On July 14th 1789, the Bastille fortress-prison fell, becoming a pivotal event of the French Revolution. More than 90 years later, this date began to be celebrated as a national holiday. In the 20th century, a military parade on the Champs-Élysées was added to the festivities, featuring the Patrouille de France painting the world-famous tricolor in the sky with smoke! The S.O.4050 Vautour IIN is temporarily available at a 30% discount for 5,992 Golden Eagles!

When: From July 14th (11:00 GMT) until July 17th (11:00 GMT).Where: France > Aviation  > Premium vehicles.

About is aircraft

• The S.O.4050 Vautour IIN is best suited for a single task: destroying enemy bases or ground vehicles. It can carry a massive payload of bombs and rockets of various calibers, enough for multiple attack runs. The key is having allies provide air cover, while the Vautour’s 30 mm cannons and AA-20 Nord air-to-air missiles are effective, it is not agile enough to take on fighters one-on-one in most situations.

Open the “Bastille Day” trophy!

When: From July 14th (11:00 GMT) until July 17th (11:00 GMT).Task: Earn 3,000 mission points in battles where you used French vehicles at rank III or higher to receive the “Bastille Day” trophy!

Inside this trophy, you’ll receive one of six previously available decals: “Bastille Day” decal“Heart of France” decal“Bastille Day” decal “Cocarde de France” decal“Bastille Day” decal“Bastille Day 2025” decalAll decals are found in the “Holidays” section. If you already have all six decals, you’ll receive one of the following items instead:

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

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

Additional details:

• You can complete the task in random battles, except for \ mode.
• Track your progress in the hangar by clicking Nickname → Achievements → Holidays → Bastille Day.

Aircraft

• The point of interest and aiming points set by the player now persist after respawning.
• Su-30MK2 AMV (USSR), Su-30MKK (China), J-11A, MiG-29N (Japan) — the designations for the RVV-AE missiles on the HUD and MFD have been added.
• B-25J (all variants) — a bug that caused the fuel to be distributed unevenly, causing the plane to roll to the left has been fixed. (Report).

 Ground Vehicles

• A bug that caused vehicles to move backwards much faster than they should has been fixed. (Report, Report, Report). 

Naval Battles

• A bug where the shell impact point indicator was tied to guns that had not yet aimed at the target, causing it to appear only after all guns had finished aiming, has been fixed.

 Graphics

• A bug that caused trees to disappear from the scope view when zooming in has been fixed.
• A bug that occurred when playing aircraft that caused some shadows at medium distances to be missing on the “Very High” Shadow Quality setting has been fixed.
• Infantry mode graphics settings are now separate from the general settings.
• A bug causing visual artifacts during Naval Battles on Macs with Intel and AMD graphics cards has been fixed.

 Interface

• A bug that caused the “Attention to the map” command to stop working when clicking on the minimap if the show cursor button was different from the default one (Alt) has been fixed. (Report).

 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 232nd War Thunder Steam Screenshot Competition!

We enjoyed seeing all of your screenshot submissions last week! This is the week to get creative with decals, decorators, or fully customized skins. Whether you are into historical decals or have ahistoric skins, we’re interested in seeing what you come up with! The three most popular and three selected by us will get 300 GE. See the winners down below!

Let’s begin the 232nd edition of our competition!

Create a stunning screenshot and submit it on the War Thunder Steam Community Hub with the tag #WTscreen232. You have time until the 17th of July 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 decals, decorators, or a custom vehicle skin.
  
• You must add the #WTscreen232 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 231st edition – Industrial Front!

Winners selected via community votes:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3759223999
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3759054612
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3757346511

Winners selected by our judges:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3758625222
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3759727140
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3758531835

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

Today we are pleased to announce that we have opened the Official War Thunder Discord server! The War Thunder Discord server is the ideal place for you to get the most up to date game news, talk to other community members and make new friends playing War Thunder.JOIN HERE!A Community For AllThe Official War Thunder Discord server is run by the community team, who will regularly chat with everyone, and share insights or other information that may be interesting. War Thunder developers will occasionally pop in and make themselves be known as well. You can chat with everyone in the General chat channel, allowing you to talk to other community members and staff members directly.A Relaxed EnvironmentWe want the Official War Thunder Discord Server to be a relaxed environment. Share your experiences, whether that be positive feedback or constructive criticism. Talk To Others, Make FriendsWe’ve designed the server in way so that you can meet new people and get a squad going. Head over to the Find Players and Find A Squadron chat channels, let yourself be known and meet others!More To ComeThe server is new and may not be perfect yet, but over time we’ll be adding new channels and improving it where needed. Let us know what you’d like to see, and we’ll try and make it happen!

Hey everyone! We’re back with a new set of decals for you for July, we hope you’re staying cool! We have quite an eclectic mix this time around with a little bit of everything, personal markings, squadron markings, graffiti, the lot. We have also discovered that our decal artist dislikes clowns very much, sorry Fenris!We’ve also got a small survey for you if you have the time, just some short questions about the monthly decal event, what decals you like, whether the event enhances your enjoyment of the game, things like that. It should only take a minute or so, please consider clicking below if you’d like to give some feedback.SURVEY

