Messerschmitt 1110

Entered Service: 1959
Role: Interceptor
Range: 1,580 km
Service ceiling: 19,000 meters
Max Speed: Mach 1.8

The mainstay jet fighter of Nazi Germany during the late forties and early fifties was the first generation Fw-183. Although it served well at medium and low altitudes the Huckebein could not operate above 45,000 feet. New American and British bombers were capable of operating at much higher altitudes. As a result the Luftwaffe put out an order for a new high altitude interceptor. Both Focke-Wulf and Messerschmitt competed for the contract. It’s rumored that Willy Messerschmitt convinced Luftwaffe commander Adolf Galland over drinks to chose the Me 1110 over the Focke-Wulf design. However the final decision was reached the 1110 would become one of the first second generation fighters of the Luftwaffe.

Designed with speed in mind the Me 1110 has smooth lines and a powerful HeS 14 turbofan jet engine. It allowed the 1110 to accelerate past Mach 1 with an afterburner. Air for the engine is scooped up by two side intakes behind the wings. A FuG 300 Lichtenstein radar was housed in the nose. It allowed for fighter sized targets to be detected at thirty-eight kilometers and bombers at nearly fifty. A lock on could be achieved at thirty-three kilometers for the RX-6 semi-homing missiles that the Me 1110 could carry. For closer engagements the Me 1110 was armed with RX-5 missile which used an infrared seeker to track a target. These and the 30mm cannon were to be used in dogfighting.

The Me 1110 entered Gruppe service in the 1960 with the first units deployed to Luftflotte 1 in northern Germany. By the mid 60s the Me 1110 could be found in the various Luftwaffe Air Fleets deployed in and outside the Reich. The Allies first laid eyes upon the 1110 during the German Victory Parade in 1960. Eventually the German fighter would be a common sight intercepting patrolling American and British bombers and reconnaissance planes in the Norwegian and Mediterranean Seas. Four Me 1110s were involved in the Crete Incident. On May 15, 1963 the Messerschmitts intercepted an American RC-135. Trying to force the U.S. spy plane away the lead Me 1110 made several high speed passes in front of the River Joint aircraft. On the final pass the Luftwaffe pilot misjudged his approach and both planes collided.

Eventually the Me 1110 was withdrawn from frontline Luftwaffe service but ended up being the main interceptor in various Axis nations’ air forces. Many of these have been upgraded over the years. Italy bought sixty Me 1110s which were later removed from frontline service in 1975 in favor of an Italian designed fighter. Iraq was the largest Middle Eastern operator of the 1110. Which saw combat in the Iraq-Saudi War. Iraqi Messerschmitts managed to shoot down twenty Saudi and American aircraft. However the Iraqi 1110s suffered serve losses as more advanced American fighters entered the battle. A squadron of Me 1110s remains in Iraqi service with upgrades to their electronics and weapons.

From Janes Defense Fighters Edition: 1983

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I've been working on a TL where Germany wins World War II and then is engaged in a Cold War with the US/UK and its Allies. This had lead to me to look at some what if for German military weapons that didn't get off the drawing board. The Me 1110 is one example of this.

EDIT: I just figured out I used the wrong 'Hungary'

NOTE: Just because I did this aircraft does not mean I endorse Nazi ideology, beliefs, etc. This is just an alternate history weapon. I consider Hitler and his cronies A-Holes in the first order. The Allies kicked their butts and rightfully so. Just wanted to make that clear.