Today we’re taking a look at the IA 58A Pucará, quite a special plane as it’s the first domestically designed and produced Argentine aircraft coming to the game!IA 58A Pucará: A Premium Ground Attack Aircraft for Germany at Rank IVAt a glance:

• Strong flight performance
• 20 mm cannons and machine guns
• Various bombs and rockets. And a torpedo! 
• Small, nimble but slow

Vehicle HistoryIn the 1960s, the Argentine Air Force was looking for a fleet of aircraft that were capable of countering insurgents and taking off from short airfields in rough terrain. In August 1966, a prototype was completed at the Dirección Nacional de Fabricación e Investigación Aeronáutica (DINFIA) aircraft factory. To test it, DINFIA built a glider prototype, first flying on December 26th 1967. Following successful tests, a fully functional prototype was ordered, which first flew on August 20th 1969. After a series of testing various engines, the first production aircraft flew on November 8th 1974 and were delivered to the Argentine Air Force in 1975.The IA 58 Pucará first saw combat use against the People’s Revolutionary Army during Operativo Independencia. It was however first used in mass during the Falklands War in 1982. Although these aircraft had little to no effect against British ground troops, two Pucará shot down a Scout helicopter during the conflict. All Pucará aircraft that were involved in the Falklands conflict were destroyed or captured by British forces.The IA 58 Pucará was also exported to Sri Lanka and Colombia, where it saw combat during these country’s civil wars, and Uruguay. The last active IA 58 Pucará in the Argentine Air Force retired in 2019 after proudly serving for 44 years. Today, one surviving aircraft is in Sri Lanka, several captured examples are on display in British museums, and the prototype and one operational unit are in Argentina.Introducing the IA 58A Pucará!Meet the IA 58A Pucará, Argentina’s first aircraft coming to War Thunder as a pack premium in the Heavy Cavalry major update! Being powered by two Turbomeca Astazou turboprop engines (similar to the ones found on the Alouette helicopter) and having a plethora of weapon options, including 20 mm cannons, 7.62 mm machine guns and bombs and rockets, the Pucará is sure to be a fun nimble ground attack aircraft. Let’s take a closer look!Interesting: “Pucará” comes from the Quechua language found in Argentina, meaning “Fortress” in English.Despite the IA 58A Pucará having a thinner appearance, it can still hold three hardpoints (one on each wing and one under the fuselage), with plenty of options, and thanks to the taller landing gear, there is enough room to fit all sorts of weaponry. Firstly let’s take a look at the guns, of which there are two types. Firstly, two 20 mm HS 804 cannons are integrated into the fuselage under the nose, with an ammo count of 270 per gun (540 in total). An additional four 7.62 mm Browning machine guns are installed as well; two integrated on each side of the fuselage, with an ammo count of 900 per gun (3600 in total). This is an excellent gun loadout, allowing you to spray ‘n pray at enemy aircraft and take out lightly armored ground vehicles!The IA 58A Pucará’s main role was to counter ground troops, so what does its payload look like? This aircraft can carry a variety of bombs and rockets on its three hardpoints, including seven 500 lb, four 750 lb and three 1000 lb bombs of various types. It can also equip several types of rockets including smaller ones like FFAR and new-to-the-game Aspid plus the bigger Pampero, which is also new. It’s also possible to take a torpedo if you wish to! You have the choice to freely use many of these options in any configuration you like within the mounting weight limit, so experiment with what fits you best and have at it! All in all, the payloads on this aircraft are enough to deal some serious damage in Ground Battles, making the IA 58A Pucará a worthy companion in your ground lineups.As one can see, the IA 58A Pucará is powered by two propeller driven engines, specifically one Turbomeca Astazou XVIG turboprop on each wing. These engines propel the aircraft to a maximum speed of 500 km/h (310 mph), which is not great. It will be enough to let you get into battle with your loadout, but will not be good enough to catch up to many aircraft. To help with taking off, the aircraft is equipped with JATO rocket boosters. On the other hand, the aircraft is responsive in flight and easy to control for precision ground strikes.That’s all for this one! The IA 58A Pucará is coming to the game in the Heavy Cavalry major update as Argentina’s first aircraft and will be a premium pack in the German aircraft tree. This aircraft will be a great addition to your ground lineups and should be a lot of fun to play with. We’ve got more blogs on the way, so stay tuned!Please note that this vehicle’s characteristics may be changed before it is added to the game.

You’ve asked for them, you’ve waited for them, and here they are! In the Heavy Cavalry major update, you’ll have new tools at your disposal for countering anti-aircraft systems: anti-radiation missiles (ARMs) and electronic support measures (ESM) capabilities. As the game continues to add new threats, this type of weaponry is becoming increasingly relevant. New SAM systems have been added, and taking them out requires new tools for the job. Plus, you simply can’t do without anti-radiation missiles in Nuclear Escalation! Let’s dive into what they are and how they work.Anti-Radiation Missiles (ARMs)Right, first off let’s start with the Anti-Radiation Missiles (ARMs). These missiles are equipped with a passive radar homing head. This means the enemy radar sends signals, your missile detects that radar signal, and goes to chase the source of it. The source of the radio waves can be either the radar of an SPAA or a ship, or the airborne radar of another aircraft, but this is more of an exception.Speaking of exceptions, during Operation Desert Storm, an AGM-88 HARM missile struck a low-flying allied B-52G bomber that had its tail radar (used to guide the gun turret) turned on. The aircraft successfully returned to base and was later named “In HARM’s Way”.Simplified comparison tableHere we have a simple table explaining how SARH and ARH missiles (which are already in the game) work in comparison to the new ARMs.SARH missilesARH missilesARMs (new)Your jet sends a radar signal, which bounces on the target. Your missile detects it and goes to chase it.Your missile sends a radar signal, which bounces on the target. Your missile then detects it and goes to chase it.The enemy radar is sending signals. Your missile detects that radar signal, and goes to chase the source of it. Using ARMsWhat do you need to know about the specifics of using these missiles? First and foremost, it’s important to remember that their seekers are tuned to detect specific radar bands, designated by letters in the game. The missile simply won’t see a target if it emits radiation of a different wavelength (band). Therefore, you need to “know your enemy” and select missiles based on the range of potential opponents. To help you, the missile stat cards list the wavelengths (radar bands), and on cursor hover, a list of vehicles emitting signals in that range is displayed.A mockup of the tooltip interfaceAnother thing to keep in mind is the lethality of ARMs. Due to the intermittent nature of many radar signals and the reflection of waves off the ground and surrounding objects, a direct hit on a target is not always achieved. Many missiles have a proximity fuze, which helps compensate for the lack of accuracy. However, when used, the detonation occurs quite far from the surface, making it difficult to damage armored targets. The game will feature the option to turn off the proximity fuze, but without it, accuracy again becomes a problem.In short, to use ARMs successfully, you’ll need to take the specifics of the situation into account and adapt accordingly. It’s not a “one-click” solution, but rather a highly specialized tool that can be very useful in the right hands.In the “Heavy Cavalry” update, ARM aircraft from all nations will receive new missiles. Among the new additions are:

• The US AGM-88 HARM (versions A and C), the AGM-122 (based on the AIM-9C)
• The Anglo-French AS-37 ARMAT
• The British ALARM
• The Chinese YJ-91, CM-102, and LD-10
• The Soviet Kh-27PS, several versions of the Kh-58, and the Kh-31 family — the first missiles in the game to feature a ramjet engine.