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

“Downs’ Clowns” Emblem, USAI./ZG 26 Emblem “Ringelpitz”, GermanyDeal 10 tons of base damage while using US BombersDefeat 50 players using German Aircraft“Downs’ Clowns” Emblem“Downs’ Clowns” nose art, 92nd Bombardment Group (Medium), 325th Bomb Squadron, U.S. Air Force. During the Korean War, it was typical for nose art to be themed around the pilot of the aircraft. Self-deprecating and lighthearted humor was also especially common, so pilot Downs and his crew of clowns fit right in. Not too much is known about the aircraft and crew themselves; what is noted is that during 1951, their aircraft was heavily damaged by an attacking MiG-15 while on a raid and was written off as a loss after landing. The marking was painted on the nose under the cockpit on B-29 44-86284 while the aircraft was based at Yokota, Japan. I./ZG 26 Emblem “Ringelpitz”“Ringelpitz” (Ring o’ Roses) Emblem, 1st Group, Zerstörergeschwader (Destroyer Wing) 26, Luftwaffe. ZG 26 was formed on May 1st 1939, and was one of the first destroyer units to be equipped with the new Bf 110 heavy fighters. This emblem was designed around 1940 and was inspired by routine combat with the RAF. It depicts a black fish-like plane with British roundels being outmaneuvered by a red crocodile-like plane with German roundels, fittingly with the bullets coming out of the nose, much like the gun placement on the Bf 110. The design was perhaps overly optimistic, however. Despite the relative success of the plane as a whole, it would seldom come out on top in a maneuvering dogfight. The emblem was widely used during the Battle of Britain era and was inherited by II./ZG 2 after its reorganization in the spring of 1942. The emblem was painted on the nose of the group’s Bf 110 fighters.FFI Emblem, FranceGrupo de Aviación N.º 1 (Ataque) Emblem, Uruguay5. Opklaringseskadron Emblem, DenmarkEarn 15000 score while using French Ground VehiclesDestroy 70 Ground or Water targets using AircraftEarn 20 “Intelligence” awards while using Swedish Light Tanks
FFI EmblemAn emblem of the FFI (Forces Françaises de l'Intérieur), French Resistance. The French Forces of the Interior was a more formal composition of the French Resistance, structured formally on February 1st 1944. It was vital to the Allied war effort after the Normandy Landings and was responsible for gathering intelligence, harassing German supply lines, and helping to liberate towns and villages ahead of the main Allied force. While primarily a light infantry formation, it captured and commandeered a wide variety of armored vehicles from the Germans, many of which were originally French. These tanks were generally hastily painted with the Cross of Lorraine and “FFI” inscriptions, with no standardized placement. This specific FFI inscription was painted on the side of the hull of a reclaimed B1 Bis, which proudly drove through the streets of Paris after the city was liberated in August 1944.Grupo de Aviación N º1 (Ataque) EmblemThe emblem of Grupo de Aviación N º1 (Ataque) (Air Squadron No. 1 (Attack)), Uruguayan Air Force. Originally formed on August 5th 1955 as a reconnaissance unit, the group fielded a variety of trainers and light attack aircraft, including the T-6 Texan and P-51 Mustang. It later evolved into Uruguay's primary ground-attack squadron in 1981, after receiving a set of IA-58A Pucará strike aircraft from Argentina. It was stationed at the Santa Bernardina air base in Durazno and primarily took part in reconnaissance and ground attack operations in conjunction with the army. In total it operated 11 Pucarás until March 17th 2017, when the unit was disbanded after accruing 23,000 flight hours. The emblem was sporadically painted high on the tails of some of their Pucarás, just under the elevator.5. Opklaringseskadron EmblemAn unofficial emblem of 5. Opklaringseskadron (5th Reconnaissance Squadron), Royal Danish Army. The 5th Squadron was formed in the 1990s and fielded distinctive “Black Recce Leopards”, painted in almost all black. Regulations were light regarding personal crew art, which resulted in an unusually wide variety of markings painted on its tanks. It’s unclear as to whether this marking is a direct reference to anything in particular; it may just be a funny doodle by one of the crew members. It was painted on the rear storage door of Leopard 1A5DK 62481 sometime during the 1990s.

29th Sentai 2nd Chutai Emblem “Dokuro”, Japan168th IAP Emblem, USSRFinish in position 1-3 three times using Japanese AircraftDefeat 20 players using air-to-air missiles while using Soviet Aircraft29th Sentai 2nd Chutai Emblem “Dokuro”A tail marking of the 29th Sentai, 2nd Chutai, IJAAF. The squadron was initially formed as a reconnaissance group on July 15th 1939, filling both short and long-range recon roles. In February 1944, however, the 29th Sentai reformed as a pure fighter regiment, equipped with the Ki-44. The marking it adopted during this period is exceptionally rare among Japanese identification symbols. Geometric shapes made up the vast majority of tail emblems, making this one especially remarkable. It was likely chosen as the shift in operational role was very distinct, so it needed an equally distinct emblem. The lower red and white band represents the 29th Sentai, while the yellow stripes represent the 2nd Chutai. During late 1944, the unit suffered heavy losses, and the marking was retired after the unit transitioned to the Ki-84. During its operations in 1944, the distinctive skull marking was painted on both sides of the tail on their Ki-44 fighters.168th IAP EmblemAn emblem of the 168th Fighter Aviation Regiment, Soviet Air Force. The 168th was formed in 1940 in the Odessa Military District at Kirovograd airfield, equipped with I-16s. It served throughout the Second World War and was granted the Order of Suvorov for its collective successes. This emblem was created in the late 1980s, when the regiment was deployed to Afghanistan under the 40th Combined Arms Army. It depicts an eagle gripping a lightning bolt against a teal circle, very typical motifs for Soviet aviation markings. The swept-back wings of the bird also fittingly mirror the aircraft on which it was painted, the MiG-23MLD. The emblem was painted on the regiment’s MiG-23s during its deployment in Afghanistan, on the engine intakes behind the cockpit. Usage of the emblem halted shortly after deployment, when the regiment was absorbed into the 85th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment in 1991.

