The MS.406 was first modern French monoplane fighter. The MS.406 played an important role during the early part of WWII and had a cantilever low-set wing, enclosed cockpit and tail wheel landing gear that included inward-retracting main units. It resulted from a 1934 requirement issued by the French Air Ministry for a monoplane fighter. An initial 1,000 examples were ordered in March 1938.