 ESMSo we’ve covered the missiles themselves, but how do you launch them? You can simply turn on the seeker and fire a missile at the first target you see, but that’s not always effective. This is where the electronic support measures functionality comes in handy.This sector-divided screen, which replaces the radar indicator, displays the signal sources detected by the ESM. All electronic support systems can determine the signal strength and its coordinates, and provide target designation for anti-radiation missiles. However, some can also determine the type of threat. The column for the detected source is selected by azimuth, and the row by signal strength. The lower the signal, the stronger it is. Just like on a radar, on this screen you can select the desired target and fire a missile at it. It’s all quite simple.Most often, ESM sensors are designed as special pods, or equipped anti-radiation missiles act as such sensors. For example, the AGM-88 HARM has this functionality. However, sometimes electronic support sensors are integrated directly into the aircraft’s systems, allowing them to retain functionality even after all anti-radiation missiles have been fired.ESM sensors vary in their scanning time. Some systems have a virtually instantaneous update rate for the entire field of view, while others operate similarly to radars, scanning the space sector by sector, which typically takes quite a long time. For example, a full update of the AGM-88 missile’s widest field of view can actually take up to 90 seconds in real life.What’s next?To begin with, we’ve decided to only add more advanced missiles that can be guided by electronic support sensors and, if possible, those with wide-range seekers. However, we don’t rule out the possibility of adding older missiles, such as the AGM-45 Shrike, in the future. Everything depends on how the anti-radiation missiles introduced in this update perform in-game.Please note that some of the missiles shown here actually have a lock-on-after-launch mode, but due to the fact that in-game, especially in combined battles, both allied and enemy radio sources are often concentrated in a small area, we will limit the missiles to launching at a known signal.That’s it for this one, the Heavy Cavalry update is coming very soon. See you soon in the next dev blogs!Please note that missile features and mechanics may be subject to refinement and change before being added to the game.

On June 15th 1955, the MiG-21, one of the most recognizable and mass-produced supersonic fighters in history, took to the skies for the first time. Nearly 11,500 of these aircraft were made. Relatively inexpensive to produce, it was also fast, survivable, and durable, ensuring its popularity worldwide and participation in numerous conflicts. The Chinese J-7 fighter family traces its lineage to the MiG-21. 30% Discount on MiG-21 variants! 

When: From June 16th (11:00 GMT) until June 19th (11:00 GMT)Where: Germany / Great Britain / China > Aviation  > Premium Vehicles.

• Germany: MiG-21 SPS-K (Rank VI) for 6,489 Golden Eagles
• Great Britain: MiG-21 Bison (Rank VIII) for 6,986 Golden Eagles
• China: J-7D (Rank VII) for 6,489 Golden Eagles

 

• These aircraft are returning and will be available at full price after the promotion ends.

PC players can purchase the MiG-21bis “Lazur-M” pack at a 50% discount on these dates in the Gaijin.Net store!MiG-21bis “Lazur-M” pack -50%To get to the Gaijin Store through Steam, go to the in-game hangar > Shop > Online Store. This pack includes:

• MiG-21bis "Lazur-M" (Germany, Rank VII)
• Premium account for 20 days
• 2500 Golden Eagles

69.99 35

The Vickers-designed Wellington bomber first flew on June 15th 1936. It was Britain’s primary night bomber during the early years of the Second World War, serving in attacks on Germany, North Africa, and the Mediterranean. The Wellington Mk Ic (Germany) is available at a 30% discount for 700 Golden Eagles! 

When: From June 15th (11:00 GMT) until June 18th (11:00 GMT).Where: Germany > Aviation > Premium vehicles.

• The Wellington Mk Ic (Germany) is only available during the promotional period.

 About this aircraft

• The Germans captured Wellingtons as war trophies, after crash landings and splashdowns in Germany and occupied territories. The Wellington Mk Ic is a slow but durable aircraft, protected only by machine guns, but these have a wide field of fire. The bomb bay can carry one of two loads of bombs: eighteen 250 lb bombs or nine 500 lb bombs.

Welcome to the 228th War Thunder Steam Screenshot Competition!

Thanks for submitting your screenshots last week! This week's competition will examine the lower ranks, specifically I through IV. There is so much to pick from, whether you prefer to capture pre-war biplanes, late-war heavy tanks, or even some vehicles that were from after WW II. Which one is your favorite? The three most popular and three selected by us will get 300 GE. See the winners down below!

Let’s begin the 228th edition of our competition!

Create a stunning screenshot and submit it on the War Thunder Steam Community Hub with the tag #WTscreen228. You have time until the 19th of June 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 a vehicle between ranks I and IV.
  
• You must add the #WTscreen228 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 227th edition – Light and Lethal!

Winners selected via community votes:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3739638543
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3740079653
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3739964812

Winners selected by our judges:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3739704228
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3739994341
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3742297366

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

The history of the unified German navy dates back to June 14th 1848, when the short-lived “Reichsflotte” was founded. Formed in 1871, the naval forces of the German Empire quickly grew in numbers and power, and were able to compete on equal terms with Great Britain, the mistress of the seas, at the Battle of Jutland. Today, the German Navy serves as a permanent member of NATO’s naval forces. 30% discount on German ships! 

When: From June 12th (11:00 GMT) until June 15th (11:00).Where: Germany > Bluewater fleet > Premium vehicles.

• T31 (Rank III) for 3528 Golden Eagles
• Z20 Karl Galster (Rank III) for 4263 Golden Eagles
• Prinz Eugen (Rank IV) for 5614 Golden Eagles

  The T31 and Z20 Karl Galster are only available for purchase during the promotional period. The Prinz Eugen will be available to purchase after the promotional period ends at the full price of 8020 Golden Eagles. About these ships

• T31 took part in the battles of Vyborg Bay in 1944. This lightly protected but well-armed ship has eight 37 mm anti-aircraft guns, eight 20 mm secondary autocannons, and four main caliber turrets housing 105 mm guns.
• Named after First World War hero Kapitänleutnant Karl Galster, the destroyer Z20 Karl Galster is one of the few German ships to survive the Second World War. It is featured in the game in a late modification, so in addition to its 128 mm main guns and 37 mm turrets, it now also boasts an excellent additional anti-aircraft battery.
• Prinz Eugen participated in the Battle of the Denmark Strait, broke through the English Channel during Operation Cerberus, and bombarded the Baltic coast at the end of the war. Its speed of up to 60 km/h, 203 mm main guns, and excellent anti-aircraft protection will delight any fan of the German navy!

 Open the “German Navy Day” trophy!

When: From June 12th (11:00 GMT) until June 15th (11:00 GMT)Task: Earn 3,000 mission points in battles where you used German ships at rank III or higher to receive the “German Navy Day” trophy!

Inside this trophy, you’ll receive one of three decals: “Emblem of the German Navy Headquarters” decal“Emblem of the Naval Petty Officers’ School” decal“Emblem of the German Navy Engineering School” decalThe decals are located in the vehicle appearance section “Germany → Navy”. If you already have all three decals, you’ll receive a trophy containing one of the following items:

• 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 → German Navy Day.

