Eagle’s Shadow introduces a comprehensive selection of vehicles. The namesake of the update is inspired by the new F-15EX, which features excellent armament options and powerful engines. There’s also the modern Leopard 2A8 equipped with Trophy APS and the Second World War Fulmar Mk.II with 8,000 rounds of ammunition, along with the Su-15TM equipped with the newly added R-98 missiles. Additionally, the Sun City and American Desert maps have received visual enhancements while maintaining their original layouts. Alongside these additions, the update implements several new features and mechanics. These include custom Battle Ratings for aircraft, a login streak freeze function, additional ground vehicle modules to enhance tactical depth, refined controls for CCRP bombing, DLSS 5 integration and a vast array of updated graphical effects for the accumulation of dirt, firing effects, smoke, fire and much more!Be sure to check out the changelog to see all the improvements, vehicles and other features that we’ve included in this major update.Leave your feedback hereGround Vehicles: Leopard 2A8, Stingray II and Olifant!Eagle’s Shadow brings the Leopard 2A8 at top tier, which features the Trophy Active Protection System to fend off incoming missiles! Leopard 2A8The Stingray II is part of a premium pack, featuring a great top speed, DM33 rounds and a thermal imager. Next to this is the Optimering, which is a Olifant tank with improved protection and blowout panels! Stingray II (Pack)Olifant Mk.1B Optimering (RSA) (Pack)  New vehicles:

• USA: Stingray II (Pack)
• Germany: Leopard 2A8
• USSR: BTR-90
• Great Britain: Olifant Mk.1B Optimering (RSA) (Pack)
• Japan: BMP-3F (Indonesia)
• China: ZBD04
• Italy: V-4/40 (Hungary), Lancia 3Ro (Flak.)
• France: Cheetah PRTL (Netherlands)
• Sweden: Leopard 2A8NO (Norway), Pbil m/39 (Denmark) (Premium)

Updated model:

• Germany: Kugelblitz

 AircraftPlanes: Second World War and Modern Jet Aircraft!The Second World War Fulmar Mk.II comes in for Great Britain, featuring an impressive ammunition count of 8,000 rounds!Fulmar Mk.IIThe USA and Israel now have the F-15EX, which features an excellent payload for both air and ground targets, including 12 ARH missiles, plus impressive flight characteristics. F-15EXThe Su-15TM features the new R-98MR and R-98MT missiles that make it excellent in air combat, while the JAS39-5 for Sweden has a great range of weaponry for all types of combat. Su-15TMJAS39-5 (Pack)  New vehicles:

• USA: F-15EX, F/A-18D (Pack)
• USSR: Su-15TM
• Great Britain: Fulmar Mk.II
• Japan: Firefly F.Mk.I (Thailand), B-33 (Indonesia)
• China: Q-5D (Pack)
• Sweden: JAS39-5 (Pack)
• Israel: F-15IA Ra’am II

 New Cockpits

• USA: B-17E (all variants)
• France: SE.203 Aquilon 203

 Helicopters: An Attacker Chopper and New Cockpit!Italy gets the new AW249 Fenice, an attack helicopter, while the USSR gets a new cockpit for the Mi-8TV. Additionally, helicopters can now retarget man-in-the-loop (MITL) capable munitions in flight. For a full list of helicopters and missiles make sure to check the changelog.Mi-8TV cockpitNew vehicles:

• Italy: AW249 Fenice 

 New detailed cockpits:

• USSR: Mi-8TV 

 Naval Fleet: Heavy Cruisers and Battleships!Germany now has the longest ship in the game, the H class battleship project laid down in 1939. It features great firepower in eight 406 mm caliber cannons located in 4 turrets and an effective armor layout.H-39Japan gets the famous Takao heavy cruiser, featuring 203 mm guns, improved protection, a good top speed and Long Lance torpedoes!IJN TakaoThe premium HMS Duke of York battleship is here for Great Britain, featuring excellent armor, strong main battery weapons, a seaplane and premium bonuses, allowing you to research the British tree faster! HMS Duke of York (Pack)New Vehicles:

• USA: Erie
• Germany: H-39
• USSR: Nikolay Perviy, Lyogkiy (Premium)
• Great Britain: HMS Danae, HMS Duke of York (Pack)
• Japan: IJN Takao
• Italy: Audace
• France: VC-1, Le Hardi, L-990 (Premium)

 Locations & Missions: Updated Sun City and American Desert and Improved Weather Settings!We’ve updated the graphics of Sun City and American Desert, they now look better than ever, but retain their familiar layouts.  Sun City American DesertWe’ve overhauled all of the weather preset settings! These changes apply to twelve presets in total, ranging from a serene clear sky to a harsh storm. New cloud formations with more realistic shapes and density have been introduced, and lighting has been improved. Light now interacts with surfaces in different ways, depending on the selected weather preset.Improved Weather SettingsBrake Lights, DLSS 5, new Rendering for particles, humidity, vapor, smoke tracers, glints and glows on water & moreGround vehicles that have brake lights in real life now have functional brake lights that turn on!  DLSS 5 has been added in Eagle’s Shadow for 50 series GPUs. DLSS 5 uses a specialized AI model to analyze the rendered frame together with color, motion vectors, and depth information. The result is real-time enhancement of lighting, material properties, and shading for a more photo realistic image, all while preserving the original 3D scene and the developer’s artistic intent.We have carried out significant work to the graphical aspect of the game. Snow, dirt and dust on tanks: Snow settles as a 3D texture on ground vehicles and accumulates and gets thicker during snowfall. Dust looks more grainy and real. Snow now thaws on hot areas of vehicles, such as the engine deck. Humidity model and new wing vapor effects: Each weather preset in battle now has a new variable called humidity data. The humidity model, together with data on speed, altitude and angle of attack, now determines the nature and intensity of vapor effects in flight. Smoke tracers from bullets and shells: Smoke is now perceived as a true volumetric trail. It twists in turbulence, drifts with the wind, and looks inhomogeneously volumetric depending on the viewing angle. You can now read machine gun bursts in greater detail which is especially important in dogfights, where often only by tracers can you determine where fire is coming from. Glints and glow on water: Every light source now has its own reflection. Muzzle flashes, fires, and lamps are now reflected on the water using the same model as the sun, refracting on waves and ripples. The reflection of a burning ship will tell you where she is before you make out the hull. At night, light not only reflects off the water but also spreads beneath it, illuminating the water volume from within. Removed stripes at altitude and godrays are back: Fog and haze are now rendered smoothly and correctly at all altitudes and distances. The horizon line has become sharp, and haze is now visible over the sea when looking from high altitude, the crepuscular rays have returned as well.OFF / ON No more repeating clouds: Every patch of sky gets its own copy of the cloud shape with random offset and rotation, seamlessly blended with its neighbors. The cloud pattern no longer repeats, the sky looks natural on all graphics settings on all platforms, and it does not require additional system resources. Fly high to the sky!Custom Battle Rating for Some AircraftA selection of aircraft have this feature, where the available loadouts affect the battle rating! This means a single aircraft may have multiple possible Battle Ratings.For these specific aircraft, once you research more advanced weaponry you have a choice: you can either participate in battles at a higher Battle Rating, or remain at your current one. Researching a modification does not automatically force a change in your vehicle’s Battle Rating; instead, you decide between the available options in your hangar before heading into battle.This mechanic will be rolled out to more vehicles over time, however not all vehicles will get this mechanic, as it will only be applied to those where the disparity in weapon power is significant.Freezing Your Daily Login StreakDid you ever go on vacation or maybe your PC died, causing your login streak to reset? In Eagle’s Shadow, we’ve implemented a new mechanic that helps you with that! After building up “freeze” points, the game will now freeze your login streak if you didn’t login, consuming the freeze points you had. This prevents the login streak from being lost.New Modules for Ground VehiclesWe’ve taken the time to develop three new modules for ground vehicles. First up is the fire control system, which can be damaged or destroyed. Doing so disables the use of night-vision devices, thermal imagers and the rangefinder. Furthermore, remotely operated machine-gun or cannon turrets that lack a manual aiming option will also be disabled.Next up is a new electrical system module. Disabling it shuts down a whole range of equipment that relies on power, such as the fire-control system, the gun stabilizer, radars, optoelectronic targeting systems, the threat-warning system, and even the autoloader. And lastly is a auxiliary power unit module. Previously, if a tank’s engine was disabled and the battery was depleted, the vehicle would lose all power: the turret could only be traversed manually, aiming the gun became slow, and all electronics would shut down. Now, many vehicles will have a “second heart” that keeps their electric systems operational, even if the engine has been destroyed.We’ve also added the ability to manually reload autoloaders. Now, when the shells in the automatic loader are depleted or the autoloader is disabled, the crew will switch to loading the gun manually. If the loader is manually loading the gun however, the autoloader rack will not be replenished, and you’ll have to stop firing for the loader to resume refilling it.Improvements to the Controls for CCRP BombingCCRP now requires no dedicated button, does not conflict with the standard release function, and uses a simple, uncluttered display. The auto-release indicator is now positioned within the battlefield view in a way that does not obstruct visibility. Manual bomb release is now possible, even when a point of interest is active. We aimed to ensure the mechanic works predictably, eliminating any guesswork regarding why a bomb might fail to release from a pylon. CCRP bombing is now more convenient across level flight, dives, and pull-up maneuvers. In the latter case (toss bombing), the indicator sticks to the bottom of the screen, allowing for continued monitoring of timing and heading. There’s plenty more to see!Check out the full changelog for all improvements and additions!Full changelogLocation and mission updates

• Sun City — the location has undergone a visual overhaul. All assets have been replaced with new ones, including rock formations (with minor geometric adjustments), ground textures, building models, and the city’s overall layout. The landscape has been refined and made more detailed. The tank mini-map has also been updated.
• American Desert — the location has undergone a visual overhaul. All assets have been replaced with new ones, including rock formations (with minor geometric adjustments), ground textures, building models, and the town’s layout. The terrain has been refined and made more detailed. The tank mini-map has also been updated.
• Building assets at all runways in the game have been updated.
• Breslau, Flanders, Advance to the Rhine, Berlin, Black Sea Port — old used assets have been replaced with new ones.
• All weather settings presets have been adjusted to improve the image quality and better suit the names of the presets.

Nuclear Escalation

• The 55Zh6 and AN/TPS-59 long-range surveillance radars now detect enemy aircraft and relay data to players on the same team. The radars operate alternately, with one active per team. When hovering over an active friendly radar on the tactical map, a rotating beam and dashed lines leading to detected enemy aircraft are displayed; the radar’s tooltip also indicates its current status (on or off).
• In sessions with a Battle Rating of 14.0 or higher, the OTRK “Tochka” and MGM-52 Lance have been replaced by the “Iskander-M” and MGM-140 ATACMS.
• Capturing an object now gives team points to the team which captured it: 150 points for the tactical assembly area, 90 for a separate fuel or ammo depot, 45 for a strongpoint. Previously a capture resulted only in reduction of points from the team that lost the object and if it was destroyed afterwards the new owner ended up in losing points, making capturing not so advantageous in some cases.
• Garrisons at strongpoints now periodically launch attacks on nearby enemy targets, moving out in a column of tanks. As before, empty spots within these garrisons can be filled by tanks arriving from columns based in the starting areas.
• The models of MIM-23 Hawk SAM system vehicles, MIM-104 Patriot SAM system vehicles, S-300 SAM system vehicles, 9K37 Buk SAM, 9K37M1 Buk-M1 SAM, 9A52-2 Smerch MLRS, M270 MLRS, 9k79 Tochka TBM, M978 and M939 transport vehicles have been updated.

Ground Vehicle model, damage model, characteristic and weaponry changes:

• T-90 (all variants), T-80 (all variants), T-72 (all variants), T-64 (all variants), Object 775, Object 279, Object 292, Object 120, IS-7, PT-76-57, BMP-3, BMD-4M2, 2S25 (all variants), ZTZ99 (all variants), ZTZ96 (all variants), ZBD04A, WZ1001(E) LCT, VT5, VT4 (all variants), PTZ89, MBT-2000, Al-Khalid-I, Strf 9040 (all variants), CT-CV 105HP, AMV (BMP-3), CV90120-T, CV 90105, Type 89, Type 90, TKX (all variants), Type 10, BM Oplot-T, Harimau, MSC, Leclerc (all variants), EMBT (all variants), PT-16/T14 mod., Boxer MGS, Begleitpanzer 57, VCC-80/60, OTOMATIC, Centauro II (P), Sholef — a manual loading mechanic has been added for cases where the autoloader is depleted and/or disabled.
• Challenger Mk.2, Challenger DS, Challenger Mk.3, Chieftain 900, FV4030/3, T-90M (all variants), BMPT (all variants), Palmaria, Leopard 2RI, Type 25 RCV (P), STB-2, TKX (all variants), Type 10, Type 16 (P), Type 87, Chieftain 900, Chieftain Mk 10, Chieftain Mk 5, Black Night, Challenger 2 (2F), Challenger 2 OES, Challenger 2 OES (SM), Challenger 2 TES, Khalid, Challenger 3 TD, Challenger 2, Chieftain Mk.3, OTOMATIC, ItPsV Leopard, Chieftain Marksman, Leopard 2A8 (all variants), Leopard 2A7 (all variants), Leopard 2A6HEL, EMBT (all variants), Merkava Mk.4M, M1A2 Abrams, M1A1 HC, M1A1 SA, M1A1 Click-Bait, M1A1 HC (SM), M1A1 SA (Great Britain), M1A2 SEPv3, M1A2 (Great Britain), M1A2T — an auxiliary power unit (APU) mechanic has been added. The APU provides power in the event that an engine is shut down or disabled.
• M1 Abrams (all variants), XM1 (Chrysler), HSTV-L, T-80 (all variants with turboshaft engines), Object 292 — the full throttle performance curve (the relationship between torque and engine RPM) for gas turbine engines has been revised. Additionally, the intermediate gear stages, previously used to emulate more correct engine and transmission behavior on tanks with torque converters and turboshaft engines, have been removed.
• AMX-30 (all variants and vehicles on this platform), AMX-32 (all variants), Chi-Ha (all variants and vehicles on this platform), STB-2, Type 74 (all variants and vehicles on this platform), Stingray (all variants) — the full throttle performance curve (the relationship between torque and engine RPM) for some diesel engines has been revised.

