Hey everyone, on September 16th from 08:00 GMT, the War Thunder game servers may be unavailable due to the release of the Sky Odyssey major update!Be sure to catch up on what content is coming in this update by looking at our dev blogs while you wait for your game to download. The major update announcement and full major changelog will be published when the update is released and ready to play.Thank you for your understanding.

On September 15th 1940, one of the most important air battles in British history took place, resulting in a strategic victory for Great Britain. By repelling numerous Luftwaffe attacks, Britain prevented Germany from achieving air superiority, putting an end to Operation Sea Lion and preventing the invasion of the island.Unique versions of the Spitfire and Hurricane are temporarily available for Golden Eagles!

When: From September 15th (11:00 GMT) until September 18th (11:00 GMT).Where: Great Britain > Aviation > Premium vehicles.

• Ioannis Plagis’s Spitfire LF Mk.IXc (Rank IV) for 6,090 Golden Eagles

• James Prendergast’s Spitfire FR Mk.XIVe (Rank IV) for 6,090 Golden Eagles

• Hurricane Mk.I/L FAA M (Rank II) with a 20% discount for 680 Golden Eagles

“The Battle of Britain 2026” Bundle at -50%!To mark the anniversary of Battle of Britain Day, the following RAF fighters are available in this bundle with a 50% discount for PC players: Plagis’ Spitfire LF Mk.IXc , Prendergast’s Spitfire FR Mk.XIVe and Typhoon Mk.IB.

When: From September 15th (11:00 GMT) until September 18th (11:00 GMT).

"The Battle of Britain 2026" Bundle -50%To get to the Gaijin Store through Steam, go to the in-game hangar > Shop > Online Store.This bundle includes:

• John Plagis’ Spitfire LF Mk. IX Pack
• Prendergast’s Spitfire FR Mk.XIVe Pack
• Typhoon Pack

74.97 37.49About these aircraft

• From June to October 1944, Spitfire LF Mk.IX  ML214 was flown by Ioannis Plagis, a British pilot of Greek descent who achieved at least 16 confirmed aerial victories during the war. This fighter boasts excellent flight characteristics and is capable of both turnfighting and effective boom-and-zoom attacks. It is armed with two 20 mm cannons and four 7.7 mm machine guns.
• James Prendergast, commander of No. 414 Squadron (RCAF), flew the Spitfire Mk.XIVe “Lazy Lady V” (serial number NH903). This variant of the legendary fighter retained all the aircraft’s strengths while incorporating the more powerful Griffon engine. In addition to the two 20 mm cannons and two 12.7 mm machine guns, a 500 lb bomb can also be carried for ground attack.
• The Hurricane was the most numerous aircraft in the Royal Air Force during the Battle of Britain. The FAA M variant of the Hurricane Mk.I/L is distinguished from the standard Hurricane Mk.I/L by the unique camouflage used on Fleet Air Arm training aircraft. It is ready to turn up the heat on the enemy in a dogfight with its eight 7.7 mm Browning machine guns.

Get the “Battle of Britain 2026” decal!“Battle of Britain 2026” decal

When: From September 15th (11:00 GMT) until September 18th (11:00 GMT).Task: Earn 3000 mission points in battles where you have used British aircraft at rank III or higher to receive the “Battle of Britain 2026” decal. Please note: After finishing the task, you need to collect the reward manually. Additional details:

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

Say hello to HMS Lion! While Vanguard was Britain’s last true battleship, Lion was planned to be their ultimate final design. While she was never fully built, she was laid down, so we’re happy to welcome her to War Thunder!HMS Lion: A Battleship for Britain at Rank VIIAt a glance:

• Nine 406 mm cannons!
• Effective protection
• Powerful AP rounds
• Decent speed for a battleship

Introducing HMS Lion!Today we’re covering HMS Lion, a design that was set to become Britain’s most powerful battleship. She’s a real monster, so let’s take a look at what makes her special!Using HMS Lion in BattleHMS Lion is a fairly classic battleship in terms of playstyle, her cannons are powerful and she’s well protected, so as usual engaging at long range is ideal. The main element to keep in mind is that you should be aiming to slightly angle your armor towards your target. A slight angle can meaningfully improve your survivability, but be careful not to overangle — angling too heavily means your enemy can potentially bypass your belt armor entirely and punch through to your magazine. As with most Battleships, Lion’s guns traverse very slowly, so avoid sailing into the middle of combat, and try to position yourself so that the majority of enemies will remain in front of your guns at all times.Lion is protected from the air by six octuple 40 mm mounts along with sixteen 133 mm dual-purpose guns. While these guns will have very limited use against armored ships, they come with HE shells with a proximity fuse, which are great at bringing down aircraft.Feature Spotlight: The 406 mm BL Mk II CannonHMS Lion was planned to be equipped with the improved 16 Inch/45 BL Mk II cannon, which is set to become the most powerful naval cannon in the British tree! This cannon is essentially an improvement of the 16 Inch/45 BL Mk I cannon found on HMS Rodney and Nelson. Its performance is improved across the board, combining high penetration with over 25kg of explosive mass, rivaling Yamato in regards to explosive filler! These cannons will be able to batter top battleships at most ranges, causing a heap of damage if they penetrate into critical areas.Developer Comment: HMS Lion will be joining War Thunder in the 1938 planned fit as overall it’s the best version for the game. Later designs called for lengthening the hull and modifying the bow, improving air defense capabilities, and revising the mine protection system. These changes would have resulted in a significant increase in displacement, necessitating a reduction in armor and a decrease in speed. Because of this, the earlier 1938 fit is essentially the most effective version for War Thunder so she’ll be arriving in this form, we hope you like her!Vehicle HistoryHMS Lion was born from the collapse of the interwar naval treaty. When Japan refused to sign the Second London Naval Treaty on March 25th 1936, the caliber limit on new battleships was raised to 16 inches, and a further escalation clause raised the permitted tonnage to 45,000. As a result, the British Admiralty set to design a new class of battleship capped at 40,000 tons, the maximum displacement British dockyards were able to accommodate. Lion was formally ordered on February 28th 1939 and was laid down several months later on July 4th, only eight weeks before Britain entered World War 2.The war immediately staggered her construction, and work was suspended on October 3rd 1939. This suspension was briefly lifted sometime after, but was paused again in May 1940. By this point only 218 tons of steel had been assembled. In November 1940, the Admiralty ordered Lion's steel to be transferred to HMS Vanguard, the stopgap battleship designed around spare 15-inch turrets from decommissioned battlecruisers.From this point Lion was kept alive on the drawing board, several design revisions were proposed to incorporate wartime lessons. These later designs outlined a widened beam, deeper torpedo protection, increased range and the removal of Lion’s aircraft. Further design revisions continued into the latter years of the war, proposing thicker armor, heavier anti-air, and additional torpedo protection, but each of these designs pushed the displacement far beyond what was feasible for British shipyards. In Autumn 1945 the order for the Lion class was formally canceled, and development of Lion’s 16 inch guns was aborted in 1949, marking the end of British big-gun development for good. In every meaningful sense, Lion was the last battleship Britain ever truly planned to build.That’s it for this blog on HMS Lion! Set to be a beastly battleship, she’ll be a worthy addition to your Naval lineups. Until the next dev blog, see you around!Please note that vehicle specifications may be subject to revision and change before being added to the game.