 

Summer skies, cool sea breeze and the roar of engines over the surface of the water. The Floats event is back!When: From June 12th (09:00 GMT) until June 16th (09:00 GMT), capture points on the surface of the water while controlling seaplanes and flying boats!This time around, you’ll be able to use the new Spitfire Mk Vb (Float) plane when it becomes available with Task 6 in the Wings Over Water event on June 13th. The Floats event will run for one day more after the Wings Over Water ends, so you’ll be able to take your newly obtained float plane and have some fun in it!To play in this event, find it in the “Events & Tournaments” tab from the in-game hangar.This unique legendary British Spitfire has floats instead of wheels, allowing it to take off and land on water. It can be obtained in the Wings Over Water event that ends on June 15th and makes its first appearance in the Floats event once it becomes available!Spitfire Mk Vb (Float)Vehicles that can be used in the event (new vehicles in bold):

• OS2U-1, OS2U-3, PBY-5, PBY-5A, PBM-1, PBM-3, PBM-5A “Mariner”, He 51B-2/H, He 115 C-1, A6M2-N, Arado 196A-3, BV 138C-1, Po-2M, MBR-2, PBY-5A (USSR), Catalina Mk IIIa (Britain), Spitfire Mk Vb (Float), Sunderland Mk IIIa, Sunderland Mk V, F1M2, H6K4, H8K2, H8K3, Ro.44, PBY-5A Late (France), Late 298D, S17BS, T 2, Arado 196A-5 (Sweden).

See you on the waves folks!

Today we’re taking a look at new unlockable decals, updated logic for automatic tank camouflage application, and a “Favorites” category for decals and decorations!Camouflage ManagementRecently we’ve been working on refining the process of automatic camouflage selection in battle, and these changes have come right from your suggestions. You suggested that we account for marketplace camouflages, to be able to edit the auto-selection list, and to exclude unwanted skins from it entirely.Today we’d like to cover another improvement. We’re sure that each of you have your favorite camouflages, whether they were earned from in-game events or tournament streams and drops. Everyone wants to see it in battle as much as possible (without turning into a brightly-colored target on winter maps though!). Previously you could switch to a different camouflage by selecting it before spawning, but in the heat of battle, this was easy to forget.At your request, we’ve refined the automatic camouflage system: you can now designate any available camouflage as your default. Let’s go through a quick example. Let’s say you have 3 camouflages, “Forest 1” is the regular default, but you also have “Forest 2” and “Winter 1”. If you change your default to Forest 2, whenever you load into a forest map, Forest 2 will be automatically applied each time. But, if you load into a winter map, Winter 1 will be automatically applied instead.So effectively, if your new default is a suitable camouflage for any given map, it will always be applied, but if it is not suitable and you have a more suitable alternative, this alternative will instead be used. No more losing precious seconds swapping around camouflages! Thank you for this suggestion, keep sending in more and we’ll keep working on improving your favorite features.Add to Favorites!Over the years, a truly enormous number of decals have been added into the game. Around a thousand are available at any given time, and we routinely add more through Monthly Historical Decal events and various specials. Understandably, you’ve probably amassed quite the collection of decals too, and likely have favorites that you like to use more than the rest. You’ve asked us for a way to separate your favorite decals and decorations, and in the Heavy Cavalry update we’ll add this as a feature! There will be a new “Favorites” menu for both decals and decorations, simply click the favorite icon and build your own personal list of special markings and 3D decorators.Decals and Decorations on Composite SAM SystemsComposite SAM systems are an integral part of high-rank ground battles, and as such you’ll want to be able to customize them too. Previously you could only apply decals and decorations to the main vehicle, the auxiliary vehicle would mirror your camouflage but nothing else. In the major update, you’ll be able to fully customize these additional vehicles! Give them a fresh coat of paint and your favorite markings, and thank you for suggesting this feature!New Decals!It’s been a while since we’ve routinely added new decals to the game on a permanent basis, but in the Heavy Cavalry major update we’ll start to add decals for nations that currently don’t have any, or have very few. Below are some examples of what we’ve been working on.French NavyLike most navies, markings directly applied to ships are relatively uncommon, so for the French navy we’ve used their badges for inspiration here. In the 1930s, French naval traditions led to the creation of individual pin badges for practically every ship in the fleet, that would be worn by the crew of each vessel. The creation of these badges were not particularly standardized, which led to many unique and interesting designs being created, often drafted by members of the crew themselves.As these emblems only existed as pins, or in some cases Tape de bouche (Gun muzzle covers), we’ve created the decals in more of a “what if” style, taking the original emblems and giving them a hand-painted look, like how they probably would’ve looked if they were historically painted onto ships. This is a somewhat new approach for us, so let us know what you think!Japanese NavyPrior to the Second World War, Japan painted names onto the hulls of its destroyer class vessels. This practice was limited to destroyers, and featured the name of the ship in large katakana characters on both sides of the hull. Most names of this period fell into two primary classes: 1st Class destroyers (over 1,000 tons) were named after the weather, wind, tide, current, waves, moon, seasons, and other natural phenomena, the less common 2nd Class destroyers (600–1,000 tons) were named after plants. An outlier here was the Mutsuki class, which contained 12 ships all named after a calendar month.After Japan joined the Second World War, they scrubbed the katakana names from the hull sides, as it was of course not particularly wise to telegraph the exact name of the ship to the enemy. After the war, the newly formed JMSDF returned the tradition for its surface fleet, but painted the names in hiragana, as a deliberate symbolic separation from the IJN.We’ve included a few examples for ships we have in the game, both of the WW2 era and post-war. In some cases it was quite a challenge to accurately recreate the names, as photos of the time are often not particularly clear when it comes to the finer details. Regardless, we’ve done our best to faithfully recreate these markings for you to unlock and customize your vehicles with, we hope you like them!Hungarian AircraftFollowing the Hungarian additions from the last update, we’ve added some decals for their air forces as well. Several of these come from WM-21 squadrons, a particularly nice one is the chief, which could be accurately recreated thanks to a detailed photo in an old Hungarian aviation magazine.We’ve also included the famous wasp emblem of the 1/1. Vadászszázad. Interestingly though, even though the emblem was clearly a wasp, the official nickname of the squadron was “Dongó” (Bumblebee). Because of the wasp emblem (which was likely chosen as it was more aggressive than a bee), even in 1940 the squadron began to be called “Darázs” (Wasp), which makes using the correct official name in relation to the emblem seem like an error funnily enough.We’ve also included the dive bombing eagle of the 102/1 fast bomber squadron which operated the Me 210C, and the “Pöttöm” inscription, which means pint-sized or tiny. It’s uncertain whether this was the pilot’s nickname or an affectionate moniker for his Fw 190 F-8, this one’s a little mystery...That’s not all though, among examples listed above, the update will include more decals for the Italian Army and Navy, the Chinese Army and Air Forces, and the Indonesian Air Forces! In future major updates we’ll steadily add more decals for nations that are missing some options as well.

That’s all from us for today, customization is an integral part of War Thunder, so we hope you like these new features and be sure to check out all the new decals when the Heavy Cavalry update releases!

Last weekend marked the conclusion of the WTCS Pro League Major II, the second pro major event of the War Thunder Championships Series.In the end, Team Invictus secured first place and strengthened their position in the standings with 130 points. Close behind, Team Fivesticks claimed second place with 87 points, while Team LEGION completed the podium in third place with 82 points.This second Major has further shaped the race for the championship, with Invictus delivering a dominant performance, taking 1st place on the overall leaderboard, and Fivesticks and LEGION proving they remain strong contenders as the season progresses, getting respectively 3rd and 7th place on the overall standings.