• Object 122MT “MC”, PGZ88, QN506, Type 59, ZTZ59D1, Type 69-IIa, T-69 II G, Type 69, WZ305, ZTZ59A, ZTZ88 (all variants), BMP-1 (all variants), BMP-2 (all variants), IS-3, IT-1, SU-122-54, T-54 (all variants), T-55 (all variants), T-62 (all variants), ZTZ96 (all variants), 2S1, 2S3M, Strela-10M2, Shturm-S, ASU-85, IS-1, IS-2 (all variants), IS-6, IS-7, ISU-152, Object 140, Object 248, ZSU-23-4 (all variants), ZSU-57-2, IS-4M, Object 268, Object 279, T-10 (all variants), Chi-Nu II, Chi-To, Chi-To Late, Chi-Ri, Chi-Nu, Ho-Ro, Ho-Ni I, Ho-Ni III, Chi-Ha LG, Chi-Ha Short Gun, Chi-Ha Kai, Chi-Ha, Chi-He, Chi-He (5th Regiment), Ho-I, I-Go Ko, Ka-Chi, SUB-I-II, Type 61, ST-A3, Type 61 (B), Type 60, Type 60 ATM, Type 75 MLRS — planetary (epicyclic) steering mechanism has been added.

• AMX-30 (1972), AMX-30, AMX-30B2, AMX-30B2 BRENUS — turret traverse speed has been reduced from 30°/s to 24°/s. (Report). Source: Notice technique. Char moyen de combat AMX 30. 1971.

• Leopard 2A7 (all variants) — the gun vertical guidance angles have been corrected from -9°/20° to -7.4°/17.4°. Sources: Leopard 2 A7 brochure from the manufacturer, KNDS; archived LEOPARD 2 A7 NO page from the website of the manufacturer, Krauss-Maffei Wegmann GmbH & Co. KG; KNDS B Ansicht LEOPARD 2 A8 brochure.
• Leopard 2A7 (all variants) — the maximum speed has been increased from 61.1 to 63 km/h. Sources: Leopard 2 A7 brochure from the manufacturer, KNDS; archived LEOPARD 2 A7 NO page from the website of the manufacturer, Krauss-Maffei Wegmann GmbH & Co. KG; Kampfpanzer Leopard 2 A7V der Bundeswehr page on the Bundeswehr website.

• AMX-30 (all variants) — the velocity of the smoke shell has been reduced from 700 m/s to 695 m/s. (Report). Source: Notice technique. Char moyen de combat AMX 30. 1971.

• M103 — the commander’s cupola rotation angles have been corrected from a 120° sector to full 360°. (Report).
• Type 10, TKX (P), TKX — transmission gear ratio values ​​have been corrected.
• Falcon — the ammunition count has been reduced from 680 to 620 rounds. (Report). The horizontal and vertical traverse speeds have been reduced from 90°/s and 50°/s to 80°/s and 40°/s, respectively. (Report).
• Object 435 — a visual bug that occurred in Arcade mode where the gun mantlet would clip through the armor plate when the gun was elevated to its maximum angle has been fixed.
• BMP-3 — the ammunition belt capacity is now set to 250 rounds.
• BMD-4M — the ammunition load for the 30 mm cannon has been increased from 464 to 500 rounds.
• Type 61 (B) — wooden elements have received armor protection.
• IS-2M (“Be Prepared!”) — turret traverse speed has been increased from 14°/s to 26.4°/s (Report).
• M1A2 (Trophy-HV) — an issue with the switching sequence between the main gun and machine guns has been fixed. (Report).
• Object 435 — the armor of the hull has been converted to volumetric armor.
• EMBT — a bug that caused the NVD to not be available without researching modifications has been fixed. (Report). 
• PGZ88 — the guns can now overheat. (Report).
• CV 90105 TML, AMV (BMP-3) — thermal imagers have been removed from the UAVs. (Report).
• T-26E — the add-on armor can now be hidden in the armor view. (Report). 
• AS 42/47 — an issue where the aiming speed would slow down when the battery was depleted has been fixed. (Report).
• FK-2000 — scouting ability has been removed.
• ZBD04A — the gun reload time has been increased from 4 to 5.2 seconds.
• T-55A — the armor of the hull has been converted to volumetric armor. 
• M14/41 (all variants), M15/42 — an issue where the weapons and turret could be operated without a crew member present in the turret has been fixed. (Report).
• ZTZ88B — an issue with the wrong exhaust gas animation type following a main gun shot has been fixed. (Report).
• ZTS63 — maximum gun depression angle has been reduced from -5° to -4°. (Report).
• T-80BVM — the machine gun type has been changed from PKT to PKTM. (Report).
• T-72B3, T-72B3 “Arena”, T-72B3А — the machine gun type has been changed from PKT to PKTM. (Report).
• T-80UM2 — a pressure-damage trigger has been added to the fuel tanks located in the fighting compartment.
• Osa-AKM — a visual display error of the missiles in the launchers has been fixed added. (Report).
• Chieftain Mk 3 — maximum speed has been reduced from 49 km/h to 40.7 km/h, and gear ratio values ​​have been adjusted. (Report).
• Chieftain Mk 5 — maximum speed has been reduced from 48 km/h to 42.7 km/h and gear ratio values ​​have been adjusted. Sources: Technical Handbook for Chieftain Mk 5.
• Chieftain Mk 10, Chieftain Marksman — maximum speed has been reduced from 48 km/h to 43.5 km/h and gear ratio values ​​have been adjusted. (Report, Report).
• Vickers Mk.1 — maximum speed has been increased from 48 km/h to 50.1 km/h and gear ratio values ​​have been adjusted. (Report).

Aircraft and helicopter model, damage model, characteristic and weaponry changes:Weaponry

• Ayit, A-7D, A-7K, A-10A Early, A-10A Late, F-4E Phantom II, F-4E AUP Phantom II (Israel), Kurnass, Kurnass 2000, F-111C (Great Britain), F-111F, F-15I Ra’am, Baz, Baz Meshupar, F-15A, F-16A, F-16A (Sweden), F-16A (France, Belgium), F-16A (France, Netherlands), F-16A MLU (China), F-16A OCU, F-16C Barak II, F-16D Barak II, F-16I Sufa, F-16XL, Netz, Netz (Mod) — CBU-58B cluster bombs have been added.

• F-111F, F-16CM, F-16CM PoBIT, F-15E, A-10A Early, A-10A Late, A-10C, F-15C MSIP II, F-15C Golden Eagle, F-16AM (Sweden), F-16AM (France), F-16V (China), F-15J, F-15J(M), F-1, F-2A, F-2A ADTW, F-4E Phantom II, F-4EJ Phantom II, F-4EJ Kai Phantom II, F-4EJ ADTW — CBU-87B cluster bombs have been added.

• Alpha Jet A, Alpha Jet A (JaboG 41), Alpha Jet A (Japan), Alpha Jet TH, AMX, Buccaneer S.2B, F-104G (Germany), F-104S, F-104S.ASA, F-4F, F-4F Early, F-4F KWS LV, F-4J(UK) Phantom II, G.91 Y, G.91 YS, Harrier GR.1, Harrier GR.3, Harrier GR.7, Harrier T.10, Hawk 200, Hawk 200 RDA, Jaguar GR.1, Jaguar GR.1A, Jaguar IS, Phantom FG.1, Phantom FGR.2, Sea Harrier FA 2, Sea Harrier FRS.1, Sea Harrier FRS.1 (e), Tornado GR.1, Tornado GR.4, Tornado IDS, Tornado IDS (1995), Tornado IDS ASSTA1, Tornado IDS MFG, Tornado IDS MLU (RET.8), Tornado IDS SLE, Tornado IDS WTD61 — BL755 cluster bombs have been added.
• J-11, J-11A, MiG-23BN (Germany), MiG-27M, MiG-27K, MiG-29 (9-12A) (Germany), MiG-29G (Germany), MiG-29 (9-12), MiG-29 (9-12B) (Italy), MiG-29 Sniper, MiG-29N (Japan), MiG-29 (9-13), MiG-29M (9-15), MiG-29SMT (9-19), MiG-29KR (9-41R), MiG-35, Su-17M2, Su-17M4, Su-22M3, Su-22M3 (Italy), Su-22UM3K (Germany), Su-22M4 (Germany), Su-22M4 WTD61 (Germany), Su-24M, Su-25, Su-25K, Su-25BM, Su-25T, Su-39, Su-25SM3, Su-34, Su-27, Su-27SM, Su-30MK2 AMV (USSR), Su-30MKK, Su-30MKM, Su-30SM, Su-30SM2, Su-33, Yak-130, Yak-141 — RBK-500 cluster bombs have been added.
• A-5C, J-7E, J-8B, J-8F, J-10A, J-10C, J-11B, J-15T, J-16, JF-17, JH-7, JH-7A, JH-7A Prototype, JH-7A2, Q-5L — Type 250-3 cluster bombs have been added.
• Jaguar A, Mirage 2000-5F, Mirage 2000C-S4, Mirage 2000C-S5, Mirage 2000D-R1, Mirage 2000D-RMV, and Mirage 4000, Alpha Jet E — BLG-66 cluster bombs have been added.
• F-1, F-4EJ Kai Phantom II, F-2A, F-2A ADTW — GCS-1 anti-ship bombs have been added along with a corresponding modification.
• F-15E — the ASW-55 targeting pod is now mandatory when carrying AGM-130 missiles.
• F-4EJ Kai Phantom II — ASM-1 and ASM-2 anti-ship missiles have been added along with a corresponding modification. (Report).

• R-60, R-60M, R-60MK — flight model and autopilot have been updated. Engine thrust has been reduced from 9.5 kN to 8.3 kN; available G-load at low speeds has been increased. (Report, Report).
• R-73 — flight model and autopilot have been updated. The probability of missile becoming destabilized when launched at a target with a high angular velocity has reduced. Motor burn time has been decreased from 5.5 s to 4.8 s, while maintaining the original total impulse. The autopilot-permitted load factor has been increased from 40G to 60G (Report, Report, Report, Report).

• Tornado IDS MLU (RET.8) — a bug that made it possible to equip 500 lb bombs along with GBU-39 on the right underfuselage pylon which caused them to overlap has been fixed. (Report, Report).
• AJ37, AJS37, AJS37 (Early) — flare count has been corrected from 24 to 18 per pod. (Report).
• Phantom FG.1, Phantom FGR.2 — 1,000 lb L.D. H.E. M.C. Mk.I bombs have been added. (Report).
• Harrier GR.1 — AIM-9G missiles have been added. Source: Pilot’s Notes Harrier GR.Mk.1.
• J-16 — the number of guided and unguided 250 kg and 500 kg bombs has been increased. (Report).
• 250-2 incendiary bomb — the visual model and the characteristics of the 250-2 bomb have been corrected. (Report).
• A-5C, Q-5A, Q-5L — the number of countermeasures has been increased to 64, the caliber has been changed from large to standard. (Report).
• J32B — the 14.5 cm psrak m/49B, 15 cm srak m/51, and 18 cm hprak m/49 rockets have been added along with a corresponding modification. (Report).
• I-301 — 50 kg and 100 kg bombs, ROS-82 and RBS-82 rockets, and their respective variants have been added. Sources: Отчет об испытаниях и техническая документация на самолет И-301.
• B-25J-30 (USSR) — for loadouts using FAB-250sv bombs, the bombs located in the upper half of the bomb bay have been replaced with FAB-250tsk bombs, and the positioning of the 250 kg and 500 kg bombs within the bomb bay has been adjusted. Source: Инструкция лётчику по пилотированию и эксплуатации самолёта B-25.
• Beaufighter Mk VIc — 18-inch Mark XII torpedo has been replaced with the 18-inch Mk.XV. (Report).
• Beaufighter Mk X — 18-inch Mark XII torpedo has been replaced with the 18-inch Mk.XV. (Report).
• Beaufighter Mk 21 — 18-inch Mark XII torpedo has been replaced with the 18-inch Mk.XV. (Report).
• Hurricane Mk IIB/Trop — 500 lb bombs have been added along with a corresponding modification. (Report).
• A-20G-30 (USSR) — 500 lb AN-M64A1 bombs have been replaced with 250 kg FAB-250tsk bombs. Source: Краткое руководство по эксплоатации бомбардировочного вооружения самолетов А-20G и А-20B.
• A-20G-25 — the ability to mount bombs on the underwing pylons has been added. Secondary Weapons menu has been added. Source: T.O. 01-4-1 Pilot's flight operating instructions for A-20G and A-20J.
• Beaufort Mk VIII — the ability to mount bombs on the underwing pylons has been added. 1,000 lb HE and 2,000 lb AP bombs have been added to the bomb bay. Secondary weapons menu has been added. (Report).
• H8K2, H8K3 — the vertical aiming angles for the turret have been corrected from -25°/+90° to -25°/+85°. Source: 航空技術の全貌（下). Aircraft Machine Cannon and Machine Guns; Type 1 Large Power Turret, Model 21.
• Kurnass 2000 — an issue where the IR channel was missing from the guidance optics for the Delilah (IR) missile has been fixed. (Report).
• IL-2 (1941), IL-2 (1942), IL-2-37, IL-2M (1943), IL-2M Type 3, IL-2 M-82, IL-2M “Avenger” — ZAB-50FP incendiary bombs have been added. (Report).
• Po-2 — the capability to carry FAB-100sv bombs on external wing pylons and under the fuselage has been added. ZAB-50FP incendiary bombs have been added. Sources: Вооружение самолёта У-2ВС. Инструкция по эксплоатации; Инструкция по бомбометанию с самолёта У-2.
• Po-2M — the capability to carry FAB-100sv bombs on external wing pylons has been added. Sources: Вооружение самолёта У-2ВС. Инструкция по эксплоатации; Инструкция по бомбометанию с самолёта У-2.
• B7A2 — Mk1 and Mk2 500 kg bombs have been added. Source: T and I No. 16, 20 January 1945. Report No. 3-e(4), USSBS Index Section 6.
• Type 99 20 mm cannons (all variants) — HE shell specifications have been corrected, and the shell type has been standardized across different guns. Sources: CINCPAC Bulletin 85-45, Japanese Projectiles Vol. 1, T and I No. 16, 20 January 1945; Report No. 3-e(4), USSBS Index Section 6.
• 13 mm Type 2 — bullet type has been corrected from HE-I (High-Explosive Incendiary) to HE (High-Explosive). Sources: Edited by Jun Okamura et al., "The Complete Picture of Aviation Technology, Vol. 2" (1955); Appendix, T and I No. 16, 20 January 1945; Report No. 3-e(4), USSBS Index Section 6.
• Type 99 Mark 1 — the repeated AP shell has been removed. (Report).
• Wfr.Gr.21 rocket — timed fuze has been added. (Report).
• F-8E(FN) — Secondary Weapons menu has been added.
• F-102A (Greece) — a bug that caused the bullets from the right-hand M134 gun pod to appear not from the pod has been fixed.
• B6N1, B6N2, B6N2A — 500 kg bombs (Number 50 Model 2 and Type 2 Number 50 Model 1) have been added. Source: Maru-Mechanic-47-B6N-B5N.

