The PGZ88 is an SPAA with a pair of 37 mm cannons and a radar that can be effectively used against both air and ground targets!PGZ88: An SPAA for China Rank VAt a glance:

• Radar
• 37 mm belt-fed guns
• Average mobility
• Vulnerable turret

Vehicle HistoryThe PGZ88 became the first purpose-built Chinese SPAA to be accepted into service. Requirements for such a system were initially formulated by the PLA Armored Forces Command as early as 1958, but the project was repeatedly suspended and resumed, and its actual implementation only began in the late 1970s.In September 1985, a prototype was built on a modified Type 69 tank chassis and upgraded naval 37 mm automatic guns for military trials. In October 1986, four vehicles were built for final acceptance. Comprehensive testing at the Chaoyi and Baicheng test ranges involved intensive use of the equipment: 140 target sorties were flown, 5,479 rounds were fired, and the guidance and control systems each achieved 108 to 210 hours of operation. Successful tests confirmed the effectiveness and reliability of the system, allowing it to be adopted for air defense of mechanized columns.Introducing the PGZ88!In the next major update the PGZ88, an SPAA based on the Type 69 tank chassis armed with a pair of 37 mm cannons and a radar is coming to the game! This vehicle will be able to defend allies from helicopters, low-flying aircraft, and lightly armored ground vehicles. Let’s take a closer look!The PGZ88 is going to be China’s first radar-equipped anti-aircraft vehicle in the SPAA line, essential for the rapid detection and destruction of helicopters and attack aircraft. The vehicle is based on a tracked tank platform housing a turret with a three-person crew, a pair of 37 mm autocannons, and a radar. The turret is only protected from machine gun fire. The PGZ88’s belt-fed automatic cannons can fire in bursts until the barrels overheat.The PGZ88 inherits its mobility from the Type 69, so don’t expect any performance records. It’s no faster than 50 km/h on paved roads, and just over 7 km/h in reverse. Being a bit faster would be nicer of course, but it’s perfectly acceptable for small maps and urban areas. Actively capturing objectives and quickly moving along flanks is unlikely with the PGZ88, so it’s often more advantageous to move with a group of allies, providing supporting fire against ground vehicles and promptly destroying helicopters and approaching attack aircraft.That’s it for this one! The PGZ88 will be added to the Chinese ground forces at rank V in the next game update. We’ll be sharing more news about other new additions soon, so stay tuned!Please note that this vehicle’s characteristics may be changed before it is added to the game.

The French Maritime Gendarmerie is a specialized unit of the National Gendarmerie, performing policing duties at sea and in port areas. Its tasks include inspecting vessels, enforcing navigation regulations, and combating poaching, smuggling and marine pollution. One of the boats that served off the coast of France was the Glaive, which you can obtain in the new naval event!

From May 20th (11:00 GMT) until June 1st (11:00 GMT), earn mission points in Naval Battles, unlock stages and receive rewards!

Glaive — A Premium Patrol Boat for France at Rank IIIThe Glaive is a French Trident-class patrol boat, built in the 1960s, when the French Navy was reassessing the strategic value of small, maneuverable attack craft in its fleet. Unlike other French small fleets of the rank III, the Glaive boasts excellent performance and is armed with a 40 mm automatic cannon and a pair of heavy machine guns. Glaive’s premium status accelerates research of small ships at ranks I-IV, and for some the ship can be an easy and enjoyable introduction to exploring the French Coastal tree!  “Emblem of the French Marine Gendarmerie” decal“Naval Gendarmerie” decal“French Sports Stripes” decalAmong 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)
• A random camouflage for a vehicle you own
• 1 day of Premium Account

How to get all rewardsEach stage can be achieved for 35,000 mission points, every new stage achieved will give you a new reward.

Please note: After finishing a stage, you need to collect the reward manually. To do this, click on your name in-game, go to “Marine Gendarme” and click the “Get Reward” button.

You’re able to earn mission points in Naval Battles at Rank III or above in Arcade and Realistic Battles. The number of mission points to complete a stage depends on the game mode and the maximum Rank of the vehicle that you use in battle. There’s a multiplier for earning mission points, which is shown in the task description in-game. Points are only awarded at the end of the battle.You can also earn mission points by using event vehicles that are Rank I and II. Event vehicles that can be used have the name of the event that they were obtainable in on their stat card.

Stages change every two days at 11:00 GMT on May 22nd, 24th, 26th, 28th and 30th.