Congratulations to Team Invictus on their victory in Major II! The WTCS Pro Major II podiumOverall Rankings for the WTCS Pro Major IIWho is the MVP?A huge congratulations to Leozander from Invictus for being named MVP of the WTCS Pro League Major II! With a standout performance throughout the tournament, Leozander left a lasting impression on fans and competitors alike. His most memorable moment came during the final weekend, when he secured a spectacular kill using an air-to-ground Kh-38MT missile fired from his Su-30SM, a decisive play that helped secure victory for Invictus and cemented his place as the tournament’s MVP. A special shoutout also goes to OpsBan65_ from FiveSticks, who finished 2nd in the MVP voting after consistently delivering strong performances throughout the event. Rounding out the Top 3 is C0COJAMBO, also representing FiveSticks, whose impact and reliability across the Major earned him 3rd place in the MVP rankings. The WTCS Pro League Major II showcased some exceptional individual talent, and these three players undoubtedly stood out as some of the competition’s brightest stars.Register Now For The Qualification Stage of WTCS Challenger League Major II!As the season moves forward, with the Pro League now behind us, it’s time to shift our focus to this year’s new format: the Challenger League.REGISTER NOWAfter each Open Qualifier, four teams will advance to the Playoff stage. For full details about the competitive structure and what to expect this season, make sure to read the War Thunder Championship Series 2026 Plans news, which breaks everything down.

• Open Qualifier I: June 20th to 21st
• Open Qualifier II: June 27th to 28th
• Playoffs: July 4th to 5th and July 11th to 12th

Registration for Open Qualifier I will be live on Friday June 12th.Tournament Prize Cheer on your favorite teams live on Twitch & YouTube! When: Each stream will start from 14:45 GMT. 

• Open Qualifier I Stream: June 20th to 21st
• Open Qualifier II Stream: June 27th to 28th

Matches will be broadcast in multiple languages to ensure the best viewing experience, including English, Russian Channel All matches will be broadcast live also on YouTube, so make sure to tune in and follow the action in real time! TWITCH YOUTUBE
Stay Connected
Make sure to follow us on our social media channels to stay updated with match schedules, highlights, exclusive content, and future events on X and Instagram. Join the Discord community, participate in some giveways, support your favorite team, and be part of the action throughout the entire 2026 season!Esports Bundle - 2026 Season -15%This pack includes:

• Esports Veteran Pack - Season 2026
• Winter Warrior Esports Pack - Season 2026

15.98 13.58 

Hey again everyone! We’re happy to be back with some new unlockable decals for June! We have a handful of new inscriptions this time around, all three of which were suggested by you! So as always keep the suggestions coming, if the decal is fitting and interesting we try and work them into future plans where possible.We’re happy to reintroduce Foxy Few and the Finnish bat which were previous monthly favorites, and we hope you like the new La Surprise emblem as well. We’ll add a few more French ship badges to the game permanently in the next major update, so look out for those too!

The following decals are available from June 11th (11:00 GMT) until July 9th (09:00 GMT).All tasks can be completed using vehicles that are rank III or higher.

Hot Stuff! Inscription, AustraliaLa Surprise Emblem, FranceFinish in position 1-3 three times using British or Australian AircraftScore 20000 Damage while using French Coastal VesselsHot Stuff! Inscription"Hot Stuff!" Inscription, No. 78 Squadron, RAAF. No. 78 Squadron was formed on the 20th of July 1943 in Camden, New South Wales. It was the 4th RAAF Kittyhawk Squadron established in 1943, and became operational on the 27th of November after its new P-40 models were supplied. The Squadron would perform a wide variety of duties, from escort missions over New Guinea to dive bombing and strafing runs against Japanese anti-aircraft positions. As a typical jovial Aussie marking, "Hot Stuff!" was rather aptly painted under the engine exhaust on P-40 A29-574, code HU-Q. La Surprise EmblemAn emblem of the frigate La Surprise, French Navy. This especially unique emblem went through several revisions in shape and style, and represented both the ex-River class La Surprise frigate and the wartime Chamois-class minesweeper of the same name. While the scene the badge is referencing is over two thousand years old, this badge is likely a more contemporary reference to the 1836 painting "Diane surprise au bain" (Diana Surprised in Her Bath) by French artist Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot. The scene depicts Actaeon from Greek myth stumbling upon Diana in a grotto. As punishment for being disturbed while bathing, Diana splashes Actaeon with water, which causes him to sprout horns on his head where the water landed — certainly a surprising event for all involved.“Young Pioneers” Emblem, USSR“79ª Brigata Garibaldi” Inscription, Italy“Invaders must be crushed” Inscription, ChinaDefeat 50 players using USSR TanksDefeat 40 players using Italian Light TanksDefeat 20 players using AAMs while flying Chinese Aircraft
"Young Pioneers" Emblem"Young Pioneers" emblem "ВСЕГДА ГОТОВ" (Always Ready), Soviet Army. In 1941, pupils of School No. 102 in the Kirovsky District of Gorky issued a wide public appeal to raise funds in order to build a tank named "Горьковский Пионер" (Gorky Pioneer). Schools across the region responded enthusiastically, donating their funds and scrap metal to the appeal, and within a few months had raised 250,000 rubles. Their brand-new T-34 was built at Factory No. 112 in Gorky and was formally handed over to its new crew on the 18th of January 1942. The emblem was painted on the rear of the turret on their T-34, derived from the original badge of the Pioneers. The crew of the Gorky Pioneer would later write back to the fundraisers, expressing their gratitude and noting how their tank at the time had already destroyed 6 guns, 1 tank, 5 automobiles, 10 mortars, and 12 machine guns.“79ª Brigata Garibaldi” Inscription"79ª Brigata Garibaldi" (79th Garibaldi Brigade) inscription, Corpo Volontari della Libertà (Volunteers of Freedom Corps). The Garibaldi Brigade was a partisan unit of the Italian Resistance, predominantly active in the Piedmont and Lombardy regions of northern Italy, where it fought against the occupying German forces and their collaborators. As the partisans were not formally issued with any armored vehicles, their fleet was made up of light vehicles that had been commandeered from the Axis forces. This practice began in early 1945, when the focus shifted from destroying enemy armor to capturing it, resulting in the acquisition of several AB 41 and AB 43 armored cars which they used to liberate cities in the north. The vehicle markings of the Brigade primarily consisted of inscriptions rather than emblems; this inscription was painted on the upper hull of one of their armored cars sometime in 1945.“Invaders must be crushed” Inscription"Invaders must be crushed" inscription (務殲入侵之敵), PLAAF. During the 1960s, the practice of inscribing aircraft with intimidating slogans became steadily more common. The practice was decentralized but encouraged, and many PLAAF pilots decorated their aircraft with similar inscriptions in various styles. In this example, the text is written in a cursive style called "草書體" or "grass script," with more fluidly drawn characters. This specific inscription was taken from the directive statement written to the Air Force on December 18th 1957, which later became a very common slogan applied to aircraft as well as aviation-related infrastructure. It was painted on the nose of a J-6 fighter sometime during the 1960s.

12th FBS Emblem “The Foxy Few”, USA2./HLeLv 31 Emblem, FinlandDefeat 20 players using bombs while using US AircraftWin 10 battles using Swedish or Finnish Aircraft12th FBS Emblem “The Foxy Few”The emblem of the 12th Fighter-Bomber Squadron, USAF. The squadron was activated on the 15th of January 1941 as the 12th Pursuit Squadron. It operated as a fighter squadron throughout the Second World War, before being reorganized in 1950 as the 12th Fighter-Bomber Squadron, when the "Foxy Few" era began. The original anthropomorphic fox emblem was designed by Daniel James Jr, the flight leader of the squadron at the time. Several variations were also created in the early 1950s, some replacing the fox’s bomb with a bottle; this design was often applied to the squadron’s mugs. The emblem was most often painted on the squadron’s P-51s during the Korean War, either under the front of the cockpit or at the top of the tail (in some cases both). When the squadron transitioned to the F-86 in 1953, a few Sabres could also be seen with a more simple version of the emblem, painted below the middle of the cockpit. The "Foxy Few" identity would continue until 1958, when the squadron was reformed and renamed, and a new nickname was chosen.2./HLeLv 31 EmblemThe emblem of 2. lentue / Hävittäjälentolaivue 31 (2nd Flight, No. 31 Fighter Squadron), Finnish Air Force. After the Second World War, the 2nd Flight of No. 31 Squadron kept up its duties. The 2nd Flight was as a pure night fighter squadron, equipped with Bf 109 G aircraft. It performed night training routines, surveillance, and general nocturnal air-defense operations. As the aircraft were out of production however, logistical issues began to hamper their efficiency, with the planes suffering from significant airframe fatigue and a crucial lack of spare parts by 1950. The Bf 109s operated out of Utti Airfield until 1954, when they were replaced with the more contemporary Vampire FB.52. The last Bf 109 flight took place on the 13th of March, 1954, making the flight one of the final operators of the original Bf 109 airframe. The emblem of the group was created in the late 1940s, fittingly depicting a bat silhouetted against a crescent moon. It was painted on the mid-fuselage, forward of the national roundel, next to the cockpit.

