What was the first jet bomber?

Short answer

The Arado Ar 234 Blitz: it was the world's first operational jet bomber and served in the final months of World War II. It was powered by two Junkers Jumo 004s, one under each wing. The V1 prototype made its first flight on 30 July 1943 from Rheine airfield.

Published: November 2, 2026 · Updated: November 2, 2026 · Edited by Above Ten Thousand · Editorial policy

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Arado's Blitz

The Arado Ar 234 Blitz ("lightning") was a jet-powered bomber designed and built by the German firm Arado, and the world's first operational turbojet bomber, in service during the last months of the Second World War.

From a reconnaissance competition

In the last months of 1940, the German Air Ministry opened a competition for a fast jet-powered reconnaissance aircraft with a range of 2,156 km (1,340 mi), and Arado was the only company to respond. The design was a high-wing aircraft of largely conventional appearance, powered by two Junkers Jumo 004 turbojets, one under each wing. The Jumo 004 engines were not ready until February 1943. On 30 July 1943, the Ar 234 V1 made its first flight from Rheine airfield.

No conventional landing gear

The aircraft took off from a jettisonable trolley with a tricycle layout and landed on three retractable skids, one under the central fuselage section and one under each engine nacelle. The version fitted with the trolley was designated Ar 234A. On 12 March 1944 the Ar 234 V9 made its first flight, the first to carry a fully retractable tricycle undercarriage, with the main gear retracting forward into the mid-fuselage and the nose gear retracting rearward.