Rewards are given when you complete a specific number of stages

• For 1 Stage: trophy with a random reward
• For 2 Stages: one of the decal rewards
• For 3 Stages: trophy with a random reward
• For 4 Stages: one of the decal rewards
• For 5 Stages: the “French Sports Stripes” decal
• For 6 Stages: non-tradable coupon for the Glaive

Discounts for purchasing stages using Golden EaglesUnfinished stages can be purchased for Golden Eagles, but if you’re very close to completing a stage, its price will be significantly reduced.Let’s say you have earned 85% of the required mission points to complete a stage, then the price of purchasing this stage will be halved. If you’re near the finish line for a stage and are at 95% progress, then the price will be reduced by five times. For example, if you’ve scored 30,000 mission points, then the price to unlock this stage will be 349 Golden Eagles. If you’ve scored 33,500 mission points, then you’ll only need 199 Golden Eagles. Remember to keep this in mind if you cannot complete a stage on time!The Coupon UpgradeWhen you complete 6 stages, you’ll receive a non-tradable coupon for Glaive, using it will immediately activate the vehicle onto your account. If you don’t want the vehicle and would like to sell the coupon on the Market, you’ll need the “Upgrade for coupon” item.

The “Upgrade for coupon” item can be earned in parallel with the stages throughout the event from May 20th (11:00 GMT) until June 1st (11:00 GMT) for 500,000 mission points.

After receiving the “Upgrade for coupon” item, you can convert a non-tradable coupon for the vehicle into a tradable one and sell it on the Market. The tradable coupon can be sold after 6 days from the moment it’s created.

To make a tradable coupon, select the “Coupon Glaive (France)” in your inventory and click the “Modify” button.

The “Upgrade for coupon” item is valid until 11:00 GMT on June 5th. Until this time, you can use it or exchange it for War Bonds. Afterwards, it’ll disappear from your inventory.You can track the progress of completing stages and the “Upgrade for coupon” item by clicking on your Nickname > Achievements > Marine Gendarme.. If you don’t manage to complete a stage on time or would like to purchase a stage, you can do so with Golden Eagles until June 5th from the Achievements window, which will give you the corresponding rewards.

Welcome to the 224th War Thunder Steam Screenshot Competition!

Thanks for all of the wonderful screenshots that you submitted last week! This week, we would like your screenshots to feature the conclusion of your battles. Whether you would like to capture the battle as it is being fought with damaged vehicles, or the wreckage after a battle has concluded, you can decide! The three most popular and three selected by us will get 300 GE. See the winners down below!

Let’s begin the 224th edition of our competition!

Create a stunning screenshot and submit it on the War Thunder Steam Community Hub with the tag #WTscreen224. You have time until the 22nd of May 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 damaged or destroyed vehicle.
  
• You must add the #WTscreen224 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 223rd edition – Decorated for Duty!

Winners selected via community votes:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3722658862
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3726089303
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3724160165

Winners selected by our judges:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3726754014
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3722599696
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3722804575

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

Jean Bart was a French battleship and the second completed ship of the successful Richelieu class, also becoming one of the last battleships in active service.Jean Bart: A Premium Battleship for France at Rank VIIAt a glance:

• Two turrets with four 380 mm guns in the bow of the ship
• Effective and numerous auxiliary armament
• Decent mobility

 Pre-order - Jean Bart PackTo get to the Gaijin Store through Steam, go to the in-game hangar > Shop > Online Store.79.99This pack includes:

• Jean Bart (Rank VII, France)
• Premium account for 30 days
• 3000 Golden Eagles
• Pre-order bonus: unique title “Glorious Corsair”
• Pre-order bonus: unique decal “Great Coat of Arms of Jean Bart”

