Fw190 A-4/U8
The Fw 190A-4/U8 was a specialized variant of the A-4 series, designed as a long-range fighter-bomber, known as the “Jabo-Rei” (Jagdbomber-Reichweite, meaning “fighter-bomber with extended range”). This variant was distinguished by its capacity to carry substantial external loads, including two 300-liter wing tanks and a 500 kg bomb mounted under the fuselage. To accommodate these modifications, the armament was reduced to only two MG 151 cannons in the wing roots, a significant reduction compared to other variants in the series.
The additional load capacity significantly increased the aircraft’s takeoff weight to 4530 kg, which in turn increased the wing loading to 247 kg/m². This heavier configuration necessitated a longer takeoff run of 560 meters, and the aircraft required a distance of 1015 meters to reach an altitude of 20 meters. These characteristics meant that takeoffs were challenging and could only be reliably executed from smooth grass strips or, preferably, paved runways.
Due to these modifications and the specific mission profile intended for the Fw 190A-4/U8, only two units were initially ordered for field testing to evaluate their performance under operational conditions. This testing phase was crucial for assessing the practical viability of the Jabo-Rei configuration in combat scenarios, given the increased weight and altered flight characteristics compared to other Fw 190 variants.