War Thunder News & Announcements
The holiday season is upon us! It’s that time of year where the snow is falling, the Christmas tree is decorated, good food will be had, presents will be unwrapped, and fireworks will light up the night’s sky at the New Year. Exciting things also await you in War Thunder, and today we’re going over all of the activities that are going on this holiday season! Get high-rank vehicles, trophies with rewards, decorations, a collection of decals, and treat yourself to discounts during sales. There’s also a Tank Snowball event, coming this week! Holiday Rewards For Everyone!
Winter Concert: Get Yourself Some Cool Rewards!
When: From December 22nd (12:00 GMT) until January 2nd (12:00 GMT).Play and meet the criteria to receive each! “Warrior Horse” decal“Garden Gnome Deer” decoration for ground vehicles“Christmas Gazebo” decoration for shipsEarn a total of 2,000 mission points while using Rank III or higher vehiclesEarn a total of 20,000 mission points while using Rank III or higher vehicles in Ground BattlesEarn a total of 20,000 mission points while using Rank III or higher vehicles in Naval Battles Use code “NEWYEAR26” in our store here to get yourself the free “Elf helper” decal! “Elf helper” decalThe key is available until February 1st 2026. This decal can be found under “Special > Other” in the decal customization menu. Open the Festive Cupcake!
When: From December 17th (11:00 GMT) until January 13th (11:00 GMT).Purchase Festive Cupcakes for Silver Lions! It features decals, decorations, vehicles and camouflages from past War Thunder winter events (including those in the form of coupons), as well as Silver Lions, boosters, universal backups and wagers and orders. Festive Cupcakes can also be obtained in the Winter Concert event!
Winter Concert: Get Yourself Some Cool Rewards!
When: From December 19th (11:00 GMT) until January 8th (11:00 GMT).Take part in battles, earn points, and receive rewards! In the Winter Concert event, you can earn three high-rank vehicles, one low-rank premium, trophies, decorations, decals, a profile icon, and camouflages. MiG-25PDH-75MA Rank VII Event Vehicle for the USSRA Rank I Premium for ChinaIJN TosaCRV Block 2A Rank VI Event Vehicle for JapanA Rank VII Event Vehicle for Great BritainThe Tank Snowball Event: Coming Soon!Get ready for shooting snowballs at enemies! The Tank Snowball event is set to start on December 23rd, and you can get yourself a special decoration as a reward for completing a task during this event. More details will be revealed on the day! In-game Discounts!
When: From December 18th (11:00 GMT) until December 24th (11:00 GMT).Enjoy 50% off on a range of in-game items, plus Starter Packs.
- 50% discount on all vehicles for Silver Lions and Golden Eagles*
- 50% discount on all modifications, talismans and backups
- 50% discount on a Premium Account in-game for 90 and 365 days and in the Gaijin store for 180 days.
- 50% discount all starter packs in the Gaijin Store
*Please note: Discounts do not apply to:Sale in the Gaijin.Net Store!We’ll tell you about discounts in the Gaijin.Net store in a separate news post on December 24th. Don’t miss it!Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year!
- Vehicles released in the Line of Contact, Spearhead and Tusk Force major updates and their modifications, talismans and backups
- All Squadron Vehicles and their modifications, talismans and backups
Aircraft
- JAS39E — the height of the extended landing gear struts have been corrected. (Report).
- Rafale M F3-R — this aircraft is now correctly recognized by radars with target recognition by radar signature (Non-Cooperative Target Recognition (NCTR)).
- A bug that caused some HESH rounds in the hangar to lack the armor plate demonstrating the penetration has been fixed.
- F/A-18E, F/A-18D Late (Japan), Hawk 209 (Japan), Su-30MKK (China), J-10C — additional camouflages have been added.
Welcome to the 203rd War Thunder Steam Screenshot Competition!
We loved seeing all of the submissions you shared with us last week! This week we released the major update Line of Contact, which introduced many new vehicles, updated some existing ones, as well as updated Winter Poland. Go out and take a picture with your favorite new content! The three most popular and three selected by us will get 300 GE. See the winners down below!
Let’s begin the 203rd edition of our competition!
Create a stunning screenshot and submit it on the War Thunder Steam Community Hub with the tag #WTscreen203. You have time until the 26th of December 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, updated content, or updated map released in the latest major update, Line of Contact.
- You must add the #WTscreen203 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 202nd edition – Agile Hunters!
Winners selected via community votes:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3623059237
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3623574283
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3623126797
Winners selected by our judges:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3626565851
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3623777009
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3623822046
Each winner will get 300GE! Congratulations and see you next week!
Aircraft
- R-77-1 air-to-air missile — a bug that caused the missile autopilot to sometimes guide the missile to the incorrect trajectory which lead to the loss of tracking has been fixed.
- J-10C — additional LS-6(IR) 250 guided bombs have been added, bringing the total amount to 10 max.
- A bug in the operation of the phased array radars, which led to distortions of track parameters and loss of tracking of air targets in TWS mode has been fixed.
- JAS39E — the restriction on the combined use of the under-fuselage SPICE 250 and LITENING III pod has been removed. (Report).
- Su-30MKK (China) — a bug that caused the names of PL-8 and PL-12 air-to-air missiles to display as a text key on the MFD has been fixed.
- A21A-3, A21RB — a bug that caused the maximum mass of the suspended armament to be underestimated has been fixed. (Report).
- BMPT-72 — a bug that made it impossible to change the belt of the right cannon in the modifications window has been fixed.
- A bug that caused the lack of sounds when playing vessel animations in hangar has been fixed.
- Ardennes Ardennes (winter) (all missions) — a bug that caused the vehicles to spawn inside the buildings or facing them has been fixed.
- Ash River, Arctic — temporarily removed from rotation until bugs are fixed.
- A bug where the text and price on the new crew slot were displayed with an offset has been fixed. (Report).
- A bug where, when selecting shells or countermeasures, only the ammunition of one weapon, launcher, or countermeasure pod was taken into account and selected has been fixed. (Report).
- In sensor view in replay mode, a bug that caused Multi-Vehicle SAM systems that were not currently under the player’s control to not display as the player’s vehicles has been fixed.
- A bug that caused the rank of the player’s vehicle preset to be incorrectly displayed in the queue window has been fixed. (Report).
- A bug that caused the shadows from the weapons around aircraft in the hangar to not render in if the weapons were not on the screen has been fixed.
- A bug that caused the number of dropped nuclear bombs on the “Atomic Ace” profile showcase to not increase has been fixed. (Report).
- The Holiday hangar has arrived!
- The ability to select the hangar has been enabled.
- A bug that made it impossible to play the vehicle animations in hangar when playing from a controller has been fixed. (Report).