Vehicle HistoryThe battleship Jean Bart was the second completed ship of the French Richelieu class. Laid down in 1936, she was built using advanced modular technology, but by the time of the German advance in 1940, she was in a state of disrepair. In this critical situation, the French command decided to put the ship to sea at any cost, and on June 19th 1940, despite technical problems and air attacks, the unfinished battleship reached Casablanca under her own power. In North Africa, work to bring the battleship to combat readiness continued at an accelerated pace.By the fall of 1942, the first main battery turret was commissioned. In November 1942, during the Allied landings in Morocco, Jean Bart, despite its incompleteness and immobility, engaged the US Navy, suffering several hits from 406 mm shells and heavy damage from aerial bombs. Nevertheless, the battleship’s guns continued to fire until the end of French resistance.After the war, Jean Bart’s fate remained the subject of much debate, but ultimately, she was completed as a battleship, taking into account post-war experience. Jean Bart entered service in 1949 and underwent a major modernization in 1955. In 1956, she participated in the Suez Crisis, but her 380 mm guns were rarely used due to fears of mass casualties. In 1957, the battleship was decommissioned and used as a floating barracks until 1970. She was scrapped later the same year.Introducing Jean Bart!Today we’re taking a look at Jean Bart, the third and final member in War Thunder of the French Richelieu-class battleship series, coming in the next major update. Pre-orders for this premium ship start today. Jean Bart will come to the game in the 1955 fit and will offer signature combat capabilities as well as new armament. Let’s take a look!Let’s start with the main battery. Jean Bart retains the unusual layout of her main armament: eight 380 mm guns mounted in two elevated turrets on the forward deck, forward of the superstructure. This is a key feature of the Richelieu battleships, and while it takes some getting used to as the ship cannot fire rearward, it does allow you to fire a full salvo of main battery guns without turning the hull broadside toward the enemy. The magazines hold two types of armor-piercing shells and a high-explosive fragmentation shell, all with good performance for their caliber. However, the reload speed is slightly higher than that of her sister ships. With a Ace crew, you’ll get a whopping two shots per minute.Interesting: Jean Bart became France’s last battleship and the last battleship officially commissioned in the world.The auxiliary caliber guns are the same as those on Richelieu — nine 152 mm guns — but the secondary armament is unique for its class: 24 x 100 mm general-purpose guns in twin mounts, reinforced by 28 x 57 mm anti-aircraft guns. A solid argument against aircraft and small boats!Jean Bart also inherits the excellent maneuverability of her class, capable of reaching speeds of just over 30 knots (56 km/h) and rivaling even some battlecruisers. The ship’s armor and overall survivability are also characteristic of the Richelieu class; she’s fairly well protected and can survive long periods of fire from cruisers, but the best battleships with the largest calibers will be the most dangerous adversaries for Jean Bart. Pick your fights wisely!That’s it for this one! A truly iconic example of 20th-century naval warfare, the battleship Jean Bart is available today as a pre-order pack, along with unique in-game bonuses. Take the helm of one of history’s last battleships, coming to the game in the next major update!Please note that this vehicle’s characteristics may be changed before it is added to the game.

Hey everyone! Today we’re back with another Community Update, we’ll be giving you some details on Nuclear Escalation, Sound Mods, the upcoming major update and our plans for vehicle events until August. So sit back, grab your favourite beverage and read on! Disclaimer: While we’re excited to be able to share work-in-progress information before dev blogs, the dev server and the full release, please bear in mind that new features, vehicles and maps mentioned in this news are subject to change, be delayed or even cancelled. War Thunder is constantly being developed, and as with all game development, unexpected delays or other unforeseen circumstances may occur. Thank you for your interest!Returning Nigel Decal CodeNigel is always among us. If you didn’t manage to get this decal last year, enter code NIGELWASHERE here to redeem it. Once you’ve logged in, the decal can be found under:

