Editing Bachem Ba 349 Natter (section)

===Background===
In 1943, ''[[Luftwaffe]]'' air superiority was being challenged by the Allies [[defence of the Reich|over the ''Reich'']] and radical innovations were required to overcome the crisis. Surface-to-air missiles appeared to be a promising approach to counter the [[Combined Bomber Offensive|Allied strategic bombing offensive]]; a variety of projects were started, but invariably problems with the guidance and homing systems prevented any of these from attaining operational status.<ref>Dryden 1945, pp. 1–11.</ref> Providing the missile with a pilot, who could operate a weapon during the brief terminal approach phase, offered a solution.

Submissions for a simple target defence interceptor were requested by the ''Luftwaffe'' in early 1944 under the umbrella of the {{Lang|de|Jägernotprogramm}}, literally "[[Fighter Emergency Program|Emergency Fighter Program]]".<ref>Proctor 1945 {{page needed|date=November 2022}}</ref><ref>Pabst 1984, p. 166.</ref> A number of simple designs were proposed, including the [[Heinkel P.1077]] ''Julia'', in which the pilot lay prone (on his stomach), to reduce the frontal area.

The ''Julia'' was the front-runner for the contract. The initial plan was to launch the aircraft vertically, but this concept was later changed to a conventional horizontal take-off from a tricycle-wheeled trolley, similar to that used by the first eight prototypes of the [[Arado Ar 234]] jet reconnaissance bomber.<ref>Bachem 1944b.</ref>