Last Sunday officially marked the end of the WTCS 2025 season, closing the book on a year that truly redefined competitive War Thunder esports. From the very first qualifiers to the final, decisive clashes, the 2025 circuit delivered non-stop action, deep strategic play, and high-stakes combined arms warfare at every stage.Throughout the season, teams battled across several WTCS flagship formats : Titan, Armored Apex, and Air Superiority, each demanding a unique skill set, constant adaptability, and flawless coordination across air and ground under intense pressure. Only the most consistent and versatile teams were able to remain at the top over the course of the entire year.In the end, DODEC emerged as the best team of WTCS 2025, securing 1st place overall with 356 points on the global leaderboard. Their season was defined by exceptional consistency, strong results in every major event, and the ability to deliver when it mattered most. Rather than relying on a single standout victory, DODEC built their dominance step by step, proving themselves to be the most complete and reliable team of the season.Voyager finished the season in 2nd place with 308 points, showcasing impressive resilience and competitive stability across multiple events. Regularly present at the top of the standings, Voyager remained a constant threat throughout the year and pushed the title race deep into the final stages of the WTCS circuit.Closing the podium in 3rd place with 294 points, AVReS left a massive mark on WTCS 2025. Crowned Titan and Armored Apex champions, AVReS delivered some of the season’s most dominant and memorable performances, particularly in high-intensity, high-pressure formats. Their aggressive playstyle and decisive victories made them one of the most feared teams on the battlefield.Congratulations to all teams who competed throughout the season! WTCS 2025 showcased the very best of War Thunder Esports and laid a powerful foundation for what’s to come in future seasons.The WTCS Grand Finals 2025 PodiumDODEC has defined the WTCS 2025 season. Strong, consistent, and impressive from start to finish, they set the pace throughout the year.Led by Forze, an outstanding captain and the MVP of the season, the team secured victories in 2 out of the 3 major weekends and closed the year with a 2nd-place finish in the final event, showcasing top-tier consistency.Through collective strength, strategic mastery, and composure in the key moments, DODEC clearly proved they were the best team of 2025. Congratulations to the entire squad on an exceptional season.Player’s list :
- Forze
- Jッ
- Neme
- Banujek
- Grohotarr
- Bad_Karma옷
- BarbieGirl
- nyffer
- PzgrEnjoyer
- Einscute
- Barlpad
- Weissmann_Inc
- AuRusElite
- Grize
- Erchenn
- Moloko
- Arseniywell
- STATJET
- Isawyourunaway
- RussianShark
- Detramalivator
- LegitBongo
- Rastafaray
- Vinny
- Farsage
- Dartmoll
- Nezoxi
All Grand Finals teams fought with everything they had. Huge thanks and congratulations to each of them!Who is the Most Valuable Player (MVP)?Big congratulations to the player Forze for being named MVP of Grand Finals 2025! Unanimously selected by all members of the jury, Forze delivered an outstanding performance throughout the tournament, carrying his team both mentally and technically at every stage of the competition. His leadership, consistency, and impact made a clear difference from start to finish!Well deserved recognition for the MVP of the season’s last Major.Shoutout as well to Rastafaray and PzgrEnjoyer for securing 2nd and 3rd place in the jury votes.But this isn’t the only MVP we’re crowning in this news.Here is the 2025 MVP of the Year, along with the prestigious Top 10 of this very first WTCS season.BanujekForzeRastafarayLeozanderVolkodavGrohotarrDartMollC0COJAMBOBarlpadJッCongratulations to Banujek, who proved to be the best throughout the entire year, showcasing outstanding consistency, skill, and dedication, and setting an incredibly high standard from start to finish. A huge congratulations as well to Forze, Rastafaray, Leozander, Volkodav, Grohotarr, Dartmoll, C0COJAMBO, Barlpad, and Jッ, each of whom delivered impressive performances and helped make this year highly competitive, intense, and truly memorable.Team pack bundle -20%To get to the Gaijin Store through Steam, go to the in-game hangar > Shop > Online Store.This pack includes:31.92 25.54
- Team DODEC Pack
- Team AVReS Pack
- Team VOYAGER Pack
- Team LEET Pack
- Team FiveSticks Pack
- Team IgnisAvis Pack
- Team WastedTime Pack
- Team RAWR Pack
Today, we’re taking a look at the main aircraft reward in the Winter Concert event that started today: the record-breaking MiG-25PD jet fighter!MiG-25PD: An Event Vehicle Jet Fighter for the USSR at Rank VIIAt a glance:
- The fastest aircraft in the game!
- Air-to-air missiles for long-range and short-range dogfights
- Most effective at very high altitudes
- No guns
- Mediocre maneuverability
For three weeks, Starter Packs for all nations are available on Steam at a discount!
When: From December 18th (18:00 GMT) until January 5th (18:00 GMT)US Starter PackGerman Beginner’s PackUSSR Starter PackBritish Starter PackJapanese Starter PackChinese Starter Pack Italian Starter Pack French Starter PackSwedish Starter Pack
- 50% off Starter Packs for all nations
The temps are dropping, it’s frosty and cold outside, and snow is starting to fall (unless you’re in Australia!), so now’s the time for some winter discounts in War Thunder! This weather makes it the perfect time to start researching a new nation or get some high-tier vehicles that you’ve been missing.In-game + Starter Pack Discounts!Enjoy 50% off on a range of in-game items, plus Starter Packs.
When: From December 18th (11:00 GMT) until December 24th (11:00 GMT).
- 50% discount on all vehicles for Silver Lions and Golden Eagles
- 50% discount on all modifications, talismans and backups
- 50% discount on a Premium Account in-game for 90 and 365 days and in the Gaijin store for 180 days.
- 50% discount all starter packs in the Gaijin Store
Please note: Discounts do not apply to:Please note that the premium AH-1S Kisarazu helicopter (Japan, Rank VI) will be no longer available to purchase on December 24th (11:00 GMT).
- Vehicles released in the Line of Contact, Spearhead and Tusk Force major updates and their modifications, talismans and backups
- All Squadron Vehicles and their modifications, talismans and backups
After this sale ends, discounts on vehicle packs in the Gaijin Store will start. We’ll tell you more in a separate news post on December 24th!
Aircraft
- JAS39C, JAS39EBS HU C — a bug that prevented the radar page on the MFD from showing up has been fixed.
- FA-18E — excessive bank angle after tight turns while using mouse aim control has been fixed.
- JAS39E — a restriction on the combined use of the under-fuselage SPICE 250s with the LITENING III targeting pod has been added. The Battle Rating in Ground Realistic Battles has been changed from 12.7 to 13.0.
- CCRP has been removed from all nuclear bomb carrying aircraft, as it wasn’t of any meaningful use on them and could instead interfere with the bomb drop if the point of interest was activated accidentally.
- OS2U-3 — engine name has been corrected from R-985-48 to R-985-AN-2. (Report).
- A bug that caused the penetration and damage of 76–105 mm HE shells to be slightly overestimated compared to 120–155 mm HE shells has been fixed. This was due to using a linear, rather than quadratic, approximation for how shock wave parameters vary with distance.
- BMPT, BMPT-72 — a bug where destroying the ATGMs and/or automatic grenade launcher’s ammo pack would result in the loss of the vehicle has been fixed. A bug where, when switching between gun belts, the sight, fire control system, and rangefinder would take into account the ballistics of the first belt, not the currently selected one has been fixed.
- Ajax — a bug that caused the Scout UAV to lack thermal vision has been fixed. (Report).
- Type 03 — a bug where the launcher vehicle was not located next to the TDS vehicle when viewing it in the hangar has been fixed.
- TOG II — a bug that prevented the 76 mm howitzer from working has been fixed. (Report).
- USS South Dakota — full name in the stat card has been corrected. (Report).
- A bug that caused the key icons in the Controls menu to be stretched vertically has been fixed.
- Khrizantema-S — a bug where the radar indicator fill was greatly stretched horizontally has been fixed. (Report).
- An issue where markers would be missing in replays in the sensor view when watching the player’s view while the player was controlling a ship has been fixed.
- F/A-18E, FR-1 Fireball, J-10C, MB-326B, Rafale M F3-R — additional camouflages have been added.
- A bug where battles may end early with no rewards being given has been fixed.
A Festive Cupcake with a Christmas tree is perfect this time of year to go with your cup of hot chocolate, tea or coffee. It is also magical in War Thunder, as it can be opened for Silver Lions to get some cool items. Ho Ho Ho!