Other

• A bug that caused the game to crash at launch on Mac with Intel HD 500, Iris, Iris Pro graphics and with NVIDIA GeForce 600 and 700 series GPUs has been fixed. (Report).
• An external web browser is now used to open in-game links on Mac.

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.

Welcome to the 241st War Thunder Steam Screenshot Competition!

It was great to see the different scenes players captured last week. This time, we’re focusing on the built environments where battles take place. Whether surrounded by buildings, passing beneath a bridge, or moving through a developed area, capture a screenshot where architecture is featured. The three most popular and three selected by us will get 300 GE. See the winners down below!

Let’s begin the 241st edition of our competition!

Create a stunning screenshot and submit it on the War Thunder Steam Community Hub with the tag #WTscreen241. You have time until the 18th 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.

How to Participate!

Terms:

• Your screenshot must include a vehicle and any kind of architecture, such as buildings or bridges.
  
• You must add the #WTscreen241 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 240th edition – Beyond Standard!

Winners selected via community votes:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3796240665
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3796280315
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3796373620

Winners selected by our judges:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3797414681
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3796590860
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3796025105

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

Meet the multi-role MiG-35, which combines the entire combat experience of the legendary MiG design bureau into one formidable aircraft.MiG-35: A Jet Fighter for USSR/Russia at Rank IXAt a glance:

• High flight performance
• Up to 8 Active Radar Homing missiles
• Advanced MAWS and LWS
• Modern air-to-surface weapons, including the Kh-38 and Grom-2
• T-220 targeting pod
• New Kh-35U anti-ship missiles with GNSS

You can greatly speed up the research of the MiG-35 with this pack: Introducing the MiG-35!Today we’re taking a look at the most advanced member of the MiG-29 family, coming in the Sky Odyssey major update! This aircraft has everything you’d expect from a modern multi-role jet fighter and will be a top choice for any game mode, including Nuclear Escalation. Let’s take a look!Using the MiG-35 in BattleThe new MiG-35 is a highly flexible and versatile aircraft for high-ranking combat in any game mode. Compared to previous MiG-29 variants, the MiG-35 has a new, fast active phased array radar with a wide field of view, a modern MAWS with a laser warning system, and a T-220 targeting pod, which enables the aircraft to launch laser-guided weapons. The number of ARH missiles has increased to eight. The MiG-35 retains the series key performance characteristics, including excellent speed and maneuverability, thanks to its large wing and high-thrust engines.Feature Spotlight: ArmamentThe MiG-35 not only combines the best weapons of the MiG-29M and naval MiG-29KR variants, but also adds new ones! Let’s start with air combat: up to eight R-77-1 ARH missiles, R-27T and R-27R available, and the classic R-73 for close-quarters combat. The air-to-surface arsenal has been significantly expanded. The T-220 targeting pod opens the pilot the possibility of using laser-guided weapons, including the KH-38ML and KH-29L variants. The Grom-2 long-range gliding satellite-guided missiles have been added. For fans of Nuclear Escalation, there’s the Kh-31PD anti-radiation missile and anti-ship missiles: the powerful Kh-31AD and the new Kh-35U. The latter are somewhat inferior in terms of warhead power, but also have satellite guidance correction and a significantly greater range for independent target acquisition.Developer comment: At the top ranks of the USSR/Russian aviation tree, there’s always a clear choice: the speed of the MiGs or the advanced arsenal of the heavy Sukhoi fighters. The new MiG-35 will be a happy medium for many. It features a new AESA radar with a wide field of view, up to eight ARH missiles and the best missiles of the R-27 family, a new HMD, and modern laser and satellite-guided bombs. At the same time, the climb rate is excellent, and its speed is on par with the top-tier fighters of other nations. The MiG-35 is not a compromise, but a completely conscious choice for situations where a larger number of missiles or the extreme launch range of air-to-surface weapons are not the deciding factors.Vehicle HistoryThe MiG-35 is a light, generation 4++ fighter designed to engage air, ground, and surface targets at any time of day and in any weather conditions. The project was announced in 2007 as a modernization of the MiG-29M, but it was developed on the basis of the carrier-based MiG-29K. It was equipped with an active phased array radar and an advanced air defense system.Its maiden flight took place on November 24th 2016. The basic version was unveiled at the MAKS-2017 air show, and the first aircraft entered service in 2019. A total of six aircraft have been produced: four single-seat MiG-35 and two two-seat MiG-35UB. Large-scale production of the MiG-35 has not yet begun. The MiG-35 was the last serial fighter produced by MiG.That’s it for this one, the MiG-35 is set to be a fantastic aircraft in all modes. Until the next dev blog, happy flying!Please note that vehicle specifications may be subject to revision and change before being added to the game.  

The road to the WTCS Challenger League title begins now! With Major III on the horizon, teams are getting ready to battle their way through the Open Qualifiers and secure their place among the best. Open Qualifier I kicks off on September 19th, giving competitors their first opportunity to earn one of four spots in the Playoff stage.Tournament Dates After each Open Qualifier, four teams will advance to the Playoff stage. Matches will begin at 14:40 GMT each day. 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: September 19th to 20th
• Open Qualifier II:  September 26th to 27th
• Playoffs: October 3rd to 4th and October 10th to 11th

REGISTER NOWTournament PrizesAttention! Please note that coupons must be selected within 10 days after the end of the tournament.
Live streamsWhen: Each stream will start from 14:40 GMT.Open Qualifier I: September 19th to 20thOpen Qualifier II: September 26th to 27thPlayoffs: October 3rd to 4th and October 10th to 11thWatch the event on the official English, German, French, Polish and Russian War Thunder Esports channels and on our YouTube channel War Thunder Esports!You’ll also find highlights and replays of all the matches there.FOLLOW TWITCHFOLLOW YOUTUBEStay ConnectedMake 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 community, support your favorite team, and be part of the action throughout the entire 2026 season!———————————————————————The War Thunder Championships Series Pro Major III Finals kick off...The road to the title continues! The War Thunder Championships Series Pro Major III Finals kick off on September 12th and 13th!AVReS and DODEC have already secured their spots in the Winner Bracket, putting them just one victory away from the Final. Meanwhile, the teams in the Losers Bracket are fighting to keep their championship dreams alive. Who will fight their way through and secure a place in the Final?The battle for the final standings continues! SCAMMER will face JINX, while VOYAGER takes on ASTRA, with both matches determining which teams will fight for 5th and 6th place and which will move one step closer to the Final.Meanwhile, FiveSticks and ORION will go head-to-head in a battle for 7th and 8th place, with everything on the line as they look to finish their Major III and maybe determine who will have enough Thunderpoints to access the Grand Finals later this year.Tune in live on Twitch and YouTube to catch every moment of the action, and don’t forget to claim your Twitch Drops while watching!Live Streams & Twitch DropsTune in on September 12th and 13th, starting at 14:00 GMT each day on the official English, German, French, Polish and Russian War Thunder Esports channels and receive:

• 5 Backups — 1h watchtime
• T34-57 “Thunder Beast” camouflage — 1h watchtime
• 1 Day of Premium — 2h watchtime
• “Not Today” decal — 4h watchtime
• M1A2 SepV3 “Diamond” camouflage — 6h watchtime7

TwitchT34-57 “Thunder Beast” camouflageM1A2 SepV3 “Diamond” camouflageEsports Bundle - 2026 Season -15%To get to our online Store through Steam, go to the in-game hangar > Shop > Online Store.This pack includes:

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

15.98 13.58

Germany’s light multirole helicopter, the H145M, is armed with the SPIKE-ER ATGM and the new FZ275 small guided missiles!H145M: A Multi-Role Helicopter for Germany at Rank VIIAt a glance:

• Lightweight and maneuverable
• Up to 8 SPIKE-ER anti-tank missiles
• FZ275 small guided missiles
• MAWS with LWR
• Large number of countermeasures
• No air-to-air missiles

Introducing the H145M!This helicopter is for daring and skilled pilots! Excellent maneuverability and flexible armament options make it ideal for long-range combat, attack missions, or hunting other helicopters. Meet the H145M!Using the H145M in BattleThe distinctive whirr of the little H145M will soon be a familiar sight in battle. In the hands of the right pilot, this lightweight and compact helicopter will be a real curse for the enemy team. It pops up where it’s least expected, stings, and vanishes before it's even noticed. It carries Spike missiles for tanks and helicopters, FZ275 LGR small laser-guided missiles for soft ground targets and helicopters, as well as machine gun, cannon, and rocket mounts for classic ground attack runs. Pilots are assisted by advanced electronics, which includes RWR and a thermal imaging sight with high zoom. Its 120 countermeasure charges will help defend against enemy missiles. The only things missing are air-to-air missiles and integrated forward-firing weapons.Feature Spotlight: Guided missilesThe H145M's primary armament will be guided missiles. Against tanks, it uses the fire-and-forget SPIKE-ER missile, already familiar to both pilots and tank crews. Like the recently announced AW159 Wildcat, the H145M also carries small guided missiles. The new FZ275. These are carried in pods of 12, for a total of 24. These missiles are small, have a shaped-charge warhead, and are laser-guided. For their size, the FZ275s have excellent flight time and a launch range of up to 8 km! Naturally, they aren't particularly dangerous to MBTs, but they are a perfect weapon against light vehicles, including anti-aircraft vehicles and helicopters!Developer Comment: The H145M will appear at Rank VII of the German helicopter tree as an alternative to the more heavily armed Tigers. It’s lighter, boasts powerful engines for its relatively low weight, is very responsive to control, and can really shine. Thanks to its new FZ275 missiles, it’s great at hitting multiple soft targets in quick succession, making it a great option towards the end of a battle. The helicopter is also an excellent tank hunter. The Spikes don't require constant target illumination; they can be deployed during active maneuvering or briefly peeking out from behind cover, and they fly to the target automatically.Vehicle HistoryIn 2015, Airbus Helicopters received EASA certification for the military version of the H145M, based on the civilian EC645 T2. The base model was cleared for service in May 2015, and the first H145Ms were delivered to the Bundeswehr that same year. The aircraft are destined for the 64th Special Operations Helicopter Squadron in Laupheim, Germany; to this day, this unit remains the only operator of this type in Germany. The Bundeswehr ordered 15 aircraft in total. The Royal Thai Navy also placed an order, and began receiving its H145Ms in 2016. The helicopter has also been exported to Serbia, Hungary, and Luxembourg.That’s it for this one! Until the next dev blog, have fun in your battles!Please note that vehicle specifications may be subject to revision and change before being added to the game.

 Semyon Alekseyevich Lavochkin was born on September 11th 1900; he was a Soviet aircraft designer renowned for the “La” series of aircraft. The most famous among them, the LaGG-3, La-5, and La-7, served many aces of the Second World War well. After the war, Lavochkin headed OKB-301, which, in addition to aircraft, participated in developing missiles for the S-25 “Berkut” surface-to-air missile system. Following Lavochkin’s death in 1960, the design bureau was named after him and gained renown for spacecraft such as the Luna, Venera, Mars, and Vega missions, among others. It remains in operation to this day.Two Soviet fighters available at a 30% discount!

When: From September 11th (09:00 GMT) until September 14th (09:00 GMT).Where: USSR > Aviation > Premium vehicles.

• Dolgushin’s La-7 (rank IV) for 2,695 Golden Eagles
• La-11 (rank IV) for 3,416 Golden Eagles
• Both fighters can only be purchased during this promotion.

 About these aircraft

• Hero of the Soviet Union Sergey Fyodorovich Dolgushin was the commander of the 156th Fighter Aviation Regiment, which received brand-new La-7 fighters toward the end of the war. Dolgushin’s specific La-7 variant is distinguished by its unique camouflage. This aircraft is designed for combat at low altitudes, where it fully retains its excellent flight characteristics. Its forward-firing armament consists of two 20 mm ShVAK cannons with a wide variety of ammunition belts.
• The La-11 is a long-range escort fighter designed for extended flights and equipped with a substantial fuel supply. It performs best at altitudes up to 4,000 meters. It compensates for its lack of maneuverability with powerful firepower: three 23 mm NS-23 cannons are ready to destroy any adversary, including bombers.

 

Introducing the WTCS Trophy VI, containing 40 unique camouflages in both semi-historical and fictional styles for air and ground vehicles! For this trophy, we’ve continued our trend of covering new and older vehicles across various Battle Ratings, alongside some that have no camouflage options as well.Contents of the Trophy VI

• Coupons for rare vehicles
• 18 camouflage coupons for aircraft
• 22 camouflage coupons for ground vehicles

Air Vehicles

• Tornado F.3 Late — “60163 Tornado” camouflage
• F/A-18C MLU 2 — “Blue Sisu” camouflage
• F-16AM — “Centurion” camouflage
• Etendard IVM — “Monarque Nord” camouflage  — —
• Me 262 A-1a/U1 — “Night Raven” camouflage
• Hunter F.58 — “Gespenst” camouflage
• F-2000A (AESA) — “32o Stormo Demo Team” camouflage
• Breda 88 (P.XI) — “Scylla” camouflage
• F-16V — “Digital Viper” camouflage
• JAS39C — “Hai Leng’s Breath” camouflage
• Yak-9UT — “Firebird” camouflage
• Yak-130 — “Zimniy Soldier” camouflage
• Tu-2S — “Nocturne Raider” camouflage
• F-14D — “Atomic Summer” camouflage
• F3D-1 — “Hell Raider” camouflage
• F4U-4B — “Flak Magnet” camouflage
• A-10A — “Sand Shark” camouflage
• F-101C — “Loa” camouflage

Ground Vehicles

• Type 90 (B) — “Thunder Claw” camouflage
• M47  — “Jingai” camouflage
• Type 87 RCV — “Metro Police” camouflage
• Hummel — “Fritz” camouflage
• Kpz-70 — “Falke” camouflage
• LvKv 9040C — “Volundarhus” camouflage  
• ELC bis — “Corsique” camouflage
• Leopard 1A5BE — “Quick Fix” camouflage
• Leclerc — “Alpine Guard” camouflage
• Raketenautomat — “Blue Reaper” camouflage
• ZBD04A — “A Theme For Kaida” camouflage
• T-90M (Arena-M) — “Delta 1” camouflage
• ASU-57 — “Ashwalker” camouflage
• 2S1 — “Ekaterina” camouflage
• T-80U-E1 — “Grey Ghost” camouflage
• M1A2 SEPv3 — “Coldwave” camouflage
• M56 — “Sky Solider” camouflage
• XM803 — “Sioux Chief” camouflage
• Super Hellcat — “Black Shards” camouflage
• MBT-70 — “Death” camouflage
• Stingray — “Blue Stingray” camouflage
• M36B2 — “Red Devil” camouflage

Like the previous Esports trophy, the new trophy can be obtained by simply playing regular War Thunder battles. In the future, it’ll also be possible to obtain by participating in Esports events in War Thunder tournaments with an increased chance! PlayStation and Xbox players can purchase the trophy in the Item Shop for Golden Eagles.