151st Combined Arms Brigade Emblem “Thunder Flying Tiger”, China132ª Brigata corazzata “Ariete” Emblem, Italy1st Mine Countermeasures Squadron Emblem, BritainWin 10 battles using Chinese TanksPlay 20 battles while using Italian Ground Vehicles with a minimum of 60% Battle ActivityScore 20000 Damage using British Coastal Vessels151st Combined Arms Brigade Emblem “Thunder Flying Tiger”The emblem of the 151st Combined Arms Brigade, 82nd Group Army, PLA. The 151st Brigade has an especially rich lineage and history; it was formally founded in November 1937 and took part in many major conflicts, even earning the honorific “Heroic Unit” (英雄部队) title in 1951. During this time, it was known as the 113th Division and would carry this name until 2017, after which it was restructured into the 82nd Group Army and the division was split into two brigades. One half retained the 113th identity, while the other became the 151st Brigade. Both brigades kept the iconic “Flying Tiger” design from their shared legacy. In the 151st Brigade’s version of the emblem, the number 151 is worked into the design next to the tiger (一五一). The emblem is not permanently applied to the brigade’s tanks and is only seldom seen during training exercises. It was placed on the turret sides of the brigade’s ZTZ99A tanks, in the center of the front four ERA blocks.132ª Brigata corazzata “Ariete” EmblemThe primary emblem of the 132nd Armored Brigade “Ariete”, Italian Army. The Ariete division was formally founded on February 1st 1939, making up Italy’s primary armored force during the Second World War. It was officially declared lost after its defeat at the Second Battle of El Alamein, but was reactivated post-war in 1948, returning to divisional size in 1952. On October 1st 1986, the entire divisional level of the army structure was abolished, and the three brigades that formed the division (Mameli, Garibaldi, and Manin) were split and continued as separate brigades under the 5th Army Corps. At this point, the Manin brigade was renamed, inheriting the original Ariete name, which it uses today. In 1986, the brigade was equipped with the M60A1 and Leopard 1A2, before transitioning to the C1 Ariete in 1995. The ram shield in the pre-1995 era was typically positioned on the left fenders at both the front and rear of the tanks, along with the brigade number, 5941. For a time it was also placed on the upper left corner of the lower plate on their C1 Ariete tanks. 1st Mine Countermeasures Squadron EmblemThe heraldic badge of the 1st Mine Countermeasures Squadron, Royal Navy. The squadron was initially equipped with several Ton-class minesweepers in the post-war years, tasked with neutralizing mines in the UK home waters. After the Cold War, it transitioned to the significantly more advanced Sandown-class, and currently also operates autonomous MCM vessels. The red rampart lion in their badge is an ancient Scottish symbol that reflects the current home base of the squadron at HMNB Clyde on the west coast of Scotland. The key aptly represents the squadron serving as the “key” to safe passage through the waters they protect.
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, thanks for reading down to the bottom! We hope you like the selection for July and thank you generally for participating in these events, they’re fun to make. Give the survey a look if you can, and we’ll see you in August!

Aircraft

• A bug where the calculated damage against bases was missing from the weapon description for air-to-ground missiles and bombs has been fixed.

 Ground Vehicles

• A bug with the ammunition replenishment order at capture points has been fixed (shells now load correctly into the first stage rack). (Report).

 Interface

• A bug where the button to open the Secondary weapons menu was missing from the aircraft information window accessed via the crew slots in the hangar has been fixed.

 Customization

• A bug where decals and decorations did not display on Multi-Vehicle SAM TADs vehicles in battles and test drives has been fixed. (Report)

 Tank Football

• The Tank Football leaderboards now allow you to view rankings from previous game days.

 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.

Hey everyone! We’re preparing for the third phase of the CBT for War Thunder Infantry. Today, we’ll tell you about a new location, new mechanics for large-scale battles, changes based on your feedback, and dozens of gameplay refinements. If you haven’t participated in any testing yet, now’s the perfect time to apply!Welcome to Kivu(Click the arrow to see the next image. Click the image to enlarge)For the third testing stage, we’ve prepared a new, large-scale location called Kivu, set in Central Africa. This is the largest map that has featured in an Infantry CBT to date, being roughly four times the size of the previous locations. We’ve put significant effort into server optimizations, so we plan to once again launch a 64-vs-64 player format (128 players per session) to ensure everything is running smoothly. We’ve also created new gear and character appearances for both factions, specifically tailored to this new setting.(Click the arrow to see the next image. Click the image to enlarge)We’ve also included a special arsenal of small arms and hardware for this stage of testing on Kivu (excluding specialized weaponry such as pistols, shotguns, drones, RPGs, and MANPADS).U.S. Weapons ArsenalSmall Arms:

• M4A1
• M16A4
• TAC-50
• SCAR-L
• M249 Para
• MAC-11 PDW
• XM5
• M110 SDMR

 Vehicles:

• M1A2 SEP V2
• LAV-AD
• AH-64A

Soviet Weapons ArsenalSmall Arms:

• AK-12
• AK-74M
• KSVK
• Kord 6P67
• RPK-74M
• PP-19
• AK-15
• SVDM

 Vehicles:

• T-90M
• 2S6
• Mi-28N

(Click the arrow to see the next image. Click the image to enlarge)Arcade-Style Battles ReturnsArcade Battles are once again available in this testing phase. We’ve put a lot of work into the marker display logic to eliminate situations where players fire at an enemy based solely on the marker rather than actual visual contact. The marker is a visual aid to help pinpoint the location of an enemy you can already see, not a tool for detecting targets that are otherwise invisible.Now, markers do not appear through bushes and at long distances. If you aim at a sniper in a window, a marker will appear above them, but if you just run and look around, there will be no marker. In general, there are noticeably fewer markers on the map.In Arcade Battles, the impact of equipment weight on movement speed also works differently: heavily geared-up soldiers move faster than in Realistic Battles, giving it a faster overall pace.Rules of Major WarfareKivu will feature a dedicated mission mode with five capture points, resembling Domination but with its own unique rules. We’re testing several new mechanics in this mode specifically for large-scale battles:

• Respawning at captured points — if a point is already under your team’s control, you can spawn right there instead of just at the starting base. We are testing this feature specifically on the new map, and if it performs well, we will roll it out to other large locations in the future.
• Separate UAV control range setting for large-scale battles.
• Transport that helps you reach key locations faster.

On Foot and on Wheels(Click the arrow to see the next image. Click the image to enlarge)For battles on Kivu, we’ve added a passenger vehicle capable of carrying up to five soldiers at once. Now, a squad can move across the map together by boarding the vehicle, and even switching from a passenger seat to the driver’s seat on the fly if the driver is taken out of action.Customization To Suit Your NeedsOne of the most frequent requests from participants in previous testing phases was the ability to configure graphics settings specifically for Infantry without altering War Thunder’s general settings. We’ve implemented this: a dedicated tab for infantry modes has been added to the “Graphics” section of the session settings, positioned alongside the general settings, which remain in place and continue to apply to the game’s other modes.Improvements To Familiar LocationsWe’ve also made adjustments to Granitograd and Al-Massa, which have received a number of improvements. We fixed the positioning and destructibility of many environmental objects and fine-tuned how well various materials can be shot through.New Weapon SkinsNew camouflage patterns have been introduced for select firearms: the AK-12, RPK-74M, SVDM, M249, M4A1, and M16A4. The paint scheme is selected automatically based on the combat location.Even More ImprovementsAs usual, in addition to major changes, we’ve made many smaller changes as well, but in total they significantly affect the feel of the game:

• Class loadouts have been revised: to make classes more unique, additional weaponry such as RPGs, MANPADS, and drones are no longer available to every soldier. Before a match, you should carefully consider which loadout suits the battlefield situation and choose your class strategically.
• Total Dominance: capture all points simultaneously, and the enemy’s points will drain even faster, bringing your team closer to victory.
• Grenade throwing has been reworked: throws are now more accurate, and bugs causing grenades to fly off-target have been fixed. The throwing animation and timing have been updated, the grenade’s release point is now aligned with the crosshair, and the weight of the weapon you’re holding now more accurately influences the trajectory of the grenade when thrown. Additionally, the grenade no longer visibly pops into the hand; the transition is now seamless from the player’s perspective.
• An alternative weapon grip setting has been added: modern weapons feature different grip styles — straight and angled — with the latter improving visibility through the sight. By default, weapons are held straight, but players can now enable the angled grip in the settings.
• Added a concussion effect from nearby grenade explosions.
• As an experiment, we added the ability to respawn twice with the same soldier.
• Weapon-switching animations have been adjusted, and a bug where the weapon clipped into objects when deployed on a bipod has been fixed.

A detailed list of changes will be published on the forum for Closed Beta participants.That’s all for now! We’re excited to see you in the third CBT for War Thunder Infantry, make sure to apply now for the chance to participate!\

We keep fighting cheaters using your reports and the anti-cheat systems, and as usual, today we’re sharing a bit of info on bans that we’ve distributed over the past month. If you’d like to help keep War Thunder free from cheating, you can find out how to file a report and how our anti-cheat system works on our Wiki.Banned accountsSince our last fair play update, we have banned 2,165 accounts that were found to have violated the rules, specifically paragraph 3.2.3 of the EULA, namely the automation of gameplay (use of bots) and cheat software.Additionally, 37 temporary bans were issued for violating paragraph 3.2.4 of the EULA. These violations included colluding with the opposing team to repeatedly capture zones and/or profiting from mutual damage without the intention of engaging in combat.Furthermore, 203 accounts were banned for a week or longer for intentional teamkilling and griefing, including 11 permanent bans.Finally, 6,673 accounts involved in referral system fraud, en-masse multi-accounting or both have been permanently banned.For complete transparency, we will publish the full list of permanently banned players. This list will be available for two weeks following the publication of this article.RecommendationsWe recommend that you set a strong password for your account and enable two-step authentication in your profile security settings. We have the following 2FA options available: email, SMS, TOTP (Gaijin Pass/Google Authenticator).We’d also suggest that you turn on 2FA for the email that is linked to your Gaijin account for additional security, as this will protect your account from fraudsters. And remember, don’t use prohibited client modifications and never share your account information with anyone.The War Thunder Team

Ground Vehicles

• AEC Mk II — a bug where the wrong wheels were damaged upon being hit has been fixed.
• M1A2 SEPv3, M1A2 — position of the mesh with the “TUSK” modification has been fixed.
• Leopard 1A5BE — the “rose” texture on the torn barrel has been fixed.
• Hummel — the inscription on the rear of the hull has been fixed.