 Other

• R-77 (on all carriers); AIM-7E/F (on F-4 series aircraft); Kh-59M, Kh-38ML/MT, Kh-31P/PD/A/AD, Kh-58U (on all carriers) — missile ejection launcher mechanic has been added.
• Mi-35M, Mi-35M (China), Mi-35P — targeting optic aiming angles have been adjusted to +180°/-180° horizontally and +25°/-90° vertically. (Report, Report).
• Mi-28N, Mi-28NM — targeting optics aiming angles have been adjusted vertically to +30°/-45° (Report).
• Ka-52 — a radar MAWS “Arbalet-D” has been added. Sources: «Радиоэлектронные технологии» journal №1/2021 and №3/2021, by KRET (КРЭТ), radar’s manufacturer; Rosoboronexport Aerospace Systems Export Catalogue; Aero India 2007 - Phazotron; page “KRET | Arbalet / Arbalet-D” on the website of KRET, radar’s manufacturer.
• Z-10ME — the MAWS type has been corrected from optical to the radar.
• Su-30MK2 AMV, Su-30MKK — the visual of the vapor trails has been corrected. (Report).
• Su-30SM2 — color of the canopy glazing has been corrected. (Report).
• Su-34 — color of the canopy glazing has been corrected. (Report).
• F-16A MLU (China) — the countermeasure pod setup has been adjusted; the total capacity for standard-caliber countermeasures has been increased to 60. (Report).
• F-15E, F-15I Ra’am — countermeasures under the right engine nacelle have become available with all weapon configurations.
• Bf 109 T-2 — 60 mm thick bulletproof glass has been added to the armor layout. (Report).
• F3H-2 — the radar page in the cockpit has been updated.
• F-8E — the radar page in the cockpit has been updated.
• Lightning F.6, Lightning F.53 — cockpit radar page has been updated.
• J-16 — night vision has been added for both the cockpit view and third-person view.
• Bf 109 F-1 — the incorrect display of the engine-mounted cannon in the X-ray view has been fixed. (Report).
• Refinement of the damage model for bombers. The following changes are based on an analysis of the following military and engineering documents: BRL Memo Report 484, NACA RM L52H01a, NACA TN 4111 and Report 1308, AGARD-667, AFWAL-TR-85-2060, and MIL-H-5606.
• Fuel Tank Fires. The intensity of a fire increases over time: it is weak during the first few seconds, reaches full intensity within 40–60 seconds, and causes greater damage to the heated structure as the fire persists. Curves have been developed separately for each class of propulsion system (2, 3, 4, 6, or 8 engines; piston or jet). Basis: a thermal model derived from NACA TN 4111 and Report 1308.
• The probability of ignition from pure armor-piercing (AP) projectiles has been reduced. According to BRL Memo Report 484, AP projectiles lacking an incendiary component ignite fuel in 0–2% of cases.
• The probability of a fuel leak resulting from hits by 20 mm or larger-caliber projectiles has been increased.
• The probability of a fuel tank catching fire now depends on the extent of the damage it has sustained. As damage accumulates, punctures appear and fuel begins to leak, making each subsequent hit from an incendiary round increasingly likely to cause a fire.
• Engine Fires. A separate intensity-buildup curve has been added for engine fires. An engine fire develops more rapidly than a fuel-tank fire (due to the instantaneous ignition of oil on a hot manifold — AFWAL-TR-85-2060), but it remains localized. Its maximum intensity is lower than that of a fuel-tank fire.
• Vulnerability of the wing spar to fire. Thermal damage from a fire now correctly passes through the material of the wing spar. Previously, the armor-resistance calculation effectively blocked the fire, rendering the spar virtually invulnerable to it. A sustained fire in the wing is now capable of destroying the spar.
• Structural Strength of the Wing. Destruction of the wing skin will no longer automatically cause the spar to detach. According to NACA RM L52H01a, a chordwise cut through the skin and stringers is not critical, the spar caps continue to carry the load. The strength of the spars on bombers has been increased.
• Spread of the fire to the tail assembly. The fire from the rear section of the fuselage now spreads to the stabilizers, control surfaces, and the vertical fin.
• Damage model (DM) for bombers has been updated for: Ju 87 B-2, Ju 87 D-3, Ju 87 D-5, Ju 87 G-1, Ju 87 G-2, Ju 87 R-2, Ju 87 R-2 Libya, BTD-1, SBD-3, SB2C-1C, SB2C-4, SB2C-5 (all variants), SB2U-2, SB2U-3, TBF-1C, OS2U-1, OS2U-3, B5N2, B6N1 Model 11, B6N2 Model 12, B6N2a Model 12Ko, B7A2, D3A1, D4Y1, D4Y2, D4Y3 Ko, Ki-32, B17A, B17B, S17BS, B3C, Avenger Mk.II, Chesapeake Mk I, V-156-F, XA-38, P-61A-11, P-61C-1, Ju-88C-6.
• A detailed damage model has been added for:
  • G.91 (all variants), A.109EOA-2, SA.341 (all variants), Mirage F1 (all variants), A-7 (all variants), F-8 (all variants)

Flight Model changes:

• IL-10 (all variants) — the flight model has been reworked. Moments of inertia have been refined. Thermodynamics have been revised. Handling when using the “mouse aim” control mode has been improved. The powerplant/propeller system has been reworked, with refined propeller blade polar curves.
• Welkin F Mk.1 — the engine fire-extinguishing system has been fixed. (Report).
• H8K (all variants) — engine fire-extinguishing system has been added, moments of inertia recalculated.
• Firefly Mk.1 — flight model has been updated.
• BV 238 — take-off mass set to 77,300 kg, fuel mass reduced to 18,100 kg, moments of inertia refined.
• Saab B18 — maximum permissible speeds have been adjusted in accordance with “Speciell förarinstruktion” (Special Pilot’s Instructions).
• Hornet Mk.1/Mk.3 — an issue that caused premature fuel starvation in the engines has been fixed. (Report).
• Mosquito F/NF Mk.2 — flight model reworked: Merlin 25 engines replaced with Merlin 23s, the polar curve adjusted for the RAF 34 airfoil, moments of inertia refined, handling improved, and excessive yaw during the takeoff roll eliminated. (Report).
• F-15 (all variants) — the drag at transonic speeds has been slightly reduced. (Report).
• JF-17 — the length f the aircraft has been increased from 14.1 m to 14.3 m. (Report). The wing span has been increased from 9.4 m to 9.45 m. (Report).

Naval fleet model, damage model, characteristic and weaponry changes:Naval characteristics, physics and damage model:

• Akebono — an issue that caused the ship to heel over excessively when performing a turn has been fixed.

Naval Visual models and visual parts:

• Dupleix — an issue where the ship model would disappear when zooming in while in third-person camera view has been fixed.

Economy and research

• Leopard 2 PSO — moved before the EMBT.