• Read more on our Wiki

To open it, you’ll need to purchase a key on the Market (income is shared with the authors of the camouflages). You can either activate the coupon on your account, or trade it on the Market to get Gaijin Coins (GJN). A trophy can be sold as well!To unlock the trophy, you’ll need an “Esports” key that can be purchased on the Market for GJN.About the other trophies:

• WTCS Esports Trophy V
• WTCS Esports Trophy IV
• WTCS Esports Trophy III
• WTCS Esports Trophy II
• WTCS Esports Trophy I

Esports Bundle - 2026 Season -15%To get to our online Store through Steam, go to the in-game hangar > Shop > Online Store.This pack includes:

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

15.98 13.58

The world’s first production supersonic delta-wing interceptor bursts into the skies of War Thunder!F-102A Delta Dagger: A Jet Fighter for the USA and Israel at Rank VIAt a glance:

• Supersonic
• Delta wing
• Super Falcon air-to-air missiles with IR and SARH guidance
• Radar
• Unguided rockets in missile bay doors
• No guns

Introducing the F-102A Delta Dagger!The Sky Odyssey major update brings the F-102 Delta Dagger to the game, the world’s first mass-produced supersonic delta-wing interceptor, the first supersonic all-weather interceptor, and the first aircraft of its type armed with only missiles!Using the F-102A in BattleThe F-102A lacks guns, instead relying on high speed and missiles in combat. The Delta Dagger’s primary armament consists of AIM-4 Super Falcon guided missiles, specifically the G variant with an infrared seeker and the F variant with semi-active radar guidance, a rarity for its rank! The F-102A can carry up to six of these air-to-air missiles. Its secondary armament comprises 24 small rockets, cleverly stowed within the doors of the rocket bay.Feature spotlight: A distinctive fighting styleThe Delta Dagger is a highly distinctive aircraft in combat. Its key features are an all-missile armament and very high speed. While the infrared-guided AIM-4G operates on principles standard for early jet-era aircraft, requiring a rear-aspect lock, the semi-active radar-guided version allows for engagements on head-on courses from significant distances, often catching the enemy off guard. In either scenario, the F-102A must fully exploit its speed potential: rapid closure, an attack, and a subsequent climb to altitude or change of course.Developer comment: In the Sky Odyssey update, the F-102A Delta Dagger will be coming to two nations at once: the USA and Israel. Israel will receive a Greek modification of the Delta Dagger, a vehicle from early production series. The US version is distinguished by the installation of an IR sensor in front of the canopy and a characteristic twist of the wing tips for better stability at low speeds. The US Delta Dagger will be placed between the F-80 Shooting Star and the F-101C Voodoo, filling the still fairly large gap in Battle Rating at ranks V and VI. The Greek F-102A fits organically into the Greek air line in the Israeli research tree, together with with the improved Saber F-86E(M).Vehicle HistoryThe F-102A was developed under the MX-1554 program to create an interceptor capable of engaging Soviet strategic bombers (including the Tu-95, known to NATO as the “Bear”). A competition for the platform was announced in 1951, and Convair won with its Model 8-80 design. The prototype, designated YF-102, made its maiden flight on October 24th 1953.Initially, the aircraft failed to achieve supersonic speeds in level flight. This issue was resolved by aeronautical engineer Richard Whitcomb, who formulated and implemented the “area rule”. Redesigning and building the new prototype took 117 days. The fuselage was lengthened and changed at the wing junction, the nose was lowered, and fairings were added to the tail section. The new version was designated YF-102A. In December 1954, the aircraft reached a speed of Mach 1.2 in level flight. The production F-102A took to the air on June 24th 1955. These aircraft served with the USAF until the mid-1960s, after which they were transferred to the Air National Guard.Greece received 20 F-102A aircraft in 1969. These aircraft had previously served with the US Air National Guard. Prior to delivery, they underwent a major overhaul that included replacing wing spars and updating the wiring, hydraulic systems, and weapon bay door actuators. The SAGE equipment and telemetry units were removed, while the MG-10 fire control system and autopilot were reconfigured for manual operation. The aircraft served with the 342nd Squadron (342 Mira) at Tanagra Air Base, providing air defense for the country. F-102A service in Greece continued until 1976–1977; the fighters saw no combat action.We hope you enjoyed this dev blog! The F-102A has no guns but will still be fun to use in combat thanks to its missile loadout. Until the next blog, see you around!Please note that vehicle specifications may be subject to revision and change before being added to the game. 

Hey everyone! Thanks for stopping by for another monthly decals post. We’re all hard at work on the Sky Odyssey major update at the moment, but we can’t forget to give you another round of decals to collect! We hope you like the set for September, we considered making the requirement for the “Cuddles” decal to defeat players at point blank range, but that would likely get tedious quickly, even though it would be a bit funny!

The following decals are available from September 10th (11:00 GMT) until October 9th (09:00 GMT).All tasks can be completed using vehicles that are rank III or higher.

