[Coming Soon] The He 162 A-2 Jet "Salamander"

The Big and Medium Trophies contain a compact and swift German jet fighter.

Historical note

Facing overwhelming Allied air superiority in 1944, Nazi Germany launched the Volksjäger ("People's Fighter") competition to develop a cheap, mass-producible jet fighter. The winner was Heinkel with its He 162 Salamander project. Due to severe metal shortages, the aircraft was constructed largely from wood with plywood skin. Its BMW 003 engine was mounted atop the fuselage, armament consisted of two 30mm or 20mm cannons, and it featured one of the first production aircraft ejection seats to enhance pilot survival. The prototype first flew on December 6, 1944, just two months after design work began.

Despite ambitious plans to produce up to 5,000 aircraft per month, only about 320 were built by war's end, with 120 officially accepted for service. Several dozen He 162s reached the 1st Fighter Wing, but there are no confirmed records of successful aerial victories.

He 162 A-2 (Rank IX)

SWOT Analysis

Strengths: High top speed, exceptionally small size (a difficult target), good roll rate.
Weaknesses: Low thrust-to-weight ratio, extremely limited ammunition capacity.
Opportunities: Effective at intercepting lone bombers and using "boom-and-zoom" tactics against superior forces.
Threats: Vulnerable during climb, and landing phases; susceptible to large enemy formations.

In battle

The "People's Fighter" – the last hope of the doomed Third Reich – is coming to War Thunder Mobile in an upcoming content update! Meet the He 162 A-2 Salamander: a small and agile jet fighter armed with a pair of 20mm cannons!

Powered by the BMW 003 engine mounted directly behind the cockpit canopy, this historically tiny jet can reach speeds far beyond the best piston-engine fighters of its era.

Compactness is one of the He 162's key features. Its short, sturdy wings provide a good roll rate, while its small profile makes it a difficult target. It is armed with two conveniently located 20mm MG 151 cannons under the cockpit, making them easy to aim. However, their ammunition supply is very limited at just 120 rounds per gun. We recommend firing short, accurate bursts and remembering to rearm between attacks.

Flying the He 162 A-2 will feel familiar to other early jets. The limited power of its engine means it requires time to reach optimal speed and altitude. Furthermore, its low thrust-to-weight ratio causes it to bleed energy rapidly in maneuvers. The optimal tactic is to attack from a position of altitude, make a single firing pass, and then use your speed to climb back to safety for another attack run, rather than trying to turn with the enemy.

Premium ♠He 162 A-2♠︎ (Rank IX)

The Premium variant is an extra plane for your roster! The premium warplane maintains the same performance as the standard variant, though it comes in a unique camouflage. With this premium warplane you’ll be able to enjoy faster Silver Lion and Research Point gains, and earn some Golden Eagles in your battles.

If you’re lucky enough to unlock both the premium and the standard variants, you will be able to use them both in the same battle!

Premium version of the vehicle:

As a jackpot or as a random reward when attempting to open the Big Trophy.
By reaching the top-10 in the relevant Leaderboard.
From the Collector's Trophy after adding the vehicle to this trophy type;
In Special Offers.

Standard version of the vehicle:

As a jackpot or as a random reward when attempting to open the Medium Trophy.
Order vehicles for Silver Lions after collecting 1,000 blueprints.

Ways to get blueprints:

From the Medium Trophy: 700 pcs in the guaranteed reward, or 10 to 100 pcs per attempt.
From the Big Trophy: 700 pcs in the guaranteed reward, or 80 to 200 pcs per attempt.
In the in-game store: purchase for Silver Lions a Folder with a number of blueprints (even after the season ends).
In special offers.

*Vehicle specifications and camouflages are still a work in progress and may change upon release.

The He 162 A-2 (Rank IX) aircraft will appear in War Thunder Mobile (WTM) in the seasonal update in the Medium and Big Trophies of the Aviation Campaign.