[Coming Soon] Me 262 A-1a: The Jet-Powered "Swallow"

The Big and Medium Trophies feature the game’s first early German jet fighter!

Historical Note

The development of the Messerschmitt Me 262 Schwalbe (German for “Swallow”) was one of the greatest technological milestones achieved by German aircraft engineers. Work on the aircraft began in August 1939, following the successful demonstration of a practical jet engine. Commissioned by the German Ministry of Aviation, the project underwent extensive redesigns throughout its development. Engineers were forced to abandon conventional design principles, ultimately creating a revolutionary aircraft with a swept-wing configuration.

The testing program, which ran from April 1941 to April 1944, faced numerous challenges, most notably, the extremely low reliability of early jet engines. Despite these setbacks, the first production Me 262 A-1a aircraft were delivered to the Luftwaffe in June 1944. Remarkably, the Me 262 achieved its first aerial victories over Allied aircraft just one month later, in July.

Me 262 A-1a (Rank IX)

SWOT Analysis

Strengths: powerful forward-firing armament, high top speed, good climb rate.
Weaknesses: poor maneuverability, slow acceleration, high risk of engine fires.
Opportunities: ideal for boom-and-zoom tactics and hit-and-run attacks.
Threats: engaging in turnfights and facing late-war piston-engine fighters.

In battle

The Me 262 A-1a, the first mass-produced jet aircraft in history, will soon be one of the first jet fighters in War Thunder Mobile. Are you ready to take the controls of the legendary "Schwalbe"?

The entire Me 262 family is renowned for its powerful forward-firing armament, and the first variant of this legendary fighter is no exception. Equipped with four 30mm MK 108 cannons firing highly effective HEI-T shells, the Me 262 A-1a packs an incredible punch even a short burst can destroy the heaviest aircraft in the game. With all guns mounted in the nose, the fighter offers excellent accuracy, even at long ranges.

The “Schwalbe’s” greatest strength is its speed advantage over piston-engine aircraft. Once at altitude and fully accelerated, the Me 262 A-1a becomes a serious threat to any opponent in the game. However, reaching top speed takes time, so pilots must be patient and avoid chasing targets prematurely during climbs. The Me 262’s biggest drawback is its mediocre maneuverability – it handles poorly at low speeds, and in high-speed turns, the “Schwalbe” quickly loses energy.

The optimal tactic for using the Me 262 A-1a is to climb patiently before launching diving attacks. The key is to avoid turning with your target and never bleed off speed, if your first attack misses, simply climb back up and prepare for another pass. When engaging high-altitude bombers, fire short bursts from long range to stay out of their turret range. Thanks to its powerful forward-firing cannons, the Me 262 A-1a also excels in head-on engagements.

Premium ♠Me 262 A-1a♠︎ (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.

A premium camouflage for the ♠Me 262 A-1a♠ is currently in development. This aircraft will have combat characteristics identical to the standard version.

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:

In Medium Trophy: 700 pcs in the guaranteed reward, or 10 to 100 pcs per attempt.
In 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.