“Cuddles” Inscription, USA305th TFS Emblem “Shishi”, JapanPlay 20 battles while using American Ground Vehicles with a minimum of 60% Battle ActivityFinish in position 1-3 three times using Japanese Aircraft"Cuddles" InscriptionCuddles inscription, Company C, 1st Marine Amphibious Corps Tank Battalion (Medium), U.S. Army. The battalion was formed at Camp Elliot in California on January 18th 1943, with the aim of providing the lighter Marine divisions with heavier firepower. C Company was attached to the 2nd Marine Division's 2nd Light Tank Battalion for Operation Galvanic, and fought on Betio Island. All tanks of C Company had a nickname beginning with C; Cuddles was part of 2nd Platoon, along with Cobra, Clipper and Conga. The exact fate of Cuddles is largely unknown. Only two tanks survived the three day fighting on Betio, so it is likely that Cuddles was knocked out during combat. The inscription was painted on the forward sides of the hull on M4A2 number 3035021. 305th TFS Emblem "Shishi"An emblem of the 305th Tactical Fighter Squadron, JASDF. The 305th was formed on December 1st 1978 at Hyakuri Air Base, initially flying the F-4EJ before transitioning to the F-15J in 1993. The primary emblem of the squadron is the famous plum blossom painted on the tails of its aircraft, but during the 2013 TAC Meet, several of the squadron’s F-15Js received this special nose art. It depicts an aggressive guardian lion, along with the kanji for strength / strong (強) as a reference to the squadron’s motto, "Strong, Swift, Beautiful, Sincere." The TAC Meet is a competition held between key JASDF squadrons to demonstrate combat prowess, and participating aircraft usually receive special liveries and emblems for the demonstration. The emblem was painted on the nose of the competing F-15Js, just in front of the cockpit.150° Gruppo Emblem “Gigi Tre Osei”, ItalyArtillery-Torpedo Ships Emblem, USSR“Lahav” Inscription, IsraelDefeat 50 players using Italian AircraftScore 20000 Damage using Soviet Bluewater VesselsFinish in position 1-5 five times using Israeli Ground Vehicles
150° Gruppo Emblem "Gigi Tre Osei"The emblem of the 150° Gruppo Autonomo Caccia Terrestre "Gigi Tre Osei" (150th Autonomous Land Fighter Group), Regia Aeronautica. The emblem of the group was directly inspired by Luigi Caneppele, a transport pilot of one of the squadrons under the 150th Group. He represented Italy in gliding at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, and throughout his service in the Air Force he wore the three-bird badge of the Italian gliding federation on his flying suit, which earned him the affectionate nickname of "Gigi Tre Osei" (Gigi Three Birds). On the 1st of February 1942 he was killed when his SM.81 crashed in a sandstorm near Benina. Shortly after, one of his close friends and fellow pilot Maurizio Nicolis di Robilant designed a badge in his honor, painting Caneppele's three birds gliding over the North African desert, with his nickname arched across the top. The marking was then adopted by all aircraft of the group, including the C. 200, C. 202, and later the Bf 109G. The design had several variations; some had the palm tree on the opposite side, while others used different colors. The emblem was usually placed on the rear of the fuselage behind the cockpit, though in some cases it was painted on the nose during the Bf 109G era.Artillery-Torpedo Ships EmblemThe emblem of Artillery-Torpedo Ships, Soviet Navy. Unlike most fleets by the 1960s, the Soviet Navy lacked any kind of official unit heraldry for their vessels. To remedy this, a commission was created by Rear Admiral Igor Andreyevich Sornev to design 19 special emblems, one for each major type of vessel. Each emblem was slightly different, but most contained similar themes linking to the Soviet Navy. Most shields were pentagonal, with each point representing the four fleets and the Caspian Flotilla. The stripes at the bottom were a link to the collars on sailors’ uniforms. The crossed torpedo and cannon was the universal symbol of the artillery-torpedo ships, effectively destroyers, such as Spokoynyy and Bravyy. Placement of the emblem differed between ships, but was most commonly painted to the front or side of the superstructure."Lahav" Inscription“Lahav” (Blade) Inscription, IDF. During training exercises, it was not uncommon for tank crews to paint a nickname or symbol onto their armored vehicles. These nicknames were typically culturally significant phrases or simply assertive words suitable for a tank. Personalized markings and specific battalion emblems were always removed before actual combat for security reasons, which incidentally makes identifying the origin of these emblems difficult. This uniquely blocky inscription and sword were painted on a Merkava Mk.2, spanning the length of three composite screens under the engine exhaust.

No. 208 Squadron Emblem “Sky Pirates”, UKPzBtl 304 Emblem, GermanyDefeat 20 Players with unguided bombs while flying British AircraftEarn 15000 score while using German Ground VehiclesNo. 208 Squadron Emblem "Sky Pirates"An emblem of No. 208 Squadron, Royal Air Force. During Operation Granby, 12 Blackburn Buccaneer S.2Bs known as the “Sky Pirates” flew 216 missions with No. 208 Squadron, carrying out strike missions and operating as laser designators for Tornados. Each Buccaneer had its own personal marking, but every one also had a Jolly Roger flag under the cockpit. Every flag was slightly different from aircraft to aircraft; some skulls had eyepatches, some had frayed flags, and one uniquely wears a headset. It is not entirely clear which Buccaneer carried this specific flag, it is attributed to XX901 in some sources, but photos confirm differences between the flags. The flag was painted on the port side of the aircraft, under the rescue arrow.PzBtl 304 EmblemThe emblem of Panzerbataillon 304, Bundeswehr. The battalion was formed on April 1st 1981 by renaming PzBtl 303, and was stationed in Heidenheim, Bavaria. During the Cold War, the battalion was equipped with the Leopard 1A3, acting as the forward defense of West Germany against a potential armored attack from the Warsaw Pact. In the early 1990s it transitioned to the Leopard 2, which they operated until the battalion’s disbandment on March 31st 2004, as part of Germany’s wide decommissioning of post-Cold War armored forces. The design was created during the Leopard 1A3 era, and while it doesn’t match up perfectly, the emblem likely depicts a somewhat stylized rendition of the 1A3 model. The cyan and white represent the flag of Bavaria. The marking does not seem to have been used in the Leopard 2 era, but was placed on the turret cheeks of the battalion’s Leopard 1A3 tanks.
3rd TFW Emblem, ChinaTelemark Bataljon Emblem, Norway1er Escadron, 12e RC Emblem, FranceWin 10 battles using Chinese AircraftPlay 20 battles while using Swedish Ground Vehicles with a minimum of 60% Battle ActivityDefeat 40 players using French Light Tanks3rd TFW EmblemThe emblem of the 3rd Tactical Fighter Wing, ROCAF. The wing traces its history back to the 3rd Pursuit Group formed in 1936, humbly equipped with the Boeing P-26, later acquiring a number of I-15 and Gladiator biplanes in the following years. It then operated the P-47 and P-51 before transitioning to the jet age with the F-86 and F-104. The emblem itself is relatively simple, but each element is carefully designed. The white arrows represent fast-climbing aircraft against the blue of the sky. The wreath is a link to golden grain, representing prosperity and good fortune. The same golden color forms the rim of the emblem, effectively encapsulating the wing within the same sentiment of good fortune. Being the emblem of the entire wing, it was rarely painted on aircraft directly, though some ceremonial F-104 aircraft had the emblem placed on the center of the tail.Telemark Bataljon EmblemThe vehicle recognition marking of the Telemark Battalion, Norwegian Army. The battalion was initially formed as a motorized infantry unit in 1993 at Heistadmoen, predominantly manned by conscripts. Following a period of reorganization, the battalion was reestablished as a mechanized infantry group on the 1st of July 2003, and relocated to the Rena Military Camp in Hedmark. Like many of Norway’s military badges, the emblem of the Telemark Battalion is a deliberate and direct connection to the Norse history of the region. It depicts a traditional Viking longship (drakkar), a firm link to the seafaring warrior heritage of Norway. The ship is most commonly seen in gold on a black shield as the battalion’s patch, but this gray version is utilized as a vehicle recognition marking, most prominently positioned on the right turret cheek of the battalion’s Leopard 2A4 tanks. 1er Escadron, 12e RC EmblemThe emblem of the 1er Escadron, 12e Régiment de Cuirassiers (1st Squadron, 12th Cuirassier Regiment), French Army. The 12e RC was formed in Montlhéry on January 1st, 1940, equipped with AMD.35 armored cars and Gnome-Rhône motorcycles for long-range reconnaissance duties. It fought through Belgium before retreating to Dunkirk, where many armored cars were lost. It was then evacuated to Britain before returning to France on the 2nd of June to help cover the final retreat before the Armistice. The main symbol of the regiment was a white dolphin, a link to the regiment’s origins as the Régiment du Dauphin Cavalerie (Dauphin Cavalry Regiment), formed in 1668. The dolphin is depicted (albeit subtly) with a smile, a reference to the regiment’s motto “Je me ris du danger” (I laugh at danger). Each squadron featured a different background color on the shield, which was typically painted to the rear of the side door.
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 for today! We hope you like adding these decals to your collection. Sky Odyssey is just around the corner, so until then, have fun collecting and we’ll see you in October! Perhaps for some spookier decals...

