Design work on the Ta 400 began in 1943 and involved both German and French engineers, the latter unfortunate enough to be caught up in German territory following the fall of Paris during the Battle of France (May-June 1940). This work was therefore being undertaken at a Focke-Wulf facility stationed outside of Paris. The engine of choice became the BMW 801D air-cooled, 14-cylinder radial in a twin row arrangement whose output was rated at 1,700 horsepower each and six of these were to be used to power the aircraft. For high altitude service, the crew areas were all to be pressurized. Remote-controlled turret barbettes allowed for heavy armament to be fitted and the crew kept within the confines of the pressurized sections of fuselage. In terms of bomb load, the aircraft was intended to carry up to 53,000 lb and performance from the engines would net an estimated operational range out to 7,500 miles. In time, the idea of 2 x Junkers Jumo 004 supporting turbojet engines (2,000 lb thrust each unit) was added which would serve to help performance - particularly on take-off. The standard crew complement numbered nine to consist of flight crew as well as mission specialists and dedicated gunners. One facet of the Ta 400's design that changed consistently was the heavily-glazed shape of the cockpit canopy.
To reduce the reliance on fighter escort, the Ta 400 was outfitted with a projected defensive armament of 10 x 20mm cannons. Two small remote-controlled turrets were set under the nose and fitted 2 x 20mm MG 131/20 cannons each (for four total guns at this location). Two turrets were set along the spine of the aircraft and fitted 2 x MG 151/20 cannons apiece. A sole ventral turret fitted another pairing of 20mm MG 151/20 guns. To protect the aircraft's more vulnerable rear, a turret was placed which mounted 4 x 20mm MG 151/20 guns.
Beyond the use of traditional Luftwaffe bombs like the SD and SC series, the Ta 400 was also in line to carry the more advanced "Fritz X" and Henschel Hs 293 and Hs 294 radio-controlled guided bombs/missiles. Naval mine dispensing was also a possibility given the Ta 400's maritime patrol role envisioned. Ordnance could be held internally as well as across hardpoints found under the fuselage (3) and under the engine nacelles (16).
Heading into 1943, the German Air Ministry began favoring competing Amerika Bomber designs for the long range bomber / reconnaissance role until even these were abandoned in favor of more defensive-minded fighters as the German war situation worsened. This led to the Air Ministry dropping their formal support of the Ta 400 during October before any useful prototype had been realized. Undeterred, Focke-Wulf briefly attempted to interest the Italians in assisting with bringing the product to fruition - however the formal Italian surrender in September of 1943 all but ended this short-lived venture.
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