• Decals > Special > Other

The decal code will remain active from the publish date of this news until May 28th (10:00 GMT).Nuclear Escalation Stats and Its ReturnThe annual April Fools event this year showcased Nuclear Escalation, a new mode that featured brand-new nuclear bombers. We saw the great response to this mode from the community as well as your constructive feedback and today we would like to show you some statistics from the event that you may find interesting:We would also like to make a return to Nuclear Escalation, and it’s not that far away from coming back. Our current plan is to bring this mode back after the release of the next major update on a temporary basis. This will be to test, refine and make it as good as possible. It will return in a similar event layout as Bullet Hell and SEAD, whereby there are no tasks to obtain any reward vehicles. The two nuclear bombers will also not be available to use during the new event. This is because we’ll be testing this mode at a higher Battle Rating range, more nations, with different ground targets and some tweaks and improvements.We’ll have some more detailed information coming soon in a news post where we’ll cover all the changes and event schedule, so keep an eye out for that!An Update On Sound ModsIn March, we had to disable the use of sound mods after making changes to the audio engine, causing an increase in game crashes and other issues when sound mods were enabled. We fully understand the frustration this has caused to sound mod creators and players who use them, so rest assured we’re working every day on a solution to bring them back as soon as possible. Some good news here is that we plan to return the use of sound mods this month. We’ll let you know in a changelog, so please keep an eye out.We really appreciate your patience regarding this.New G4M1 Cockpit — Coming SoonThe Japanese G4M1 cockpit is in the works to be updated with stunning details, with more cockpits to come throughout the year. This updated cockpit is coming in a future major update, not the next one. Here is a sneak peek of the G4M1, check it out!Upcoming EventsIt’s fast approaching summer, and we’re ready to give you all some information on what to expect regarding events from now until August. A Naval Vehicle Event in MayLet’s take a look at what’s coming after the dust settles from celebrating the victory of the war in Europe, where you can expect a naval event with a rank III boat for France at the end of May.A D-Day Related Vehicle Event in JuneIn June, we honor the events of D-Day with a slightly unrelated vehicle to the real life operation, but still pretty cool nonetheless. We’ll be celebrating with a certain British aircraft that will hopefully “float” your boat, if you catch our drift. This will be the last vehicle event before a month-long vehicle event pause.Tank Football Returns in JulyThe 2026 World Cup kicks off this June, and what better way to enjoy the summer football vibe than with Tank Football? In July, during the latter stages of the World Cup, we’ll be temporarily bringing back Tank Football for you to enjoy as a cosmetic event (meaning no vehicle reward). This is sort of a one-off-special for the World Cup, as we usually only run this event annually every February / March. So, if you’ve never played this mode before, be sure to give it a try in between the real-life World Cup matches to make the most of the football atmosphere! A Ground Vehicle Event in JulyAfter the month-long vehicle event pause following the D-Day event, we return with a British ground vehicle event in July. This quick “single-edged, curved sword” vehicle is sure to leave devastating slashes on your enemies. A Naval Vehicle Event in August And lastly, as the summer heat reaches its heights in August, we will have a naval event, this time for a First World War era Soviet ship.That’s all we can share for now in regards to events for the next 3 months, we’ll talk about what’s to come after August in the next Community Update in the late summer! The Upcoming Major UpdateThe next major update is around the corner, and with it new vehicles and improvements to the game. As always, not everything coming is mentioned here; we don’t want to reveal everything in advance. Definitely keep an eye on the upcoming dev blogs and dev server for everything that’ll be coming!Turm III Stabilization UpdateIn real life, the Turm III is a unique vehicle in that it has a 3-plane stabilizer. However, this is something we haven’t implemented into the game... until now! Here is some more context from one of our programmers who worked on it:Dev note: “Implementing the third-axis stabilization system was a moderately complex task that required both a custom trigonometric solution for three-axis orientation handling and deep integration with the Dagor engine aiming mechanics. The primary challenge was not the mathematics itself, but adapting the stabilization logic to support a highly unconventional control scheme while preserving precision and consistency.”With that said, in the next major update, the Turm III will get its 3-plane stabilizer, and will be the first tank in the game with this kind. In simple terms, this means the turret will now sit level, even when the vehicle itself is on an incline. This won’t be a radical change by any means, but it will make your shots more accurate in some cases, as the reticle will almost always stay vertical. An example:Before / After Missile Simulation Graph Window In principle, this new window works similarly to how the Shell parameters window works for tank shells. The Missile Simulation window allows you to see the telemetry of missiles in flight, including speed, distance covered, distance to targets, and overload. It also allows you to compare multiple missiles visually in a graph, learning how different missiles perform in flight compared to each other. Hovering over points on the graph in flight allows you to see the missile’s telemetry as well.Here are some mock-up images of how it will be designed:(Click arrow to change screenshot)Updated Damage Models / X-Rays for Some High-Ranked AircraftWe’ve added lots of details to the damage models of several top-ranking jet aircraft, including several F-15s, F-16s, MiG-23s, MiG-27s, and more. Here are some examples:MiG-27KF-15AMiG-23MUnified Cyclic Targeting of Radars with Radar Queuing ControlsQuite the mouthful! However a common suggestion from you that’s quite a big Quality of Life update for radar control. With this new feature, you will be able to use a mapped cycle button to select the targets when in manual acquisition mode. This feature offers some more flexibility for pilots who want to use some snappier responsive key binds to quickly lock targets up while still retaining the ability to use the target cue for a more precise radar control when needed!The feature only affects the manual mode, so when the cyclic target switching is enabled, the radar still works as it used to.More Authentic MFD ScreensIn addition to more detailed damage models, we’ve also worked on creating some more authentic MFDs (MultiFunction Displays) for aircraft, including the Tiger HAC, F/A-18s, F-15s, and more. Here are some examples we can show:MiG-29Guess the aircraft...Vehicles You Can ExpectWhat can you expect in terms of vehicles in the next major? First off, let’s start with aircraft. For the USA, we’ll have a magic aircraft, with its namesake being able to communicate with spirits. Can you guess what it is?The RAF Washington B.1 for Great Britain will be making an appearance, as well as another British aircraft which you’ll have to look out for, this one loves high altitudes! For other nations, there will be two revshare planes, some premium packs and some attack aircraft.Next, let’s see what you can expect for ground vehicles. Japan will be receiving some Indonesian tanks, including the Leopard 2RI, while Sweden will be getting Norway’s NOMAD SAM! There’s still more ground vehicles coming, and all will be revealed soon...Lastly, let’s take a look at Naval stuff. You can expect to see the Chervona Ukraina for the Soviets, plus the USS North Carolina for the USA. As with ground vehicles, there’s still more ships and boats coming, big and small, and all will be revealed in good time!That’s it for now!Thanks for giving this Community Update a read, we hope it gives you some things to look forward to in the next update, see you soon!The War Thunder TeamThe Skilled Pilot Pack is available in the store, check it out if you haven’t already got it!Skilled Pilot PackTo get to the Gaijin Store through Steam, go to the in-game hangar > Shop > Online Store.This pack includes:

• How To Fly profile icon
• Anti-Air Trees decal

• “The Missile Knows Where It Is” title
• 300 Golden Eagles

3.99

Aircraft

• F-6C — the mass has been corrected (reduced), becoming closer to the basic version of the MiG-19S without radar.
• A bug that sometimes caused the torpedo tracking camera to shake has been fixed.

 Controls 

• A default controller keybind for the naval weapon group change has been added.
• A bug where some key assignments the on Thrustmaster T.Flight Hotas One joystick would reset after loading saved control settings on Xbox consoles 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.

 Since 1950, Armed Forces Day has been celebrated on the third Sunday in May. It is a unified holiday honoring members of the Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, Space Force, Navy, and Coast Guard. Parades, air shows, vehicle displays, and military band concerts are held on this day.Open the “US Armed Forces Day” trophy!

When: From May 14th (11:00 GMT) until May 18th (11:00 GMT).Task: Earn 3,000 mission points in battles where you used a USA vehicle at rank III or higher to receive the “US Armed Forces Day” trophy!

Inside this trophy, you’ll receive one of three decals“Seal of the United States Army” decal“US National Armed Forces Day 2025” decal“National Armed Forces Day” decalThese decals are located in the “Holiday” vehicle appearance section.If you already have all four 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 → Armed Forces Day.

Aircraft

• Tu-95M — the rate of fire of the turret gun AM-23 has been increased from 600 to 1250 RPM. (Report). Source: Самолет Ту-95. Система пушечного вооружения (ПВ-23 Ту-95). Тех. описание.
  

Ground Vehicles

• In the hangar, the size of the hole in target plates for 150 mm AP shells and higher with a low armor penetration has been fixed. Previously, a target plate with a small hole was used, which was too small for 150 mm caliber.

 Interface

• A bug where the crew training window still displayed the qualification progress bar even after receiving the “Ace” qualification has been fixed. (Report).

 Locations and Missions

• \ Moscow. 42 kilometer — a bug where a bombing base could appear on the runway of the eastern team’s airfield in battles with a Battle Rating session of 5.7 has been fixed. (Report).
• \ Mozdok — the size of the playable area has been expanded so that the eastern team’s airfield is no longer located outside of the battle area in battles with a Battle Rating of up to and including 4.3. (Report, Report).
• The HMS Ark Royal aircraft carrier has been replaced by USS Forrestal in Confrontation missions at Battle Rating 9.3 and above. HMS Ark Royal lacks proper AA defense, making it too easy a target.

 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! As we’re shuffling along through May we’re pleased to bring you another batch of historical decals! Some shields, paintings, inscriptions and badges, the full monty! We particularly like the rare French pinup BB Girl, and the highly detailed nose art of  ace Vasily Isaev, recreated expertly by Fenris, one of our decal artists.A note for the Gepard, currently it’s not possible to place a decal on the radar as the material is not decal-able (we’ve applied it to the skin for the screenshot), we’ll edit this part of the model sometime in the future so decals can be placed on the radar.

The following decals are available from May 13th (11:00 GMT) until June 11th (09:00 GMT).All tasks can be completed using vehicles that are rank III or higher.