Today we’re checking out the new EMBT, which combines a Leopard chassis and a Leclerc turret!EMBT: An MBT for Germany and France at Rank VIIIAt a glance:

• 120 mm gun with an automatic loader
• OFL 120 F1 APFSDS round
• Excellent mobility
• Vulnerable turret ring

Introducing the EMBT!The conceptual prototype of this European Main Battle Tank combines the tank-building expertise of two of Europe’s major nations, Germany and France. The EMBT combines the best of both worlds of the French Leclerc S2 turret and the German Leopard 2A7 chassis, let’s take a look!Using the EMBT in BattleThe EMBT is a modern tank, featuring great mobility, a long-barreled 120 mm gun and an autoloader. It uses the same ammunition as the Leclerc S2, including the OFL 120 F1 APFSDS round. The tank inherits reinforced frontal hull armor from the Leopard and robust turret cheek armor from the Leclerc. It is powered by the Leopard 2A7’s engine, yet the new tank is approximately 4.5 tons lighter, further boosting its already impressive mobility. The vehicle is highly versatile, performing effectively in both defensive and offensive roles across all map types. Like all modern tanks however, the EMBT is especially vulnerable to tank shells and missiles striking its side profile. The turret ring area is also a weak point in the EMBT’s protection.Developer comment: As a joint German-French development, the EMBT will be placed at rank VIII for both nations. In the German research tree, the tank will continue the joint-development sub-branch following the American-German Leopard 2K; it can be researched independently of the main Leopard line. For France, conversely, the EMBT will serve as the top vehicle in the Dutch Leopard line and will be researched separately from the Leclercs.Vehicle HistoryOn June 11th 2018, Nexter and Krauss-Maffei Wegmann unveiled the prototype of the European Main Battle Tank (EMBT) at the Eurosatory exhibition. This vehicle was one of the options proposed under the Main Ground Combat System (MGCS) program. The prototype combined the chassis of the German Leopard 2A7 with the turret of the French Leclerc.At Eurosatory 2022, KNDS France presented a subsequent variant that differed significantly from the initial EMBT version. Finally, in 2024, a mockup of an updated EMBT featuring the 140 mm smoothbore ASCALON gun was unveiled. It is expected that tanks developed under the MGCS program could replace Europe’s Leopard 2 and Leclerc XLR fleets no earlier than 2035.With the EMBT coming for Germany and France, both nations will have access to an MBT with great firepower and mobility, adding more to lineups. See you in the next one!Please note that vehicle specifications may be subject to revision and change before being added to the game.

The two-seat training variant of the Hawk series jet adapted for ground attack swoops into the next major update! Hawk T Mk1A: A Strike Aircraft for Great Britain at Rank VHawk T Mk1A (FRP): A Premium Strike Aircraft for Great Britain at Rank VAt a glance:

• Excellent low speed handling and agility
• Solid selection of anti-tank ordinance
• Subsonic
• No guided weaponry or air-to-air missiles

Pre-order - Hawk T Mk 1A (FRP) PackTo get to the Gaijin Store through Steam, go to the in-game hangar > Shop > Online Store.This pack includes:

• Hawk T Mk1A (FRP) (Rank V, Great Britain)
• Premium account for 15 days
• 2000 Golden Eagles
• Pre-order bonus: unique "Trustworthy Teacher" title
• Pre-order bonus: unique "Red goshawk" decal
  
• Pre-order bonus: unique No. 208 Squadron golden demo camouflage - RAF Valley
  

49.99Introducing the Hawk T Mk1A!This major update brings another requested variant of the British Hawk series to the game in two versions for pilots to enjoy. A researchable variant, based on the slightly earlier version of the Hawk and a premium variant with the later tail design. Functionally, these aircraft are identical in terms of performance and loadout. Just representing the Hawk T.1 at different stages, with the premium variant showcasing unique display aircraft liveries! This two-seat version of the Hawk began life as a training aircraft, before being adapted for the ground attack role. Let’s find out more about how it will perform in the game!Using the Hawk T Mk1A in BattleAir-to-ground combat is where the Hawk T Mk1A shines. A centrally mounted 30 mm ADEN cannon pod on the underside of the fuselage allows for precision fire on lighter targets, while wing stations can be loaded with up to 36 SNEB rockets or several combinations of bomb loadouts depending on the mission requirement. The Hawk has excellent agility and handling at a range of speeds, but particularly at lower levels. This means you can approach the battlefield at very low height, sneak up and surprise enemies with precision and quickly make an exit before repositioning for a second pass. Unlike several lower rank jet attackers, the Hawk’s controllability is one of its key aspects. As it lacks any RWR or countermeasures, you’ll need to be more vigilant for enemy air defenses and hostile aircraft. Unlike its 200 series successors, this earlier model was more focused on ground attack and support. Its lack of guided ordinance means it will be possible to include it in much lower Battle Rating lineups, supporting your Centurions, Chieftains and other Rank V and VI ground vehicles from above. As it lacks any air-to-air missiles, its best to avoid engagements with other aircraft where possible, however its centrally mounted 30 mm ADEN cannon can still be used for those scenarios when pressed.  Feature Spotlight: An Agile HawkIt’s no surprise that, given the Hawk features in so many display teams all over the world, its agility, controllability and overall handling are among its best qualities. While many other jets at and around its Battle Rating may feature more firepower, the Hawk is more agile than most. It doesn’t take too long to get up to speed, and once it’s there, it retains it well despite any maneuvers you may put it through. As an attack aircraft, this is key when operating low and close to danger, as you’ll often need to quickly dodge in and out of terrain cover and features due to a lack of RWR and countermeasures. The Hawk’s small profile and flight characteristics make it perfect for the role of close air support. The added advantage of a second seat and pilot of course means it’s also that tad more survivable, as the loss of the pilot doesn’t immediately take it out of action.  Developer comment: We’ve made the decision not to introduce the AIM-9G/L armament of the Hawk T Mk1A in order to keep it at a reasonable Battle Rating for its flight performance and loadouts. This means it will be able to slot nicely into the 7.7 - 9.0 Battle Rating range and be useful for a number of lineups in Ground Realistic battles too. As the aircraft lacks countermeasures of any kind, an RWR and does not have the flight performance to justify it, giving the aircraft any kind of air-to-air missiles would simply move it to Battle Rating ranges where its advantages are removed. So much like the L-39, Alpha Jet and Yak-130, this variant will be a dedicated lower Battle Rating jet attacker, with the later Hawk 200 and Hawk 200 RDA available to use more in the fighter attack role. Vehicle HistoryOriginally produced by Hawker Siddeley, later BAE, the Hawk came from the need to replace the RAFs aging Gnat fleet of jet trainer aircraft with something more suitable for the times. The Jaguar had been intended for this initially, but it proved too complex for trainee pilots. Taking to the skies initially in 1974, the Hawk was privately funded in anticipation of RAF interest and was adopted into service initially as the T.1 variant just two years later initially as an advanced trainer. It features excellent handling at low speed and low level, as well as its agility lead to further adaptations consisting of the addition of an ADEN gunpod and AIM-9L Sidewinder missiles, with the intention of allowing the Hawk to become a dual use trainer / attacker to replace the Hawker Hunter too. The RAF’s lead display team, the Red Arrows famously adopted the Hawk in 1979 and still fly the aircraft today after the other T.1 airframes in the RAF were retired. Most RAF fighter pilots of the last 50 years have trained in the Hawk T.1 or its later T.2 derivative. The Hawk was a hugely successful export platform too, with even the US adopting it for the US Navy in the 1980s under a modified version designated the T-45 Goshawk, which is still in service today. The Mk 50 and 60 series were also generated specifically for export, offering both an advanced training aircraft and limited fighter attack capabilities to a number of nations including Finland, Switzerland, Korea, Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia and many other nations. The Hawk also went on to be further improved into the advanced Hawk 100 and 200 series.    That’s all for today’s lesson! We hope you learned a lot about what these latest Hawks bring to the classroom for all aspiring jet pilots. Stay tuned for more of what’s to come in the next major update to War Thunder! Please note that vehicle specifications may be subject to revision and change before being added to the game.