Custom Battle Ratings

• Some aircraft and helicopters now offer a choice of Battle Rating (BR), which can be changed in the hangar from modifications window. The availability of specific modifications and weaponry depends on the chosen Battle Rating. Items that are unavailable are marked as such in the interface, with the reason provided. The currently selected Battle Rating for a vehicle is displayed in the interface and is taken into account during matchmaking.
• AH-60 (Israel) — the Battle Rating in Ground Battles has been reduced from 13.0 to 11.3. Spike ER (MITL) missiles have been added along with the corresponding modification (which unlocks automatically when unlocking the Spike ER modification). Use of Spike ER missiles increases the Battle Rating to 13.0. The use of Spike ER (MITL) missiles increases the Battle Rating to 13.7.
• Saraph — Spike NLOS (MITL) missiles have been added along with the corresponding modification (which unlocks automatically when unlocking the Spike NLOS modification). The use of Spike NLOS (MITL) missiles increases the Battle Rating to 13.7.
• EC-665 Tiger HAD — the Battle Rating in Ground Battles has been reduced from 11.3 to 10.7. The use of AGM-114K missiles increases the Battle Rating to 11.3.
• EC-665 Tiger HAC — the Battle Rating in Ground Battles has been reduced from 13.0 to 10.7. The use of TRIGAT-LR missiles increases the Battle Rating to 13.0.
• Tiger HAD Block 2 — Spike ER (MITL) missiles have been added along with the corresponding modification (which unlocks automatically when unlocking the Spike ER modification). The use of Spike ER (MITL) missiles increases the Battle Rating to 13.7.
• AH-64E (all versions) — Spike NLOS (MITL) missiles have been added along with the corresponding modification (which unlocks automatically when unlocking the Spike NLOS modification). The use of Spike NLOS (MITL) missiles increases the Battle Rating to 13.7.
• A-129 International (p) — the Battle Rating in Ground Battles has been reduced from 11.0 to 10.3. The use of AGM-114B missiles increases the Battle Rating to 11.0.
• A129CBT — the Battle Rating in Ground Battles has been reduced from 11.3 to 10.3. The use of Hellfire missiles increases the Battle Rating to 11.3.
• AH-129D — the Battle Rating in Ground Battles has been reduced from 13.0 to 11.3. Spike ER (MITL) missiles have been added along with the corresponding modification (which unlocks automatically when unlocking the Spike ER modification). The use of Spike ER missiles increases the Battle Rating to 13.0. The use of Spike ER (MITL) missiles increases the Battle Rating to 13.7.
• Z-9W — the Battle Rating in Ground Battles has been reduced from 10.7 to 9.7. The use of TY-90 missiles increases the Battle Rating to 10.7.
• Z-9WA — the Battle Rating in Ground Battles has been reduced from 11.3 to 10.3. The use of TY-90 missiles increases the Battle Rating to 11.0. The use of AKD-9 missiles increases the Battle Rating to 11.3.
• AH-1W (all variants) — the Battle Rating in Ground Battles has been reduced from 11.0 to 10.3. The use of AGM-114B, AIM-9L and APKWS missiles increases the Battle Rating to 11.0. 
• Z-19 (all variants) — the Battle Rating in Ground Battles has been reduced from 12.3 to 11.0. The use of TY-90 missiles increases the Battle Rating to 12.3.
• Z-10ME — CM-502KG (MITL) missiles have been added along with the corresponding modification (which unlocks automatically when unlocking the CM-502KG modification). The use of CM-502KG (MITL) missiles increases the Battle Rating to 13.7.
• AH Mk.2 Apache — Spike NLOS (MITL) missiles have been added along with the corresponding modification (which unlocks automatically when unlocking the Spike NLOS modification). The use of Spike NLOS (MITL) missiles increases the Battle Rating to 13.7.
• Lynx AH.Mk.1 — the Battle Rating in Ground Battles has been reduced from 11.3 to 10.3. The use of ATAS missiles increases the Battle Rating to 10.7. The use of AGM-114B missiles increases the Battle Rating to 11.3.
• G-LYNX — the Battle Rating in Ground Battles has been reduced from 11.3 to 10.3. The use of ATAS missiles increases the Battle Rating to 10.7. The use of AGM-114B missiles increases the Battle Rating to 11.3.
• Wildcat HMA2 — the Battle Rating in Ground Battles has been reduced from 12.7 to 12.0. Spike NLOS (MITL) missiles have been added along with the corresponding modification (which unlocks automatically when unlocking the Spike NLOS modification). The use of Spike NLOS missiles increases the Battle Rating to 12.7. The use of Spike NLOS (MITL) missiles increases the Battle Rating to 13.7.
• Mi-35P — the Battle Rating in Ground Battles has been reduced from 12.0 to 11.3. The use of 9K127 Vikhr missiles increases the Battle Rating to 12.0.
• Mi-28NM — LMUR (MITL) missiles have been added along with the corresponding modification (which unlocks automatically when unlocking the LMUR modification). The use of LMUR (MITL) missiles increases the Battle Rating to 13.7.
• H145M — Spike ER (MITL) missiles have been added along with the corresponding modification (which unlocks automatically when unlocking the Spike ER modification). The use of Spike ER (MITL) missiles increases the Battle Rating to 13.7.
• EC-665 Tiger UHT — the Battle Rating in Ground Battles has been reduced from 13.0 to 10.7. The use of PARS 3 LR missiles increases the Battle Rating to 13.0.
• J22M1A — the Battle Rating in Ground Battles has been reduced from 11.7 to 9.3. The use of FAB-250 PGB guided bombs and GROM and E-24-A1 guided missiles increases the Battle Rating to 10.3 in Air Battles and to 10.7 in Ground Battles respectively. The use of BPB3-240, GROM-B, and AGM-65B missiles increases the Battle Rating to 11.0 in Air Battles and to 11.3 in Ground Battles respectively. The use of Kosava 3 TM missiles increases the Battle Rating to 11.3 in Air Battles and to 11.7 in Ground Battles respectively.
• Su-25SM3 — the Battle Rating in Ground Battles has been reduced from 13.0 to 12.0, and in Air Battles from 11.7 to 10.7. The use of Kh-38 (all variants) missiles increases the Battle Rating to 11.7 in Air Battles and to 13.0 in Ground Battles respectively.
• MiG-21 Bison — RVV-AE missiles have been added along with the corresponding modification. The use of RVV-AE missiles increases the Battle Rating to 13.3 in Air Battles and to 12.7 in Ground Battles.
• Yak-141 — R-77 missiles have been added along with the corresponding modification. The R-60M modification has been replaced with the R-77 modification, and the use of R-60M missiles no longer requires researching modifications. The use of R-77 missiles increases the Battle Rating to 13.3 in Air Battles and to 12.3 in Ground Battles.
• Su-39 — the Battle Rating in Ground Battles has been reduced from 12.0 to 11.7. R-27R/ER, R-27T/ET, and R-77 missiles have been added along with corresponding modifications. The maximum number of R-73 missiles used has been increased to 4. The number of KAB-500Kr bombs has been increased to 6. The Mercury targeting pod has been replaced with the Khod thermal imaging pod. The use of R-27R/ER and R-27T/ET missiles increases the Battle Rating to 11.7 in Air Battles and to 12.0 in Ground Battles. The use of R-77 missiles increases the Battle Rating to 12.7 in Air Battles and to 13.0 in Ground Battles. The use of anti-radiation missiles increases the Battle Rating to 11.7 in Air Battles and to 12.0 in Ground Battles.
• JAS39A — AIM-120 missiles have been added along with the corresponding modification. The use of AIM-120 missiles increases the Battle Rating to 13.7 in Air Battles and to 13.0 in Ground Battles.
• F3H-2 — the Battle Rating in Air Battles has been reduced from 9.3 to 9.0. The use of AIM-7 missiles increases the Battle Rating to 9.3.
• A-10A — the Battle Rating in Air Battles has been reduced from 10.3 to 9.0. The Battle Rating in Ground Battles has been reduced from 11.0 to 9.7. The use of AIM-9L missiles, AGM-65 missiles, or GBU-8 guided bombs increases the Battle Rating to 10.3 in Air Battles and to 11.0 in Ground Battles.
• Saab F-35 — the Battle Rating in Air Battles has been reduced from 10.3 to 9.7. The Battle Rating in Ground Battles has been reduced from 10.0 to 9.3. The AIM-9B modification has been replaced with the AIM-9N modification. The use of AIM-9N missiles increases the Battle Rating to 10.3 in Air Battles and to 10.0 in Ground Battles.
• Buccaneer S.2B — the Battle Rating in Air Battles has been reduced from 10.7 to 9.7. The Battle Rating in Ground Battles has been reduced from 11.7 to 11.0. The use of AIM-9L, AJ.168 Martel, and anti-radiation missiles increases the Battle Rating to 10.3 in Air Battles and to 11.7 in Ground Battles.
• F-5E (Germany) — AGM-65D/G and Flz Lwf 63/90 missiles have been added along with corresponding modifications. Use of AGM-65D/G missiles increases the Battle Rating to 11.7 in Air Battles and to 12.3 in Ground Battles. The use of Flz Lwf 63/90 missiles increases the Battle Rating to 11.3 in Air Battles and to 12.0 in Ground Battles. The Flz Lwf 63/80 modification has been moved from tier IV to tier III, and the unguided rocket and AGM-65B missile modifications have been moved from tiers II–IV to tiers I–III respectively.
• F-2 ADTW — AAM-4 missiles have been added. Battle Rating in Ground Battles has been reduced from 12.7 to 12.0. The use of AAM-4 missiles increases the Battle Rating to 14.0 in Air Battles and to 13.0 in Ground Battles. The use of a targeting pod and JDAM bombs increases the Battle Rating to 13.7 in Air Battles and to 12.7 in Ground Battles.

Customization

• The first animated player icon frames have been added. They can be obtained by completing a certain number of missions with an activity level of at least 50%, or purchased for 1,000 Golden Eagles.
• New decorations for ground vehicles have been added, available for purchase with Golden Eagles: Taxi Roof Sign, Taxi Roof Sign (Type 2), Emergency vehicle lighting (blue), Police vehicle lighting, Buffalo horns.
• New decals have been added, which can be obtained by completing tasks or purchased with Golden Eagles
  • Aviation: Italy, Indonesia
  • Ground vehicles: Japan, Finland, Thailand, Indonesia, Greece.

Interface

• A timer until the next stage of overheating has been added to the aircraft HUD in the top-left corner near the temperature readings of the engines.
• In the targeting pod view, a frame around the target and the crosshair now flash indicating the impossibility of ATGM and guided bomb launch due to current targeting point or target being outside of the launch window, both angle and distance-wise. 

Game mechanics

• A “Daily Login Streak Freeze” feature has been added to the game: one “Freeze” is granted for every 12 days of logging into the game, and an account can hold a maximum of 30 “Freezes”. If you miss a day, a “Freeze” is automatically consumed, preventing your daily login streak from resetting. The number of available and used “Freezes” is displayed in the “Daily Reward” window.
• In the Assault: Air Arcade mode, top tier (6.7–12.7) has been split into three separate ranges: 6.7–8.0, 8.3–9.7, and 10.0–12.7, bringing the total number of tiers to 7. In these tiers, the player’s base is attacked by Tu-95M + IL-28Sh and B-52H + B-66B aircraft. The bombers in these new tiers will periodically deploy countermeasures.
• The Battle Rating of helicopters in Arcade Battles has been set to the values from Realistic Battles.
• Helicopter PvE now has three Battle Rating brackets instead of two: up to 9.7, 10.0-11.7, 12.0 and above.
• The composition of enemy ground vehicles in helicopter PvE has been updated according to the new BR brackets: in the lower bracket, players face USSR vehicles, in the middle one the opposing team has US vehicles, and in the top one, Swedish.
• A bug that caused base AA to not appear in helicopter PvE missions has been fixed. Now each base is covered by two SPAA or SAMs, depending on the BR bracket.
• The markers of enemy aircraft carriers on the tactical map now fall under the same display rules as usual targets: the enemy’s aircraft carrier only becomes visible on the map  when it’s spotted and disappears when contact with it is lost. Allied carriers are always visible on the map as before.
• A more advanced DIRCM simulation has been implemented for the following vehicles: Puma (all variants), AH-64E (all variants), AW249 Fenice, Ka-52, Mi-28NM, Mi-8AMTSh-VN, Z-10ME.
  • DIRCM is now available once the MAWS/DIRCM modification is unlocked. It replaces the previous MAWS-only modification on vehicles that had one.
  • The jammer turrets are now animated for: Puma (all variants), Ka-52.
  • Jammer beams are now visible in the RWR scope and in the sensor view in replays.
  • Jammer visual effects are now visible in night vision view, and for some jammers also in thermal view.
  • The system:
    • assigns a threat from the MAWS to the jammer pointing closest to it.
    • drops the threat if it veers off course or stops approaching.
  • Each jammer:
    • is limited to its own sectors.
    • can’t engage threats through the carrying vehicle itself.
    • can only actively engage one threat at a time. It may, however, still jam multiple threats if they are very close together.
    • has a limited slewing speed.
    • is damaged separately. Destroying one jammer will not disable the others.
    • has its own beam-width. Lamp-based DIRCM has a wider beam-width than laser-based DIRCM.

Graphical

• The system for tank accumulation of dirt (sand/snow) during prolonged movement has been improved: the underlying mechanism has been reworked, textures have been enhanced, and the visual appearance has been fine-tuned for different types of tanks.
• Following an explosion or a shell impact, the smoke no longer vanishes as a single cloud. Instead, it continues to rise from the blast site for some time, is carried off by the wind, and gradually dissipates.
• A complete overhaul of firing effects for all calibers has been carried out, from 12 mm tank machine guns to 460 mm battleship cannons. This includes new smoke, propellant gases, sparks, and heat haze (air distortion). Muzzle flashes are now sharper and more detailed, making every shot feel significantly more powerful. Firing naval guns now interacts with the water in a new way: a voluminous layer of foam forms beneath the muzzle blast, which is illuminated from within and dampens the surrounding waves.
• Smoke from the nozzle now trails strictly along the body of the rocket or jet aircraft. During maneuvers and launches at an angle, the trail appears physically accurate.
• When the engines of ground vehicles are started, and also at high RPM, flames shoot out from the exhaust pipes.
• Smoke and fire emanating from holes in an aircraft’s fuselage and wings have been reworked and now feature more detail.
• Impacts from high-explosive or incendiary bullets now produce a bright flash. This is visible on aircraft, ground vehicles, and the ground itself.
• The smoke trails left by bullets in the air have been reworked. They are now illuminated by the sun, shaped by wind and turbulence, and gradually dissipate over time. When viewed through a scope, the trail near the camera fades out smoothly, ensuring it does not obstruct the view.
• Shadows cast by streetlights, spotlights, and lamps have become softer and neater.

Sound

• Radar warning receiver (RWR), laser warning system (LWS) and missile approach warning system (MAWS) suites for aircraft, helicopters and ground vehicles have been updated with unique audio alerts. They either match the real-world systems or, where data is limited, reconstructed based on available descriptions and accounts. These unique sound sets can be enabled via a new option in the game’s audio settings (disabled by default).
• P-51 Mustang series aircraft now produce a distinctive whistling sound while in flight.
• Meteor series series aircraft now produce a distinctive wailing sound in flight.
• The Hawker Hunter series of aircraft have received the distinctive howling sound in flight.
• The F4U, F2G Corsair series of aircraft have received the distinctive whistling sound in flight.
• The voices of Greek ground vehicle crews have been recorded in Greek.
• The crews of Indonesian ground vehicles have received updated voiceovers. Numerous adjustments have been made, many based on player feedback.

Hey everyone! In addition to refinements in the modeling of directional infrared countermeasures (DIRCM), improvements to the CCRP interface, and the introduction of cluster bombs, the Eagle’s Shadow update will bring several further enhancements to aircraft. Let’s take a look!Aiming of MITL-capable munitionsThe game already features munitions with man-in-the-loop (MITL) capability for aircraft, and this functionality will be extended to helicopters in the upcoming update. However, despite the advantage these munitions offer, namely the ability to guide them without a direct line of sight between the launch platform and the target, they have historically suffered from a significant drawback. This is that the guidance system would lock onto a random point on the vehicle, and this specific point would remain remembered, even if the target was re-acquired.You can now adjust the impact point when engaging vehicles. It’s very simple: once you’ve locked onto a target, click the left mouse button, aim at the specific spot you want to hit on the enemy tank or vessel, and click again. That’s it! Your ammunition will now be directed to that exact location.Despite the fact ground vehicles don’t have MITL capability for balance reasons, the ability to more precisely select the impact point will affect ground vehicle ATGMs as well, for example Spike missiles. Now the target acquisition frame won’t select the target as a whole but a precise point that the missile will target so you can retarget the missile before launch choosing the optimal impact point on the target.Homing of certain infrared-guided missiles onto aircraft enginesPreviously, all air-to-air and surface-to-air missiles equipped with infrared seekers would guide toward the center of an aircraft model, regardless of the specific seeker technology used. In the Eagle’s Shadow update, we’ve refined their logic. Now, these types of missiles, with the exception of those using imaging infrared (IIR) seekers, pseudo-imaging seekers, or seekers with angular gating (i.e., missiles that perceive the entire aircraft as a single target), will no longer guide toward the center of the aircraft, but rather toward its hottest components, like the engines.That’s it for this dev blog. Be sure to stay tuned for more news on the Eagle’s Shadow major update!

Although aircraft first appeared in Norway as early as 1912, the country’s separate air force was not established until November 10th 1944. This was at a time when the King of Norway was in exile in Great Britain and Norwegian pilots were flying as part of the British Royal Air Force. Subsequently, Norway became one of the founding members of NATO, and its air force patrolled the border with the Soviet Union, utilizing American-made fighter jets.Get the “Emblem of the No. 330 squadron RNoAF” decal!When: From November 10th (12:00 GMT) until November 13th (12:00 GMT).Task: Earn 3,000 mission points in battles where you used Swedish aircraft at rank III or higher to receive the “Emblem of the No. 330 squadron RNoAF” decal!Please note: After finishing the task, you need to collect the reward manually.Additional details:

• You can complete the task in random battles, except for \ mode.
• Track your progress in the hangar by clicking Nickname → Achievements → Holidays → Norwegian Air Force Foundation Day.
• You can find the decal in the “Holidays” tab in the customization menu.