JG 26 “Schlageter” Emblem, Germany1st Tank Group Emblem, Japan“Spitting Snake” EmblemFinish in position 1-5 five times using German AircraftPlay 20 battles while using Japanese Ground Vehicles with a minimum of 60% Battle ActivitySet 20 targets on fire while using Israeli TanksJG 26 "Schlageter" EmblemThe emblem of Jagdgeschwader (Fighter Wing) 26 "Schlageter", Luftwaffe. JG 26 formed on March 15th 1937, equipped with He 51 B biplanes, before transitioning to the Bf 109 B in 1938. By the outbreak of the Second World War the Wing was flying Bf 109 D and E models, and would be the first unit to receive the Fw 190 in late 1941. The emblem features a large “S” in the classic Fraktur font on a jousting shield, a common shield style used by Luftwaffe units at the time to demonstrate strong attack and defense. The emblem was painted on both sides of the fuselage on the wing’s Bf 109s, beneath and in front of the cockpit. Each individual squadron within JG 26 had its own emblem, which was painted on the aircraft in addition to the wing shield. Use of the shield in addition to squadron emblems faded as the war progressed however, becoming increasingly rare in 1942 and almost entirely absent by 1943.1st Tank Group EmblemThe emblem of the 1st Tank Group (第1戦車群), JGSDF. The Group was formed in 1952 as the Independent 1st Special Vehicle Battalion, the first tank unit created under the National Safety Force. With the formation of the JGSDF several years later, the Group was renamed as the 101st Special Vehicle Battalion, and went on to be renamed and restructured several more times until its final designation as the 1st Tank Group was set in 1962. Under the Northern Army the 1st Tank Group was responsible for the defense of Hokkaido, which it maintained through routine training until the post-Cold War tank reduction policies eventually caught up in 2014, when the Group was disbanded. Its emblem, a red-eyed scorpion against the silhouette of Hokkaido, was designed around the year 2000 and was painted on the Group’s Type 74 and Type 90 tanks on the sides of the turret towards the front. "Spitting Snake" Emblem"Spitting Snake" emblem, 7th Armored Brigade, IDF. Personal markings on Israeli tanks are comparatively rare, and often very little is known about them contextually due to their more ephemeral nature. These kinds of markings were applied when out of combat or for training exercises. They usually consisted of simple white stencil designs, often a small insignia or inscription. For security reasons, markings of this kind were removed before combat, so as not to telegraph the brigade the vehicle belonged to. The emblem depicts a snake coiling around a 105 mm cannon. Interestingly, it is more of a snake amalgamation, featuring both a venom-spitting mouth and a rattling tail, traits of snakes that are present in specific species but never combined. It was applied in the 1980s on a Merkava Mk.2, on the port side of the turret towards the front.
Monthly markings can be found in a special tab at the bottom of the customization menu, (Monthly Decals) after a month, they’ll be moved to their corresponding category.You can check the exact terms and track the progress of completing tasks for these decals by going to your Player Profile > Decals > Monthly Decals. From here, click the “Track progress” button on each decal to track from the hangar.All of the emblems will come with a detailed description. This will generally consist of the history of the marking, its design, which vehicles used it, and where it was often placed on vehicles historically if applicable (some emblems are taken from badges, which weren’t always applied). This way you can more easily recreate the original positioning if you’d like.That’s all from us today, thanks for your interest as always, and make sure to keep leaving your own decal suggestions on the forum! We’re closing in on the major update now, so hopefully these monthly side-quests will keep you occupied in the meantime. Have fun and see you soon!

Today we’re pleased to present USS North Carolina, one of the most iconic American battleships of the mid-20th century!USS North Carolina: A Battleship for the USA at Rank VIIAt a glance:

• Various shell types, including HE, SAP, and AP-TS
• Nine 406 mm guns!
• Extensive secondary armament
• Effective radar array
• Decent mobility

 Using the USS North Carolina in Battle!North Carolina is another well-armed addition to the US ranks, a truly classic American battleship with a devastating 406 mm broadside, a reasonably sturdy belt, but a relatively vulnerable deck. North Carolina will excel the most in long range engagements. Here, her own armor will be more effective, and her powerful guns will still be able to punch through most enemy battleships.Feature Spotlight: FirepowerUSS North Carolina’s primary battery is unquestionably her strongest asset. Her nine 406 mm guns are among the finest and most destructive weapons in War Thunder naval combat. Her secondary weapon set is equally impressive, with twenty (!) rapid-fire dual-purpose 127 mm guns. The short range AA battery is a tad weaker though, enemy aircraft will be met with four quadruple 28 mm “Chicago Piano” mounts, forty 20 mm Oerlikon cannons, and various heavy machine guns.Interesting: Being the US Navy’s first modern battleship in nearly 20 years, USS North Carolina drew extensive media attention at the time, enough to earn her the nickname “Showboat”.Developer commentWe’re adding USS North Carolina in her 1942 refit, this is the classic configuration with the “Chicago Pianos” mounts. It was in this form where she fought through the fiercest battles of the early Pacific campaign, so it’s only fitting that we add her to War Thunder in this setup too. In game, she’ll feel the most at home in the penultimate bracket, where she’ll be a worthy opponent to Richelieu and Bismarck, and a reliable teammate for South Dakota.Vehicle HistoryThe North Carolina-class battleships were the first American “fast” battleships designed after a lengthy hiatus imposed by naval treaties. Two ships of this class were built: USS North Carolina (BB-55) and USS Washington (BB-56). North Carolina was laid down in October 1937, launched in June 1940, and commissioned in April 1941. The ship saw extensive action in the Pacific theater; in September 1942, she was struck by a torpedo from a Japanese submarine, which took her out of commission for a while. Throughout the war her anti-aircraft armament, which initially included the temperamental 28 mm “Chicago Piano” mounts, was progressively replaced with 40 mm Bofors and 20 mm Oerlikon guns, whose numbers steadily grew. Over the course of the war, she earned 12 battle stars. In 1962, she was preserved as a museum and memorial ship in Wilmington, North Carolina.Please note that this vehicle’s characteristics may be changed before it is added to the game. 