Today we’re taking a look at India’s domestically designed and built Arjun Mk 1 main battle tank, coming to the British tank research tree.Arjun Mk 1: A Main Battle Tank for Great Britain at Rank VIIAt a glance:

• 120 mm rifled cannon
• APFSDS, HESH and SAP rounds
• Great mobility
• Adequate protection

Introducing Arjun Mk1!Today we’re taking a look at the Indian Arjun Mk 1 MBT, coming to the game in the next major update. Visually, Arjun Mk 1 is very similar to the Leopard 2A4, the gun is similar to the Challenger 1’s, and the engine is an upgrade. But is it as good as the German and British legends? Read on to find out if it is!Using Arjun Mk1 in battleThe Arjun Mk 1 has excellent mobility, meaning it can reach strategic positions and capture points fast. Use this speed to your advantage, using it to get line of sight on targets with the powerful 120 mm gun. The gun can fire two APFSDS, one SAP and since it’s rifled, a HESH round as well, meaning you have much at your disposal to take on a wide range of enemies. Use APFSDS rounds against MBTs and tougher opponents, and use the HESH round in very specific situations, for example against light SPAAs or the roof of tanks behind cover. The Arjun’s armor protection can be considered quite good for its class. A distinctive feature of the armor layout is the extensive use of armor steel in the turret; even its sloped roof is protected by composite armor.Interesting: Like the Bhishma, the Arjun tank is named after one of the heroes of the Mahabharata epic. Arjuna was the son of Indra and a mortal queen, and the weapon of this peerless archer was the divine bow Gandiva.Feature Spotlight: Firepower and MobilityThe Arjun Mk1’s firepower is excellent. Featuring a 120 mm rifled gun, Arjun Mk 1 can fire two APFSDS rounds that are very similar to the Challenger 1’s in terms of penetration power. There is also your traditional HESH round and a newly developed round for the Arjun, the 120 mm PCB (Penetration-Cum-Blast) round. Supporting the gun is a gunner thermal sight and a laser rangefinder, excellent for long distance shootouts!We also wanted to highlight the mobility, especially as the Arjun is for the British ground forces tree. Arjun Mk 1 comes in with a top speed of 70 km/h, which is much better than the Challenger 1 tanks. Be sure to use this to your advantage in your 10.7 GRB lineups!Developer comment: Hey everyone, we’re excited to be bringing the Arjun Mk 1 into the game for the British ground forces tree. In real life this tank has come under some scrutiny, but with how War Thunder is, we believe you’ll have a lot of fun. The Arjun Mk 1 provides a unique experience for British tankers, as it has good mobility that the tree lacks compared to other nations in the higher ranks. Thanks to this, you’ll enjoy the Arjun Mk 1 supplementing the Challenger 1 tanks in your lineups, being able to move around much faster. The Arjun Mk 1 is placed in the export / foreign MBT line, coming after the Vickers Mk.7 and before the newly added Australian M1A2, making progression in this line more suitable.Vehicle HistoryIn 1972, the Indian Army outlined requirements for a domestic tank, and the CVRDE research institute began its development in 1974. The first Arjun prototype was unveiled in 1984, followed by a small pre-production batch of 10 Mark I vehicles by the end of 1987. Due to technical issues and the decision to adopt the Russian T-90S, full-scale production did not begin until 2003.The first five Arjun Mk 1 tanks entered service in 2004. By 2009, two armored regiments had been formed, and 124 tanks had been delivered by mid-2012. A modernization program to the Arjun Mk II standard began in 2010. The Arjun Mk 1A variant appeared in 2018; it was essentially the Mk II but without the capability to launch anti-tank missiles. In 2021, the Ministry of Defence ordered 118 Arjun Mk 1A tanks.That’s it for this one! The Indian Arjun Mk 1 will be a fun addition to the British top tier lineups, providing good firepower and mobility.Please note that this vehicle’s characteristics may be changed before it is added to the game.

The Indonesian Harimau light tank, equipped with a 105 mm high-pressure Cockerill gun, will be a new addition to Japan’s ground forces tree!Harimau: A Light Tank for Japan at Rank VIIAt a glance:

• Rapid-fire 105 mm gun with DM63 APFSDS
• Modern thermal imagers
• LWS and laser rangefinder
• Good mobility
• Light armor

