics and high‑performance jet propulsion, marking a pivotal step toward modern strategic air transport.

Brunolf Baade

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Design & Classification