The Festive Cupcake can be purchased in the in-game Item Shop for Silver Lions from December 17th (11:00 GMT) until January 13th (11:00 GMT). It can only be purchased by players who have at least one researchable vehicle at rank II or higher on their account.What’s in the Festive Cupcake?The Festive Cupcake will reward you with vehicles, camouflages, decals, decorations and player profile icons from previous winter events, plus useful consumables, including boosters, universal backups, wagers and orders. Some items are here for the first time as coupons, meaning you’ll be able to sell them on the Market! The Festive Cupcake can be purchased for 60,000 Silver Lions. Some rewards you can find in the Festive Cupcake: "Xmas Tree" decal"Christmas Wreath" decoration"Powder Day” decal "Ski" decoration"Call sign "Snow Maiden"" icon"The Witch's Hous" decoration VilkasKfir C.10IJN KirishimaM8A1 GMCRo.57 QuadriarmaThe “Festive Cupcake” contains the following rewards:Vehicles (both immediately activated on the account and available as coupons)
- T-80UD/BE
- Kfir C.10
- IJN Kirishima
- M.B.151C.1 (only direct to the account)
- Mirage 2000C-S4
- Vilkas
- USS Mississippi
- J9 Early (only direct to the account)
- Tornado IDS MFG
- T-80UM2
- USS Newport News
- Late 298D (only direct to the account)
- MiG-23MF (Germany)
- C. 202D (only direct to the account)
- AGS
- A.C.I (only direct to the account)
- IJN Hayanami (only direct to the account)
- MPK Pr.201K
- MiG-21PFM
- Ro.57 Quadriarma (only direct to the account)
- Class 3 (P)
- E.B.R. (1954) (only direct to the account)
- USS Baltimore
- Type K-8 No.13 (only direct to the account)
- TIS MA
- J6K1
- Merkava Mk.2B (USA)
- QF 3.7 Ram
- Jaguar
- PT-811
- Fw 190 C
- M.B.152C1
- T30
- SU-85A
- PBM-3 “Mariner” (only direct to the account)
- Leningrad (only direct to the account)
- P-40C
- NC.900 (only direct to the account)
- Ersatz M10 (only direct to the account)
- AEC Mk II
- Me 262 A-2a
- Ki-21-I hei
- LVT(A)(4) ZIS-2 (USA)
- Type 62 (USSR)
- P-63C-5 (USSR) (only direct to the account)
- VK 45.01 (P)
- M8A1 GMC
- I-301
- T-80UD/BE: Parade camouflage (first time as a coupon)
- Kfir C.10: "Blackfir" camouflage (first time as a coupon)
- IJN Kirishima: Quadricolor camouflage (first time as a coupon)
- Mirage 2000C-S4: "Vendée" camouflage
- Vilkas: Tricolor spotted camouflage
- USS Mississippi: Tricolor geometric camouflage
- Tornado IDS MFG: Anniversary camouflage MFG 2
- T-80UM2: Bicolor summer camouflage
- USS Newport News: Deforming camouflage
- MiG-23MF (Germany): Tricolor camouflage
- AGS: Snow w/Open Terrain camouflage MERDC
- MPK Pr.201K: Deforming camouflage
- MiG-21PFM: Demonstration camouflage
- Class 3 (P): PATRIA camouflage
- USS Baltimore: Deforming camouflage Design 33 16D
- TIS MA: Bicolor green camouflage
- J6K1: Experimental camouflage
- Merkava Mk.2B (USA): Tricolor camouflage
- QF 3.7 Ram: Late bicolor camouflage
- Jaguar: Deforming camouflage Bow sea
- PT-811: Deforming camouflage Design 20L
- Fw 190 C: Nonstandard tricolor camouflage
- M.B.152C1: Early camouflage
- T30: Winter verdant camouflage MERDC
- SU-85A: Bicolor summer camouflage
- P-40C: Olive-green camouflage
- Nutcracker (first time as a coupon)
- The Witch's House (first time as a coupon)
- Christmas Miss Gnome (first time as a coupon)
- Snowbike
- Ratrack
- New Year's sign
- Christmas gnome
- Christmas sleigh
- Christmas mill
- Cuckoo watch
- Christmas sock
- Christmas deer
- New Year Tree
- Snowman
- Sparkler
- Snowboard
- Snowshoe
- Biathlon rifle
- Ice Climber’s Backpack
- Snowmobile NKL-16/41
- DUKW
- Assault rifle with grenade launcher (USSR)
- Assault rifle with grenade launcher (China)
- Assault rifle with grenade launcher (Germany)
- Assault rifle with grenade launcher (Britain)
- Assault rifle (Sweden)
- Carl Gustaf M/45
- Assault rifle (China)
- Type 63
- Assault rifle (Japan)
- Assault rifle (USA)
- Assault rifle (Britain)
- Assault rifle (Germany)
- Assault rifle (France)
- Assault rifle (USSR)
- Christmas Wreath
- Sleigh
- Ski
- Skates
- "Befana" decal
- "Grýla" decal
- "Hans Trapp" decal
- "Jack Frost" decal
- "Krampus" decal
- "Serpent Warrior" decal (only direct to the account)
- "Ice cross downhill" decal
- "Kitewing" decal
- "Freestyle" decal
- "Snowkiting" decal
- "Snowmobiling" decal
- "Dragon Warrior" decal (only direct to the account)
- “We can climb it” decal
- “Christmas Lights” decal
- “Powder Day” decal
- “Secret Santa” decal
- “Times to Travel” decal
- Metal Bull (only direct to the account)
- “Raging Tiger” decal (only direct to the account)
- Battle Rabbit (only direct to the account)
- “Warrior of the North” decal
- “Warrior of the Slavs” decal
- “Desert Warrior” decal
- “Guard Warrior” decal
- “Warrior of the Rising Sun” decal
- “The Sherwood Warrior” decal
- “Warrior of the East” decal
- “Legion Warrior” decal
- Pin-up pilot China
- Pin-up pilot Sweden
- Pin-up pilot Italy
- New Year’s pin-up (China)
- New Year’s pin-up (France)
- New Year’s pin-up (Germany)
- New Year’s pin-up (Italy)
- New Year’s pin-up (Japan)
- New Year’s pin-up (Sweden)
- New Year’s pin-up (Britain)
- New Year’s pin-up (USA)
- New Year’s pin-up (Russia)
- Pin-up pilot USA
- Pin-up pilot Russia
- Pin-up pilot Britain
- Pin-up pilot Japan
- Pin-up pilot Germany
- Pin-up pilot France
- Shark Jaws (1)
- Shark Jaws (2)
- Shark Jaws (3)
- Shark Jaws (4)
- “Christmas tree” victory marks
- Xmas Rocket
- Xmas Sock
- Xmas Tree
- Call sign "Snow Maiden" (first time as a coupon)
- Snowboarder
- Winter Pilot
- New Year Aerobatic Smoke
- Flag of the Ded Moroz
- New Year's flag
- 10000 — 1000000
- Battle trophy (Research points booster)
- Battle trophy (Silver lions booster)
- Universal backup
- Universal backup x2
- Universal backup x3
- Random wager
- Random order
Meet Line of Contact, War Thunder’s winter 2025 update! We’re excited to release Line of Contact, and we’re kicking things off with a Closed Beta Test for a brand-new gamemode: Infantry, which you can play soon! On top of that, we’ve got the usual awesome vehicle additions, with armored vehicles and SAM systems rolling out to several nations, including the Ajax, Terminator, M10 Booker, plus the Chū-SAM, NASAMS 3, and HQ11! We’ve also got three Typhoon variants sporting the AESA radar for multiple nations, two cool Second World War aircraft, the FR-1 Fireball and the quirky DB-LK, and a fresh new cockpit for the B-25 and its variants. Some huge ships are joining the fun too, including Stalingrad and HMS Prince of Wales, plus the winter version of Poland has received a beautiful update. To wrap things up, we’ve added some neat features to the hangar, ground battle lineups at 9.3 and above get an additional vehicle in the lineup, and the Severe Damage mechanic has now come to naval battles. Check out the changelog to see all the improvements, vehicles and other features that we’ve included in this major update.Leave your feedback hereInfantry: Closed Beta Testing Going Live Soon!Closed Beta Testing for War Thunder’s new Infantry game mode will start soon! Experience War Thunder battles from the brand new perspective of an infantry soldier through tactical building clearouts, tense sniper duels, and fierce shootouts on city streets. For more details and to submit your CBT application, click through the link below! APPLY FOR THE INFANTRY CBT!Ground Vehicles: Light Vehicles, SAM Systems and the Terminator!Line of Contact introduces the researchable Terminator and the Terminator 2 premium pack! Both look menacing and feature two 30 mm cannons and ATGM launchers on each side of the turret.BMPT-72 (Pack) The modern Ajax light tank featuring a 40 mm cannon and good mobility joins the end of Britain’s light tank line, while the USA’s M10 Booker light tank comes in with 105 mm firepower. Both vehicles have scouting abilities.AjaxM10 Booker Japan has received a Multi-Vehicle SAM vehicle in this update, which features an AESA radar, vertical-launch containers and 12 powerful missiles!Type 03 Chū-SAM Three more SAMs come in this update, the Norwegian/American NASAMS 3 for Sweden and the USA which feature ARH missiles, along with the HQ11 for China, featuring a phased array radar and eight missiles, both providing excellent air defense. NASAMS 3HQ11 New vehicles:
- USA: M10 Booker, NASAMS 3
- Germany: Jaguar 2
- USSR: BMPT, BMPT-72 (Pack), Тоr-М1
- Great Britain: Ajax
- Japan: Type 61 (B) (Pack), Type 03
- China: M1A2T, HQ11
- Italy: Freccia OWS30 (Squadron Vehicle)
- Sweden: NASAMS 3
- Israel: Merkava Mk.1
- USA: F/A-18E, FR-1 Fireball (Premium)
- Germany: EF-2000 (AESA)
- USSR: Su-30SM2, DB-LK (Premium)
- Great Britain: Typhoon (AESA)
- Japan: Hawk 209 (Indonesia) (Pack), Su-30MKM (Malaysia), F/A-18D Late (Malaysia), MiG-29N (Malaysia)
- China: J-10C, Su-30MKK (Pack)
- Italy: F-2000A (AESA), MB-326B (Premium)
- France: Rafale M F3-R
- Sweden: JAS39E
- USA: B-25J-20, PBJ-1H, PBJ-1J — detailed cockpit has been added
- USSR, China: B-25J-30 — detailed cockpit has been added
- France: SB-25J — detailed cockpit has been added
- USSR: Yak-141, Yak-38, Yak-38M, Su-33 — pilot model has been updated
- USA: AH-1G, AH-1F, AH-1W, AH-1Z
- Japan: AH-1S, AH-1S Kisarazu, AH-1E
- China: AH-1W
- France: SA 316B Alouette III, IAR 316B
- Israel: Tzefa A, Tzefa B, Tzefa D/E
- USA: USS South Dakota, USS Forrest Sherman
- Germany: Lütjens, Parchim
- USSR: Stalingrad
- Great Britain: HMS Fiji, HMS Prince of Wales
- Japan: IJN Oyodo
- Italy: Armando Diaz, Cassiopea
- France: Le Corse (Premium), Suffren
- Poland (Winter) — the map has been completely graphically updated. In addition to the houses, each of which now has a detailed winter variant, the general environment of the location has also been updated: plants, ground textures, ice, and decorative objects. However, the landscape and the general layout of the location have remained largely unchanged, which will allow you to play and use the same tactics as before.
