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War Thunder News & Announcements

“Asas que protegem” Bundle

Can be purchased through the store in-game. Shop > Online Store
Price: $120 $59.99
This bundle includes:

Reaper Pack
AMX A-1 Pack
Unique title: "Wings that protect"

Brazil celebrates Independence Day on September 7th, and this year the largest South American country turns 202 years old. We’re marking this date with a new cinematic video from the Moments of Valor series dedicated to Brazil.

Additionally in honor of this day, we’ve created a bundle with a 50% discount that features two aircraft used by the Brazilian Air Force, the AMX A-1 and Meteor Reaper attack aircraft. By purchasing this bundle, you’ll receive the unique 1st Fighter Group camouflage created by the player BHmaster for the Meteor Reaper, as well as the “Wings that protect” title. You can also purchase both packs separately with a 30% discount, by doing this you will only receive the camouflage for the Meteor Reaper.

This bundle will be available until September 16th (09:00 GMT). This offer is only valid for PC players.

Players on all platforms who already own the Meteor Reaper (or purchased it during the event for Golden Eagles) can earn the camouflage by playing 3 battles with the Meteor Reaper before September 16th.
Players on all platforms who already own the AMX A-1 can also earn the title by playing 3 battles with the AMX A-1 before September 16th.

Additionally, the following camouflages are available in-game for Golden Eagles:

P-47D-28 (USA) — livery of Lieutenant Pedro de Lima Mendes from the Italian campaign, where Brazilian pilots took part. This camouflage was created by the player LeiteArts10;
Leopard 1A5 (Germany) — Encouracado camouflage of the Brazilian Armored Vehicle School;
M41 (USA) — camouflage of the mechanized reconnaissance regiment of the 2nd Army of the Brazilian Armed Forces.

Welcome to the 136th War Thunder Steam Screenshot Competition!

Your pictures with the heavy-hitting destroyers last week looked great! This week, capture the defeat of an aircraft. There are many possibilities in what you can use- Machine gun? Classic. A surface-to-air missile? Easy silver. A bomb? Surprise! The three most popular and three selected by us will get 300 GE. See the winners down below!

Let’s begin the 136th edition of our competition!

Create a stunning screenshot and submit it on the War Thunder Steam Community Hub with the tag #WTscreen136. You have time until the 13th of September 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.

Terms:

Your screenshot must include an aircraft taking damage or being shot down.

You must add the #WTscreen136 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 135th edition – Destroyers!

Winners selected via community votes:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3321611555
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3323550695
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3321306660

Winners selected by our judges:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3322575715
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3321894705
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3321727792

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

Today, we’ll be taking a look at the Antelope, set to become one of the most advanced short-range anti-air systems in the Chinese ground forces tree.

Antelope: An SPAA for China at Rank VII

At a glance:

Anti-jam homing missiles, although only 4 in total.
Thermal imager.
Virtually no armor to speak of.

Vehicle History

In 1995, the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST) sought to develop their short range air defense arsenal, especially as their MiM-72 platforms bought from America during the 1980s were showing their age and limitations. The result of this undertaking was the Antelope Air Defense System, which incorporated IR guided SAMs and radar. The setup was able to be operated standalone or mounted on a vehicle, where ultimately a truck chassis was chosen for mass production.

Meet the Antelope!

Coming to War Thunder in the Dance of Dragons major update, the Antelope will be joining the top ranks of China’s anti-air line, offering quite a unique playstyle and allowing for a smoother transition between the PGZ04A and Tor-M1, where there was previously a sizable gap. Let’s take a closer look!

The Antelope will become the second missile-only platform to arrive to the Chinese ground forces tree. Leaving conventional weapons behind, the Antelope features an integrated missile launcher with four IR-guided SAMs on board. Unlike the missiles found on the preceding PGZ04A, the Antelope’s armament features much greater range, up to 8 km in fact! As a result of this range and the general drastic improvement of the missile itself, its ability to intercept aircraft is very impressive. However, a limitation of the Antelope is that it can only carry a max of 4 missiles with no room to store any extra. What you see is what you get, so make every launch count!

Being on a modified truck chassis, the Antelope boasts excellent mobility. Thanks to its 150 HP diesel engine, this vehicle can reach a top speed just shy of 100 km/h. This makes it very easy to reposition itself after firing — a key element to SPAA is surprise, so engaging from an unexpected position will grant a much higher chance of success, especially if the radar is kept off until the last moment. The speed can also be effectively utilized to head to friendly strategic points to replenish missiles, though be very careful in the open, as the Antelope is entirely unarmored, so make sure you’re not out of cover for too long!

That’s it for today. The Antelope will soon be arriving to the top ranks of the Chinese ground forces tree to bolster the SPAA line in the Dance of Dragons major update. Until then, keep an eye out on the website for more devblogs and news, enjoy your matches and we’ll see you soon for more!

Please note that this vehicle’s characteristics may be changed before it is added to the game.

Speed up your progress with this premium tank, also coming in the next major update:
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/236390/view/4579685279891604787

On September 11th 1944, the Red Army’s ground forces broke through German defenses in the Eastern Carpathians. After the end of WWII, this date began to be celebrated in the USSR as Tanker’s Day.

Get the “Golden HE” decoration!
Available for Tanker’s Day.

“Golden HE” decoration

When: From today until September 9th (07:00 GMT).
Task: Win 5 battles using Soviet ground vehicles at rank III or higher to receive the “Golden HE” decoration.

Additional details:

Your activity must not be below 70%.

You can complete the task in random battles, except for Enduring Confrontation missions, and mode.

Track your progress in the hangar by clicking Nickname → Achievements → Holidays → Tanker’s Day.