 Aircraft

• Yak-130 — a bug with the positioning of the aerobatic smoke has been fixed.
• Tu-2 (all variants) — the variometer operation has been fixed.
• F3D-1 — the altimeter operation has been fixed.
• F-106A — automatic opening and closing of doors when launching air-to-air missiles has been fixed. (Report).
• F-111A — automatic opening and closing of doors during AAM launches and bomb drops has been added.

 Locations

• Alaska, Sweden — collision of the trees on these locations has been fixed.
• Hürtgen Forest, Ash River — a collision bug with some of the rocks has been fixed.
• Maginot Line (Winter) — a collision bug on the frozen lake has been fixed.

 Naval Vessels

• A “Crew” section has been added to the ship hangar’s X-ray filter; activating it allows you to view the compartments containing the reserve crew. As a reminder, the full distribution of the crew across the ship can be viewed in the Protection Analysis tab, located within the Armor section.

 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 231st War Thunder Steam Screenshot Competition!

Thanks for submitting all of your screenshots from the latest major update last week! This week we return to a past theme - vehicles in urban environments. Capture your vehicles in action amongst the many buildings and bridges! The three most popular and three selected by us will get 300 GE. See the winners down below!

Let’s begin the 231st edition of our competition!

Create a stunning screenshot and submit it on the War Thunder Steam Community Hub with the tag #WTscreen231. You have time until the 10th of July 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 a building or bridge.
  
• You must add the #WTscreen231 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 230th edition – Heavy Cavalry!

Winners selected via community votes:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3753383724
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3752618919
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3753812605

Winners selected by our judges:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3754367486
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3754435986
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3754025866

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

The Challenger League Major II is here, and the competition is about to reach its most exciting stage!After battling through the qualifiers, the best teams have earned their place in this major and are ready to showcase their skills against some of the strongest rising talent in the scene. Every match matters as they fight for valuable league points, prestige, and a chance to establish themselves among the Challenger League's elite.The tournament will be played in the intense 4v4 Air format, where teamwork, communication, and tactical execution will make all the difference. With over 500,000 Golden Eagles and exclusive rewards on the line, the pressure is on and only one team will come out on top.Who will seize the opportunity and become the Challenger League Major II Champion?Qualified TeamsTeam WarningTeam Warning is an international lineup built around experienced air combat specialists and months of dedicated practice. Making their Challenger League debut, they'll be looking to prove they have what it takes to challenge the established contenders.Team NEXUSAfter an impressive runner-up finish at Challenger League Major I, NEXUS returns with confidence and momentum. This young international squad has already established itself as one of the league's strongest contenders and will be aiming to go one step further this time.Team COVERTCOVERT enters Major II with a roster built around experienced tournament players eager to make their mark. With a balanced lineup and high ambitions, they'll be looking to challenge the league's established names.Team SkyHammerSkyHammer has steadily grown into a dangerous competitor through perseverance and constant roster development. After earning their place in Major II, they're determined to prove they can compete with the Challenger League's best.Team TreaXTreaX is a fully French roster rebuilt through months of hard work and dedication. After successfully qualifying for Major II, the team is ready to show that their rapid improvement can translate into strong results on the big stage.Team EnyoProxyThe defending Challenger League Major champions return with a target on their backs. After dominating Major I and taking the early lead in the championship standings, EnyoProxy will be looking to prove their title was no coincidence.Team LegitBongoBorn from a passionate community brought together by its captain, LegitBongo is one of the most unique stories in this competition. The team will be looking to turn that passion into results in their Challenger League debut.Team OlyStFollowing a strong third-place finish at Challenger League Major I, OlySt returns with renewed confidence. Blending experienced veterans and talented newcomers, they'll be aiming to climb even higher on the podium this time around. Live streams & Twitch DropsWatch the event on July 4th-5th and July 11th-12th starting 14:40 GMT on the official English and Russian War Thunder Esports channels and receive:Weekend 1: July 4th-5th

• 50% RP Booster
• 50% SL Booster
• 1 day of Premium

Weekend 2: July 11th-12th

• 50% RP Booster
• 50% SL Booster
• 1 day of Premium

Login to your Twitch account → link your Gaijin account → click “Allow” to be able to receive Twitch Drops!You can also watch the event live on our YouTube channel War Thunder Esports!You’ll also find highlights and replays of all the matches there.

FOLLOW ON TWITCHFOLLOW ON YOUTUBE Stay 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!Esports Bundle - 2026 Season -15%To get to our online Store through Steam, go to the in-game hangar > Shop > Online Store.This bundle includes:

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

15.98 13.58

A major update has arrived, bringing with it a namesake trophy containing camouflage coupons created by the WT Live community. Inside, you’ll find a wide range of new camouflages for vehicles featured in recent events and the Heavy Cavalry major update, making it a perfect opportunity to deck out your newly acquired machines! The trophy also offers a chance to obtain coupons for rare vehicles and a unique decal.Contents of the Heavy Cavalry trophy:

• Coupons for rare vehicles
• 19 camouflage coupons for ground vehicles
• 17 camouflage coupons for aircraft
• 2 camouflage coupons for naval vessels
• 2 camouflage coupon for helicopters
• A coupon for the Heavy Cavalry decal
  

To unlock the trophy, you’ll need the new “Heavy Cavalry” key that can be purchased on the Market for GJN. For each key you buy, a portion of the sale is split among the skin makers in the box, so with each purchase you are directly supporting our talented community! Read more about the Market and Gaijin Coins on the Wiki.