- The hangar has been overhauled. The hangars have been completely overhauled. All buildings now feature more detailed interiors and improved lighting, making the location more atmospheric overall. The hangars now include dynamic effects and maintenance animations, adding depth and realism. Additionally, there is a new feature that allows players to visually inspect all types of armament and the damage they can cause. The naval docks have also been revamped — the ship port is now more lively, making the environment feel more expansive and functional.
- Carpathians (all missions) — the unintended path to the hill at D7/E7 has been blocked off. The landscape in D5, which previously allowed vehicles to easily get stuck, has been adjusted.
- In Naval Battles the mandatory choice of the “Airfield” spawn point in bad weather has been removed.
- Minimaps for locations in Naval Battles have been brought to a uniform appearance. The water on them now has the same color in all locations. The water surface displayed on the minimap in the corner of the screen in battles now has transparency to it.
- Aral Sea — a bug that caused graphical artifacts to appear around the shipwrecks has been fixed. (Report).
- Arctic — a bug that caused graphical artifacts to appear around the radar arrays has been fixed. (Report).
- An erroneous wind animation on tree stumps has been removed.
- Cargo Port — a previously missing building has been added to the minimap.
- A bug where AI ground battles could occur in grid squares located on the other side of the map has been fixed. This bug also caused giant arrows to appear on the minimap.
- RDF/LT — smoke grenade launchers and the corresponding modification have been added to the model.
- M1A2 SEP V2 — the laser rangefinder modification has been replaced with LWS + laser rangefinder modification.
- Type 24 ICV (P), Type 25 RCV (P) — the Mk.310 HE-TF shell has been added.
- Type 90, Type 90 (B), Type 90 (B) “Fuji” — “trunnions” module has been added.
- Light AA Mk I — the camera in 3rd person view has been moved closer to the vehicle.
- Tetrarch I — engine power has been increased from 165 HP to 167.29 HP at 2850 rpm. (Report).
- IRIS-T SLM — the number of gears has been increased from 12 forward and 2 reverse to 14 forward and 4 reverse. Source: HX2 8x8 brochure by Rheinmetall; HX2 UTF brochure by Rheinmetall; Ungeschütztes Transportfahrzeug (UTF) by Bundeswehr web page; Transmission technology for armored special vehicles by ZF; EcoLife Offroad 2 web page Data sheet by ZF.
- IRIS-T SLM — the maximum speed has been reduced from 100 km/h to 80 km/h. Sources: Luftverteidigungssystem IRIS-T SLM by Bundeswehr web page; Ungeschütztes Transportfahrzeug (UTF) by Bundeswehr web page; HX2 by Rheinmetall web page.
- A13 (all variants) — the number of gears has been reduced from 5 to 4. Reverse speed has been increased from 6 km/h to 7.9 km/h. (Report).
- Churchill III, Churchill NA75, Churchill AVRE Petard, Pz.Kpfw. Churchill — the transmission gear ratios have been corrected. (Report). The maximum engine speed has been increased from 2200 RPM to 2550 RPM. (Report).
- Begleitpanzer 57 — the turret front material has been changed from cast homogeneous armor to rolled homogeneous armor. (Report).
- ELC bis — a bug where the tank did not have the “Artillery Support modification has been fixed. (Report).
- Wiesel (all variants) — the transmission gear ratios have been corrected. The maximum reverse speed has been increased from 29 km/h to 38 km/h. (Report). Source: Bundeswehr web site – Waffenträger Wiesel 1 MK; Bundeswehr web site – Waffenträger Wiesel 1 MELLS; Bundeswehr web site – Waffenträger Wiesel 1 (family overview); ZF 3HP-22 manual by ZF; 24 Automatic Transmission ZF - 3 HP-22 by ZF; Waffensysteme und Großgerät der Bundeswehr.
- TAM — vehicle mass has been reduced from 30.5 tons to 30 tons. (Report).
- TAM — the elevation speed has been reduced from 12°/s to 7°/s. Source: Nuevos vehículos de la familia TAM by TAMSE; Worldwide Tank Fire-Control Systems by CIA; C-71-345-000/MA-001, DATA SUMMARY TURRET, LEOPARD C2 TANK; CARRO ARMATO MEDIO "LEOPARD" Torretta e armamento.
- Bardelas/60mm HVMS — a bug that caused the tank’s front to be raised upwards has been fixed. (Report).
- BMD-4 (all variants), BMP-3 — the gun barrel thicknesses that were too low have been corrected. The 30 mm cannon barrel thickness has been increased from 5mm to 10mm, and the 100 mm cannon barrel thickness has been increased from 5mm to 35mm. (Report).
- ZBD04A — the thickness of the gun barrel has been adjusted as it was too low: the 30 mm gun barrel thickness has been increased from 5mm to 10mm.
- R400 — the FN MAG 60-40 machine guns have been replaced with MG3A1 machine guns. (Report).
- R400 — main gun ammunition amount has been reduced from 29 to 20 shells. (Report).
- T-28 (all variants) — the turret traverse speed has been increased from 15°/s to 24°/s. Source: Наставление автобронетанковых войск РККА. Книга первая. Часть 1 - Материальная часть, вождение, уход и регулировка танка Т-28. 1935.
- M4 748 (a) — the non-functional hull machine gun has been removed from X-ray.
- Namer 30, Namer Tsrikhon — a bug that caused 3rd person night vision to be missing without the NVD modification installed has been fixed. (Report).
- TOG II — a smoke grenade launcher has been added.
- Chieftain 900 — the top speed has been increased from 48 km/h to 52 km/h. (Report).
- Strela-10M (Italy) — the operator icon in the name of the vehicle has been replaced with Hungarian one. (Report).
- Khrizantema-S — the “Elevation Mechanism” modification has been removed.
- Mephisto — a bug where the engine compartment bulkhead did not produce fragments when penetrated has been fixed.
- AMX-10RC — a bug where damage to the ammunition rack in the turret could lead to a fire in the ammunition rack without destroying the vehicle has been fixed. (Report).
- BTR-82AT — a bug where the ATGM in the launcher caused pressure damage to the crew has been fixed.
- Challenger — the ammunition consumption has been corrected. A bug that caused the shells to appear in the X-ray even when all ammo was spent has been fix. (Report).
- Crusader AA Mk.II — a Vickers K coaxial machine gun has been added.
- M55 (all variants) — a bug that caused the lack of an armor plate near the cover of the drive wheel has been fixed.
- EF-2000, Typhoon FGR.4, F-2000A — double pylons for all AIM-120 missiles have been added. As a result, the maximum possible amount of equipped AIM-120 missiles has increased from 6 to 8.
- F-15C Golden Eagle — MRML pylons have been added, maximum number of AIM-120 missiles has increased to 12. (Report).
- AH Mk.2 Apache, AH-64E (Japan), AH-64E (China), AH-64E (France) — Laser Directional Infrared Counter Measures (LDIRCM) have been added.
- JH-7A, JH-7 Prototype, J-10A, JF-17, J-11B — LS-6(IR) 250 guided bombs with IR+IOG+GNSS guidance have been added.
- MG 151 aircraft gun — a bug that caused the 20 mm Minengeschoß shells to deal less damage than other 20-mm HE shells has been fixed. (Report).
- A6M3 — a bug where the external fuel tank did not drop has been fixed. (Report).
- Su-25 (all variants) — separate launch of flares/chaff has been added.
- Su-7 (all variants) — external fuel tanks have been added.
- LaGG-3-4 — the number of rounds for the ShKAS 7.62 mm guns has been reduced from 800 to 650 rounds per gun. Source: Техническое описание самолета ЛаГГ-3. Книга 1.