“Emblem of the No. 330 squadron RNoAF” decal

Hi everyone! Today we’re covering Germany’s huge battleship project. H-39 will be the new top rank ship in the German Bluewater fleet in the upcoming Eagle’s Shadow major update!H-39: A Battleship for Germany at Rank VIIAt a glance:

• Eight 406 mm guns!
• Limited anti-air protection
• Effective armor layout
• Eighteen 533 mm torpedoes

Introducing the H-39H-39 will be Germany’s biggest and strongest battleship, weighing in at over 63000 tons. She’s also the longest ship in the game, at around 277 meters! Despite the visual similarities she’s very different to Bismarck, so let’s have a look.Feature Spotlight: 406 mm gunsThe ship is equipped with eight 406 mm guns in four dual turrets, making it the largest caliber weapon available to Germany. The performance of the cannons is similar to the American 406 mm, found on the likes of South Dakota and North Carolina. As such, few enemy vessels will be able to withstand an accurate salvo from these guns, they are comfortably able to defeat the armor of enemy battleships within most combat ranges. The reload speed is slower than Bismarck however, at 2 shots per minute on a trained crew.Using the H-39 in BattleH-39 is a relatively comfortable battleship to use. Its external belt armor is slightly thinner than Bismarck, but its internal armor setup is stronger across the board, which gives H-39 better protection overall. The only weak area of protection is towards the front and rear of the ship. If front-on or angled slightly towards an enemy, shells will be able to bypass the thick internal protection and cut straight into the magazine, so make sure you don’t angle the front or rear of the ship too strongly towards an enemy.Your torpedoes can be a relatively successful weapon too, as they are fairly uncommon in the higher ranks of battleship combat. The launchers are positioned at the front of the ship however, which may require some careful angling to align correctly. If you need to change direction, consider firing off a set of torpedoes as you do so. It is generally not worth weakening your armor protection by aiming straight at enemy ships, so fire your torpedoes if the situation allows, rather than relying on them.The giant turrets of H-39 traverse relatively quickly for their size, making reacting to new threats convenient and fast. As long as the enemy does not have an angle into your rear or forward magazine, H-39 will be able to withstand a lot of incoming fire if you maintain a good distance. Also, keep in mind the relatively weak anti-air protection of the ship, and position around allies with stronger defenses.Developer Comment: H-39 is a very fitting top ship for Germany. The weakness of Bismarck could be considered to be the guns, which H-39 solves with room to spare. She may not be particularly agile or well defended from the air, but if she’s positioned effectively at long range there are few battleships she’ll struggle to engage, regarding both offense and defense. Stick with the team for protection from the air and stay at the longer ranges and she’ll treat you very well.Vehicle HistoryDesign work on what would become H-39 began in 1937, with an order to improve on Bismarck and match any potential rival's main battery. Hitler wanted the guns to be larger than any existing adversary, but this would push displacement of the ship past 80,000 long tons, a size and draft that German ports could not reasonably handle without major dredging. As a result a more manageable 406 mm battery was chosen, and battleship H was ordered on April 14th 1939.The keel was laid at Blohm & Voss in Hamburg on July 15th 1939. The work was slow going, H only had around 800 tons of steel in its keel, with the war in September 1939 suspending the work. The meager keel rested on the slipway until November 1941, the navy then ordered the keel to be scrapped, reusing the steel for other projects. Following the loss of Bismarck and bomb damage to Scharnhorst, the design continued on paper. These events lead to the proposal of thicker deck armor and larger 42 cm guns, among other various planned improvements. Direction shifted shortly after however, with most designers moving onto U-boats, which led to battleship work ceasing entirely in August 1942.That’s all for today, we hope you’re looking forward to giving this huge battleship a try in the next major update. It’s not far off now, stay tuned!Please note that vehicle specifications may be subject to revision and change before being added to the game.

“The situation is getting worse by the day. In the morning we were under heavy bombardment, and in the evening we got bitten by large rats in the trenches. We were ordered to go over top into no man’s land, where many of my friends were gunned down. I couldn’t believe my eyes. I have heard we lost 50 men in a mere few minutes. We are sacrificing so many for just a few feet of land, if that. The war has been raging for 4 years now, and today I saw the latest armored behemoth modifications roll forward and planes fly over and thought to myself: surely the end is in sight — I feel I am close to coming home to you now.” – letter from an Unknown Soldier, KIA, 1918.Welcome to The Great War in War Thunder! 

When: From November 11th until November 18th (11:00 GMT), play in “The Great War” mode and complete stages to keep First World War vehicles!

We’re happy to be rerunning The Great War event from November 11th, and this time you’ll be able to earn the Fokker D.VII and SPAD S.XIII fighters! Participate in The Great War battles, complete stages, keep First World War vehicles and more.About the eventThe year is 1918. The war between the Entente and Central Powers is raging on in its final year. Soldiers fight on, tanks have made their debut on the battlefield, and planes dogfight in the sky. You have been enlisted to fight for your country. Gear up, new conscript!This event takes you back to the brutal battlefields of the Western Front in Flanders during the First World War. Command the first tanks to have ever gone into combat and dogfight in the skies with aircraft, or immerse yourself by piloting a Zeppelin airship, capable of bombing enemy targets. An event like this wouldn’t be complete without AI infantry, who roam around the trenches and in no man’s land at the front line.Brief history of the First World WarThe First World War, also known as The Great War, was a conflict that lasted from July 28th, 1914 to November 11th, 1918 between the Entente and Central Powers. Known as one of, if not the bloodiest wars in history, the war was fought in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Pacific and more.Some of the main European battles happened in Belgium and France through trench warfare, which were some of the most gruesome places for a soldier to fight in. This war also saw the first combat use of tanks, in particular the British Mk I Male, during the Battle of the Somme. The first major use of aircraft in combat also happened during the First World War.The armistice was signed on November 11th, 1918 at the eleventh hour, marking the end of the war after nearly 5 years. Over 9 million soldiers had been killed.Play in the event & complete stages to keep some iconic First World War vehicles!You have the opportunity to complete stages and earn yourself some iconic First World War tanks, bomber and fighter aircraft. These are added to your tech tree after you obtain them, meaning you can keep and use them in regular battles, even after the event ends!This event features a special difficulty mode where the mobility of the tanks has been improved relative to their real characteristics. The tanks that can be obtained in this event will have their historical speed and maneuverability when using them in regular Ground Realistic Battles.

You can get mission points in the “The Great War” event using the Triple Entente and German Empire. Access the event through Events and Tournaments -> Historical Events -> The Great War.

RewardsThe Triple Entente and German Empire have seven stages each. One stage per side can be completed each day.Each stage for each side will be earned for 5,000 mission points and will unlock a new reward.

Stages change once a day at 11:00 GMT on November 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th and 17th.

Please note: If you already obtained all of last year’s First World War vehicles, you’ll receive one trophy per already-owned vehicle instead, with one of the following in each:

• 20-50% RP booster for 3-10 battles
• 20-50% SL booster for 3-10 battles
• 3-5 universal backups
• Premium account for 1 day
• A random ground vehicle camouflage (out of those that can currently be unlocked or purchased with Golden Eagles)

Triple EntenteObtainable vehicles:

• Mark V — an Event Vehicle Medium tank for Great Britain at Rank I
• St-Chamond — an Event Vehicle Medium tank for France at Rank I
• Garford — an Event Vehicle Light tank for the USSR at Rank I
• H.P.12 — an Event Vehicle Bomber for Great Britain at Rank I
• (NEW!) SPAD S.XIII — an Event Vehicle Fighter for France at Rank I

 Rewards are given when you complete a specific number of stages:

• For 1 Stage: Random Triple Entente vehicle from the list
• For 2 Stages: one of the decal rewards
• For 3 Stages: Random Triple Entente vehicle from the list
• For 4 Stages: Random Triple Entente vehicle from the list
• For 5 Stages: one of the decal rewards
• For 6 Stages: Random Triple Entente vehicle from the list
• For 7 Stages: the SPAD S.XIII fighter plane

“Yette” decal“Excellent” decalGerman EmpireObtainable vehicles:

• A7V — an Event Vehicle Medium tank for Germany at Rank I
• Beutepanzer Mk.IV — an Event Vehicle Medium tank for Germany at Rank I
• Garford-Beute — an Event Vehicle Light tank for Germany at Rank I
• (NEW!) Fokker D.VII — an Event Vehicle Fighter for Germany at Rank I

 Rewards are given when you complete a specific number of stages:

• For 1 Stage: one of the decal rewards
• For 2 Stages: Random German Empire vehicle from the list
• For 3 Stages: Random German Empire vehicle from the list
• For 4 Stages: one of the decal rewards
• For 5 Stages: Random German Empire vehicle from the list
• For 6 Stages: “Trench fighter” title
• For 7 Stages: the Fokker D.VII fighter plane

“Smiling skull” decal“Tanker’s badge of the German Empire” decal

• You can track the progress of the task by clicking on your nickname and selecting the menu Achievements → “The Great War”.
• Each stage can be purchased for 599 Golden Eagles and unlocks the corresponding reward.
• Please note: After finishing a stage, you need to collect the reward manually. To do this, click on your nickname, Achievements → “The Great War” and click the “Get Reward” button.
• You cannot receive the same vehicle twice.
• Vehicles are immediately activated onto your account.

Triple Entente vs German EmpireThis event pits two of the main sides of the First World War against each other: the Triple Entente consisting of Great Britain, France and Russia against the German Empire.Triple Entente Queue up as the Triple Entente in this event to use the following vehicles:Mark V (Great Britain)Garford (Russia)The British Mark V (Male) tank was first introduced in 1918. This modification featured a more powerful Ricardo engine, a new transmission, a better steering system and two 6-pounder guns on the side of the hull. 400 of this variant were produced, where it served in several battles, including the Battle of Amiens. This tank has up to 12-16 mm of armor, two 5.7 cm (6-pounder) guns with one on each side of the hull, four machine guns and a top speed of around 7 km/h.The Russian Garford-Putilov armored car was transformed from the American Garford truck. It saw combat use against the Germans on the Eastern Front from 1916 till the end of the war. Only 48 were built. This armored car has 3-6.5 mm armor, one 76 mm gun at the back of the vehicle, and a top speed of around 18 km/h.St-Chamond (France)H.P.12 (Great Britain)The French Saint-Chamond was first produced in 1917. It first saw combat in May 1917 during the attack on Laffaux plateau. This tank had a 75 mm gun directly at the front and was one of France’s first tanks to see combat during the war, with around 400 built. This tank has 5-17 mm of armor, one 7.5 cm (75 mm) gun at the front of the hull, four machine guns and a top speed of around 12 km/h.The British Handley Page O/400 (H.P.12) bomber entered service with Great Britain in 1917. This aircraft featured a large payload and could carry the largest bombs in the RAF’s inventory, up to 1,650 lb. During World War I, these bombers operated as part of the naval and army aviation on the Western Front. In addition to Great Britain, H.P.12 bombers were also produced under license in the United States. This bomber features three seats, is all-wood, has two engines and a total payload of up to 1,800 lb. The aircraft’s defensive armament consists of five 7.7 mm Vickers machine guns.SPAD S.XIII (France) NEW! Can now be obtained in this event.The French SPAD S.XIII was a further development of the S.VII model. Due to its successful design and high performance, it was widely used not only by France but also by Great Britain, the USA and Italy. The aircraft took to the skies on April 4th 1917 and remained in service in France until 1923. This biplane fighter has a wooden propeller, two British Vickers 7.7 mm machine guns and a top speed of over 200 km/h.German EmpireQueue up as the German Empire in this event to use the following vehicles:A7V (Germany)Beutepanzer Mk.IV (Germany)Garford-Beute (Germany)The German A7V tank was first produced in 1918. The A7V first saw combat in April 1918 at Villers-Bretonneux. Only 22 were built and just one survives to this day, nicknamed “Mephisto” at the Queensland Museum in Brisbane, Australia. This tank features 15-30 mm of armor, one 5.7 cm cannon at the front, six machine guns and a top speed of around 12 km/h.The British Mk.IV tank was captured by the Germans, repainted with German camouflage and markings that included the Iron Cross, and went back into combat. Germany designated captured tanks as “Beutepanzer” (“captured tank”). Did you know? The Germans had more trophy tanks in service than their own domestic design! This tank is almost identical to the British one, except the speed is slower, and the guns are the same from the ones from the A7V.A limited number, around five, Russian Garford-Putilov’s were captured by the Germans and the MGs were changed. The Germans designated captured tanks as “Beutepanzer” (“captured tank”). This tank has identical weaponry (except the MGs), armor and speed as the Russian one.Fokker D.VII (Germany)NEW! Can now be obtained in this event.The German Fokker D.VII is considered one of the best German fighters of the First World War. This aircraft had a metal frame, allowing it to withstand higher overloads in flight. It began entering service with the Imperial German Air Force in 1918 and more than 3,000 were produced before the end of the war. In addition to Germany, the Fokker D.VII was later in service with many countries, including Belgium, the Netherlands, the USSR and USA. This biplane features a mixed construction, characterized by high resistance to overloads and allowing for good maneuverability. The aircraft’s armament is standard, featuring a pair of rifle-caliber machine guns synchronized with the engine.Take control of a Zeppelin!Zeppelins were used by Germany during the First World War. Inflated with hydrogen gas, they were mainly used as reconnaissance but were also equipped with bombs for use against military targets and cities in France and Britain.Used by the German Empire in the event, you can use this flying behemoth and drop 14 x 300 kg SC AG bombs on enemies and fire with 7.92 mm machine guns. Lead from a zeppelin!Battle it out in FlandersFlanders is an area of Belgium where some of the bloodiest battles of the First World War took place. Featuring an intense layout of trenches, bunkers, barbed wire, gun entrenchments and a neutral area known as no man’s land, the Triple Entente and German Empire will pit against each other on this barren landscape. What was once peaceful fields has now turned into a bloody battle for a mere few yards of land. “In Flanders Fields, the poppies blow” - John McCraeAI infantry in the trenchesInfantry played a major role during the First World War. Trenches were muddy and wet, rats roamed around and “trench foot” was rampant. Most soldiers had no choice but to go over the top of the trenches into no man’s land on first command, to then get gunned down or shelled with little to no gain for their side. “The most appalling conditions met the men as they endeavoured to cross No Man’s Land.” – Extract from The Wipers Times, Third Wipers 1917 AI infantry roam the trenches and are a target while in your tank and plane. The British and German soldiers wear authentic uniforms from the time period and also charge into no man’s land. They can fire back at you and throw grenades, so watch out! Taking out one AI infantry will yield 5 mission points, up to a maximum of 500 mission points per battle (100 soldiers), helping to contribute to stage tasks. Good luck out there, new conscript!