How to get the trophyCamouflage trophies can be earned with a specific probability after any battle with vehicles rank II or higher, with activity of no less than 50% (except for \ PvE mode). PlayStation and Xbox players can purchase the trophy in the Item Shop and open it with Golden Eagles. Read more on our Wiki.PC players must purchase a key from the Market to open the trophy, with part of each sale going to the camouflage creators. You can activate a key from the trophy on your account or sell it on the Market for Gaijin Coins —  just like the trophy itself.

You can become a creator of user camouflages — check out the updated guide on our Wiki! It will bring you both glory and real money as a part of the War Thunder partnership program! Additionally, all authors who are included in these trophies will receive a unique title, player icon and decal. Join the creative team over on WT Live!

July 4th marks the anniversary of the United States of America! The country’s independence was proclaimed by signing the world-famous Declaration of Independence in 1776. July 4th 2026 marks the 250th anniversary, and we join in on the congratulations with discounts and various rewards for playing in battles! 50% discount on US vehicles!

When: From July 3rd (11:00 GMT) until July 10th (11:00 GMT).Where: USA > Aviation / Army > Premium vehicles.

• M26E1 (Rank IV) for 3740 Golden Eagles
• F-86F-35 (Rank V) for 4635 Golden Eagles
• AV-8B (NA) (Rank VII) for 4810 Golden Eagles
• The AV-8B (NA) is returning for purchase and will be available after the promotion ends at the full price of 9620 Golden Eagles. The other vehicles are available only during the promotion.

 About these vehicles

• The M26E1 is an experimental variant of the M26 medium tank, featuring a more powerful cannon than the standard M26 with better ballistics and higher penetration. The reload is slightly slower than the regular M26, but the improved performance more than makes up for it, allowing the M26 to be played effectively almost anywhere.

 

• The F-86F-35 sports a unique American flag-themed camouflage and a unique pilot model. Fast, maneuverable, and easy to fly, it is suitable for both air combat and ground-attack missions, capable of carrying two bombs or 16 rockets on its hardpoints.

 

• The AV-8B (NA) is an upgraded version of the AV-8B Harrier II attack aircraft, featuring the NAVFLIR forward-looking infrared system, night-vision goggle compatibility, and updated avionics with multifunction displays (MFDs). The “NA” in its designation stands for “Night Attack”. Its targeting system enables the guidance of a wide range of air-to-ground missiles and precision-guided bombs.

Rare vehicles in the Gaijin Store!

When: From July 3rd (11:00 GMT) until July 10th (11:00 GMT).

The XM1 (Chrysler) and USS Bennion packs, as well as a bundle containing both vehicles, are available to purchase at a special price in the Gaijin store. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to acquire these extremely rare vehicles!About these vehicles

• The XM1 (Chrysler) (USA, Rank VI) is a prototype of the M1 Abrams MBT. This fast and maneuverable tank is perfect for bold, aggressive gameplay. It’s equipped with a thermal imager and a laser rangefinder, while its internal layout and the strategic placement of the ready-rack ammunition enhance the vehicle’s survivability.

• USS Bennion (USA, Rank III) is a destroyer named after a captain who died at Pearl Harbor and distinguished itself in battles against the Japanese fleet in the Pacific theater. Its main armament of five 127mm guns is capable of taking on many enemy vessels, while 40 mm bofors and 20 mm Oerlikon anti-aircraft autocannons stand ready to defend both the Bennion and its allies from air attacks.

 To get to the Gaijin Store through Steam, go to the in-game hangar > Shop > Online Store.XM1 (Chrysler) PackThis pack includes:

• XM1 (Chrysler) (Rank VI, USA)
• Premium account for 15 days
• 2000 Golden Eagles

59.99USS Bennion PackThis pack includes:

• USS Bennion (Rank III, USA)
• Premium account for 15 days
• 2000 Golden Eagles

49.99"Made in USA" BundleThis pack includes:

• XM1 (Chrysler) Pack
• USS Bennion Pack
• Unique title: "Made in USA"

110 76.99 Purchase any American pack available on all platforms during this promotion and receive the unique “Founding Snail” decal! Play US vehicles to earn some rewards!

When: From July 3rd (11:00 GMT) until July 10th (11:00 GMT).

Play with US ships, aircraft or ground vehicles to get yourself a decal, ship flag and two camouflages! “250th Anniversary” decal

• Earn 3,000 mission points in battles while using US vehicles (rank III or higher).

“First Navy Jack” ship flag

• Earn 10,000 mission points in battles while using US ships (rank III or higher).

“250th Anniversary” camouflage for the F/A-18E

• Earn 10,000 mission points in battles while using US aircraft (rank III or higher).

“250th Anniversary” camouflage for the M1A1 HC

• Earn 10,000 mission points in battles while using US ground vehicles (rank III or higher).

• You can track task progress by clicking on your nickname → Achievements → US Independence Day.

We’d like to invite you to participate in the “Advance” event! This is an asymmetrical battle where one team must capture all the points on the map, while the other defends them. Capturing key points decides the outcome of the battle, and familiar locations are revisited in a new tactical perspective.From July 3rd (11:00 GMT) until July 6th (11:00 GMT), look for “Advance” in the “Events and Tournaments” tab.How the event works

• The event takes place in Arcade and Realistic Battles on the Port Novorossiysk, Maginot Line and Volokolamsk” maps.
• Each point belongs to the defending team at the time of activation.
• The points are activated sequentially, one at a time. After the attackers capture the current point, the next one is activated.
• The capture points alternate in their functionality: A, C, and E (key points) are small in size but take a long time to capture; B and D (intermediate points) completely cover the defenders' previous spawn zone, making them much larger in size than the key points, but they are captured significantly faster. After capturing an intermediate point, a new spawn point becomes available for the attackers to attack the next key point, while the previous spawn point is disabled.
• Capturing the last key point (E) or eliminating all defenders results in victory for the attackers.
• Holding the points for the duration of the mission or eliminating all attacking players results in victory for the defending team.
• The number of spawns per player is limited and differs between the defending and attacking teams.
• The maximum number of players per team is not the same.
• Spawning in ground vehicles in Realistic Battles does not require Spawn Points, however spawning in aircraft does.
• Repeated spawns are available, without requiring a backup vehicle.