- LaGG-3-4, LaGG-3-8, LaGG-3-11, LaGG-3-23, LaGG-3-35, LaGG-3-66 — the number of rounds for the 20 mm ShVAK cannon has been increased from 150 to 160 rounds. Source: Техническое описание самолета ЛаГГ-3. Книга 1.
- Su-9, Su-11 — the number of rounds for the NS-37 forward cannon has been reduced from 40 to 30. Source: Книга ОКБ Сухого, 2024; Вадим Шавров “История конструкций самолётов в СССР 1938-1950”.
- MiG-27 (all variants), Su-17/22 (all variants), Su-25 (all variants), Su-39 — the ammo reserve of the SPPU-22-01 gun pod with GSh-23L gun has been increased from 250 rounds to 260 rounds. Source: Flugzeug Su-22UM3K, Betrieb und Steuertechnik.
- A21A-3, A21RB — wingtip drop tanks have been added. (Report).
- EF-2000, Typhoon FGR.4, F-2000A, F-15C Golden Eagle — the AIM-9L missile and the corresponding modifications have been removed, Silver Lions and Golden Eagles spent on these modifications have been compensated. Part of the rest of the missile modifications have been moved one tier lower, making them easier to obtain.
- B.R.20DR — the nose turret elevation angles have been adjusted from +40°/-40° to +85°/-38°. Source: "Istruzioni sull'impiego della torretta Breda tipo H", Ministero dell'Aeronautica, 1938.
- DB-3B, DB-3A (China) — the maximum permissible weight of the suspended weapons has been increased from 2900 kg to 2980 kg. Source: Техническое описание самолета ДБ-3-2М-85. Книга 1.
- Hunter F.6 — a bug that caused the SRAAM missiles to have a maximum launch speed has been fixed. (Report).
- JH-7A, JH-7 Prototype, J-10A, JF-17 — LS-6 bombs with GNSS guidance no longer require the targeting pod to be installed.
- MiG-21 Bison (Great Britain) — a secondary weapon preset with 2 x ZB-500 incendiary bombs has been added. (Report).
- Tornado F.3, Tornado F.3 Late, Tornado ADV — a bug that caused the BOL countermeasure pylons to release countermeasures in turns, rather than synchronously like on all other aircraft with BOL pylons has been fixed.
- A21RB — the Secondary Weapons customization menu has been added.
- The operation of all TWS algorithms (TWS, TWS+, ESA TWS) — has been improved. The number of false target tracks appearing in TWS modes with a slow zone scan speed has been significantly reduced.
- Rafale C F3 — the interface of the HMD has been updated. (Report).
- F/A-18 (all variants) — the interface of the HMD has been updated.
- J-10A — the HUD interface has been updated. Report).
- AH-1Z — the RWR page on the MFD has been updated.
- F-2A ATDW — a bug where the central drop tank was always displayed in x-ray mode has been fixed. (Report).
- Jaguar GR.1, Jaguar GR.1A, Jaguar IS — a bug where the right underwing drop tank was not displayed in X-ray mode has been fixed. (Report).
- F-15C Golden Eagle — a bug that caused the IR page of the MFD to be missing when installing AN/AAQ-33 Sniper pod has been fixed. (Report).
- Gladiator Mk.I (China) — the metal 3-blade propeller has been replaced with a wooden 2-blade propeller.
- J8A — the wooden 2-blade propeller has been replaced with a metal 3-blade propeller.
- MB-326K — a bug where the machine gun pods were not visible when in cockpit view has been fixed. (Report).
- Ro.57 Quadriarma — armor for the pilot’s seat and armored glass has been added. Sources: Catalogo nomenclatore per velivolo bimotore da bombardamento a tuffo Ro. 57", 1943, Ministero dell'Aeronautica; I tuffatori di Crotone, genesi e impiego del controverso bimotore Ro. 57", F. Farina, Aerofan n.74, 2000
- CF-188A — a bug where components of the targeting pod were constantly displayed in X-ray mode has been fixed. (Report).
- F-15E — a bug where components of the targeting pod were constantly displayed in X-ray mode has been fixed. (Report).
- OS2U-3 — the central fuel tank is no longer self-sealing. Source: OS2U-3 Airplane Characteristics and Performance (1 August 1943).
- Mosquito NF.Mk.II — radar module has been added.
- Sea Hawk Mk.100, Sea Hawk FGA.6, Sea Hawk Mk.50 — the front fuel tank has been split into two tanks, and the internal layout of the modules in the fuselage has been adjusted. (Report).
- J-10A — fuel dumping mechanic has been added.
- Yak-28B, MiG-21F-13, J-7II, MiG-21PFM, Su-7 (all variants), MiG-19 (all variants), J-6A, A-5C, Q-5 (all variants) — a bug that prevented the maximum thrust from being displayed in X-ray has been fixed. (Report).
- Re.2005 (VDM) — MW-50 water injection system has been added. Engine power in emergency mode has been adjusted (power in WEP mode has been increased). (Report).
- Boomerang Mk.1/2 — a bug that caused the engine to overheat too quickly during takeoff has been fixed. (Report).
- DB-3A/B — a bug that caused a constant roll to the left side regardless of the aircraft control type has been fixed. (Report).
- B-25 (all variants), PBJ (all variants) — flight model updated, fuel distribution across tanks streamlined, fuel consumption order clarified (performance characteristics remain unchanged)
- The altitude characteristics of jet engines for all jet aircraft near service ceilings altitude has been corrected.
- XP-55 — the flight model has been updated, maximum engine power has been corrected. (Report). Max power (100%) has been set to 1125 HP. Takeoff power (WEP) to 1275 HP. Fuel mass has been reduced to 300 kg. (Report).
- F-47N-25-RE (China) — flap deployment restriction system present on other P-47N aircraft has been added. (Report).
- OS2U-3 — empty mass has been increased from 1400 kg to 1937 kg. Source: OS2U-3 Airplane Characteristics and Performance (1 August 1943).
- P-26A-34, P-26A-34 M2 — the Pratt & Whitney R-1340-33 engine has been replaced with the Pratt & Whitney R-1340-27 one. (Report).
- P-26B-35 — engine power has been increased from 550 HP to 600 HP, engine mass has been increased from 327 kg to 360 kg. (Report).
- Ta 154 A-1 — combat flaps position has been removed. Source: Focke-Wulf Ta 154 Nachtjäger mit 2x Jumo 211 F oder N.- Vorläufige Bedienungsvorschrift.
- F-89B, F-89D — the simultaneous deployment of the flaps and air brake is no longer restricted. (Report).
- F-16I Sufa — the parasite drag of conformal fuel tanks has been reduced. (Report).
- HMS Iron Duke — a bug where the primary rangefinder was giving target designations for the auxiliary 152 mm guns instead of the primary 343 mm guns has been fixed. (Report).
- HMS Colossus — a bug with the torpedo launch trajectory that could cause torpedoes to swerve sharply to one side immediately after leaving the tube has been fixed. (Report).
- Sovetsky Soyuz, Kronstadt — the ship’s seaplane model has been replaced with the KOR-2.
- A bug that caused the shells of the 128 mm SK C/34 and C/41 cannons to be unable to fly at distances further than 10 kilometers away has been fixed. (Report).
- USS Dealey — a bug that caused depth charges to be visible on the ship’s deck when selecting a preset without them has been fixed.
- Colbert — maximum speed has been reduced from 33 to 31.7 knots.
- RN Corazziere — a bug that caused the depth charges to be displayed inside the launchers on the sides of the ship even when they were not selected has been fixed. (Report).
- MPK Pr.1331M — a bug that caused the radome on the mast to rotate has been fixed. (Report).
- Karlsruhe — a bug that caused the ship to disappear in 3rd person view when zooming in has been fixed. (Report).
- The hangar tooltip for seaplanes in x-ray view now displays information about its model, type, and armament.
- In Naval Battles, the system for calculating rewards (Silver Lions, research points, mission points and “Damage Caused” in the battle statistics) for damaging and destroying ships has been changed. All rewards are now calculated based on the percentage of depleted crew responsible for survivability (displayed in the status panel of the player’s ship and the enemy ship). Previously, rewards were given for damage to ship sections containing crew, and were not related to the depletion of the crew itself. Now, rewards more clearly and effectively correspond to the damage inflicted, as the number of crew members is a more concise and understandable indicator of a ship’s survivability.