The Russian Yak-130 and the Italian Aermacchi M-346 are two combat-trainer aircraft that emerged from the same project.Yak-130: An Attack Aircraft for the USSR at Rank VIM-346FA: An Attack Aircraft for Italy at Rank VIIIAt a glance:

• Subsonic
• Radar and air-to-air missiles (on the M-346FA)
• Compact dimensions
• Impressive arsenal
• Excellent controllability and high thrust-to-weight ratio

Introducing the Yak-130 and M-346FA!In the Heavy Cavalry major update, we’ll be introducing two combat-trainer aircraft, created through a collaboration between Russian and Italian aircraft manufacturers. Meet the Yak-130 and M-346FA! Using the Yak-130 in BattleAt its core, the Yak-130 is a pure strike aircraft. Its pair of bypass, non-afterburning turbofan engines gives the aircraft a good thrust-to-weight ratio, allowing it to accelerate to speeds of approximately 1,050 km/h at sea level! This is excellent for a strike aircraft, allowing you to get in and out of combat in Ground Battles in particular to strike ground targets. On the topic of this mode, you’ll be able to use KAB-500Kr TV-guided bombs for taking them out. Make sure to lock onto the target, and the bomb will automatically engage it in a “fire and forget” mode. Aiming the Yak-130’s unguided weapons is also easy, since this aircraft is equipped with ballistic computers for its bombs and rockets. Using the M-346FA in BattleCompared to the Yak-130, the M-346FA features more advanced equipment and has an expanded ordnance loadout. This does also mean it gets a higher rank in the game. Powered by a pair of Honeywell F124 turbofan engines allow the M-346FA to reach transonic speeds of approximately 1,100 km/h. Despite being made by different countries, the M-346FA shares common features with the Yak-130, in particular its robust wing, rapid acceleration ability and is easy to control. Feature Spotlight: VersatilityWe’d like to take one of the M-346FA’s main features and give it the spotlight, since it does it better than the Yak-130. The M-346FA carries a versatile selection of ordnance on seven hardpoints, which is excellent for an aircraft of this class and size. The most advanced weaponry that this aircraft can use includes the GBU-49 bomb and Paveway IV laser-guided and satellite-guided missiles, with a datalink, allowing you to adjust the missile on its way to the target. It’s also equipped with a radar, countermeasures, and a Helmet-Mounted Display (HMD) meaning the M-346FA is fully capable of engaging in air combat. You can supplement these hardpoints with AIM-9L Sidewinder all-aspect missiles for close-in combat, as well as Derby active radar-guided missiles. All in all, this means the M-346FA comes in with full-size strike capabilities but with a smaller and nimbler aircraft! Developer comment: Although the Yak-130 and M-346FA are going to be great in Air Battles, they will be able to truly make most of their abilities in Ground Battles. Both aircraft fit well into several ground lineups, thanks to their speed and thrust-to-weight ratio, which allows them to destroy tanks and armored vehicles from low and medium altitudes. The Yak-130 is featured in the game in its early production variant, which lacked countermeasures. Because of this, we’ve decided not to add the R-73 missiles that this aircraft could actually use to avoid placing it at an excessively high Battle Rating. We do plan to add a more advanced Yak modification in future updates, but for now at rank VI, the Yak-130 acts as a pure attack aircraft, without air-to-air missiles and countermeasures, which is why its Battle Rating is lower than the M-346FA. On the other hand, the M-346FA features all of the bells and whistles needed for full-fledged air combat (including long-range!). Together with a wide arsenal of air-to-surface guided weapons, the M-346FA is set to become a very versatile force at rank VIII for Italy. At rank VI, the Yak-130 acts as a pure attack aircraft, without air-to-air missiles and countermeasures, which is why its Battle Rating is lower than the M-346FA. On the other hand, the M-346FA features all of the bells and whistles needed for full-fledged air combat (including longe-range!). Together with a wide arsenal of air-to-surface guided weapons, the M-346FA is set to become a very versatile force at rank VIII for Italy. Vehicle HistoryDevelopment of the Yak-130 trainer began in the early 1990s in response to the Russian Air Force’s requirement to replace the aging Czech L-39 Albatros. A demonstrator, designated the Yak-130D, was completed by the end of 1994 and first unveiled to the public in June 1995 at the Le Bourget Air Show. With government funding for defense R&D virtually nonexistent in the 1990s, a decision was made to collaborate with the Italian company Aermacchi to save the project. This partnership allowed the new aircraft to be developed with virtually no budgetary investment. However, by the end of the decade, the developer’s paths diverged: both parties obtained rights to the basic design documentation and began developing their own aircraft.  By the early 2000s, the Russian military’s requirements for the new aircraft had changed. It was to not only train pilots but also perform light combat missions. The Yak-130D’s inherent design potential allowed for rapid refinement. In 2002, the aircraft won the Russian Air Force’s selection process. Serial production began in 2009, and since 2010, the aircraft have been delivered to combat units. The Yak-130 is actively promoted for export and is in service with many countries, including Algeria, Belarus, Vietnam, Myanmar, Iran, and others, becoming one of the most successful Russian aviation projects of the post-Soviet period. Aermacchi independently developed the M-346 into an aircraft design with NATO-standard avionics and systems to meet European demand for modern pilot training solutions after the Cold War. The M-346 first flew in 2004 and entered service in 2015, achieving export success in countries such as Israel, Singapore, Poland, and others. Beyond its training role, a light combat version, the M-346FA (Fighter Attack), was later developed, primarily for foreign operators with smaller air forces who required a multi-role platform with an optimal price-performance ratio. We’re pretty sure that the small and dangerous Yak-130 and M-346FA will be a valuableaddition to the attack aircraft lineup of both in-game nations and will prove themselves not only in air combat but also in combined battles! That’s all for now, we’re looking forward to the release of the Heavy Cavalry update! Until then, clear skies, and happy hunting, pilots. See you very soon! Please note that vehicle specifications may be subject to revision and change before being added to the game.

The Regia Marina, the Royal Italian Navy, was founded on March 17th 1861, by the unification of the navies of the Kingdom of Sardinia, Naples, and Tuscany. It fought in the Italo-Turkish War, the First World War, and the Second World War. In 1946, after the proclamation of the Republic, the Navy received its current name, Marina Militare. It celebrates its professional holiday, Festa della Marina, on June 10th, in memory of the sinking of the battleship Szent István during World War I. RN Geniere is temporarily available to purchase for 3850 Golden Eagles! 

When: June 10th (11:00 GMT) until June 13th (11:00 GMT).Where: Italy > Bluewater fleet > Premium vehicles.

• RN Geniere is only available during the promotion.

 About this destroyer

• RN Geniere was one of the most modern Italian destroyers at the start of the Second World War serving until 1943, when it was heavily damaged by an Allied air raid. It’s an excellent support ship, being able to easily fend off pesky aircraft, lay depth charges, and keep the enemy on their toes, raining down salvos of 120 mm cannon fire every 7.5 seconds if you level up its crew!

 30% discount on Italian vessels!

When: From June 10th (11:00 GMT) until June 13th (11:00 GMT).Where: Italy > Bluewater / Coastal fleet  > Premium Vehicles.

• RN Pola (Rank IV) for 5614 Golden Eagles
• RN Leonardo da Vinci (Rank V) for 5866 Golden Eagles
• Sparviero (Rank IV) for 2695 Golden Eagles
• Folaga (Rank IV) for 2695 Golden Eagles

After the promotion ends, all of these boats will be available to purchase at full price. Open the “Italian Navy Day” trophy!

When: From June 10th (11:00 GMT) until June 13th (11:00 GMT)Task: Earn 3,000 mission points in battles where you used Italian ships at rank III or higher to receive the “Italian Navy Day” trophy!

Inside this trophy, you’ll receive one of three decals: “Coat of arms of the Naval Service of the Italian Coast Guard” decal“MAS 15” decal“Emblem of the Italian Navy” decalThe “MAS 15” decal is located in the “Holidays” vehicle customization section. The “Coat of arms of the Naval Service of the Italian Coast Guard” and “Emblem of the Italian Navy” decals are located in the “Italy → Navy” vehicle customization section. If you already have all three decals, you’ll receive a trophy containing one of the following items:

• 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 → Italian Navy Day.