You can find the decoration in the “Other” tab in the Customization menu.

30% Discount on Soviet tanks in the Gaijin Store!
Also in honor of this day, there’s a 30% discount on all Soviet tanks in the Gaijin store, except for the T-80U-E1.

When: From today until September 9th (07:00 GMT).

This is the PUMA VJTF, the most advanced modification of Germany’s latest IFV currently fielded by the Bundeswehr. Featuring upgraded firepower, the PUMA VJTF will soon join the top ranks of the German ground forces tree!

PUMA VJTF: A Light Tank for Germany at Rank VII

At a glance:

Excellent mobility!
Addition of Spike-LR missiles.
Active protection system.
Powerful 30 mm autocannon!

Vehicle History

In the late 2010s, the Bundeswehr sought to upgrade its PUMA IFVs to the latest technological standard. In 2021, the official approval for the modernization of 40 PUMAs was obtained. The new variant would feature the implementation of the Spike-LR ATGM and enhanced communication systems among other upgrades with a target deployment date for the vehicles being set for 2023. The vehicles form two platoons of the Bundeswehr and are dedicated to the German element forming the NATO Very High Readiness Joint Task Force 2023 (VJTF). Future plans include the modernization of all PUMAs in the Bundeswehr’s stock to be upgraded to this standard.

Meet the PUMA VJTF!

The PUMA is currently the most advanced IFV available to Germany, both in real life as well as in War Thunder. This is soon to change however in the Dance of Dragons major update! With the introduction of the PUMA VJTF, the German ground forces tree will gain access to the most advanced modification of the PUMA to date, most prominently featuring additional firepower. Let’s check out today’s devblog!

Representing one of the most modern German combat vehicles available in the game at the moment, the arrival of the PUMA VJTF will bring with it a new top dog to the German ground forces tree! Inheriting much of what the standard variant of the PUMA is already well known for, this upgraded variant of the vehicle most notably features upgrades to its firepower — more specifically, the addition of a twin barrel MELLS launcher. These represent the German designation of the Spike-LR, already familiar to top rank battles. The addition of these missiles further increase the PUMA’s combat effectiveness as the ATGMs extend its reach, allowing it to strike even heavily armored MBTs at great distances. Additionally, thanks to the missile’s fire-and-forget targeting system, you might even dare to engage incoming enemy aircraft and helicopters if you’re feeling lucky!

Did you know? The PUMA armored infantry vehicle program was formerly known as Igel — a Hedgehog in German.

Apart from the addition of a Spike launcher, the PUMA VJTF remains quite similar to the base model, retaining its sleek profile, excellent mobility and advanced active protection system. However, if you’re going to be playing this vehicle, be aware of its shortcomings, mainly found in its armor, being only light protection when excluding the ERA elements found integrated within the hull of the PUMA’s sides.

The most advanced modification of the PUMA IFV will soon be coming to War Thunder in the Dance of Dragons major update at rank VII in the German ground forces tree. In the meantime, stay sharp as we continue releasing more news articles covering the exciting new additions awaiting you in the upcoming update. Until then, good hunting tankers!

Please note that this vehicle’s characteristics may be changed before it is added to the game.

Video produced on the dev server. Final results may differ.

Our 2024 Roadmap included several interface improvements, and one of them was new reticles for modern tanks with improved elements of the tank’s gun sight systems. Today, we’re pleased to present it to you, not just in an updated form, but in a deeply customized form as well. This new feature will come to the game in the Dance of Dragons major update — let’s take a look!

A new option called “Sight settings” has been added to the Ground vehicle Battle Settings. When clicking on this button, you can create your own configuration of interface elements displayed in the gunner’s sight. Configurations that you create can be saved to individual vehicles or to every vehicle at a selected rank of a specific nation at once so that you don’t have to create a sight for each vehicle one by one. Plus, you can also use any sight on any vehicle in the game (yes, that means you can use the modern US sight on a T-34 if you want!).

The following elements can be customized:

Grid sight. You can either select it from the grids already available in the game, or install a custom sight downloaded to the /UserSights/ folder located in the game directory
Rangefinder indicator
Turret rotation indicator
Sight field of view indicator at maximum zoom
Shot readiness indicator (shows readiness status and reload time)

Interface elements that do not affect aiming can be easily and conveniently dragged around the screen with your mouse cursor. Each element can be viewed in different modes: day, night, with a night vision device or with a thermal imager.

Learn how to install and create sights

This is just the first version of the customizable aiming sights that will be coming to the game in the Dance of Dragons major update. New elements and additional settings may be added in the future. In the meantime, tell us what you think about this new feature on the official forum or on our social networks!

Today, pre-orders for this special variant of the AV-8B Harrier VTOL strike aircraft with thermal imaging have started!

AV-8B Night Attack: A Premium Naval Strike Aircraft for the USA at Rank VII

Features:

A huge variety of weaponry, including JDAMs!
Thermal imaging!
VTOL capability but relatively slow speed.
Fantastic versatility in both air and ground battles.

Vehicle History

In 1989 to support the U.S. Marine Corps during both day and night, a special version of the VTOL AV-8B Harrier was developed, NA standing for Night Attack. This version differed from earlier modifications with the addition of the NAVFLIR (Navigation Forward-Looking Infrared) system, the cockpit was configured for night vision goggles, and an upgraded Rolls-Royce Pegasus engine was installed. This modification also involved upgrading existing AV-8B models to the AV-8B Night Attack standard. Still in service with the U.S. Marine Corps today, this variant participated in most military operations involving marine aviation from the late 20th to the early 21st century.