We’re updating rendering! This will bring interesting new effects to the game, some of which we’ll discuss today.Snow, dirt and dust on tanksSnow, dirt and dust on tanksWar Thunder has long had a system that lets ground vehicles get dirty in battle. Tracks kick up dust, dirt and snow, fires leave soot, and crossing a river washes the grime away. But while the physics of how dirt spreads was pretty good, it was not always accurate. Snow on sloped surfaces looked like a milky film, dust spread like a flat beige wash, and different tanks side by side could have completely different cover because of different armor angles, while grain size varied from part to part. In the Eagle’s Shadow major update, we’ve rebuilt the dirt system from scratch.Now, settled snow on armor has a 3D texture; it accumulates and gets thicker during snowfall in solid patches with color instead of just painting over the surface. Dust now has a grainy texture, and mud has a bumpy texture. Previously, dust and mud only settled near the tracks. Light dust now flies farther and settles higher on the hull, while heavy mud stays low. Furthermore, these coatings respond to the vehicle’s actual geometry: rivets, welds, hatch rims and gaps. Snow and dirt accumulate primarily in crevices and shaded corners. Grain size is now almost uniform across all parts and all tanks, so the dirt looks natural on any vehicle. We’ve also implemented a snow melting mechanic! A running engine gradually thaws the snow on the engine deck, radiator grilles, and exhaust pipes, while firing the main gun heats the barrel, causing any snow on it to melt away.It is important to note that the most expensive operations are performed once at map load. The new dirt system will work on all graphics presets where it was previously available.Humidity model and new wing vapor effectsEach weather preset in battle now has a new variable called humidity data. The humidity model, together with data on speed, altitude and angle of attack, now determines the nature and intensity of vapor effects in flight. On a dry clear day you will hardly see any vapor, but under a low overcast or over the sea it becomes three times stronger!To the effects of the transonic cone and LERX vortices, the update adds perhaps the most spectacular effect: wing vapor sheets that arise from a local drop in pressure and temperature. The sheet appears at the critical angle of attack, grows with G and speed, fades toward the trailing edge and thins out at altitude where the air is dry and cold. For variable-sweep aircraft, the vapor sheet turns with the wing, and the vortices follow the changing sweep.The visuals of air combat have been greatly enhanced and sharp maneuvers feel new. The faster you are and the higher the air humidity, the more vapor you see!Glints and glow on waterPreviously, only the sun could sparkle on the water; light from ship salvos, fires and explosions were not reflected. The water stayed dark even if a searchlight was shining nearby or a wrecked cruiser was blazing on fire. This has now been fixed.Every light source now has its own reflection. Muzzle flashes, fires, and lamps are now reflected on the water using the same model as the sun, refracting on waves and ripples. The reflection of a burning ship will tell you where she is before you make out the hull. At night, light not only reflects off the water but also spreads beneath it, illuminating the water volume from within.The new look of naval combat at night or dusk depends on water quality settings. Glints and glow will be enabled on High or Ultra settings; on Medium and Low the rendering remains as before.Removed stripes at altitude and godrays are backBefore / AfterAviation in the game is getting faster and higher, but the old renderer was not designed for such high altitudes. In flights at high altitude, where the entire screen is filled with sky, sea and hazy mist, dark banding could be noticed in the distance. The bands were formed due to the peculiarities of light passing through fog in the old render model. A quick fix to hide the bands was to make the fog blur more intense at high altitude. Well, the bands gone, but so did the crepuscular rays, or godrays: sun shafts passing through clouds, one of the most beautiful sky effects in the game.In the new renderer version, we decided to deal with the problem properly. Fog and haze are now rendered smoothly and correctly at all altitudes and distances. The horizon line has become sharp, haze over the sea has appeared when looking from high altitude, and the crepuscular rays have returned. The godrays effect will once again be encountered in the game!Goodbye to repeating clouds!Before / AfterHere’s another piece of good news about the sky. In the previous renderer version there was a problem with repeating cloud clusters, which could sometimes be seen in cloudy weather when flying at high altitudes. The cause was the algorithm of cloud formation — the renderer built them from a 3D noise texture laid over the weather map. This texture stretched across the entire sky and the arrangement of bumps and hollows repeated at regular intervals, creating a wallpaper-like pattern. It looked unnatural.In the Eagle’s Shadow update, every patch of sky gets its own copy of the cloud shape with random offset and rotation, seamlessly blended with its neighbors. The cloud pattern no longer repeats, the sky looks natural on all graphics settings on all platforms, and it does not require additional system resources. Fly high to the sky!That’s all for now. Soon we will tell you more about the updated War Thunder renderer itself, which will appear in the game with the Eagle's Shadow update. Be back soon! 

Welcome to the 249th War Thunder Steam Screenshot Competition!

We loved seeing your screenshots from last week! This week we return to a familiar theme of water. Grab your favorite vehicle and a friend, and take a screenshot anywhere of your choice! You can capture battles on the ocean or amphibious sneak-attacks, anything is fine as long as your screenshot has a body of water. The three most popular and three selected by us will get 300 GE. See the winners down below!

Let’s begin the 249th edition of our competition!

Create a stunning screenshot and submit it on the War Thunder Steam Community Hub with the tag #WTscreen249. You have time until the 13th of November to submit your screenshot.

After that date, 6 winners will be selected (3 of which will be the highest rated by the community and 3 selected by our judges), each of which receive a reward of 300GE.

How to Participate!

Terms:

• Your screenshot must include water and a player vehicle.
  
• You must add the #WTscreen249 tag (title cannot have any other text in it).
  
• Artists may only win by popular vote once per four screenshot competitions.
  
• Screenshots need to be compliant with the War Thunder rules.
  
• You need to be the author of the screenshot.
  
• Screenshot needs to be new. You cannot use those which have previously been published or used in other competitions.
  
• We will only accept raw screenshots from the game. You cannot use any editing software nor any other visual enhancements (like Nvidia Ansel filters).
  
• You can use filters and settings built into War Thunder.
  
• You can use the replay functionality built into War Thunder.
  
• Rewards will be delivered to the author's account within 14 working days.
  

And now, time for the winners of the competition’s 248th edition – Beyond Repair!

Winners selected via community votes:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3832357834
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3830698632
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3832938579

Winners selected by our judges:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3832344726
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3832104590
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3831662523

Each winner will get 300GE! Congratulations and see you next week!

Robert Lusser, who had worked alongside Willy Messerschmitt on the legendary Bf 109, later moved to the Heinkel design bureau, where he contributed to the development of the early jet-powered He 280 and the He 219 night fighter. The latter made its maiden flight on November 6th 1942. This was the final aircraft Lusser worked on. The He 219 failed to gain favor with the Reich Aviation Ministry and was produced in only limited numbers, with a total of just 268 units built.The He 219 A-7 is temporarily available to purchase and has a 30% discount for 2,086 Golden Eagles!

When: From November 6th (11:00 GMT) until November 10th (11:00 GMT).Where: Germany > Aviation > Premium vehicles.

 

• The He 219 A-7 can only be purchased during this promotion.

 About this aircraft

• The He 219 A-7 (rank IV) is a heavy fighter capable of incinerating its opponents with four 30 mm and two 20 mm cannons. While it lacks decent maneuverability, it climbs rapidly, boasts high survivability, and features a radar, which is certainly a rarity for its time!

Up to 12 active radar-homing missiles, up to 22 precision-guided bombs, new engines, an increased supply of countermeasures, and the most advanced air-to-surface weaponry — this is the F-15EX, the most sophisticated aircraft in its series!F-15EX and F-15IA Ra’am: Jet Fighters for the USA and Israel at Rank IXAt a glance:

• Up to 12 active radar-homing (ARH) missiles, including the AIM-120D
• Anti-radiation and anti-ship missiles
• Advanced air-to-surface arsenal, including the SLAM-ER
• Up to 22 precision-guided munitions (PGMs) per sortie!
• Superb flight performance

Introducing the F-15EX and F-15IA Ra’amBoth the USA and Israel will receive the F-15EX and F-15IA respectively, coming in with a wide range of weaponry and excellent flight performance. Let’s take a closer look at what you can expect!Using the F-15EX and F-15IA Ra’am in BattleThe F-15EX will represent the pinnacle of the Eagle series. It inherits the best traits of its predecessors, capable of carrying up to 12 air-to-air missiles equipped with active radar homing seekers or up to 22 guided bombs in a sortie. The aircraft features some of the most advanced electronics in War Thunder, including an AESA radar, a helmet-mounted display (HMD) targeting system, a radar warning receiver (RWR), and a voice warning system. Its new, more powerful engines deliver exceptional speed and flight characteristics, even while carrying a heavy payload.Feature Spotlight: The Best WeaponryInheriting the excellent and versatile weapons arsenal of the earlier two-seat F-15E variant, the F-15EX and F-15IA Ra’am also introduce several significant new capabilities. These include the AIM-120D, an active radar-homing missile featuring satellite-assisted guidance, SLAM-ER missiles with television-command guidance, plus various anti-ship and anti-radiation missiles. The Israeli version will also be equipped with SPICE precision-guided munitions.Developer comment: The F-15EX will be the most heavily armed fighter in the game and will overall be one of the best fourth-generation fighters. It represents an evolution of the F-15E concept, yet surpasses it in a number of key aspects. The Israeli variant differs slightly in terms of available air-to-ground weaponry, however in air-to-air combat, both versions of the F-15 are identical.Vehicle HistoryThe U.S. Air Force had planned to extend the service life of 179 F-15C/D aircraft into the 2030s; however, by the mid-2010s, the fleet had become obsolete, and its continued operation was no longer economically viable. Meanwhile, Boeing was developing an upgraded version of the F-15E for the export market. This effort resulted in the “F-15 Advanced Eagle”, which was subsequently refined to meet the specific requirements of various international operators. In 2018, the U.S. Air Force and Boeing began discussions on a modernization program to replace the F-15C/D fleet, drawing upon the design of the F-15QA, a variant developed for Qatar. These discussions led to the creation of the two-seat F-15EX.The F-15EX features an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, an updated airframe with a service life of 20,000 hours, a modernized cockpit, and a digital fly-by-wire flight control system. The F-15EX made its maiden flight on February 2nd 2021. In June 2024, the 142nd Wing of the Air National Guard in Oregon received its first aircraft. The F-15EX is intended to replace the aging F-15C/D models in operation, it has begun entering service with operational units and is currently part of the United States Air Force inventory.That’s all for today! The F-15EX and F-15IA Ra’am are set to become some of the best jets in the game, thanks to their incredible ordnance options and flight characteristics. Until then keep an eye out for more devblogs and we’ll see you soon!Please note that vehicle specifications may be subject to revision and change before being added to the game.

