The Arado Ar-68 was designed to replace the He-51 for the Luftwaffe and entered service in 1936. It was used in combat in the Spanish Civil War, but found tough opposition from the Polikarpov I-16. The E version had a 610 hp Jumo engine, which was replaced by a 670 hp BMW engine in the F version.

Biplane fighters were rapidly being outclassed by monoplanes, and although it stayed in service as a night-fighter until 1940, the AR-68 had been largely replaced by the Messerschmitt 109 by the outbreak or war.

The Ar-68 was armed with 2 x 7.92 mm machine guns.