In 1944/45 the German Air Ministry
(Reichsluftfahrtministerium, RLM) was looking for a suitable means of transport
for documents and high-tech equipment samples to Japan in order to support
Japan's war effort and also to deprive the Allies from these. Since the
transport via U-boat (U234) didn't work out due to easy detectability and low
speed of the German submarines, Wernher von Braun and his team of engineers
studied the use of a modified EMW A9 coupled with an EMW 10 as a launch vehicle.
The EMW A9/P was to be modified with new delta-shaped main wings, canard front
wings and a powerful ram-jet engine. At height, after disconnecting from the
launch vehicle, the EMW A9/P was to orbit earth and to be able to land
in Germany securely. Following the "Ross und Reiter"- principle ("Horse and
Rider"), the EMW A9/P was to be placed in a more forward position on the
top-side of the launch vehicle, piggy-back style. In completing the mission, for
landing, it was to use a normal landing gear, which was also incorporated into
the EMW A9/P design.
Although this project didn't leave the drawingboard, the ideas therein were used by the US Americans as well as the Sowjets
after the war.
inspired by the "Ross und Reiter" Project ("Horse and Rider") another design for
an un-manned, elongated EMW A-9 (based on the EMW A-8) evolved at the Peenemünde
Test Center. The wings were to have a swept configuration and the two ram-jet
engines (likewise planned for the "Ross und Reiter" Project) were to be mounted
on opposite sides of the fuselage.
It is to be noted that this system wouldn't need a
carrier rocket and could be started directly from a EMW A-4 ("V2") launch
platform. Therefore, it is an educated guess, that this design is a test version
of the planned "Reiter" ("Rider") rocket, which shows the small Canard Wings (to
enhance the overall stability during flight), which were a characteristical
feature of the "Reiter".
Unfortunately, any data concerning the calculated
performance, range, payload and intended combat role, as well as all
construction blue-prints have been destroyed by the German scientists at the end
of WW II, in order to avoid capture of these by the approaching Soviet troops.