- In Naval Battles, the rules for issuing the “Enemy Kill Assist” reward and its amount have been changed when the target is a ship. “Enemy Kill Assist” is now awarded to all players who have depleted at least 20% of the target’s survivability crew, regardless of when this occurred. The reward is now equal to 25% of the reward for destroying that ship, as for all other vehicle types. It’s important to note that the “Destruction of naval vehicles” section in the battle summary displays the total reward for the ship’s destruction, plus any additional reward for destroying the remaining crew. The reward for assisting in destroying a ship is calculated from the net reward for the destruction, excluding any incapacitated or remaining crew.
- In Naval Battles, the mission points awarded for losing your ship now include 30% of the mission points awarded to the enemy for destroying the player’s crew, rather than just 30% of the mission points for the destruction itself (which was only 9 mission points).
- A bug where mission points awarded for damaging naval targets were not dependent on the difference between the shooter’s and target’s Battle Rating, as is the case for all other events and all other vehicle types has been fixed.
- A bug where mission points awarded for damaging, destroying, and assisting in the destruction of a target with a Battle Rating of 1.0 were not calculated correctly has been fixed.
- Tiran 6 has been added as the second vehicle in the Sho’t/Tiran group.
- The “Game updates (2024-2025)” decals collection has been added.
- A new Battle Award called “Battered!” has been added to Naval Battles. This award is given for depleting 30% of the crew survivability on Light/Heavy cruisers, Battleships and Battlecruisers.
- The designs of all aircraft action panel icons have been updated. Now they are done in the same, more minimalist style.
- The “Select all” button has been added to all filter menus.
- An IFF filter has been added to the aircraft radars. It can be configured to show either only friends or only foes or all contacts, as before. The filter can be switched on both with the cursor by clicking on the corresponding button or icon on the radar indicator and with a keybind.
- Information about enemy crew losses has been added to the tooltips for naval awards in the battle summary message. For the “Assistance in destroying the enemy” and “Destruction of naval vehicles” items, the “Crew losses” column indicates the percentage of the target’s crew destroyed by the player (the player’s total contribution to the destruction of that target). For the “Damage to the enemy” item, the “Crew losses” column indicates the percentage of the target’s crew destroyed by the hit.
- Tooltips for the “Damage to the enemy” and “Destruction of naval vehicles” naval awards in the battle summary message now include information about the damage inflicted on the enemy. The “Damage” column indicates the amount of “Damage to Naval Targets” the player incurred for this action, which is added to the corresponding column of the battle statistics table.
- The custom sight folder on PC has been relocated. When you log in for the first time after the update, a popup will display the new directory where your sights have been moved. The new location is:
- For Windows: Documents\\My Games\\WarThunder\\Saves\\<your user ID>\\production\\UserSights\\.
- For Linux: $HOME/.config/WarThunder/Saves/<your user ID>/production/UserSights/.
- For Mac: Users/<user name>/My Games/WarThunder/Saves/<your user ID>/production/UserSights/.
- You can find your user ID at any time on your user profile page in the Gaijin.net store
- The ability to switch between the default hangar and the festive ones has been added. This also allows players to disable the festive hangars. The option “Hangar scene” can be found in “Options > Main Parameters > Other Settings”.
- In Ground Arcade and Realistic Battles, players with vehicles with a Battle Rating (BR) of 9.3 or higher are now given an additional vehicle to respawn with after their spawn or to spawn with instead of using their own vehicle brought into battle. In Arcade Battles, one additional random tank is available, while in Realistic Battles one random tank and one random SPAA are available. The vehicle depends on both the player’s BR and the BR of the session: vehicles with the maximum BR for the session cannot be provided by this mechanic. For example, in a battle with a BR of 9.7-10.7, if the maximum BR of the player’s own vehicle is 10.7, the player will receive a vehicle with a BR between 9.7 and 10.3 as an additional vehicle. If the maximum BR of a player’s vehicle is 9.7, the additional vehicle will have a BR between 9.3 and 10.0. If there is no vehicle in the research tree that matches the BR, then vehicles with lower BR will be used in the selection.
- In Naval Battles, the previous mechanic of randomly assigning additional aircraft has been replaced with the new mechanic, similar to the one described above for Ground Battles. This means that players will immediately see the specific aircraft they have received in their crew slot bar and can change its armament if there are different options available. The possible aircraft options have also been significantly expanded, so players will receive additional aircraft with a higher Battle Rating than before that are relevant to the current battle.
- The “Severe Damage” mechanic has been added to Naval Battles, similar to the mechanic for aircraft. Severe Damage is defined as the depletion of 50% of a ship’s crew survivability. When damage is inflicted, the player receives a reward (Silver Lions, research points and mission points), equal to half the reward for destroying that ship and +1 to the “severe damage” column in the battle statistics window. If any ally finishes off this target, the severe damage in the player’s battle statistics will be replaced by a complete destruction credit of the target. The player who finishes off this enemy will also receive their “destruction” and the full reward for it. If players finish off their severely damaged target, they will receive the remaining half the reward. Severely damaged ships, unlike aircraft, are not written off at the end of the battle and are not converted into complete destructions.
- The requirements for completing Battle Tasks to destroy and assist in the destruction of ships in Naval Battles have been increased due to changes in these mechanics, which will lead to an increase in the number of these actions in battles.
- A new mechanic that has a chance of disabling various onboard electronic systems when an aircraft fuselage is damaged by a single high-damage for rank VII-VIII aircraft and their variants at rank VI has been added. The chances of systems getting disabled vary from system to system and depend on the type and amount of damage received.
- The maximum radius for damaging armored vehicles by blast wave, which depends on the mass of the explosive in TNT equivalent, has been recalculated. Previously, these values were unrealistically overestimated for higher explosive masses, and unrealistically underestimated for low explosive masses. So, for example, large bombs could destroy vehicles with a blast wave at distances where in reality they could not even hit infantrymen, while small-caliber HE shells, due to their underestimated damage radius, often inflicted too little damage.
- The fragmentation fields of HEAT, HE, and AP shells have been recalculated. The number of fragments and the fragmentation field density have been significantly increased.
- By popular demand, the sound of the M2 Browning aircraft machine gun has been improved. It now sounds more vibrant and powerful.
- Now in 3rd person view when using the head-tracking software (TrackIR, OpenTrack, etc.) the camera moves around the vehicle, similar to how it is when using the “Mouse look activation” control.
- A new matchmaking feature has been permanently turned on for all game modes: it now takes into account the match history of all players in the queue when choosing the mission. It reduces the chances of the same mission occurring twice or more in a row by order of magnitude. The history only works over the course of one game session - when players restart the game, it resets the player’s match history.
A new Royal Malaysian Air Force subtree is coming to the Japanese aircraft tree, with three amazing aircraft arriving in the Line of Contact major update!History of the RMAFThe official founding date of the Royal Malaysian Air Force is considered to be June 2nd 1958, when the Royal Federation of Malaya Air Force (RFMAF) was established, receiving the royal title in recognition of its achievements. Following the formation of Malaysia in 1963, the country’s air force received its current name, the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF). With the withdrawal of British troops in the early 1970s, a gradual modernization of the air force began. The most significant transformations occurred in the 1990s, when the combat aircraft fleet was replaced with more modern aircraft, including the British BAE Hawk light attack aircraft, Russian MiG-29N interceptor, and F/A-18D Hornet all-weather strike aircraft.In 2007, 18 Russian Su-30MKM fighters were delivered to fulfill the role of multirole combat aircraft. Currently, the Royal Malaysian Air Force continues its modernization programs, striving to balance its combat aircraft fleet.Introducing the Royal Malaysian Air Force Subtree!In War Thunder, Royal Malaysian Air Force combat aircraft will join the Japanese aircraft tree, offering new capabilities and exciting aircraft combinations across all game modes. We’ll be introducing three Malaysian jet aircraft at the top ranks for Japan, so let’s take a look at what they are!MiG-29N (9-12SD)Russian MiG-29s that were modified to meet Malaysian military requirements were designated as the MiG-29N. In War Thunder this multirole fighter, although carrying a substantial arsenal of unguided weapons for engaging ground targets, is primarily focused on air combat. You’ll have access to a helmet-mounted targeting system, jam-resistant R-27 missiles (including those with a SARH seeker) for engaging enemy aircraft beyond visual range, and maneuverable all-aspect R-73E missiles for close-in air combat. With the MiG-29N, the signature speed and maneuverability of the MiG-29 family are at your disposal!F/A-18DMeet a two-seat multirole Hornet! This aircraft is comparable in combat effectiveness to the American F/A-18C Late, having excellent maneuverability, up to 10 ARH missiles for long-range air-to-air combat, maneuverable AIM-9L and M missiles for close-range combat, and an impressive arsenal of advanced guided weapons for CAS!Su-30MKMThe Su-30MKM is a special export modification of the Russian Su-30 for the Royal Malaysian Air Force, featuring canards. This versatile fighter-attack aircraft boasts advanced electronics, thrust vectoring, a high speed, and a wide range of weapons. Among the new features, we’d like to highlight the updated onboard defense suite, which includes laser and missile detection systems, a wide-angle DAMOCLES targeting pod, and a new HUD. The armament includes air-to-air missiles with ARH, SARH, and IR seekers, the highly effective Kh-38MTE combined-guidance air-to-ground missile, the impressive Kh-59 ground-attack missile with TV guidance and inertial correction, the Kh-29 series of laser and TV missiles, guided bombs, and a large arsenal of unguided ordnance.That’s it for this one! These three aircraft will be coming to the game in the Line of Contact major update, which is coming very soon. Until then!Please note that vehicle characteristics are still in development and may change before release.
