The development of the Focke Wulf (pronounced: Foe-kah Voolf) 190 was begun in 1939 as the replacement to the much revered Bf-109. When it first appeared in battle in 1941 the British intelligence community was caught flat footed, forcing the British to counter with the Spitfire Mk.IX. According to many RAF pilot reports, this new German aircraft was said to have "disappeared" during a dogfight. The 190s superior roll rate allowed its pilot to virtually roll out of view and elude its pursuers.

The Fw-190 offered the Luftwaffe options for which the Bf-109 wasn't ideally suited. While the 109 was fitted with bombing racks, its performance suffered. The Fw-190 was built with a taller and wider wheel base and had a sturdier construction allowing a wider range of weapon choices. The wider wheel base, with wheels that folded inward, eliminated the "ground loop" phenomenon that the 109 pilots had to endure. The narrow base of the 109 was barely able to take up the torque generated by its engine. This often led to the plane flipping over (ground looping) during take-offs and landings. Many rookie pilots lost their lives in ground loops, and the Experten were not immune either. Nonetheless, the thought of converting to the Fw-190 (Wörger meaning Shrike) was not warmly embraced by the Luftwaffe pilots. The venerable Bf-109 had proven itself a most capable fighter up to 1942 and converts were slow to be made. Indeed, the Bf-109 would remain in production throughout the war.

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The first production model of the Fw-190A was fitted with a BMW 801D 18 cylinder, two row radial engine delivering 1,700 HP. The large cross section of this engine reduced the forward field of view for the pilot, but it also provided a little more protection from frontal attacks. The engine mount and neat airframe provided a low drag coefficient and also simplified the manufacturing process and maintenance. Like many of the aircraft produced by the Luftwaffe, the Fw production would be dispersed across Germany.

The near frameless bubble canopy of the Fw-190 was a large improvement over the 109, even when the latter sported the "Galland hood." The 190 was the first aircraft to be fitted with the new Mauser MG 151 cannon in addition to the older MG FF and other machine guns. The new engines had an automatic override engine boost system that allowed short bursts of added power in emergencies. In later versions the aircraft were fitted with MW50 (methanol-water) or GM-1 (nitrous oxide) boost systems for emergency power. These systems usually could only be operated in bursts of ten seconds before the additional heat caused engine damage.

In the ground attack role the 190 was superb. It could carry a bomb load comparable to some medium bombers of the period. Not only could it deliver a large ordinance load, but it proved to be difficult to intercept. With a variety of field kits the Fw could be fitted to carry bombs for attacking fortified or armored targets or carry torpedoes for anti-shipping duties. The 190F model would replace the Junker's 87 in the dive bombing (Sturzkampf or Stuka) role. The Fw would even serve as the "guide" aircraft for the pilotless Ju-88 missiles. In this role the Fw was "piggy-backed" on to the missile as it flew into the target. Once in range the Fw would detach itself and control the missile in the terminal phase from a safe distance.

Unfortunately, the 190 wasn't without flaw. The Fw-190 was not ideally suited for high altitude missions against the American heavy bombers. This problem was redressed with the introduction of the Fw-190D ("Dora") in August of 1944. This aircraft was fitted with a liquid cooled Junker's Juma 213A, inverted Vee-12 which could deliver 2,240 HP with boost. The elongated nose required for the new power plant led to the nickname "Langnase" (long nose). To balance the plane the tail was also extended rearward. In 1945 the chief designer at Focke Wulf, Kurt Tank, introduced a high altitude fighter with a pressurized cabin. Similar in design to the 190 with longer dimensions in the body and wing it was designated Ta-152 (Ta for Tank). This aircraft came too late and in too few numbers to affect the outcome of the war. By war's end in excess of 20,000 Fw-190s would be produced domestically. Only 200 Ta-152s would be delivered.

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