Introducing the Harimau!The modern Harimau (Indonesian for “Tiger”) light tank is a fast vehicle featuring a Cockerill turret system that includes a 105 mm rifled gun with an autoloader, high-res thermal imagers and a laser rangefinder.Using the Harimau in BattleJoining the Japanese ground forces tree as a light tank, the Harimau performs well both independently and in a support role. Highly mobile and equipped with modern electronics and an excellent rate of fire, the Harimau excels at capturing objectives, flanking, and drone-assisted recon. However, it’s not built for direct firefights, as its armor consists of lightweight alloys, so make sure you strike first and accurately — or you’ll be sent back to the hangar rather fast!Feature Spotlight: The Tracked Cockerill TurretThe modular turret from the Harimau tank will already be familiar to many of you from the Boxer MGS and CT-CV 105HP. Its key advantages include an autoloader with a 7.5-second reload time, a modern fire-control system featuring thermal imagers and a laser rangefinder, and the DM63 APFSDS round, which is one of the best at this caliber. A key feature of the Harimau is its tracked chassis; it offers a lower profile and superior off-road mobility compared to wheeled platforms, while its speed is only slightly lower.Developer Comment: Hey again everyone! We’ve decided to place the Harimau after the Type 16 in the Japanese ground forces tree at the end of the light tank line, as it features superior APFSDS rounds and a significantly faster reload rate. Unlike the wheeled Type 16, the Harimau has a lower top speed, but its tracked platform offers better mobility on unstable terrain. Ultimately, Japan gets an excellent addition that supports high-ranking MBTs with a vehicle capable of both support and recon roles!Vehicle HistoryIn May 2015, Indonesia and Turkey signed an agreement to jointly develop a new medium tank. The project was undertaken by Turkey’s FNSS and Indonesia’s PT Pindad. The tank was named Harimau in Indonesia and Kaplan MT in Turkey. The first prototype was unveiled in May 2017 at the IDEF exhibition. The start of serial production was announced in February 2020. For the production models, engineers modified the hull’s frontal section and improved the turret system, powertrain, cooling system, and suspension.Deliveries of the Harimau to Indonesia began in February 2024, where the tank is replacing the aging AMX-13-105.That’s it for this one! The Indonesian Harimau is going to be a great addition to the game for Japan, supplementing several ground forces lineups. Enjoy and see you in the next blog!Please note that vehicle specifications may be subject to revision and change before being added to the game. 

Naval Vessels

• A bug that caused the automatic lead for the guns to be calculated incorrectly in Arcade Battles has been fixed. (Report).

 Graphics

• A bug that caused the Ray Tracing parameters settings to reset to the values from the used graphics preset when applying changes to the settings 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.

Meet China’s new anti-aircraft missile and gun system featuring 12 missiles and two six-barreled 30 mm guns!FK-2000: A SAM System for China at Rank VIIIAt a glance:

• 12 anti-aircraft missiles
• Twin 30 mm cannons, 4,000 rounds per minute each
• Mobile wheeled chassis
• Phased-array radar
• Moderately high profile

 Introducing the FK-2000!Today we’re taking a look at the FK-2000, coming to the Chinese ground forces tree. This vehicle is somewhat of a master of its class, as it features excellent missiles and traditional guns. Let’s take a look at the details!Using the FK-2000 in battleThe FK-2000’s specialty is protecting the team for air threats at short to medium ranges. Although the vehicle itself is large, it’s still more compact than most Multi-Vehicle SAM systems and can be relatively easily concealed in defilades or behind buildings. After you’ve quickly reached a good position, the FK-2000 stands guard over the skies of your team. However, it can rapidly relocate at the slightest sign of a ground-based threat or even return fire against the enemy using its cannons!Feature Spotlight: Best-In-ClassThe new FK-2000 SAM offers one of the best combinations of surface-to-air missiles and rapid-fire guns on a single chassis in the game. It bears a strong resemblance to the Russian Pantsir-S1 but also boasts significant advantages. While the FK-2000’s missiles have a slightly lower maximum load factor, they offer higher speed and greater maximum range than the Pantsir’s 95Ya6 missiles. Its armament includes two 30 mm six-barreled cannons, each capable of firing at a rate of 4,000 rounds per minute. The platform itself is faster than the Pantsir. The only weak area that needs improvement is the ammunition supply, as with such a high rate of fire, the 1,000-round load is depleted very quickly!Developer Comment: Players tend to favor short to medium-range anti-aircraft gun-missile systems over pure missile systems, as they offer more versatility in combat and are not as defenseless against ground-based threats. The new FK-2000 will arrive at Rank VIII of the Chinese ground vehicle tree, positioned right between the CS/SA5 and the HQ11. It’s a fitting position, as it complements the CS/SA5’s capabilities with radio-command guided missiles while falling short of the HQ11’s operational range.Vehicle HistoryThe FK-2000 air defense missile and gun system was developed by the Chinese corporation CASIC based on the earlier FK-1000 system. Its primary distinction from its predecessor is enhanced firepower; the vehicle is equipped with two 30 mm PGZ-625 automatic guns instead of 23 mm cannons. Combat capabilities have also been expanded through the use of extended-range missiles.The FK-2000 was produced for export, with the United Arab Emirates being its sole customer. The UAE subsequently transferred some of the systems to the Chadian army and the Sudanese Rapid Support Forces. These systems did not see widespread service within the People's Liberation Army of China.That’s all for this one! The FK-2000 is set to be an excellent SAM system for China, being able to take down a range of aircraft as well as hold up against ground targets thanks to the 30 mm cannons. See you in the next blog!Please note that this vehicle’s characteristics may be changed before it is added to the game.

We’re working on regenerative steering for tanks and want to hear your opinion!Hey everyone! As you may have noticed, we’ve launched limited testing of a new control mechanic for tracked vehicles on the Dev server. Specifically, regenerative steering! Currently, this mechanic is implemented for the Leopard 2 families, along with the Type 10 and Type 90 series of tanks.What is Regenerative Steering?So, what exactly is it and how does it work? Currently, most tanks in the game turn by disengaging the clutch and braking the inner track, essentially locking one side of the chassis, causing a loss of speed and power. Regenerative steering preserves power by redistributing it between the tracks: one speeds up while the other slows down. As a result, the tank loses far less energy during a turn and maintains speed while maneuvering.This mechanism does have a downside however. In most kinematic configurations that use regenerative steering, there are no side-mounted friction clutches, which means the left and right tracks cannot brake independently, and the minimum turning radius becomes fixed for each gear. The higher the gear, the larger the radius. While the tank turns more sharply at lower speeds, high-speed turns are gradual and wide. For instance, with rare exceptions, modern main battle tanks have a minimum turning radius of nearly 30 meters when moving in the highest gear!Test This New Mechanic & Let Us Know Your Thoughts!Here’s the most important part! We aren’t yet certain that regenerative steering should be permanent, so we’re rolling it out for open testing as part of the Sky Odyssey major update on the Dev server. We’d like you to try out this new mechanic for yourselves and decide whether it should stay in the game. Your feedback will be the deciding factor. So jump into battle, test the new regenerative steering mechanic, and share your thoughts in the comments on the forums, social media, website, Steam and wherever else you like to be social. Let’s decide if we should add this mechanic or not!How to join the Open Dev Server

Welcome to the 240th War Thunder Steam Screenshot Competition!

It was great to see the variety of screenshots shared in the previous round! This week, we’re highlighting vehicles that stand out from others through customization. Whether it’s a unique camouflage, eye-catching decals, decorations, or other personal touches, capture a screenshot showcasing a vehicle with its own distinctive appearance. The three most popular and three selected by us will get 300 GE. See the winners down below!

Let’s begin the 240th edition of our competition!

Create a stunning screenshot and submit it on the War Thunder Steam Community Hub with the tag #WTscreen240. You have time until the 11th 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.

How to Participate!

Terms:

• Your screenshot must include a vehicle with a custom skin, decal, or decorator.
  
• You must add the #WTscreen240 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 239th edition – Shockwave!

Winners selected via community votes:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3792690026
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3791940570
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3792115993

Winners selected by our judges:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3794841852
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3792698620
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3791965336

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