Junkers EF 130

The Junkers EF 130 was a late‑1930s German design that represented one of the most ambitious attempts by the Junkers company to create a true jet‑propelled strategic bomber. Conceived in 1939 under the direction of chief designer Ernst Heinkel‑Funk (the “EF” designation reflects his initials), the aircraft was intended to replace the slower, piston‑engine bombers that dominated the Luftwaffe’s early war order of battle. Development continued through 1941, when two prototypes were ordered for construction, but the program was halted in early 1943 as resources were diverted to operational combat types and the more advanced Junkers EF 132 project.

Key features of the EF 130 included a mid‑wing, slightly swept configuration, all‑metal stressed‑skin construction, and a pressurised crew compartment that could accommodate a crew of four. Its powerplant was to be a pair of Jumo 004 axial‑flow turbo‑jets mounted in nacelles under the wings, delivering a projected top speed of 830 km/h and a range of 2 500 km with a 5 000 kg bomb load. The design also incorporated retractable landing gear, a tricycle undercarriage, and an early form of automatic flight‑control assistance.

Although the EF 130 never entered service, its conceptual innovations—particularly the integration of jet propulsion with long‑range strategic capability—pre‑figured post‑war jet bombers such as the English Electric Canberra and the Soviet Tu‑16. The project demonstrated Junkers’ forward‑looking engineering mindset and contributed valuable aerodynamic and systems data that informed later German and Allied jet aircraft development. Its legacy lies in highlighting the rapid transition from piston‑engine to jet‑powered aviation on the eve of World War II’s later stages.