Pre-order - AV-8B Night Attack Pack
Can be purchased through the store in-game. Shop > Online Store
69.99

AV-8B Night Attack (Rank 7, USA)
2500 Golden Eagles
Premium account for 20 days
Pre-order bonus: unique "True Action Hero" title
Pre-order bonus: "VMA-223 insignia" decal

This offer is not endorsed by the U.S. Department of Defense or any military branch

Introducing the AV-8B Night Attack!

Say hello to this special variant of the much loved Harrier, one of the most effective strike platforms for ground battles — the Night Attack (NA) variant, designed to support U.S. Marine Corps around the clock, night and day! This unique variant will be coming to the game when the Dance of Dragons major update is released, but today pre-orders for a special bundle containing the aircraft, unique pre-order bonuses and Golden Eagles and Premium time have started. Let’s take a look!

Representing one of the most advanced variants of the carrier based Harrier, the AV-8B (NA) will be quite familiar to those already accustomed with top-tier American or British aircraft. The real key feature of this variant is its thermal imaging mode, available even without a targeting pod — although it will only point forward. The Night Attack variant comes equipped with the F402 engine (the U.S. designation for the Rolls-Royce Pegasus) with familiar thrust vectoring capabilities. This aircraft is excellent for ground striking thanks to its great bomb load and wide array of ordnance. Make sure to take care though when approaching the battlefield as its speed is still relatively low, you’ll have to utilize its high maneuverability and large supply of countermeasures — 180 of them to be precise!

With the right pilot behind the controls, the AV-8B (NA) is a truly formidable force in ground battles, where its VTOL capabilities really come into play, sort of becoming a cross between a typical strike aircraft and an attack helicopter. It can hover behind terrain and surprise enemies, and swiftly rearm close to the battlefield from helipads.

At the core of any AV-8B loadout is the classic 25 mm GAU-12/U cannon. Much like the AV-8B Plus, the AV-8B (NA) has no in-built gun, only being able to carry one under the fuselage. As this variant is at a lower rank and battle rating, it lacks radar guided missiles and the top tier AIM-9M. However, it can still carry four of the highly maneuverable AIM-9L missiles, which are more than sufficient for any dogfight at its rank, as well as easily combating enemy helicopters.

Thanks to its onboard electronics, the AV-8B (NA) excels with unguided weapons, being able to carry a wealth of free fall, drag and napalm bombs, along with Zuni and Mighty Mouse unguided rockets. Although, the real highlight is of course the guided weaponry! You can choose from precision guided bombs like the GBU-12 (up to ten) or the GBU-16 (up to four) which require the LITENING II targeting pod. The major update will also be introducing GPS-guided bombs, with this Harrier being able to equip up to 10 GBU-38 JDAMs. And finally, it can also equip some excellent air-to-ground missiles! Up to 4 AGM-65G or the new AGM-65E2 missiles can be carried, making this Harrier exceptionally versatile.

The pre-order for the AV-8B Night Attack pack is only available for a few more days, give it a look and pick it up for some exclusive cosmetic content, along with Premium time and a lot of Golden Eagles. Don’t miss out!

Please note that this vehicle’s characteristics may be changed before it is added to the game.

Unrivaled in its time and one of the first representatives of a class of fast battleships, HMS Barham is the main reward for the Steel Baron naval event!

HMS Barham: An Event Vehicle Battleship for Great Britain at Rank VI
At a glance:

Deadly 381 mm guns!
Good armor protection.
One of the best top speeds amongst British battleships.
Very weak AA defense, just two 76 mm cannons.

Vehicle History

Queen Elizabeth-class battleships were revolutionary for their time, with two key differences making them unrivaled in combat performance for many years. Firstly, the most powerful main battery with a rate of fire of two rounds per minute, which allowed them to destroy any potential enemy, and secondly the power plant with oil boilers, which provided these ships with high speed. The armor also took a step forward compared to other British ships, and the class was considered so successful that the Admiralty suspended the production of battlecruisers in favor of building another Queen Elizabeth-class battleship.

HMS Barham was launched in the autumn of 1914 and commissioned a year later. Barham took part in the famous Battle of Jutland as part of the 5th Battleship Squadron, attached to Beatty’s battlecruisers. During the interwar period, HMS Barham carried out patrols and took part in exercises. She also took part in active military operations during WWII from the first days after its outbreak, mainly in the Mediterranean. On November 24th 1941, while escorting a Maltese convoy, HMS Barham was torpedoed by German submarine U-331. Three torpedoes hit Barham, causing a fire and detonation on board. The moment of the tragic death of hundreds of sailors and the sinking of HMS Barham as a result of a huge explosion was captured on newsreel footage filmed from battleship HMS Valiant.

Meet HMS Barham!
Meet the main reward for the Steel Baron naval event, which was probably the best battleship in the world at the time of its inception, the mighty HMS Barham! This battleship features powerful armament and a good top speed, all coming to rank VI in the British Bluewater fleet tree. Let’s take a closer look.

Like the other four Queen Elizabeth-class ships, HMS Barham is armed with 8 x 381 mm (15 inch) guns in four turrets, with a rate of fire of two rounds per minute. In terms of auxiliary caliber weapons, HMS Barham features 14 x 152 mm (6 inch) guns in single-barrel mounts, with seven per side. As you may have already figured out, this is one of the most powerful ships in the game, capable of sinking any enemy ship with a few accurate salvos. The main caliber guns have shells that weigh a massive 871 kg, the SAPCBC and APC, both great for dealing with thick enemy battleship armor, with the APC featuring good post-pen effects.

For armor, HMS Barham is well-protected. The thickness of the armor belt and front turret reaches 330 mm, which, together with the well-protected barbettes and large crew size make HMS Barham very survivable and capable of quickly eliminating fires and leaks. One signature feature of the Queen Elizabeth-class battleships is their oil boilers, which allow them to accelerate to 24 knots (44 km/h). This is very good compared to other Royal Navy battleships and one of the best among other early battleships in other nations.

