In August 1943, the Arado design department finished a study on the further development of a fast two-seat jet powered aircraft. Their Ar 234 had just made its first flight a couple of months earlier, and the Arado designers wanted to come up with a new design  for a  multirole aircraft. The TEW 16/43-19 was a mid-wing monoplane, constructed entirely of metal. There were two jet engines mounted below the sweptback wings, in the 1500 kg (3300 lbs) thrust range. A single fin and rudder was fitted, and the tailplanes also had sweepback. The cockpit was located in the extreme fuselage nose, and held two men sitting back to back. It was very reminiscent of the earlier Arado 240 forward fuselage and cockpit. The undercarriage was to be a tricycle type, and all wheels were single tired. Five different versions were envisioned:

• Schnellbomber (High-speed bomber)
• Zerstörer (Destroyer)
• Nachtjäger (Night Fighter)
• Schlechtwetterjäger (Bad weather fighter)
• Aufklärer (Reconnaissance)

	Schnellbomber  (High-speed bomber)
	Two rear firing  remote controlled  MK 213 cannon
	Max. Bomb Load  2500 kg (5512 lbs)  carried externally
	Shown with Hs 295 -  Fritz X and iron bombs  could also be carried
	Zerstörer  (Destroyer)
	Three forward firing  MK 103 30mm &  two MK 213 cannon  in a ventral pack
	Two forward firing  MK 213 in the  fuselage sides
	Two rear firing  remote controlled  MK 213 cannon
	Max. Bomb Load  1000 kg (2205 lbs)  carried externally
	Bombs carried beneath  each engine nacelle
	Nachtjäger  (Night Fighter)
	Two forward firing  MK 108 30mm &  three MK 213 cannon  in a ventral pack
	Two forward firing  MK 213 in the  fuselage sides
	Two MK 108 30mm  firing upwards at 70°  behind cockpit
	Two rear firing  remote controlled  MK 213 cannon
	Radar operator sits  in rear fuselage
	Internal radar  dish in nose