Today we’re showing you a selection of the most interesting visual effects coming in the Eagle’s Shadow major update!Muzzle FlashesLet’s start with muzzle flashes. We’ve completely reworked them for tank and naval guns, using original photos and videos as a reference. The update covers all calibers, from 12.7 mm machine guns to 460 mm battleship guns. Shots now look even more realistic, as the flash, shape and intensity are matched to each class of gun. Smoke and gas from the shot also rush after the fired projectile, which is how it works in real life and adds weight and direction to the shot. The flash is now brighter and sharper, with air distortion effects. When tank guns fire, the shock wave lifts dynamically, settling dust into the air. For ships, we’ve added new effects of interaction with water. When a shot is fired, foam, ripples and a dust wave raised by the muzzle blast appear on the water surface.Ground ImpactsWe’ve also improved dust effects when large shells hit and bombs fall on ground surfaces. A dust cloud now rises at the impact point, slowly settles and spreads with the wind. This additional dust effect gives a better sense of a heavy shell striking the ground in ground vehicle battles. The dust cloud no longer disappears instantly, instead it dissipates for a long time and swirls in turbulence.Smoke tracers from bullets and shellsRemember what the trails from bullets and autocannon shells look like in action movies and WWII gun camera footage? In the Eagle’s Shadow update, we’ve worked on the smoke trails from all bullets and shells in the game. If previously smoke trails looked like flat ribbons, now smoke is perceived as a true volumetric trail: it twists in turbulence, drifts with the wind, and looks inhomogeneously volumetric depending on the viewing angle. You can now read machine gun bursts in greater detail which is especially important in dogfights, where often only by tracers can you determine where fire is coming from.The trail starts thin at the bullet or shell and widens over time, so the smoke disperses and thins out like real smoke. In the first meters from the muzzle, the trail fades smoothly so that it doesn’t obstruct the view. On ricochet, the old smoke trail breaks off, and a new one begins at the point of impact.These changes apply to all bullet and shell types with tracers, from rifle-caliber machine gun bullets to autocannons, tank and naval guns in calibers from 5 up to 460 mm. For systems that do not support the new trails, the familiar sprite trails remain, with the same colors and lengths. Flame ExhaustThe Eagle’s Shadow major update introduces a new visual mechanic: flame exhaust for ground vehicles with gasoline and carburetor engines. From time to time, a short flame bursts from the exhausts with a sound familiar to anyone who has ever heard a forced engine running at low RPM!Flame from the exhaust is configured individually for each tank. For some vehicles it is modest and almost unnoticeable, whereas for other vehicles it shows voluminous flames. The flame exhaust effect works under several conditions. First, when the engine starts at the beginning of a battle or after it is shut down. Fire from the exhaust also appears after repairing a tank’s engine on the battlefield. In addition, with some probability, flame exhaust occurs when a tank has been static for a while and starts moving again. Finally, exhaust fire may appear if the vehicle has run into something and you keep pressing the gas but barely move.Exhaust fire works differently when the engine is damaged. If the ignition is broken but the vehicle can still move, exhaust flames occur on their own, both while moving and while static with the engine running. As soon as the engine is completely disabled and the tank can no longer move, the flame exhaust stops and only smoke remains.Brake LightsAnother small but important detail for the atmosphere of the game is brake lights on ground vehicles. In the Eagle’s Shadow update, we’re beginning to add working brake lights for ground vehicles that have these lights in real life. The brake light activates during sharp braking or a change of direction.Bullet Hits on AircraftFor aircraft, we’ve reworked the effect of bullets and fragments hitting the fuselage and wing panels, where a fire or smoke trail appears at the puncture point. We fixed the positioning of this effect, as previously it could appear slightly behind or even in front of the hit point. Fire and smoke effects have been remade, fire now looks more natural and smoke trails in a thin stream, swirling in turbulence.Nozzle SmokeWe got rid of the misalignment between the smoke trail from the nozzles of missiles and jet aircraft and the flame effect, which was previously noticeable during sharp maneuvering. Smoke now leaves the nozzle strictly along the body of the aircraft and missile; in air combat it is easier to read and track its path.Flashes from Incendiary and HE ShellsIn Second World War gun camera footage, bright white flashes at the impact points of incendiary and high-explosive bullets and shells are clearly visible. These flashes are now in our game too. The effect is added for bullets and shells of ground vehicles and aircraft. When an incendiary or HE shell detonates, a bright flash forms at the impact point.

Today we’re taking a look at the British Fulmar fighter! This classic aircraft will be joining the research tree in the Eagle’s Shadow major update.Fulmar Mk.II: A Naval Fighter for Britain at Rank IAt a glance:

• Eight 7.7 mm machineguns
• Light bomb load
• Low agility
• 8000 rounds of ammunition!

Introducing the Fulmar Mk.IIWe’re happy to say hello to a new British fighter! Despite having a fair few aircraft in Rank I, Britain lacked a researchable monoplane fighter, until now. The Fulmar will bring some strong firepower and endurance to the lower ranks, let’s have a look!Feature Spotlight: 8000 RoundsThe Fulmar Mk.II features the largest base ammo count of any fighter in the game, which gives it a fair amount of endurance in the air. Its eight machine guns do eat up this ammo supply quickly, but it allows you to engage a large number of aircraft and light ground targets in a single flyout. As long as you do not take too much damage, the Fulmar will be able to stay active in the air for the entire match, likely with more than enough ammo to spare.Using the Fulmar Mk.II in battleThe formidable ammo count of the Fulmar gives it a lot of potential, but does increase its overall weight. The Fulmar can hold its own in a fight against early monoplanes, but is not remarkably agile. It has a slow roll and will struggle to shake many early aircraft off of its tail. Positioning is key here. Overall it is best to avoid being the first to engage, aim to gain some altitude and join the fight after the first engagements have begun. You can then use your impressive dive speed to catch enemies unaware, and blast them with a heap of machine gun fire.The Fulmar is one of the most heavily armed aircraft at the rank, and only a small burst will be able to bring down many of the usually fragile fighters encountered around the Battle Rating. Pick your one-on-one fights well, the Fulmar has enough energy for a few good turns before its performance starts to stagger, so avoid sustained engagements where you can, and focus on supporting the team. The Fulmar also has some use in combined battles, able to equip one 500 lb or a couple of 250 lb bombs that drop separately. With an accurate hit these can easily disable light tanks, and the machine guns will make quick work of anything with exposed crew.Developer comment: While War Thunder steadily moves in a modern direction, we can’t forget our roots! Classic Second World War additions like this are still a key part of the game, and we’re always happy to include them, even at this stage. To ensure that we have a steady supply of interesting historic vehicles to add we avoid adding too many all at once, but rest assured we know many of you want to see more vehicles like this one, and we have many of them in our longer term plans.Vehicle HistoryWhen the Royal Navy regained control of the Fleet Air Arm in 1937, it was clear the fighter force it inherited was in desperate need of modernization, and work began on a new design. The Admiralty wanted this new fighter to have a second crew member who could handle navigation and observation, which would let the pilot focus more on their flight. With little time to develop a completely new aircraft, Fairey put forward an idea: adapt its P.4/34 light-bomber prototype into a carrier-based fighter. Their second prototype would become the test bed for the new aircraft, and was steadily refined for its new role, receiving the name Fulmar.The resulting Fulmar Mk.I was a two-seat all-metal monoplane powered by a Rolls-Royce Merlin VIII engine and armed with eight 7.7 mm machine guns. The first production fighters flew on January 4th 1940. Fairey later developed the Fulmar Mk.II, which introduced the more powerful 1,300 HP Merlin 30 engine. This improvement did increase the previously lacking rate of climb, but did not meaningfully improve the top speed overall.The Fulmar entered service with No. 806 Naval Air Squadron in June 1940, sailing aboard HMS Illustrious. They protected convoys in Malta, fought over Crete, and even helped to shadow Bismarck. Its service later extended to East Africa, and while it was slower and less agile than most Axis aircraft, the Fulmar provided much needed endurance and reconnaissance to the fleet. It retired from the day-fighter role in 1942, but received a new lease of life in the night-fighter role. The Fulmar NF Mk.II flew from escort carriers with relative success, with their front-line service ending in February 1945.That’s all for today! You can look forward to giving the Fulmar Mk.II a try in the next major update. Until then keep an eye out for more devblogs and we’ll see you soon!Please note that vehicle specifications may be subject to revision and change before being added to the game.

The Imperator Nikolai I is a new battleship for the USSR/Russian navy, featuring a linear turret arrangement, powerful guns, and excellent protection!Imperator Nikolai I: A Battleship for the USSR at rank VAt a glance:

• Twelve 305 mm guns in turrets arranged on the centerline
• Efficient armor layout
• Relatively low silhouette
• Numerous secondary-battery guns
• Weak anti-aircraft armament

Introducing the Imperator Nikolai I!Today we’re taking a look at Imperator Nikolai I, which continues the concept of the formidable battleship Imperatritsa Mariya!Using the Imperator Nikolai I in BattleThe battleship Imperator Nikolai I mounts twelve 305 mm guns in four turrets arranged in a line along the deck’s centerline; these guns boast an impressive rate of fire, with a skilled crew capable of firing three salvos per minute. An enlarged, reinforced main armor belt provides superior protection compared to the Imperatrista Mariya class. The ship also features a relatively low profile, further enhancing its survivability. While not the fastest vessel and lacking rapid-fire anti-aircraft artillery, the Imperator Nikolai I is a pivotal force in any engagement, being tough, resilient, and a threat to both cruisers and early-generation battleships alike! Feature Spotlight: ResilienceOne of the key advantages of the Imperatritsa Mariya class is its high survivability. The new Imperator Nikolai I continues and reinforces this proud tradition. The battleship was designed with superior protection compared to Mariya: the armor belt is both wider and thicker, while the low superstructure minimizes the risk of accidental hits from overshooting enemy salvos. Additionally, the slightly larger crew provides more effective damage-control efforts, such as plugging leaks and fighting fires over longer periods.Developer comment:  The Imperator Nikolai I can be described as an Imperatritsa Mariya taken to the max. She boasts the same 305 mm guns featuring excellent fire rate and a single-level turret layout, along with a secondary battery of twenty 130 mm guns (ten per side) and that signature low profile. While the ship is effective against any cruiser at any combat range, engaging dreadnoughts and battleships reliably requires closing the distance, which is precisely where the Imperator’s improved armor comes in handy. The ship is easily capable of dealing with stronger cannons, and facing a large number of enemy battleships will be much more manageable. There’s still plenty of fight left in her! Vehicle HistoryThe design for the battleship Imperator Nikolai I was based on the Imperatritsa Ekaterina II ship. The Nikolaev Works and Shipyards Company laid down Imperatritsa Mariya on June 9th 1914, under the name Ioann Grozny. On July 2nd 1915, the battleship was formally enrolled in the Black Sea Fleet as Imperator Nikolai I. The ship was launched on October 5th, 1916, and moored at the fitting-out quay. Following the launch, work slowed due to a lack of finished machinery. As of January 1st 1917, the hull was 77.5% complete; 26.5% of the armor had been manufactured, and 16.5% had been installed. Economic and political conditions hindered further work, with suppliers failing to meet delivery schedules. On October 24th 1917, due to its low state of completion, construction was halted and the ship was laid up. After the Civil War, the fleet command attempted to include the ship’s completion in the first Soviet shipbuilding program, but the project was not pursued. On April 11th 1927, the ship was sold for scrap.The Imperator Nikolai I is coming to the game and will certainly be a strong contender at its rank. See you in the next blog! Please note that vehicle specifications may be subject to revision and change before being added to the game.

Every year on November 4th, Italy celebrates National Unity and Armed Forces Day. The date marks the surrender of Austria-Hungary in the First World War, which allowed Italy to incorporate Trento and Trieste, thereby completing its unification. This holiday has been celebrated since 1919, although it has not been a public holiday since 1977.The P40 “G.C. Leoncello” and M43 “G.C. Leoncello” are temporarily available for purchase with a 50% discount for 575 and 650 Golden Eagles respectively!

When: From November 4th (11:00 GMT) until November 7th (11:00 GMT).Where: Italy > Army > Premium Vehicles.

About these tanks

• The P40 “G.C. Leoncello” (rank II) was produced in a limited run of approximately 100 units. This medium tank featured robust, sloped armor designed to increase the likelihood of enemy shells ricocheting off. Its HEAT and armor-piercing (capped) rounds offer respectable penetration, and the tank is also equipped with a coaxial 8 mm machine gun and smoke grenades.

• The M43 “G.C.Leoncello” (rank III) is another rare vehicle, however it was a real menace to Shermans in the Italian campaign. Its HEAT shells can penetrate the frontal armor of most opponents, and the self-propelled gun itself is quite compact. Keep it hidden from enemy eyes and don’t hesitate to deploy a smoke screen if you’re spotted!

Open the “National Unity Day and the Italian Armed Forces” trophy!

When: From November 4th (11:00 GMT) until November 7th (11:00 GMT).Task: Earn 3,000 mission points in battles where you used Italian vehicles at rank III or higher to receive the “Italian National Unity and Armed Forces Day” trophy!

Inside this trophy, you’ll receive one of four decals that were previously available for this holiday:“Italy's National Unity and Armed Forces Day” decal“The Heart of Italy” decal“Bersaglieri Cockade” decal“Italian Unity” decalThe decals can be found in the Holidays section under vehicle customization.If you already have all four decals, you’ll receive a trophy and get one of the following when opening it:

• 20-50% Research Point booster for 3-10 battles
• 20-50% Silver Lion booster for 3-10 battles
• 3-5 universal backups
• 1 day of Premium account

Please note: After finishing the task, you need to collect the reward manually.Additional details:

• You can complete the task in random battles, except for \ mode.
• Track your progress in the hangar by clicking Nickname → Achievements → Holidays → Italy’s National Unity and Armed Forces Day.

