Enzian

Even if the aircraft did accomplish this, it then had the additional problem of lacking a weapon that could be aimed effectively while closing on the target at some 400 mph (640 km/h; 350 kn).

Instead of tracking down the planes, the rocket would fly just in front of the target and then detonate a 500 kg (1,100 lb) warhead, in the hope of bringing down several bombers at once.

[5] The result, even with the heavy warhead, was that a much smaller airframe was needed to carry the required fuel – so small it could be portable and launched from a modified 88 mm gun mounting.

[6] The design made as much use of wood as possible,[7] due to the need to conserve other "strategic" materials in the rapidly deteriorating war situation.

Other German missiles were high-speed designs that could be flown directly at their target along the line of sight, which is fairly straightforward even for an operator on the ground.

The large airframe left plenty of room in the nose, which the designers intended to fill with a self-contained radar unit called Elsass.

Because of difficulties in perfecting the proximity fuze, an infrared homing system, Madrid, was proposed, allowing Enzian to be flown right to the target.

Messerschmitt engineers continued some low-level work on the project, hoping it would be re-funded, but by March it was clear the cancellation order would not be rescinded (although it had been for other designs) and all development efforts ceased.