Democracy Deliverer Inscription, USA"BB Girl" Pinup, FranceFinish in position 1-3 three times using American Ground VehiclesFinish in position 1-5 five times using French AircraftDemocracy Deliverer InscriptionDemocracy Deliverer inscription, U.S. Army. The practice of tank naming is over 100 years old, often following pop culture as new generations of tankers take up the mantle. In the First and Second World Wars, tank naming was not standardized, in the modern day however there are more limitations regarding the name crews can choose. Currently under some regiments, naming your tank is an earned right, given only to crews who maintain a standard of excellence. Names often follow company structure as well, with tanks of A Company having a name that begins with A, though this is not a strict rule and regular deviations can be spotted. As newer generations of tanker crews step up, more names relating to gaming and popular media have become common sights, with Democracy Deliverer being a great example. It was painted on the barrel of an M1A2 SEP V2, ahead of the bore evacuator. "BB Girl" Pinup“BB Girl” Pinup, 2ème Escadron d'Instruction en Vol "Henry Jeandet" (2nd Flight Training Squadron "Henry Jeandet"), French Air Force. Pinup-style nose art was relatively rare in the French Air Force, as it was primarily an American custom; however, sporadic instances of it can be found, albeit fleetingly. This pinup was painted on MD.450 Ouragan number 328, code BB, flown by Sergeant Paul Barland at the time. It was painted in June 1957, while the aircraft was stationed at Base École 708 in Meknès, Morocco. The pinup itself is possibly a depiction of Brigitte Bardot, a very popular French actress and singer at the time. This fits nicely as a link to the Bravo-Bravo aircraft code as well, though the link is unconfirmed and largely speculative. While the pinup was likely popular with the pilots, it appears senior staff had a different perspective, as the artwork barely lasted a week before being removed. It was painted on the port side of the aircraft, right above the topmost gunport.Personal Marking of Vasily Isaev, USSR"Ikazuchi" Inscription, JapanFlaLehrRgt 6 Emblem, GermanyDefeat 50 players using Soviet AircraftScore 20000 Damage while using Japanese Bluewater VesselsDefeat 30 Aircraft using German Ground Vehicles
Personal Marking of Vasily IsaevThe personal marking of Vasily Vasilyevich Isaev, 42 GIAP (42nd Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment), Soviet Air Force. Vasily graduated as a pilot in 1941 at the Zernograd Military Aviation School, having dreamed of being a pilot from a young age. Throughout the war he flew several Yak fighters, including the Yak-1, Yak-9, and Yak-9U. He demonstrated considerable skill during his service, credited with 17 aerial victories and 4-5 shared victories. After the war he would be discharged due to health issues, but dedicated much of his time to community service, and even published a book of wartime memoirs in 1975 called "За чистое небо" (For Clear Skies). His personal marking was an eagle attacking a snake, a common motif Soviet pilots used during the Second World War, effectively depicting good triumphing over evil or order defeating chaos. It was painted on the starboard side of his Yak-9U under the engine exhaust."Ikazuchi" InscriptionIkazuchi (いかづち) hull inscription, JMSDF. After the Second World War, Japan returned to the practice of painting a ship’s name onto the hull, but in hiragana rather than kanji script. Ikazuchi means “Thunder,” effectively, and carries a long etymological lineage throughout ancient Japan, often linking it to mythology and weaponry. The inscription was painted on the middle of the hull on destroyer escort DE-202, Ikazuchi. She was one of the first domestic destroyer escorts built by Japan in the post-war era. She was commissioned in 1956 and was a sister to DE-203 Inazuma, meaning “Lightning”, making them a fitting pair. She served with the 7th Escort Corps until 1976 when she was converted to a storage ship used for training, before finally being stricken from the register on March 30th, 1983. FlaLehrRgt 6 EmblemThe emblem of Flugabwehrlehrregiment 6 (6th Anti-Aircraft Training Regiment), Bundeswehr. The Regiment was formed on August 31st 1956 as Panzerflugabwehrartilleriebataillon 3 in Schleswig, but would cement its identity after moving to Lütjenburg on April 1st 1962. It received its first Gepard anti-air vehicles on August 4th 1977, which would later feature on the Regiment’s emblem. Aside from the prominent Gepard silhouette in the middle, to the left are either stylized seagulls or waves, which link to the Regiment’s proximity to the Baltic Sea to the north. The structure to the right is the lost Lütjen Castle, which influenced much of the region's original heraldry. The lower elements link to the Schleswig-Holstein region where the Regiment was based. It includes their heraldic colors (blue, white, and red), the Schleswig lions and the Holstein nettle leaf. The Regiment operated until May 2012 when it was disbanded. One of the Regiment’s Gepards on display wore the emblem on the tracking radar.