The South African Olifant Optimering tank and a pre-production variant of the Gripen are now available as pre-order packs! Today we’ll be telling you a bit more about them.Olifant Mk.1B OptimeringPre-order - Olifant Mk.1B Optimering PackTo get to the Gaijin Store through Steam, go to the in-game hangar > Shop > Online Store.This pack includes:

• Olifant Mk.1B Optimering (Rank VI, Great Britain)
• Premium account for 15 days
• 2000 Golden Eagles
• Pre-order bonus: unique "War Elephant” title
• Pre-order bonus: unique "War Elephant” decal

59.99Olifant Mk.1B Optimering: A Premium (Pre-order) MBT for Great Britain at Rank VIAt a glance:

• New turret
• DM63 APFSDS
• Blow-out panels
• Thermal imager

The South African Olifant Mk.1B Optimering features a unique turret with enhanced frontal protection, plus blowout panels designed to protect the crew in the event of an ammunition detonation. The Olifant Optimering well-balanced tank, offering solid mobility and the same 105 mm gun found on the Olifant Mk.2 that can fire effective DM63 APFSDS rounds.As the Olifant is a further evolution of the Centurion platform, it has inherited the primary vulnerabilities of its distant ancestor. Namely, a cramped crew layout and susceptibility to fire from the side. Therefore, make sure to have a clear understanding of the tactical situation, as this is key to the Olifant Optimering’s survival in combat.JAS39-5Pre-order - JAS39-5 PackTo get to the Gaijin Store through Steam, go to the in-game hangar > Shop > Online Store.This pack includes:

• JAS39-5 (Rank VIII, Sweden)
• Premium account for 30 days
• 3000 Golden Eagles
• Pre-order bonus: unique "The Smart Fighter” title
• Pre-order bonus: unique "Royal Griffin” decal

79.99JAS39-5: A Premium (Pre-order) Jet Fighter for Sweden at Rank VIIIAt a glance:

• High speed and excellent maneuverability
• Active radar-homing (ARH) missiles and short-range air-to-air missiles
• External pylons equipped with countermeasures
• Large arsenal of air-to-surface guided weapons

The JAS39-5 is a pre-production variant of the Swedish Gripen multirole jet fighter. A signature feature of this series is its high speed and prominent canards, which ensure excellent maneuverability and responsive handling at all speeds.In terms of its armament, the JAS39-5 is exceptionally versatile and can be easily configured for both air-to-air combat and ground-attack missions. In air engagements, the Gripen can initiate combat at long ranges using RB 99 missiles equipped with active radar homing seekers; for medium-range engagements, it employs missiles with semi-active radar homing seekers; and for close-range dogfights, it utilizes all-aspect infrared-homing missiles. For ground-attack missions, it can deploy laser-guided bombs, air-to-surface missiles with television-guidance seekers, and unguided munitions. Another notable feature of this series is the availability of external pods containing additional countermeasures, which can be mounted on the underwing hardpoints alongside air-to-air missiles.Please note that vehicle specifications may be subject to revision and change before being added to the game.

The most advanced upscaling and frame-generation technology with neural rendering is arriving in War Thunder, and it’s a game-changer.War Thunder has a long history with NVIDIA technologies. Since the New Power update and the move to Dagor Engine 6.0, DLSS 2.0 has boosted performance and image quality on RTX graphics cards. Dagor was built with modern upscaling and ray tracing in mind, and now it’s ready for the next leap forward.Powered by 3D-Guided Neural Rendering, DLSS 5 uses a specialized AI model to analyze the rendered frame together with color, motion vectors, and depth information. The result is real-time enhancement of lighting, material properties, and shading for a more photo realistic image, all while preserving the original 3D scene and the developer’s artistic intent.DLSS 5 support with 3D-Guided Neural Rendering is coming in the Eagle’s Shadow major update. On GeForce RTX 50 Series graphics cards and RTX Spark devices, it unlocks the full potential of the engine, including path tracing and other ray-traced effects, and delivers exceptionally high frame rates even in the most demanding scenes. DLSS 5 will be enabled for RTX devices in the update.DLSS 5 delivers a visible jump in visual quality: deeper, more realistic lighting; richer atmosphere in overcast weather and rain; more convincing wet surfaces; and subtler material detail. Get ready for the Eagle’s Shadow update!

The Su-15TM is the USSR’s most widely produced jet interceptor, coming to the game in the next major update!Su-15TM: A Jet Fighter for the Soviet Union at Rank VIAt a glance:

• High speed and rate of climb
• New R-98MR and R-98MT missiles
• Unguided ground-attack weaponry
• Good maneuverability
• No flares/chaff

Introducing the Su-15TM!Hey everyone! Today we’re taking a look at the Su-15TM, which is a high-altitude interceptor with superb flight characteristics, speeds of up to Mach 2, and new air-to-air missiles. Let’s get acquainted!Using the Su-15TM in BattleThe Su-15TM is set to become one of the best interceptors at its rank. Firstly, the aircraft boasts excellent climb rate and a top speed exceeding 2,200 km/h at high altitude, while also maneuvering quite well, especially vertically! Secondly, the Su-15TM introduces the R-98 family of medium-range missiles to War Thunder, which are exclusive to this aircraft. For close-range combat, good old 23 mm gun pods and R-60 air-to-air missiles are available. A radar and a Radar Warning Receiver aid situational awareness, though the Su-15TM lacks countermeasures, so be sure to stay alert! Despite being primarily designed for high-altitude air combat, the Su-15TM also has ground-attack weaponry, including bombs and rockets and of course the 23 mm cannon can prove useful here too.Feature Spotlight: R-98 MissilesWe wanted to focus on the new R-98 missile in this section. This missile became part of an interception system carried by the Su-15. In combat, the Su-15TM can carry two of these missiles alongside other armament, such as R-60 air-to-air missiles or external fuel tanks. The first new missile that you’ll use is the R-98MT, which features an IR seeker and a range exceeding that of the R-60. Notably, however, its target lock is limited to the target’s rear hemisphere. The second variant, the R-98MR, is definitely more interesting, as it’s equipped with a semi-active radar seeker that functions even in head-on engagements!Developer comment: We’re placing the Su-15TM at rank VI in the Sukhoi jet aircraft line. It will be the earliest aircraft in the USSR air tree to feature medium-range air-to-air missiles. You’ll need to master the capabilities and nuances of employing this weaponry, as only a pair of missiles can be carried into battle. In short, the Su-15TM is not only a fast and maneuverable interceptor but also a stepping stone to the era of more advanced, long-range weaponry.Vehicle HistoryThe Su-15TM represented a further development of the interceptor system based on the Su-15 airframe. Factory trials of the fighter began in the spring of 1970, followed by state trials in the autumn, the results of which led to a recommendation for serial production. In 1974, the Su-15TM was modified to engage ground targets. The aircraft was officially adopted for service on January 21st, 1975. These fighters served with Soviet Air Defense Force aviation regiments. In Russia, the last Su-15s were retired from service in 1994. Approximately 70 aircraft went to Ukraine, where they remained in service until 1996.That’s it for this one, you can look forward to the Su-15TM coming to the game in the next major update. Until then, happy battles ahead you!Please note that vehicle specifications may be subject to revision and change before being added to the game.

Hey everyone! That’s right, cluster bombs are coming to War Thunder Air Battles! In today’s dev blog, we’ll go over what they are and what they’re used for. Let’s dive in!So, what exactly are cluster bombs? They are a specific type of munition designed to engage multiple targets over a large area. Rather than being a single large bomb, they act as a container that disperses a number of submunitions across an extensive area. A cluster bomb is released from an aircraft just like any conventional munition, then at a predetermined altitude, a fuze triggers, and the submunitions are propelled outward, covering a wide area on the ground. When you’re using cluster bombs against concentrations of lightly armored or unarmored vehicles, this weapon achieves an effect that a conventional bomb of the same weight simply cannot match.In Air Battles and Nuclear Escalation, cluster bombs can be especially good against AI-controlled vehicles, where they are concentrated around key bases. Cluster bombs will be effective against anti-aircraft systems, infantry fighting vehicles, armored personnel carriers and just about any transport vehicle.We’ll be introducing cluster bombs to the game in the Eagle’s shadow major update and we’re planning to add several types of these bombs for various nations. For example, this includes the well-known American CBU-87 Combined Effects Munition, which contains 202 submunitions that combine shaped-charge penetration, fragmentation, and incendiary effects. Soviet/Russian aircraft, as well as those from Warsaw Pact nations, will receive the RBK-500, which is a 500 kg bomb carrying anti-tank submunitions. The British BL755 contains 147 HEAT submunitions. Other European additions will include the French BM-400 and the highly distinctive BLG-66 Belouga, which features submunitions that are ejected from the bomb casing through specialized openings. In terms of gameplay, the destructive impact of these cluster bombs will be roughly equivalent, regardless of the specific type of submunitions they carry.Happy dropping, pilots! We’ll be back soon with more details on the upcoming major update. Stay tuned!

Welcome to the 248th War Thunder Steam Screenshot Competition!

Thanks for all of your amazing screenshots last week! This week, the competition is focusing on the aftermath of dogfights, town skirmishes, and battles on the high seas! Capture the moment of victory with a damaged or destroyed vehicle in your screenshot. Happy Halloween! The three most popular and three selected by us will get 300 GE. See the winners down below!

Let’s begin the 248th edition of our competition!

Create a stunning screenshot and submit it on the War Thunder Steam Community Hub with the tag #WTscreen248. You have time until the 6th of November to submit your screenshot.

After that date, 6 winners will be selected (3 of which will be the highest rated by the community and 3 selected by our judges), each of which receive a reward of 300GE.

How to Participate!

Terms:

• Your screenshot must feature damaged or destroyed player vehicles.
  
• You must add the #WTscreen248 tag (title cannot have any other text in it).
  
• Artists may only win by popular vote once per four screenshot competitions.
  
• Screenshots need to be compliant with the War Thunder rules.
  
• You need to be the author of the screenshot.
  
• Screenshot needs to be new. You cannot use those which have previously been published or used in other competitions.
  
• We will only accept raw screenshots from the game. You cannot use any editing software nor any other visual enhancements (like Nvidia Ansel filters).
  
• You can use filters and settings built into War Thunder.
  
• You can use the replay functionality built into War Thunder.
  
• Rewards will be delivered to the author's account within 14 working days.
  

And now, time for the winners of the competition’s 247th edition – Haunting Grounds!

Winners selected via community votes:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3826968353
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3826967524
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3827276494

Winners selected by our judges:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3828843493
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3827223646
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3827670242

Each winner will get 300GE! Congratulations and see you next week!

Introducing the Leopard 2A8, Europe’s most advanced tank and the first mass-produced Leo equipped with an active protection system!Leopard 2A8: An MBT for Germany and Sweden at Rank VIIIAt a glance:

• Trophy Active Protection System
• DM53 APFSDS
• Good level of protection
• GEN 3 thermal imagers

Introducing the Leopard 2A8Today we’re excited to be showing you the Leopard 2A8, coming in as one the most advanced MBTs in War Thunder! Its defense is bolstered by a new protection system, making it stronger than ever. Read on to find out more about how this thing performs!Using the Leopard 2A8 in BattleThe Leopard 2A8 represents the pinnacle of the Leopard 2 MBT family and serves as a direct successor to the Leopard 2A7 variants already featured in the game. This variant has been designed to address the challenges of the modern battlefield and incorporates the Israeli Trophy active protection system (APS) for outstanding defense against guided missiles.It’s heavy, but is also well-armored and is equipped with advanced electronics and a long-barreled cannon. Its stock APFSDS round has great penetration power, however once the superior DM53 APFSDS round is unlocked, the Leopard 2A8 can penetrate almost any part of the strongest opponent on the battlefield! While its mobility is somewhat reduced compared to the more agile 2A4 and 2A5 models, it remains highly competitive in top-tier combat. The tank features an internal spall liner and additional frontal hull armor, while the side protection has been bolstered with extra composite armor modules. Combined with the new APS, these upgrades provide excellent protection against anti-tank guided missiles launched from ground vehicles or aircraft.Feature Spotlight: Trophy APSWe’re sure that you’ll all be familiar with the Israeli Trophy active protection system, as it’s found on the Merkava Mk.4M and M1A2 (Trophy-HV) tanks. For those who don’t know, the Trophy system alerts you to an incoming missile and automatically intercepts it using countermeasure projectiles positioned around the turret. There are 6 charges available, providing the tank with all-around protection against ATGMs, whether launched from the ground or air!Developer comment: The Leopard 2A8 serves as a logical evolution of the 2A7 variant. In the Eagle’s Shadow major update, the vehicle will be introduced for two nations: Germany and Sweden, with the latter receiving the Leopard 2A8 variant configured for the Norwegian Army. The most significant new feature is an Active Protection System, which provides an enhanced level of defense, primarily against helicopters, as well as ground-based ATGM launchers. With the Leopard’s survivability bolstered even further, all that remains is to put it to the test in battle!Vehicle HistoryIn February 2023, the Norwegian Defense Materiel Agency (Forsvarsmateriell) signed a contract with KMW for 54 Leopard 2A7+ tanks for Norway, with deliveries scheduled for 2026–2028. In June 2023, the parties agreed to amend the contract to specify the Leopard 2A8 variant; these tanks were designated as Leopard 2A8NO. In May 2023, the German Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) concluded a framework agreement with KMW for 123 Leopard 2A8 tanks for Germany.On November 19th 2025, the first production-standard Leopard 2A8 and 2A8NO tanks manufactured for Germany and Norway, respectively were unveiled at the KNDS Deutschland testing ground in Munich. Furthermore, plans are in place to supply Leopard 2A8 tanks to Lithuania, Sweden, the Netherlands, the Czechia, and Croatia.That’s it for this one, the Leopard 2A8 is set to be one of the strongest MBTs in the game thanks to its strong armor and APS. See you in the next dev blog!Please note that vehicle specifications may be subject to revision and change before being added to the game.

Battle Ratings

• Battle Ratings that were different to the final table from the planned Battle Rating changes have been corrected:
  • F-16A MLU (China): BR in Air Simulator Battles has been reduced from 14.0 to 13.7.
  • Hawk T Mk 1A, Hawk T Mk 1A (FRP) — BR in all Air Battles modes has been reduced from 7.7 to 7.3.
  • N1K2-J, N1K2-Ja, Spitfire F Mk XVIIIe, Yak-3U — BR in Ground Realistic Battles has been reduced from 6.7 to 6.3.

Aircraft

• F-102A (all variants) — a limitation on the concurrent use of AIM-26B and FFAR has been added.

Patch notes reflect only key changes, meaning they may not include a complete list of all improvements made. Additionally, War Thunder is constantly being updated and some changes may not require an update. Changes reflected in patch notes are formed by taking reactions and requests of the community from the bug reporting service, forums and other official platforms into account. Bug fixes and changes are implemented in order of importance, for example a game-breaking bug will be worked on and implemented sooner.