HMS Barham has a few disadvantages though, one of which includes its weak AA capability. Only 2 x 76 mm guns are defending Barham from aircraft which are unlikely to be of much use against a good pilot. Another disadvantage is her very slow horizontal aiming speeds of the main turrets, meaning HMS Barham won’t be able to react quickly and attack ships that are firing at her from several directions. Keep your distance to ensure that you have the widest possible view of the open sea, and plan your route in advance. And lastly, if you do need to get involved in close-range combat, four 533 mm underwater torpedo tubes with 20 torpedoes are there to help.

HMS Barham is the main reward in the Steel Baron event that started today. Check out the link below for all the terms and how to participate in this event to earn yourself this awesome battleship!

Please note that this vehicle’s characteristics may be changed before it is added to the game.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE STEEL BARON EVENT HERE

Aircraft

Now when landing on an enemy aircraft carrier, a player will surrender just like it happens when landing on an airfield.

Ground vehicles

A bug that caused the button for launching an UAV to change to the button for deploying an UGV activation of which was spawning a tank has been fixed. (Report).
A bug that caused shells replenished on a capture point to be damaged if they were lost in an ammo rack fire has been fixed.
A synchronization bug that caused the destroyed reactive armor to appear functional for the player who has spawned in after the destruction of said armor has been fixed.
A synchronization bug that caused the player to be visually shooting for other players if the player was holding down the firing key with a broken down autoloader has been fixed.

Interface

Following the Roadmap: a notification of when a reported player got banned has been added. More details on this here.
A bug that caused the reloading values for the top crew in the X-ray view to not display or display wrongly for ground vehicles with multiple cannons has been fixed. (Report).
A bug that caused the reloading values for the top crew in the X-ray view of some ships to not reflect the actual values has been fixed.
A bug that prevented the research window from closing if after researching all vehicles a player had some extra research points left has been fixed.
A bug that caused the icon-tooltip informing about the possibility to remove a vehicle from the crew slot just by dragging it to not fit into the “Remove from the preset” button, located in the “Change vehicle” menu has been fixed.

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.

Today, we’ll be showing you a new Roadmap feature that has just been implemented into the game: a notification of when a player that you reported has been banned. This works for players that were reported in-game as well as for those reported via the replay service on our website.

From now on, if a player that you reported gets banned, you’ll get a window with a notification letting you know when you log into the game. We’ve also added a new tab to the messages window called “System notifications” that contains messages about banned players that you reported. An important note here is that all notifications are anonymized, since personal data legislation in many countries obliges us to do this.

In the meantime, we’re continuing to work on new features from the Roadmap, with a few of them coming with the release of the Dance of Dragons major update. Keep an eye out for more news!

Meet the CV9035NL, a Dutch modification of the CV90 IFV, developed specifically for the export market.

CV9035NL: A Squadron Vehicle Light Tank for France at Rank VII

At a glance:

Potent 35 mm autocannon!
Good mobility.
Laser warning system.
Add-on armor, making it slightly heavier than the CV9035DK.

Vehicle History

Following the development of the CV90 Mk III, many countries adopted the vehicle into their military. Among these operators was also the Dutch army, which placed orders in 2004 and obtained up to 193 vehicles by the time the last units were delivered in 2011.

Meet the CV9035NL!

This is the CV9035NL, another unique variant of the CV90 family of IFVs that are already familiar to the game. Arriving as a new squadron vehicle to the French ground forces tree with the release of the Dance of Dragons major update, the CV9035NL will further diversify the French top tank lineups. Let’s take a further look!

For those of you who have already had a chance to play the CV9035DK, the CV9035NL will feel right at home as both vehicles share nearly identical specifications. The most noticeable difference distinguishing the two vehicles from one another is the presence of upgraded add-on armor for the Dutch variant’s sides and roof. While this effectively has increased the vehicle’s side protection against shrapnel and high caliber machine gun fire, it also adds weight. As a result of this, the Dutch modification of the CV9035 possesses slightly worse mobility, making itself noticeable in the vehicle’s slightly slower acceleration due to the decreased power-to-weight ratio. Additionally, the CV9035NL comes equipped with a laser warning system, increasing crew awareness of missile threats both from enemy ground vehicles and aircraft.

You’ll be able to obtain the CV9035NL either through squadron activity points or by purchasing it with Golden Eagles. In the meantime, be sure to stay tuned to the news as we continue to keep you posted on all the latest developments surrounding the upcoming update. Until then, happy hunting tankers!

Please note that this vehicle’s characteristics may be changed before it is added to the game.

The long-awaited Su-24M frontline bomber will be joining the top ranks of the Soviet Union's aircraft tree in the next major update!

Su-24M: A Strike Aircraft for the USSR at Rank VII

At a glance:

Very large payload capacity with a huge variety of ordnance.
High speed, much faster than the Su-25.
New KAB-1500L guided bombs.
600 rounds per second? Yes, that’s real.
Variable-sweep wing.

Vehicle History

Almost immediately after the Su-24 entered service, work began on its modernization. The main goal was to improve target accuracy using the latest weaponry, advanced navigation systems, and an upgraded targeting suite. A new generation of missiles with semi-active laser guidance (Kh-25, Kh-29L) and precision-guided bombs (KAB-500L, KAB-1500L) formed the core of the strike power of the updated Su-24M. For defense, the aircraft was fitted with new jamming equipment, and for air combat, could carry up to four R-60M air-to-air missiles. The modernized Su-24M was delivered 1981, with serial production ending in 1993.