 

The J-22M1A “Orao” is a Serbian jet attack aircraft with good armament, a radar warning receiver and countermeasures for missile defense!J-22M1A: A Premium USSR/Russian Attack Aircraft at Rank VIAt a glance:

• Speed ​​over 1,100 km/h and good controllability
• Several types of air-to-surface guided missiles, including the advanced GROM-B
• Missiles, bombs, and a ballistic computer
• RWR
• A lot of countermeasures

Pre-order – J-22M1A PackTo get to the Gaijin Store through Steam, go to the in-game hangar > Shop > Online Store.59.99This pack includes:

• J-22M1A (Rank VI, USSR)Premium account for 15 days2000 Golden EaglesPre-order bonus: unique title "Balkan Attack Wing"Pre-order bonus: unique "Emblem of the 241st Fighter-Bomber Squadron of the Serbian Air Force " decalPre-order bonus: unique demonstrational camouflage "Orao"

Using the J-22M1A in Battle!The Serbian J-22M1A “Orao” (Serbian for “eagle”) is a jet attack aircraft with advanced armament and modern electronics. The aircraft is relatively fast for its class, has excellent controllability, and allows the pilot to engage at various altitudes: from precision strikes from over the horizon to dangerous but exciting low-level ground attack missions! Almost all of the Orao’s weapons are unique and appear in War Thunder for the first time. In addition to unguided rockets and bombs, which are used in conjunction with ballistic computers, you can see the crosshair even in realistic modes. The pilot can use a variety of guided missiles to destroy ground vehicles. For example, the GROM-B is a powerful and long-range missile with a TV seeker that’s easy to fire from a third-person view or through the sights. Need more missiles? Get the compact SLAGR M-16D with laser homing heads. Kosava 3 cruise missiles with combined guidance will find and destroy any enemy on earth, even the most daring ones.Feature Spotlight: Threat ProtectionThe J-22M1A can be called a “smart” attack aircraft. Unlike many of its classmates, it has a broader battlefield view than just its weapon sights. The pilot will be aware of incoming missiles and enemy radar lock-ons thanks to the radar warning system, and a large inventory of countermeasures will help repel missile attacks.Interesting: The J-22M1A attack aircraft model was created in collaboration with player NovA29!Developer comment: The Romanian IAR-93 recently appeared in the game, becoming the reward for in a vehicle event at the end of 2024. We couldn’t ignore its counterpart, the Yugoslav J-22. This aircraft is featured in one of its later modifications, with advanced armament, RWR, and countermeasures, so the Orao experience will be completely different: its weapon range against ground targets is greatly increased, while in air combat it can only play defensive. At rank VI, the aircraft will fit perfectly into several very interesting vehicle lineups for combined battles, and in air battles it will be a comfortable and profitable aircraft. Vehicle HistoryNegotiations on the development of a multirole subsonic fighter-bomber began between Romania and Yugoslavia in the late 1960s. The airframe and powerplant of the Romanian and Yugoslav aircraft were developed jointly, while the equipment and armament were developed separately. The Yugoslav version received the designation J-22 “Orao” and entered serial production in the late 1980s.The J-22M1A is the latest major modernization program for the J-22 “Orao” in service with the Serbian Air Force. It includes a complete upgrade of the onboard avionics suite, transitioning to a “glass cockpit” concept, where analog instruments give way to multifunction displays. Significant attention is being paid to the integration of modern precision-guided weapons (“smart” bombs and missiles), as well as to improving the onboard defense system, increasing the aircraft’s survivability on the battlefield. The first examples to undergo this extensive modernization were delivered in the 2020s.Pre-orders for the J-22M1A are open from today, which will be coming to the game with the release of the Heavy Cavalry update. Your pre-order will include the Orao itself, a decal and title exclusive to this pack, days of Premium, and a generous amount of Golden Eagles. Don’t miss out!Please note that this vehicle’s characteristics may be changed before it is added to the game. 

Ground Vehicles

• Fixed unnatural shaking of tanks when driving on sandy surfaces.

 Sound

• Fixed an issue where the voices of Elsa and Maria were swapped in the voice overs.

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.

Hi everyone, some of our game services are currently experiencing instability. You may run into issues signing in to your account, connecting to matches, and viewing in-game purchases. Our team is already working on resolving the problem.Thanks for your patience, we apologize for any inconvenience!

On June 9th 1892, Nikolai Nikolaevich Polikarpov was born. He was one of the founders of the Soviet fighter aircraft design school in the 1930s. His design bureau developed the I-16 (the world’s first mass-produced monoplane fighter with retractable landing gear), the I-15 and I-153 “Chaika” (the most mass-produced biplane fighters in the USSR in the second half of the 1930s), and the U-2 (an extremely popular multirole aircraft). After the designer’s death in 1944, the U-2 was renamed the Po-2 in his honor. 30% discount on Soviet fighters! 

When: From June 9th (11:00 GMT) until June 12th (11:00 GMT)Where: USSR /  Aviation  > Premium Vehicles.

• I-16 type 28 (Rank II) for 945 Golden Eagles
• I-153P for 665 Golden Eagles
• Zhukovsky's I-153-M62 (Rank I) for 280 Golden Eagles

 You can only purchase the I-16 type 28 during the promotion. About these aircraft

• Fans of low-level maneuvering combat will appreciate the I-16 type 28 fighter, which offers a high rate of climb and maneuverability, armed with two 20 mm ShVAK cannons and two 7.62 mm ShKAS machine guns. It also won’t disappoint those looking for ground attack, thanks to its six 82 mm unguided rockets and two FAB bombs weighing up to 100 kg.
• Both I-153 “Chaika” variants  have access to FAB-50sv bombs and ROS-82 unguided rockets. The difference lies in the forward armament: the I-153P is ready to give it some heat with two 20 mm ShVAK aircraft cannons, while Zhukovsky’s I-153-M62 relies on four 7.62 mm ShKAS machine guns with an impressive ammunition supply of 2,470 rounds.

Today we’re pleased to present the long awaited Hummel! This powerful SPG will be joining the lower ranks of the German research tree in the next major update.s.FH 18/1 (Sf.) auf III/IV Hummel: An SPG for Germany at Rank IIAt a glance:

• Various shell types, including HE, SAP, and AP-TS
• Powerful 150 mm cannon!
• Poor protection
• Average mobility