Today we’d like to show you two remarkable battleships that will be coming in the Line of Contact major update! Meet the Pacific Theater veteran USS South Dakota (BB-57) and Britain’s finest battleship, the King George V-class HMS Prince of Wales!USS South DakotaThe American battleship South Dakota (BB-57) is the lead ship of the class, designed to address the primary shortcoming of her North Carolina-class predecessors, that being insufficient protection against 406 mm (16 inch) guns. In order to adhere to the strict 35,000 ton displacement limit, she featured an innovative armor scheme which included a 310 mm thick main armor belt mounted at a 19-degree angle deep within the hull, protected by outer 19 - 32 mm plating that acted as a layer of defense against armor-piercing ballistic caps. USS South Dakota was urgently commissioned on March 20th 1942, after the United States entered the Second World War. She actively participated in combat operations in the Pacific, and during the war her crew was credited with shooting down 64 aircraft, being awarded 13 battle stars. After the war on January 31st, 1947, she was placed in reserve. Later on June 1st, 1962, she was removed from the fleet list, and soon sold for scrap.In War Thunder, USS South Dakota relies on powerful armament consisting of nine 406 mm main guns in three massive turrets. Secondary armament consists of 127 mm dual-purpose cannons in twin mounts, along with a staggering number of anti-aircraft weaponry, consisting of 40 and 20 mm cannons. USS South Dakota boasts exceptional protection, with the main armor belt featuring a distinctly spaced pattern and strategically angled armor. She also carries a pair of Vought OS2U Kingfishers with small bombs mounted under the wings for reconnaissance. South Dakota is a well-balanced, survivable long-range battleship, whose only drawback is her less-than-stellar speed and slow shell ballistics.HMS Prince of WalesKing George V-class battleships were built within the strict constraints of the international naval treaties, which limited several aspects of how ships were built. After a long period of “shipbuilding recess”, British designers were faced with the challenge of designing modern battleships within the maximum permitted displacement of 35,000 tons. The main challenge was balancing powerful armament, reliable protection and a high speed. As a result, a controversial but necessary step was taken, which was to arm the ship with 356 mm guns instead of more powerful 381 mm or 406 mm guns, which were considered a weakness compared to ships from other countries. The second ship of the class, HMS Prince of Wales, was laid down in January 1937 and commissioned in March 1941, well into the Second World War. In May 1941, HMS Prince of Wales, along with the battlecruiser HMS Hood, engaged the German battleship Bismarck in the Denmark Strait. In that battle, Hood was destroyed, but Prince of Wales scored several hits on the flagship of the Kriegsmarine, damaging its fuel tanks and influencing the German decision to stop the attack.Did you know? HMS Prince of Wales’ motto is German, “Ich dien” (I serve).HMS Prince of Wales’ fate was tragic. In late 1941, she, along with the battlecruiser HMS Repulse, was sent to the Far East to intercept Japanese boats. On December 10th 1941, off the coast of Malaya, both ships, deprived of any air cover, were attacked by Japanese aircraft. After sustaining multiple torpedo and bomb hits, HMS Prince of Wales sank, becoming one of the first battleships sunk solely by air power on the high seas.In War Thunder, HMS Prince of Wales comes in at rank VI for the British Bluewater fleet. She stands out for her unusual primary battery of four 356 mm guns, mounted in turrets at the front and back, with another turret with two 356 mm guns elevated linearly above the front. Her secondary armament consists of 16 dual-purpose 133 mm guns, while the core of her anti-aircraft battery consists of the famous eight-barreled 40 mm pom-poms, reinforced by 40 mm and 20 mm automatic guns. Her armor is robust, though concentrated in the center of the ship’s profile. Her main armor belt reaches 381 mm, and her armored deck is 152 mm thick. Like other top-tier battleships for Britain, such as HMS Vanguard, HMS Prince of Wales prioritizes armor and increased survivability over firepower. In battle, you’ll often have to get up close to the most armored opponents, working alongside cruisers, or shoot at longer distances to inflict damage from above. However, HMS Prince of Wales is quite capable of becoming a key player in any battle and will delight you with epic moments and incredible survivability!Please note that the vehicle's characteristics may be changed before being added to the game.
Welcome to the 202nd War Thunder Steam Screenshot Competition!
Thanks for all of your submissions last week! For this theme, we’re shifting the spotlight to vehicles built for speed and precision. Light tanks, fighters, helicopters, and coastal craft all excel at striking quickly and staying mobile - so capture a screenshot that shows your agile machines at work! The three most popular and three selected by us will get 300 GE. See the winners down below!
Let’s begin the 202nd edition of our competition!
Create a stunning screenshot and submit it on the War Thunder Steam Community Hub with the tag #WTscreen202. You have time until the 19th of December 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 an aircraft or helicopter with one engine, a light tank or wheeled vehicle, or a coastal fleet vehicle.
- You must add the #WTscreen202 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 201st edition – Personalized Armor!
Winners selected via community votes:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3619941103
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3618604532
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3620043536
Winners selected by our judges:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3619464615
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3620070069
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3618795421
Each winner will get 300GE! Congratulations and see you next week!
Wrap up warm and head over to the concert! The Santa troupe will be performing a set in a wide variety of genres, something for everyone! Decorate your vehicles with a decal of your favorite musician, hang up some lights, and make New Year’s battles even more festive!And, of course, it wouldn’t be complete without some excellent gifts! Four vehicles will be available to unlock, three of which are Rank VI-VII machines. That’s not all though, you’ll be able to win a huge number of prizes with the Festive Cupcake chest too!
When: From December 19th (11:00 GMT) until January 8th (11:00 GMT), complete tasks and get rewards!Participate and get Rewards!VehiclesBy completing tasks in this event, you’ll be able to earn the following vehicles.MiG-25PDH-75MA Rank VII Event Vehicle for the USSRA Rank I Premium for ChinaThe MiG-25 series of aircraft set dozens of speed and altitude records, and the family is still considered among the fastest production fighters in all of history. The “PD” (interceptor-modified) variant will be the first aircraft in War Thunder capable of reaching speeds of approximately 3,000 km/h at high altitudes! The MiG-25 has no guns and relies purely on air-to-air missiles in combat. It’ll have two types of missiles with all-aspect IR seekers, the R-40TD for medium-range combat and the R-60M for short-range air combat plus the R-40RD with a SARH seeker.Curtiss Hawk fighters were not only in demand in the United States, but were also widely exported to its allies. A stellar example were the Chinese-built H-75M variants with fixed landing gear, which proved their worth against the Japanese Empire in the early stages of the war. In War Thunder, the Chinese H-75M is a rank I premium fighter with heavy and light machine guns, featuring decent speed and agility for its rank. IJN TosaCRV Block 2A Rank VI Event Vehicle for JapanA Rank VII Event Vehicle for Great BritainTosa-class battleships were conceived as the pinnacle of Japanese dreadnought development, armed with ten powerful 410 mm guns in five turrets, and featuring advanced sloped armor. However, their construction was interrupted by the Washington Naval Treaty of 1922. In War Thunder, Tosa will be a classic heavy battleship with outstanding firepower and solid armor protection. These advantages are complemented further by a wide array of secondary guns and powerful 610 mm torpedoes. Despite its impressive size, Tosa still maintains decent maneuverability, allowing this versatile leviathan to fill any role necessary!The wheeled Boxer CRV was supplied by the Rheinmetall Group under the LAND 400 rearmament program, and is currently the most modern vehicle of its class in service with the Australian Army. In War Thunder, this Boxer will make its way to the British ground forces tree. This fast infantry fighting vehicle is armed with a powerful 30 mm automatic cannon with versatile anti-air and anti-armor shells. It also comes equipped with SPIKE anti-tank guided missiles, which are capable of engaging both tanks and helicopters at significant ranges. Christmas Cosmetic RewardsDecorate your vehicles with Christmas themed decorations, decals, and get yourself a special profile icon too!“Christmas Disco Ball” decoration for ground vehicles“Christmas Pickup Truck” decoration for Bluewater ships“Metalhead Santa” profile iconDecals:“Winter Concert” decal collection Complete the Decal Collection!Activate all decal coupons on your account to get a special decal called “Legend of Rock”! “Legend of Rock” decal Learn more about collections on the War Thunder WikiVehicle CamouflagesAmong the rewards in the event is also this chest. When opened, there is a chance to receive one of the following items:
- 50,000 — 100,000 Silver Lions
- Silver Lion and research point boosters
- Random wagers and orders
- Universal backups (1-3 pcs.)