Introducing the Su-24M!

The Dance of Dragons major update is a real treat for jet strike aircraft pilots, as we recently covered the F-111 for the British and American air trees, and today we’re happy to showcase the long-awaited Su-24M for the Soviet research tree. So, let’s take a closer look at this new top bomber!

All-in-all, the Su-24M embodies all of the aircraft design trends of its era — variable-sweep wings, advanced angular air intakes, and a dual-engine powerplant. Its two afterburning AL-21F-3 turbojet engines provide almost fighter-like thrust, capable of pushing this aircraft to a top speed of around 1,800 km/h. Thanks to this engine, the Su-24M boasts impressive climb rates even by rank VII standards, and maintains excellent roll speed at high altitudes. Onboard, there’s also electronics and equipment that are needed in top-tier battles for effective gameplay: a targeting pod, advanced radar, missile launch warning system, and large-caliber chaff and flares for missile defense. It’s got it all!

Did you know? In some units of the Soviet Air Force, the Su-24 series of aircraft earned the nickname “Suitcase” due to its boxy fuselage, enhanced by the air intakes. In NATO classification, this strike fighter was named “Fencer”, supposedly due to the distinctive antenna on its nose, although it’s likely just following the standard nomenclature of using words that begin with “F” to classify fighters.

Now on to its guns. The Su-24M’s armament is focused on suppressing ground targets, although it can also defend itself in air combat. Let's break it down! The core weapon of choice for any loadout will be the built-in six-barrel GSh-6-23M cannon, an outstanding weapon with an unheard-of rate of fire of up to 9,000 rounds per minute. Under the fuselage and wings, the Su-24M has eight hardpoints, capable of carrying up to 8000 kg of ordnance. For example, it can carry three additional GSh-6-23M cannons in pods — that’s 600 rounds and over 100 kg of burst mass per second. As for air-to-air missile combat, the Su-24M is equipped with familiar short-range R-60M missiles, known for their high sensitivity to countermeasures but still quite effective and maneuverable.

One of the Su-24M’s stand-out features is its ability to carry an excellent range of air-to-ground weapons. You’ll have access to the familiar Kh-23, Kh-25, and Kh-29 missile families (including the laser-guided Kh-29L and TV-guided Kh-29TE) and guided bombs like the KAB-500Kr and KAB-1500Kr, new to the game KAB-500S, along with the laser-guided KAB-500L and the new huge KAB-1500L. This arsenal is complemented by conventional bombs ranging from 500 to 1500 kg, as well as unguided rockets, including small S-8, medium S-13, and the large S-24 and S-25. The latter will be available in several modifications, with the S-25L specifically being laser guided!

That’s it for this blog! The brand-new Su-24M will be available to research in the upcoming Dance of Dragons major update. Stay tuned to our website for other vehicles that we’ll be announcing. Until then, happy battles ahead!

Please note that this vehicle’s characteristics may be changed before it is added to the game.

In today’s blog, we’ll be taking a look at the J-10A, an advanced 4+ generation Chinese jet fighter developed in the late 1990s to incorporate the latest aeronautical technologies available at the time.

J-10A: A Jet Fighter for China at Rank VIII

Features:

Top speed of Mach 2!
Excellent maneuverability.
High G load!
Air-to-air focused arsenal.

Vehicle History

For much of the second half of the 20th century, Chinese aircraft development struggled to meet the requirements of the PLAAF due to insufficiently advanced technologies. This was only further compounded by regular and extensive budget cuts which often canceled promising projects. In the early 1980s however, funding for the development of a cutting edge fighter was approved alongside a completely new approach to its R&D process. Unlike previous projects where single design bureaus were selected beforehand, the PLAAF would set the requirements of the program and enable competition among different manufacturers to produce the best aircraft. In the end, Chengdu Aircraft’s design scored most favorably with the PLAAF, resulting in its design being picked for further development under the name “Project No. 10”.
As the program’s goal was to push technological boundaries, development advanced slowly. Nevertheless, the first aircraft was assembled in 1997 and successfully test flown the next year. Following certification, the aircraft was adopted into PLAAF service in 2005 under the official designation “J-10A”, with the production version featuring minor improvements over the prototype. The J-10 and its subsequent variants are still in production and active service with the PLAAF to this day.

Meet the J-10A!

The J-10A is amongst the most modern jet fighters currently in service with the Chinese air forces. Featuring an extremely powerful engine, excellent flight characteristics and an onboard arsenal focused around aerial combat, the J-10A will make for the perfect reinforcement to the top rank of Chinese aviation tree when it arrives in the Dance of Dragons major update. How about we take a closer look!

Somewhat resembling the Swedish JAS39 Gripen at first glance, the J-10A represents a highly advanced Chinese jet fighter, incorporating cutting edge design features such as a delta wing, actuated canards and a powerful turbofan engine. Speaking of the latter, the J-10A is powered by the AL-31FN afterburning turbofan engine, capable of quickly accelerating the aircraft up to its maximum top speed of Mach 2 at high altitudes. This, combined with the delta wing design and the use of canards, allow this aircraft to possess excellent aerodynamic qualities, especially at higher speeds. In effect, this makes the J-10A perfectly suited for intense dogfighting, likely making it become a favorite among true jet jockeys.

Interesting: A testimony to the innovative approach of the J-10A’s design was the necessity to develop around 60% of the parts from scratch.

