This was world's first fighter jet, it reshaped the future of air warfare, not developed by US, UK, Russia, China, France, its top speed was...

In 1944, during the final stages of World War II, Nazi Germany introduced a weapon that would reshape the future of air warfare — the Messerschmitt Me 262. It was the world’s first operational jet-powered fighter, marking the beginning of modern aerial combat.

According to reports, the Me 262 could fly at speeds up to 540 mph (870 km/h), nearly 100 mph faster than the American P-51 Mustang. This speed advantage allowed German pilots to strike Allied bombers and escape before enemy fighters could respond. Its powerful weapons included four 30 mm cannons and up to 24 R4M rockets, making it deadly against large bomber formations.

The aircraft came in two main versions: the fighter model called Schwalbe (Swallow) and the fighter-bomber version known as Sturmvogel (Stormbird). Its sleek, swept-wing design improved aerodynamics, a feature later adopted by jet fighters around the world.

Despite its groundbreaking speed and firepower, the Me 262 had serious weaknesses. Its twin Junkers Jumo 004 engines were unreliable and often failed mid-flight. Slow throttle response made it dangerous during take-off and landing, allowing Allied pilots to shoot it down in vulnerable moments. Additionally, Adolf Hitler’s demand to use it as a bomber delayed its production as a fighter, reducing its potential impact.

Allied pilots were stunned by the Me 262. Many described seeing it zoom past “as if we were standing still.” But even German pilots feared the aircraft — engine problems and poor handling made every flight a risky mission.

Though it arrived too late to change the war’s outcome, the Me 262 became a symbol of future air combat. It pushed Allied nations to speed up their own jet fighter programs and shaped the post-war aviation race.

Today, the Me 262 no longer flies in military service, but a few replicas built in the 2000s still appear at airshows.