Event Features

• To queue for the event, you need ground vehicles with a Battle Rating of 4.7–5.7.
• Vehicles with a Battle Rating of 3.7–5.7 are allowed in the battle itself — meaning you can add lower-BR vehicles to your lineup.

And finally, "Attack the D point"!

Nuclear Escalation

• The “Red” team’s Buk-M3 air defense system has been replaced with the S-300 air defense system.

 Locations and Missions

• Sweden and Alaska Town — These locations have been temporarily removed from the Ground Battles rotation due to issues with tree collisions.

 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.

France made extensive use of aircraft since the First World War, and placed special emphasis on developing its air force during the interwar period; it was established as a separate military branch on July 2nd 1934. France fought on various fronts during the Second World War, with French pilots distinguishing themselves both within the ranks of the British Royal Air Force and in the service of the USSR (notably in the famous “Normandie-Niemen” squadron). After the war, France continued to develop its aircraft manufacturing industry, gaining renown for aircraft such as the Mirage and the Rafale. Open the “French Air Force Day” trophy!

When: From July 2nd (11:00 GMT) until July 5th (11:00 GMT)Task: Earn 3,000 mission points in battles where you used French aircraft at rank III or higher to receive the “French Air Force Day” trophy!

Inside this trophy, you’ll receive one of four decals: “French Air Force Day” decal“French Air Force Day” decal “Emblem of the French Air Force Command” decal“French Air Force Day 2025” decalThe “French Air Force Command Emblem” and “French Air Force Day 2025” decals can be found in the “France → Aviation” vehicle customization section. The other decals are located in the “Holidays” section. If you already have all three decals, you’ll receive a trophy containing one of the following items:

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

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

Additional details:

• You can complete the task in random battles, except for \ mode.
• Track your progress in the hangar by clicking Nickname → Achievements → Holidays → French Air Force Day.

 

Sound Mods

• Sound mods can once again be used. If a sound mod stops working during a battle, you’ll see a warning the next time you launch the client. We’re continuing to refine the criteria for detecting sound mod issues, so if you are certain your mod does not affect client stability, you can simply dismiss the message.
• We have fixed all currently known causes of crashes. However, combining different modifications may still lead to game instability; so use sound mods at your own risk.

 Reverting Sound Mod Changes

• If a modification causes the game to run unstably, or if you are unhappy with the result, you can revert everything to the way it was:
  • 1. Open the config.blk file and change the line `enable_mod:b=yes` to `enable_mod:b=no`, or delete the line entirely.
  • 2. Delete the `mod` folder and all its contents from the `sound` folder.
• After doing this, War Thunder will revert to using the default sound effects.

 Aircraft

• F-2A F-2A ADTW — a bug that caused the loss of target tracking outside the scan zone in TWS mode has been fixed. (Report).
• Spitfire F Mk IXc — a bug that prevented selecting a weapon loadout consisting solely of forward-firing armament with no bombs has been fixed. (Report).
• Su-30MKK (China) — a bug where the LD-10 anti-radiation missile loadout was listed under the “air-to-air” weapon category instead of “air-to-ground” one has been fixed.

 Interface

• Improved the display of leaderboards for football events featuring a league system: promotion and relegation icons are now shown, along with a message indicating that promotion will not occur if there is an insufficient number of participants.

 Controls

• A bug where controlling the cursor with the gamepad D-pad could cause it to spontaneously move to a random position on the screen has been fixed. This was particularly disruptive when applying decals or working with 3D decorations in the vehicle customization menu. (Report).

 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.

Aircraft

• The precision and smoothness of the vehicle’s motion in the Bomb/Missile Camera View have been improved.
• The ESM functionality has been temporarily limited to ground targets only. We plan to revise and return the ability to detect and attack air targets in the future.
• F/A-18A, F/A-18A (Britain), AF/A-18A Late (Britain), CF-188A (Britain), F/A-18C Early, F/A-18C Late, F/A-18C MLU 2 (Sweden), F-18C (Sweden), F/A-18D Late (Japan) — the structural overload limit has been decreased from 12G to 11.25G for all F/A-18A/C/D aircraft except for the versions with titanium reinforced airframes: F/A-18C (Switzerland) and F/A-18C Late (Switzerland). (Report).
• MiG-29KR (9-41R) — a bug that caused the canopy ejection animation to be missing when ejecting has been fixed. (Report).
• MiG-21 2000 (Israel) — the missing G-suit modification has been added. (Report). A bug that caused the number of  countermeasures in the spawn screen to mismatch the numbers in battle and in the stat card has been fixed. 42 out of 106 countermeasures have been replaced with large-caliber ones.
• C-3604 (Germany) — a bug that caused the pitch controls to remain intact after the tail had been cut off has been fixed.
• IA.58A (Pucara) — the air spawn speed has been increased from 250 km/h to 350 km/h. (Report).
• CF-188A — the description of the 425 SQN anniversary camouflage has been corrected. (Report).