Apart from stellar flight performance, the J-10A also has much to show for in terms of its offensive capabilities. Apart from its default twin 23 mm cannon with 200 rounds of ammunition, the J-10A also has provisions for up to 11 hardpoints. These allow it to equip a wide range of ordnance, including new to the game PL-5EII close combat missiles, very capable PL-8 missiles with good G-tolerance, as well as PL-12 ARH missiles. Additionally, this aircraft can also be outfitted with laser-guided as well as conventional bombs and rockets — Type 90-1 HEAT and high caliber Type 130-2 — enabling it to also be effectively employed in the ground attack role. Finally, a modern radar and countermeasure systems round off the J-10A’s equipment, making it an extremely versatile aircraft catering to a wide spectrum of pilots out there.

The J-10A will soon become the new top dog of the Chinese aviation tree with its arrival to the game as part of the Dance of Dragons major update! That’s this blog wrapped. In the meantime, be sure to follow the news for the latest information regarding the upcoming update. Until then, clear skies and happy hunting pilots. See you soon!

Please note that this vehicle’s characteristics may be changed before it is added to the game.

Today, we’ll be taking a look at IJN Amagi — an advanced Japanese battlecruiser design whose construction began in 1920 but was ultimately never completed due to adverse circumstances.

IJN Amagi: A Battlecruiser for Japan at Rank VI

Features:

Deadly 410 mm primary guns!
Excellent mobility.
Decent protection.
Poor AA capability.

Vehicle History

In the early 1920s, the Imperial Japanese Navy made plans to construct a new class of four battlecruisers. The ships were planned to be fitted with 16’’ primary guns, feature reasonable protection and excellent speed. Construction was approved and work began in the early 1920s, with Amagi as the lead ship of the class being laid down in December 1920. However, after the Washington Naval Treaty went into effect in 1922, Japan was no longer allowed to finish construction of the new battlecruisers. Instead, the first two ships under construction were reordered as aircraft carriers while the remaining two were canceled altogether due to the restrictions imposed by the treaty. In 1923 however, the Great Kanto earthquake severely damaged the hull of the Amagi, which was afterwards deemed irreparable. As a result, the ship ended up being sold for scrap. Amagi’s sistership however, IJN Akagi, successfully completed the reconstruction into an aircraft carrier and would go on to serve the Japanese navy up until its sinking at the Battle of Midway in 1942.

Meet the IJN Amagi!

IJN Amagi will soon become the latest bluewater ship to join the top ranks of the Japanese naval tree in the Dance of Dragons major update. Built with speed and firepower in mind, IJN Amagi truly embodies the concept of battlecruisers and will enable its prospective captains to embrace several different tactical approaches, depending on one’s own preference and battlefield dynamics. Keep on reading to find out more!

The upcoming arrival of IJN Amagi to the top ranks of the Japanese fleet will bring with it a unique twist. Sharing some core design principles with the Kongo class battleships that you may already be familiar with, IJN Amagi takes this concept and brings it to a truly new level. For example, this ship is outfitted with a total of ten twin 16’’ (410 mm) cannons, making it one of the most heavily armed capital ships in the game in terms of raw primary battery firepower with an impressive reload rate of 2.5 rounds per minute. This means you’ll be able to comfortably engage in gun duels with virtually any opponent they may encounter on the high seas.

In addition to the primary battery, IJN Amagi also comes equipped with 16 x 140 mm secondary and 4 x 120 mm anti-air cannons. A further 8 x 610 mm fixed torpedo launchers round off the warship’s impressive arsenal.

Interesting: Some of the main battery guns intended for use on the Amagi class battlecruisers were later on re-purposed for installation on coastal defense batteries.

In terms of gameplay, IJN Amagi can be compared to the Alaska and Kronshtadt battlecruisers. However, this new ship is better armed and protected, but loses to them in terms of air defense capabilities. IJN Amagi’s armor in some areas is close to that of a battleship, for example 254 mm thick in the main armor belt and 70 mm of deck armor allow you to use this ship for shooting at very far distances with a good chance of surviving a hit from an enemy battleship!

Use the hit and run tactic, firing several consecutive salvos with the main guns and then retreating if possible. Or if you’re ballsy, you could play actively and lead your teammate’s attack at a point, all while using the cover of allies air defenses, as the IJN Amagi’s own anti-aircraft defenses are very mediocre. Don’t get too close to enemy ships though, as due to its size, it’ll become an easy target for torpedoes and its armor will not be able to withstand them.

That’s today’s blog! IJN Amagi will soon become a common sight in War Thunder naval battles after it joins the top ranks of the Japanese bluewater fleet with the release of the Dance of Dragons major update. In the meantime, be sure to keep scanning the horizon for more news as we continue sharing the latest on what the upcoming update has in store for you. See you soon!

Please note that this vehicle’s characteristics may be changed before it is added to the game.

The Ultimate bomber just got an upgrade! Today, we’ll be covering not one, but two new variants of the mighty F-111 Aardvark, including one from down under! Let's take a closer look at what the C and F versions have to offer.

F-111C & F-111F: Strike Aircraft for Great Britain and the USA at Rank VII

Features:

Modernized upgrades to the Aardvark!
Guided air-to-ground ordnance.
All-aspect IR missiles.
Increased countermeasure capability.
More powerful engines (F-111F).

Vehicle History

F-111C
In the 1960s, the Royal Australian Air Force sought to replace their Canberra bombers due to their capability limits and lack of all weather operation capability. Lacking a capable bomber that could match the Tu-16, the RAAF began searching for a new type that could satisfy its longer range requirements. Assessments were made of several current and up and coming aircraft, such the A-5, F-4 Phantom II, Mirage IV, TSR.2 and the then TFX program. Political and economical issues steered the RAAF away from the TSR.2, with the economic cost of the Mirage IV also being a deciding factor. The final winner was the TFX program which offered to meet all the needs and requirements set out.