 Vehicle HistoryIn late July 1942, a new directive regarding SPGs came from German high command. For medium SPG platforms, the planned 105 mm guns were deemed too underpowered for the platform, and going forward all heavy SPGs were to mount 150 mm guns instead. This effectively killed the in-progress Pz.Sfl.IVb project, and support was redirected to a new design.Selecting a hull was the first hurdle, the Pz. III chassis was steadily becoming obsolete. The Pz. IV had potential, but came with its own tribulations. The solution was to create a hybrid design incorporating elements of both, such as the transmission, drive sprocket and final drive from the Pz. III, and the suspension of the Pz. IV. This design came with compromises, the most challenging of which was the placement of the engine, which had to sit under the huge 150 mm sFH 18 howitzer. This made field maintenance a regularly daunting task, as the entire gun array had to be removed in order to service the engine.One advantage was the large internal space the crew had to operate in, which aided in comfort and loading. A downside to this however was the lack of space for ammo storage, having room for only 18 rounds, which often necessitated Hummels to be supported by specialized ammunition carriers.In service, the Hummel was not highly rated by crews. On top of the maintenance issues, its suspension and relatively weak engine made traversing wild terrain difficult, and constant mechanical failures paired with a staggering lack of spare parts put a lot of Hummels out of action outside of combat. Despite this however, the Hummel did fulfill its goal; it could keep pace with armored divisions and provide heavy artillery support where needed, though it was ultimately held back by mechanical stress and design limitations.Introducing the Hummel!It’s been a long time coming, but we’re very pleased to finally be adding the Hummel to War Thunder! Germany is already well stocked when it comes to high-caliber ground vehicles, so what makes the Hummel different? Well, quite a bit actually! Let’s have a look.We’ll start with the most interesting part here, the firepower. The Hummel will be able to equip a surprisingly large variety of shell types. Aside from two HE shells, the Hummel will also be able to equip smoke, HEAT, SAP (Anti-Concrete), and a very special APHE shell. The Hummel can field the 150 mm Pzgr 39 TS shell, which is effectively an APHE-Sabot containing a 88 mm Pzgr 39 round, giving the Hummel a very potent anti-tank shell that will be more than capable of penetrating anything at the rank!So much choice! How will you ever decide which shells to take into battle? Well, it may be a bit of a challenge. The Hummel can only equip a maximum of 18 shells, and while you will have access to an ammo crate to replenish your stocks, if you wanted to take an equal mix of every shell type into combat, you’d only be able to equip 3 shells of each, so pick your ammo wisely. Did you know? Hummel means “Bumblebee”, following the insect-based names of other German artillery, like Wespe (Wasp) and Grille (Cricket).So, what else can you expect from the Hummel? Well aside from the firepower, the remaining aspects of the vehicle are very similar to the Nashorn. They share the same engine, chassis, and round off at roughly the same weight as well. This means the Hummel will have relatively average mobility, but quite a quick hull traverse, which is a very handy trait for a turretless vehicle. Armor is the primary weakness of course, the vehicle is completely open topped and barely bulletproof, only able to withstand rifle caliber rounds.Positioning the Hummel will be a tricky task, it only has -3 degrees of gun depression which almost entirely limits it to flat ground. Defensive positions at range are the most ideal for the Hummel. Though, nothing is stopping you from having a brawl if you’re confident and quick on the trigger!That’s all for today, we hope you’re as excited as we are to play the Hummel when it arrives to the research tree in the next major update. Until then keep checking in, and we’ll see you shortly for even more!Please note that this vehicle’s characteristics may be changed before it is added to the game.

We’re starting to test the updated Nuclear Escalation Mode!The Nuclear Escalation event has launched in the Heavy Cavalry major update’s dev server! We’ve refined and improved the large-scale nuclear conflict that you experienced back in April. We’ve made numerous changes, but the main ones include:

• Players can now fly their own aircraft from any nation
• An AI-controlled fleet has been added to the mission
• The overall front line has been increased

There’s also changes to game mechanics, various tweaks, improvements and new features. Let’s take a look at them below!The Tension is Mounting!All in-game nations can now participate in this version of Nuclear Escalation! Battle Ratings now range from 13.0 to 14.7, and the matchmaking system utilizes Battle Rating brackets within this range as needed, ensuring balanced encounters in every battle.We’ve also expanded the front line: the line of contact has been extended to the mountains, increasing the map’s tactical depth. Carrier strike groups, supported by missile ships, have been added to control the coastal zone. More modern AI-controlled ground vehicles have been introduced for higher-rank battles in the mode as well.New OpportunitiesWe’ve made some major changes to the general event mechanics. The escalation system has been reworked, removing the need for strategic bombers with megaton bombs. Nuclear strikes will now be carried out with bombs of 5 and 30 kiloton yields, carried by the same aircraft that carry nuclear bombs in Ground Battles, depending on the Battle Rating bracket. The behemoths from the April event, the B-52H and Tu-95M bombers, may return as a separate Nuclear Escalation event in the future.The match completion conditions have also changed. The main base is now easier to destroy, but destroying it no longer grants instant victory. Victory is now determined by the total number of points earned for destroying any target: enemy aircraft, AI-controlled vehicles, and airfields.In addition, the marker system has been improved when viewing from an aircraft. Markers for ground and surface targets are now displayed depending on the angular size of the target, meaning that markers for buildings are visible 3-5 times further than markers for ground vehicles.A new respawn mechanic has been introduced. Aircraft are now temporarily locked from respawing on the airfields from which they departed from. Respawning with the same aircraft from other airfields is possible immediately. This change is intended to prevent players from instantly returning to combat in the same position and encourage more cautious, tactical behavior.And finally, the minimap now features tooltips for respawn bases. Hovering over them provides information about the airfield’s status. This new feature simplifies navigation and improves situational awareness for the team.The fire control system for air defense vehicles has undergone significant changes here too. Target filters have been implemented, meaning that air defense systems will now engage guided missiles (especially air-to-air missiles and surface-to-air missiles) significantly less frequently. This will only occur if there are no aircraft in the firing range and the air defense system considers the missile an immediate threat.Test Nuclear Escalation on the Dev Server!Testing of the updated Nuclear Escalation mode has begun on the dev server! Please be sure to give it a try, and report any issues that you encounter. We’d also like to hear your suggestions for improving the mode. We’re planning to launch Nuclear Escalation on the main War Thunder servers as a game event soon. Until then, have fun!

First of all, we want to make it clear that the use of generative AI for in-game vehicle textures is not authorized by Gaijin and is prohibited under our contracts with outsourcing partners. During our investigation, we found that one of the outsourcing teams that assists us with vehicle models and textures used GenAI while preparing some materials. This was done without our approval, and unfortunately the issue was not detected by our internal quality control process in time.We are now reviewing all work delivered by this team and reassessing our future cooperation with them. We are also improving our quality control procedures to reduce the risk of similar cases happening again.At the same time, the reports we received include several different cases, and they should not all be treated in the same way.M60In gallery above you can see different layers with textures. The Gemini logo is only on small auxiliary tiled texture.In the case of the M60 camouflage, GenAI was used by an outsourcing team to generate a placeholder tiled camouflage texture. Temporary service textures are commonly used at an early stage of production to check how a model looks and works before the final texture is created, but normally procedural tiles or other placeholder materials are used for this purpose. However, in this particular case, the placeholder texture was AI-generated and moved further along the production pipeline unnoticed. This should not have happened, and we will take additional measures to prevent similar issues in the future.Challenger 2 OES (Senrai Maidens)"The pre-final reference image (contains an incorrect British flag on the turret's cheeks that was later corrected before the model was implemented in-game)"As for the anime-themed Emily tank (Challenger 2), the vehicle design itself was created by artists without the use of generative AI, and there are no Gemini-like logos in the tank’s actual design materials. Some players may see a similarity between the Gemini logo and elements on the black flag mounted at the rear of the turret, but this is simply a design element created by humans. Multiple versions of this flag were explored during development, including variants with several stars and a version with a single star positioned at the end of the white line.On the other hand, the Gemini watermark that appeared on the vinyl record artwork in materials related to the Emily tank originated during the processing of manually created reference materials by the same outsourcing team. This was not authorized by Gaijin and should not have passed quality control.We sincerely apologize for the oversights in these cases. We also want to thank the players who noticed these issues and reported them to us. Their attention helped us identify a problem in the production pipeline, and we are taking steps to address it.Yak-130In the case of the Yak-130, the element that some players associated with the Gemini logo comes from real-world reference photos. Similar symbols and markings can be seen on many real Yak-130 aircraft (link to photo on Wikipedia), as well as on other Russian military aircraft. This part of the texture was therefore based on actual reference material, not on AI-generated imagery.Fuel pictogram