- Random camouflage for a vehicle you own
- 1 day of Premium account
- The exact terms of each task can be found here: Nickname → Achievements → Winter Concert.
- To get a Mark of Distinction, you need to complete a task in the corresponding vehicle type in the corresponding game mode. For example, a Mark of Distinction for pilots can only be received by playing Air battles (AB/RB/SB).
- You can complete tasks in multiplayer battles in all game modes except for “Assault” and “\ Naval Battles”.
- You can complete tasks not only in vehicles of Rank III and above, but also in lower rank event vehicles. These are vehicles from large events such as winter and summer marathons, WWII chronicles, BP seasons and crafting marathons. In the stat cards of these vehicles you can find the name of the event in which they first became available.
- The Mark of Distinction is considered received if the achievement’s color is has turned gold. If you’ve completed the task and it hasn’t turned gold yet, join another battle and afterwards it should turn gold.
- Missed Marks of Distinction can be purchased for Golden Eagles in the Achievements window until January 12th 2026. Make sure you pick the right achievement category: either for tankers, pilots or sailors.
- Rewards received in the form of tradable coupons will be available for trading on the Market from January 12th 2026. The time from which the coupon can be traded can be viewed in the coupon description in game. The option of trading each coupon separately depends on the time of its receipt and doesn’t depend on the vehicle type.
- The “Upgrade for coupon” item is valid until 12:00 GMT on February 1st 2026. Until this time, you can use it or exchange it for War Bonds. Afterwards, it’ll disappear from your inventory.
- For 8 Marks of Distinction you’ll receive an untradable coupon for a vehicle. Upon activating it, you’ll instantly receive a corresponding vehicle. If you do not wish to use the vehicle and want to sell the coupon on the Market instead, you’ll need the “Upgrade for coupon” item.
- For 10 Marks of Distinction, you’ll receive an untradable “Upgrade for coupon” item. You can use it to make the vehicle coupon you received tradable and then sell it on the Market. The date on which a traded coupon becomes available for sale can be seen in its description in the game.
- PlayStation and Xbox players will be able to exchange decal coupons for similar ones. The exchange is available in the Workshop → Exchange items “Winter Concert” window.
Today we’re happy to unveil a new frontrunner for advanced SAM systems. Say hello to the HQ11, currently in service with the PLA!HQ11: A SAM System (SPAA) for China at Rank VIIIAt a glance:
- Radar and launcher on one vehicle
- 8 vertical launch missiles
- Phased array radar
- No optical sight
- Large size
The Line of Contact update brings the American F/A-18E Super Hornet carrier-based fighter-attack aircraft, one of the best aircraft in its class in the world, to the game!F/A-18E Super Hornet: A Jet Fighter/Naval Aircraft for the USA at Rank VIIIAt a glance:
- 11 weapon hardpoints!
- Radar with AESA
- Can carry up to 12 ARH missiles
- Guided bombs and missiles for ground attack
Developer Note: We would like to draw attention to the fact that the F/A-18E Super Hornet and other jets for USA, USSR, China and Sweden that are coming in Line of Contact means there are four vehicles at rank VIII vertically for these nations, which is something we said we would not do. This will only be temporary as we would like to confirm that in early 2026 we’ll be introducing rank IX for aircraft, which aims to solve this problem by moving some rank VIII aircraft to rank IX along with some economic changes. However, until then, you can still use aircraft at rank VII to effectively research the new top-tier jets released in the Line of Contact major update. Stay tuned for more news coming in the next few months!Despite having a one-letter name difference from its predecessor, the F/A-18C, the new Super Hornet is in many ways a completely new aircraft. Let’s take a look at the key differences and characteristics. First off, the Super Hornet has a new AN/APG-79 active phased array radar, providing you with real-time target information. The wing area has been increased, and the number of weapon hardpoints has increased to 11. When loaded for beyond-visual-range combat, the Super Hornet can now carry up to 12 AIM-120B or C-5 ARH missiles, plus an external fuel tank under the fuselage and a pair of AIM-9L or M Sidewinders on the wingtips!The F/A-18E Super Hornet retains (and improves!) the exceptional anti-ground capabilities of its predecessor. The aircraft’s arsenal now includes a new ATFLIR targeting pod with a thermal imager, and the variety of ground-attack weapons remains the same, but the payload has increased. In addition to the 20 mm cannon and conventional bombs and rockets, Super Hornet players will have the choice of a vast arsenal of guided weapons, from the APKWS II air-to-ground missiles, advanced AGM-65E and F Mavericks, Paveway II, Paveway III and JDAM guided bombs, as well as long-range JDAM-ER and LJDAM laser-guided bombs, which in addition to inertial guidance with GPS corrections, and Walleye II bombs with a television seeker. Basically, there’s something for everyone!In addition to weapons, you’ll also be able to utilize enhanced visibility capabilities, active and passive defense, including a convenient helmet-mounted display and target cueing system for air combat, an advanced informative RWR, and a large supply of flare/chaff.Along with the increased payload and number of weapon hardpoints, and despite the larger wing and extensive use of lightweight composite materials, there was a need for increased thrust on the aircraft. The Super Hornet was given a pair of new F414-GE-400 engines with an afterburning power of approximately 9,470 kgf, making the aircraft’s speed and maneuverability performance comparable to earlier models in the series. While the Hornet family can’t match the best interceptors in speed, its speed and most importantly, maneuverability are more than sufficient for air combat and anti-missile maneuvers!The epic Super Hornet, surrounded by a vast arsenal of available weapons, is waiting for you in the hangars of the upcoming Line of Contact major update. We’re finalizing preparations for the release and look forward to seeing you playing it!Please note that this vehicle’s characteristics may be changed before it is added to the game.
The Sultan of Oman celebrates Armed Forces Day on December 11th. Oman is a long-standing ally of the United Kingdom and the United States, having hosted coalition troops in 1991 and 2001. The Omani Armed Forces have over 42,000 soldiers and are armed with modern equipment, including the Challenger 2 main battle tank, Piranha armored fighting vehicle, and Centauro tank destroyer. The Centauro RGO is available for purchase with a 30% discount for 6,734 Golden Eagles!
When: From December 11th (11:00 GMT) until December 15th (11:00 GMT).Where: Italy > Army > Premium vehicles.
- This vehicle will stay available to purchase after this promotion ends.
- The Centauro RGO (rank VII) is an export variant of the Centauro B1 MGS, produced specifically for the Omani Armed Forces. Its increased weight is offset by a more powerful engine, allowing you to quickly take advantage of map positions. Its 120 mm cannon reloads quickly and fires excellent APFSDS rounds. A thermal imager helps you locate targets, and an LWS will let you know when an enemy is lasing you.
Today we’ll be taking a look at the NASAMS surface-to-air missile system, a joint development between Norway and the United States, coming to Sweden and the USA in the Line of Contact major update! NASAMS 3: A SAM for the USA and Sweden at Rank VIIIAt a glance:
- IR seeker and ARH seeker missiles for all combat ranges
- Compact SAM
- Good mobility
- No protection
On December 10th, 1938 the Hudson bomber, developed by Lockheed, made its maiden flight. It demonstrated its versatility in service with Great Britain, Canada, and the United States, patrolling maritime borders, transporting cargo, participating in reconnaissance operations, and fought enemies with bombs and torpedoes. Almost 3,000 examples of this aircraft were produced. The Hudson Mk V is temporarily available for purchase for 700 Golden Eagles!
When: From December 10th (11:00 GMT) until December 15th (11:00 GMT).Where: Great Britain > Aviation > Premium vehicles.About this aircraft
- The Hudson Mk V can carry four 250 lb and six 100 lb bombs, plus eight AP Mk I rockets with up to 100 mm armor penetration. This aircraft is not just dropping bombs, it’s also fairly fast with effective frontal and defensive armament, totaling five 7.7 mm machine guns. Surprise your opponents both on the ground and in the air with this rare bird!