When the F-111 finally emerged from the TFX program, it became clear that the RAAF would require its own modifications to be made to what was to be the B (Naval) variant for it to be accepted. A longer wing design was incorporated, a unique intake redesign, along with some additional changes to radio equipment and undercarriage improvements were all introduced to the aircraft. Now designated F-111C, the aircraft was officially delivered in 1968, but due to delays, training and initial teething issues, it was not officially introduced into full service until 1973. Initially a batch of 24 were produced for Australia, with a further 4 converted from American F-111s to F-111C standard. 4 aircraft in total were also converted to RF-111C reconnaissance aircraft.

The F-111C provided the RAAF with the capacity to reach Jakarta in Indonesia, something the Canberra and other types previously in service could never achieve. While never seeing direct combat with the RAAF, they came very close in 1991 when they were moved to standby ready for replacing the F-18s operating in the Gulf War should they need to be rotated out. However, the war would end before that was necessary. They would be put on standby for possible operations in East Timor with the UN INTERFET force that Australia led during the independence of Timor-Leste from Indonesia. The aircraft served more than 40 years at the hands of the Royal Australian Air Force, and finally retired in service in 2010.

F-111F
The F-111F was a modernized variant of the earlier Aardvarks, featuring more powerful TF30-P-100 engines and much higher thrust output over the F-111A. Operated by the USAF, the F-111F Pacer Strike was the final fighter variant of the aircraft produced. As well as the previously mentioned engine improvements, the aircraft was fitted with the AN/AVQ-26 Pave Tack FLIR target designator, allowing the use of guided munitions like the Paveway among other modernizations to its loadouts and systems.

This variant would serve heavily in the 1991 Gulf War, dropping more laser guided bombs than any other type of aircraft. The type would successfully fly a high percentage of combat missions, striking their targets and destroying them with a high level of precision, more so than most other allied coalition aircraft taking part. The F-111F is credited with destroying over 1000+ tanks and armored vehicles during the conflict. 1996 would mark the final retirement of the F variant in USAF service.

Meet the F-111C and F!

The next major update will include two new installments of the famous F-111 series, the domestic F-111C variant of the Royal Australian Air Force for the British tree and the final “fighter” variant of the American variants, the F-111F. Both of these variants take what the F-111A already does well and improve upon it in almost every area. Let’s check out what you can expect from them when they arrive to War Thunder in the Dance of Dragons major update!

Firstly, let’s take a look at the unique Australian variant, the F-111C. This version features a longer modified wing aimed at improving longer distance flights and reinforced landing gear. Along with this, you’ll get a huge boost to your defensive countermeasures, with the total for this variant being 240 flares / chaff, which is a massive increase over the base F-111A and F that will be plenty to help you out in battle. If that alone wasn’t enough to keep your enemies busy, they’ll need to keep an eye out on what you are firing back at them too! The F-111C features AIM-9L all-aspect Sidewinder missiles, far more potent than the B variants found on the earlier variant already in game.

Did you know? The F-111C in Australian service was affectionately known as “The Pig” despite the crews and engineers loving the aircraft.

Next up, we have the F-111F for the USA. This takes the base F-111A and provides a pair of improved TF30-P-100 engines that have a higher thrust output, meaning a more powerful all round performer. But the improvements don’t stop there! While the F-111A was limited to the AGM-12B Bullpup, the F variant introduces AGM-65 capabilities to the aircraft in B, D and G models. This adds some fire and forget capacity to the aircraft that will aid you in combined battles for sure. On the offensive in the air, the F-111F can rely on AIM-9L for missile combat.

Both the C and the F variants come with the AN/AVQ-26 Pave Tack targeting pod, which opens up the option of using guided bombs for the first time on the F-111. You can find GBU-10, 12 and 24 on both aircraft and the IR guided GBU-15 also on the F-111F. Both variants also feature an array of Mk 82 and Mk 84 bombs for conventional bombing and taking out bases.

Interesting: One of our long-time War Thunder Moderators on the community team, KnightoftheAbyss, worked on RAAF F-111Cs for over 12 years. We would like to thank him for his notes towards the historical section of this blog and recognize his service with the RAAF.

These advanced Aardvarks will be taking to the skies very shortly and will once again take the crowns (for now at least!) as the “ultimate” bombers in War Thunder, with some even fancier toys this time around. We hope you’ll enjoy these new aircraft, be sure to let us know! You won’t have too much longer to wait until you can take to the skies with them. Until then, stay tuned to the news for more information on what else you can see in the Dance of Dragons major update.

Please note that this vehicle’s characteristics may be changed before it is added to the game.

Today we’ll be taking a look at the AI-Khalid-I, a further development of the Chinese-Pakistan MBT-2000 main battle tank. Pre-orders for this tank have just started today!

Al-Khalid-I: A Premium MBT for China at Rank VII

Features:

Good balance of armor, mobility and firepower.
1200 HP engine.
Further turret protection through additional ERA blocks.

Vehicle History

The AI-Khalid-I upgrade program was designed to improve the combat effectiveness of Pakistan’s MBT-2000 (AI-Khalid) main battle tanks. The upgrade priorities included improving the fire control system and on-board electronics, and more effectively positioning ERA on the turret. The AI-Khalid-I is currently in service with Pakistan, the largest operator of the MBT-2000 family of tanks.

Pre-order - AI-Khalid-I
Can be purchased through the store in-game. Shop > Online Store
69.99

Al-Khalid-I tank (Rank VII, China); *
Premium account for 20 days;
2500 Golden Eagles;
Pre-order bonus: "The Eternal Tank" title;
Pre-order bonus: "Markhor" decal; *
Pre-order bonus: Unique digital camouflage. *

* - available after the next major update.

