Heinkel He 343

The Heinkel He 343 was a quadjet bomber project developed by Ernst Heinkel Flugzeugwerke in Nazi Germany during the final two years of World War II. Plans recovered by the Soviet Union were studied and used in the development of the Ilyushin Il-22.

He 343
He 343 model
Role Bomber
Manufacturer Heinkel
Status Terminated by end of war
Primary user Luftwaffe
Number built None completed

Design and development

The Heinkel He 343 was designed for the Luftwaffe by the German Heinkel aircraft manufacturing company in the beginning of 1944. A total of 20 of these aircraft were ordered. For shortening the development time and for re-use of existing parts, its general design was envisioned along the lines of an enlarged Arado Ar 234. For a choice of engines, the Junkers Jumo 004 and the Heinkel HeS 011 were planned.

The DFS was involved in the project and created the project known as P.1068. By the end of 1944, work was nearly finished by the Heinkel engineers, with parts for the He 343 prototype aircraft either under fabrication or in a finished state, when the order was cancelled due to the Emergency Fighter Program.

Four versions were planned: the A-1 bomber, the A-2 reconnaissance aircraft, and the A-3 and B-1 Zerstörer ("Destroyer") heavy fighters.

Postwar, the Soviet Union utilized the design as the basis for the development of the Ilyushin Il-22, changing some of the parameters such as size and crew numbers. One prototype was built and flown.[1][2] The results of the tests were used in development of the Ilyushin Il-28.

Specifications (projected – He 343A-1)

Data from Luftwaffe Secret Projects (vol.2): Strategic Bombers 1935–1945[3]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 2
  • Length: 15.5 m (50 ft 10 in)
  • Wingspan: 18 m (59 ft 1 in)
  • Height: 5.35 m (17 ft 7 in)
  • Wing area: 42.45 m2 (456.9 sq ft)
  • Gross weight: 19,550 kg (43,100 lb)
  • Powerplant: 4 × Heinkel HeS 011 turbojet engines, 12.7 kN (2,900 lbf) thrust each

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 910 km/h (570 mph, 490 kn)
  • Range: 2,800 km (1,700 mi, 1,500 nmi)

Armament

  • Bombs: up to 3,000 kg (6,612 lb)

See also

Related lists

References
Notes
  1. Kühni, Robert. "Iljushin Il-22" (German). fliegerweb.com. Retrieved: 27 February 2012, via Wayback Machine.
  2. Lomme 2000, pp. 8ff.
  3. Herwig and Rode 2000, p. 81.
Bibliography
  • Herwig, Dieter and Heinz Rode. Luftwaffe Secret Projects: Ground Attack & Special Purpose Aircraft. Hinckley, Leicestershire, UK: Midland Publishing, 2003. ISBN 1-85780-150-4.
  • Herwig, Dieter and Heinz Rode. Luftwaffe Secret Projects: Strategic Bombers 1935–1945. Hinckley, Leicestershire, UK: Midland Publishing, 2000. ISBN 1-85780-092-3.
  • Lepage, Jean-Denis. Aircraft of the Luftwaffe, 1935–1945: An Illustrated Guide. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Co, 2009. ISBN 978-0-7864-3937-9.
  • Lommel, Horst. Vom Höhenaufklärer bis zum Raumgleiter 1935–1945, Geheimprojekte der DFS (German). Stuttgart, Germany: Motorbuch Verlag, 2000. ISBN 3-613-02072-6.
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