34th Armoured Brigade Emblem (1944), Britain28th TFS Emblem (Late), ChinaEarn 15000 score while using British Ground VehiclesWin 10 battles using Chinese Aircraft34th Armoured Brigade Emblem (1944)An emblem of the 34th Armoured Brigade, British Army. The 34th was formed from several smaller regiments on December 1st 1941, equipped with Churchill tanks. Initially, its emblem was a typical black and blue diablo, before adopting the shield of the Second Army prior to the Normandy Landings. Shortly after, in the late summer, the mace shield was created as the unique emblem of the brigade. The red and yellow represent the cavalry colors, which were adopted as the formal colors of the Royal Armoured Corps. The armored glove was taken from the cap badge of the RAC designed by Abram Games; paired with the mace, it fittingly depicts striking power and defense. The Churchill tanks of the brigade wore the emblem in several spots, usually in the middle of the front plate or near the edges on the lower plate.28th TFS Emblem (Late)The emblem of the 28th Tactical Fighter Squadron, ROCAF. The 28th Tactical Fighter Squadron was established on August 10th, 1936, and would go on to join the 3rd Fighter Group of the Chinese-American Composite Wing in 1943. The dragon and the top hat combined both a Chinese symbol with an American one, with the red eyelids seamlessly incorporating the number 3 for the 3rd Fighter Group. During the war they would primarily fly the P-40 and P-51, before transitioning to the F-86 and F-104; the latter was in service for nearly 40 years. The emblem was most commonly used as a patch, but was also painted on the tail of some F-104 Starfighters in operation with the squadron.

CC Battaglione Carri SOMUA Emblem, ItalyNarvik Battalion Emblem, NorwayGrupo 8 de Caza Emblem (Late), ArgentinaDefeat 40 players using Italian Medium TanksPlay 20 battles while using Swedish Ground Vehicles with a minimum of 60% Battle ActivityDefeat 30 players using missiles while flying AircraftCC Battaglione Carri SOMUA EmblemThe emblem of 2ª Compagnia, CC Battaglione Carri SOMUA, 131° Reggimento Fanteria Carrista (2nd Company, 200th Tank Battalion SOMUA, 131st Tank Infantry Regiment), Royal Italian Army. The Company was formed on June 15th, 1941 with captured French S.35 tanks, and for the majority of its service was tasked with defensive garrison duty in Sardinia. The emblem of the silver and gold elephant is particularly interesting, potentially linking to ancient heraldry. Antique heraldic treatises make note of silver and gold elephants as symbols of valor taken by knights. If a knight spared the life of an enemy, he could take a silver elephant, if the enemy owed the knight his freedom after being defeated, a golden elephant could be chosen. This link may be incidental, however, as the emblem of the 1st Company was a basic white rhino. A single white elephant could have been the intended insignia, with the gold version simply being an earlier attempt that proved to be too subtle. It was painted on the turret sides of the Somua S.35 tanks towards the front.Narvik Battalion EmblemThe emblem of the Narvik Battalion, Norwegian Army. Previously known as 2. bataljon (2nd Battalion), it was renamed on December 12th, 2025, as a way to honor the Norwegian military efforts during the Battle of Narvik in 1940. The battalion was formed on September 1st, 1953 at Trandum, before moving to Skjold, where it is stationed today. The emblem of the Battalion, a golden sword-wielding griffin, was approved in 2003, and can trace its origins back to the Viking Age in northern Norway. Narvik Battalion is a mechanized infantry force within Brigade Nord, primarily specializing in arctic operations. While the golden griffin emblem is used primarily as a patch, a low-vis grey variant can be found on their CV9030 IFVs on the sides of the hull towards the front. Grupo 8 de Caza Emblem (Late)The emblem of Grupo 8 de Caza (8th Fighter Group), Argentine Air Force. The group was initially formed as Escuadrón I de Caza Interceptora (1st Interceptor Fighter Squadron) on December 7th, 1971, and would adopt the 8th Fighter Group name later in 1977. They operated a small number of Mirage IIIEA fighters and two Mirage IIIDA trainers, and took part in the Falklands War, primarily running decoy sorties. The emblem incorporates many elements pertaining to the Mirage. The red lines streaking off the nose represent breaking the sound barrier as it intercepts a pair of hostile aircraft, with a small red line off the tail for the afterburner. Argentina is depicted to the left but is noticeably warped, representing the slightly curved view pilots saw while operating at altitude. This later version of the group emblem includes a laurel on the Mirage to honor the service of its pilots during the Falklands War. The emblem was painted on the tail of the Mirage fighters towards the front.
Monthly markings can be found in a special tab at the bottom of the customization menu, (Monthly Decals) after a month, they’ll be moved to their corresponding category.You can check the exact terms and track the progress of completing tasks for these decals by going to your Player Profile > Decals > Monthly Decals. From here, click the “Track progress” button on each decal to track from the hangar.All of the emblems will come with a detailed description. This will generally consist of the history of the marking, its design, which vehicles used it, and where it was often placed on vehicles historically if applicable (some emblems are taken from badges, which weren’t always applied). This way you can more easily recreate the original positioning if you’d like.That’s all for today, we hope you like the May selection! We’re all hard at work on the next major update at the moment, so expect lots more news on upcoming vehicles soon. In the meantime, enjoy collecting the set this month and we’ll be back in June for more!