Meet the AI-Khalid-I

Meet the AI-Khalid-I, a further development of the MBT-2000 main battle tank already familiar to the Chinese ground forces tree. This tank will be added in the Dance of Dragons major update, and that means today we’re starting pre-orders for this excellent tank as part of a pack featuring unique bonuses. Let’s take a look!

One of the upgrades carried out on the AI-Khalid-I was aimed to improve the combat effectiveness of the tank. Perhaps the most noticeable external difference here is a change to the armor layout on the sides of the turret. Some add-on FY-2 ERA blocks were removed from the turret side directly, and instead mounted on the turret slat armor. This now means that generally the turret side armor has better protection, especially against heat-based rounds.

At rank VII, the Al-Khalid-I will be a competitive option, able to take on most enemies without any issues, and with premium bonuses to boot! Agile and featuring good engine power, the AI-Khalid-I is not inferior in terms of speed and maneuverability compared to other vehicles at its rank. One key difference though regarding its mobility is that the eternal problem of poor reverse speeds typically found on Soviet tanks has been resolved with the AI-Khalid-I. This means you’ll be able to quickly retreat when needed or reverse quicker after taking a shot over a ridge.

Moving onto firepower, the AI-Khalid-I features a 22-round autoloader, however bare in mind that the autoloader module is large and prone to being hit, causing the entire tank to explode. So make sure to stay in cover where possible to avoid being shot in the side!

Since the AI-Khalid-I is a premium tank, you’ll get immediate access to all of its available shells. One of these include a top-end APFSDS round with over 570 mm of penetration at 100 m.

That’s it for this one! The AI-Khalid-I is coming to War Thunder in the Dance of Dragons major update, and the pre-order pack has just gone live with this dev blog post. Be sure to pick it up to get Golden Eagles, Premium Account days and unique pre-order bonuses!

Please note that this vehicle’s characteristics may be changed before it is added to the game.

In early August 1945, Japan agreed to the Allied terms for ending the war as outlined in the Potsdam Declaration. On September 2nd 1945, aboard the USS Missouri battleship, the Japanese Foreign Minster and Chief of General Staff signed the Instrument of Surrender, formally ending World War II after six long years.

Get the “V-J Day 2024” decal
Available for this anniversary.

“V-J Day 2024” decal

When: From today until September 5th (09:00 GMT).
Task: Play 3 battles using US vehicles at rank III or higher to receive the “V-J Day 2024” decal.

Additional details:

You must use a minimum of rank III.

Your activity must not be below 70%.

You can complete the task in random battles, except for Enduring Confrontation missions, and mode.

Track your progress in the hangar by clicking Nickname → Achievements → Holidays → Victory Over Japan.

You can find the decal in the “Holidays” tab in the Customization menu.

General

A bug that caused all radar types and missile radar seekers to ignore launched weaponry (bombs, rockets, missiles) and chaff has been fixed. (Report).

Welcome to the 135th War Thunder Steam Screenshot Competition!

Thanks for sharing your captures with us last week! This week, take a picture with a “destroyer”! These often hard-hitting vehicles are great assets when on your team, but if they are not- watch out for loose bombs and sneaky torpedoes! The three most popular and three selected by us will get 300 GE. See the winners down below!

Let’s begin the 135th edition of our competition!

Create a stunning screenshot and submit it on the War Thunder Steam Community Hub with the tag #WTscreen135. You have time until the 6th of September 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.

Terms:

Your screenshot must feature a “tank destroyer”, “strike aircraft”, or “destroyer” (destroyer escorts included).

You must add the #WTscreen135 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 134th edition – Naval Warfare!

Winners selected via community votes:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3316575800
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3317810848
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3317817886

Winners selected by our judges:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3315918681
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3319011381
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3316215969

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

In the upcoming Dance of Dragons major update, closed testing of the French Coastal fleet will begin. And today, we’ll be showing you what awaits its first testers!

As with other naval powers, the development of France’s coastal fleet in the 20th century was driven by the ever-changing demands for coastal defense, control of sea routes, and ensuring the security of national interests. And sometimes, extraordinary solutions were adopted to address these challenges.

With the introduction of France’s coastal fleet tree, the first boats will be agile light motor torpedo ones, including the successful VTB-8, VTB-9, and VTB-11 series. Naval enthusiasts will find the Vedette 40k VTB-19 particularly interesting, as it was a boat that served under three different flags: France, Britain, and Germany, each time equipped with different armaments and equipment. Another intriguing boat is the Arras sub-chaser disguised as a merchant ship, or as the French often called this class, “Aviso”. This relatively slow boat with artillery armament is almost like a mini destroyer! Additional similar boats will be added to the French coastal fleet line in the future.

There’s also several imported boats that testers can look forward to. These are mainly of British origin, such as the MTB Vosper torpedo boat and the iconic transport converted for landing support tasks, the LCG(M), familiar from footage of the Normandy landings. One of France’s top light ships will be the versatile P-730 Combattante, armed with a 40 mm automatic cannon and four SS.11 guided missiles!

Closed testing of the French Coastal fleet will begin on the first day of the major update release. All owners of the VLT-2 pack will immediately gain access to research all of the boats available, as well as receive a unique commemorative decal for participating in the testing. Be sure to pick up the pack yourself, get some crew points and get ready to welcome the new French Coastal fleet tree with well-prepared, seasoned crews! You’ll also be able to get testing access through in-game achievements, which we’ll go through the details a little closer to the release.

VLT-2 Pack
Can be purchased through the store in-game. Shop > Online Store
This pack includes

VLT-2 (Rank IV, France)
1000 Golden Eagles
Premium account for 15 days
French Coastal fleet access

Please note that this vehicle’s characteristics may be changed before it is added to the game.