 Ground Vehicles

• M1A2 SEP — a bug that caused the M829A3 and M829A2 shells to be changed to M829A2 and M829 shells respectively when equipping the TUSK modification has been fixed. (Report).
  

Nuclear Escalation

• The event has been extended to July 6th, 11:00 GMT.
• All rewards in Silver Lions have been increased by 40%.
• The rewards in Silver Lions for the destruction of ground vehicles have been further increased by 40%.
• BUK-M3 — the reload time has been increased from 20 seconds to 30 seconds.
• The composition of each SAMP/T site has been changed from a set of 1x TADS and 3x TEL to 2 independent sets of 1x TADS and 2x TEL, totaling in 2x TADS and 4x TEL per site.
• The composition of a short-range AA covering SAMP/T sites has been changed from 1x Gepard and 1x ItO 90M to 2x ItO 90M.

 Game Mechanics

• The Spawn Point cost for guided bombs and missiles with man-in-the-loop capabilities has been increased. For bombs with TV seekers, the cost has risen by 9%, and by 7.7% for those with thermal imaging seekers. For missiles with TV seekers, the cost has increased by 8.4%, and by 5.6% for those with thermal imaging seekers.
• The Spawn Point cost for anti-radiation missiles with wide-band seekers has been increased by 10%.
• The Spawn Point cost for anti-radiation missiles on helicopters has been decreased by 5.6%.

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

Today we’re kicking off our summer contest for WT Live camouflage creators! You can take part from July 1st until August 15th. This is the first contest in a new series that will run regularly. This time we’ve got 10 prize places, so newcomers have just as much of a shot as WT Live veterans. We’ll be paying close attention to entries created for this contest when putting together future custom camouflage Trophies. This is your chance to see your camo in-game and become eligible for the author royalty program. First time creating a camouflage? Check out our Wiki article where we’ve broken down the whole process, from setting up your tools to publishing on WT Live. Vehicle List for the First ContestThis season, we’re inviting you to create camouflages for the following vehicles:

• USA: YAH-64, M36 GMC
• USSR: T-44-100, T-55AMD-1
• Germany: Me 262 A-1a/U1, Panzer IV/70(V)
• Great Britain: Sea Harrier FRS.1, Centurion Mk.1
• Japan: M24 (Japan), Ki-44-I
• France: ARL-44, F6F-5 (France)
• China: Object 122TM "MC", P-47D-23-RA (China)
• Sweden: MiG-21bis (Finland)
• Italy: Turan III

 Prize Pool
We’ve put together great rewards for the top ten authors:

• 1st place: Any pack from the store
• 2nd place: A store pack worth up to 70€
• 3rd place: A store pack worth up to 50€
• 4th–10th place: 5,000 Golden Eagles

 Rules and Terms of Participation

• Platform — WT Live
• Theme — historical and semi-historical camouflages.
• Timeline — the contest starts on July 1st and entry submissions close on August 15th at 20:59 GMT. Results will be published within a week after submissions close.
• Number of entries — unlimited, but each author can only receive one prize.
• Hashtag — you must add the tag #summer_camo_contest to your post, otherwise your entry won’t be included in the selection.
• References — each entry must include historical photos and/or a text description citing the real-world camouflage or source of inspiration. Entries without this won’t be considered.
• New and reworked entries — camouflages created after the contest start are accepted, as well as older works that have been significantly reworked specifically for the contest.
• Judging criteria — the judges evaluate texture quality, historical accuracy, and attention to detail. Quality screenshots are a bonus.
• Community guidelines — posts must comply with the community guidelines. Entries that violate these will not be eligible.
• Judges — platform moderators and the custom content Trophies curator.

 We look forward to seeing your work on WT Live!

On July 1st 1926, the Swedish Air Force was established as a separate military branch. Today it celebrates its centenary! The country maintained neutrality during both World War II and the Cold War while simultaneously building up its military capabilities. This was particularly true of the Air Force: aviation enthusiasts worldwide are well aware of the Draken, Viggen, Gripen, and other masterpieces of Swedish aircraft engineering. The J35A is temporarily available for Golden Eagles at a 50% discount for 4,545 Golden Eagles! 

When: From July 1st (11:00 GMT) until July 4th (11:00 GMT).Where: Sweden > Aviation > Premium vehicles.

• The J35A is only available during this promotion.

 About this aircraft

• The J35A Draken is armed with a pair of 30 mm cannons and can carry up to six RB24 air-to-air missiles, twelve m/56D unguided rockets, and a fuel tank on its central hardpoint. It is a very fast and maneuverable fighter but has no countermeasures. However, it’s capable of outrunning and out-turning enemy missiles!

Open the “Swedish Air Force Day” trophy!

When: From July 1st (11:00 GMT) until July 4th (11:00 GMT)Task: Earn 3,000 mission points in battles where you used Swedish aircraft at rank III or higher to receive the “Swedish Air Force Day” trophy!

Inside this trophy, you’ll receive one of four previously available decals: “Swedish Air Force Day” decal“Swedish Air Force Day” decal “Emblem of the Uppland Wing” decal“Helicopter wing Patch” decalThe “Helicopter Wing Patch” decal and Emblem of the Uppland Wing” decal are  located in the “Sweden → Aviation” vehicle customization section. The other two decals are found in the “Holidays” section. If you already have all four decals, you’ll receive one of the following items instead:

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

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

Additional details:

• You can complete the task in random battles, except for \ mode.
• Track your progress in the hangar by clicking Nickname → Achievements → Holidays → Swedish Air Force Day.