Welcome to the 223rd War Thunder Steam Screenshot Competition!

It was great seeing the variety of screenshots shared in the previous round! In this weeks competition, we’re looking for custom vehicles. You can feature any vehicle that is wearing a custom skin, or has decals or decorators applied to it. The three most popular and three selected by us will get 300 GE. See the winners down below!

Let’s begin the 223rd edition of our competition!

Create a stunning screenshot and submit it on the War Thunder Steam Community Hub with the tag #WTscreen223. You have time until the 15th of May 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 that has a custom camouflage, decals, or decorators placed on it.
  
• You must add the #WTscreen223 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 222nd edition – Between the Buildings!

Winners selected via community votes:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3718509286
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3719555042
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3719171703

Winners selected by our judges:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3719899834
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3718423994
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3718800951

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

Germany’s surrender brought an end to hostilities in Europe. The bloodiest war on the continent had finally come to an end. Let’s give cheers for all of the Allied soldiers, as without their heroism, this victory would have not been possible.

When: From May 8th (11:00 GMT) until May 12th (11:00 GMT) play War Thunder and get rewards!

Rewards“Allied Victory” decal“General’s Saber (USSR)” decoration“M2 Mortar” decorationTask: Earn 3000 mission points in battles where you used US, USSR, British, or  French vehicles (rank III or above)Task: Earn 10000 mission points in battles where you used USSR vehicles (rank III or above)Task: Earn 10000 mission points in battles where you used US, British, or French vehicles (rank III or above)

You can track the progress you’ve made for each task by going to your Nickname > Achievements > Victory Day

Trophy with past Victory Day rewardsCheck out these trophies with rewards from previous Victory Day events! These can be found in the in-game Item Shop. Purchasing a trophy will give you an Allied weapon decoration or decal that you don’t have.

• Decals, dedicated to war memorials: “We won!”, “Rear-Front”, “Motherland”, “Warrior Liberator” and “Victorious countries”
• Decorations for ground vehicles: DS-39, “Bren Mk II”, “ROKS-3”, “M1 Garand”, “SG-43”, “Maxim-Tokarev Machine Gun”, “Tommy gun”
• Decorations for Bluewater fleet naval vessels: “Matilda II” and “120-PM-38”

Discounts in the Gaijin store

When: From May 7th (11:00 GMT) until May 14th (11:00)

Enjoy discounts on numerous bundles, including rare packs featuring vehicles from the Second World War. Celebrate this holiday with the vehicles that won the war! Legend of Victory: KV-8

When: From May 6th (11:00 GMT) until May 18th (11:00 GMT)

Take part in the Legend of Victory event to get decals, a decoration, and the KV-8 flamethrower tank! Let’s celebrate the 81st anniversary together!

When: From May 7th (11:00 GMT) until May 14th (11:00 GMT), bundles and standalone packs with a discount!To get to the Gaijin Store through Steam, go to the in-game hangar > Shop > Online Store.

To celebrate Victory in Europe Day, we’re temporarily returning rare bundles with themed vehicles to the store! You can also find huge discounts for individual packs.“Wings of Victory” bundle -50%149 74.47This bundle includes:

• Dolgushin’s La-7 Pack
• Golovachev’s Yak-9M Pack
• Prendergast’s Spitfire FR Mk.XIVe Pack
• Plagis’ Spitfire Mk. IXc Pack
• Bostwick’s P-47M-1-RE Thunderbolt Pack
• Wetmore’s P-51D-10 Pack

“Tracks of Victory” bundle -50%160 79.97This bundle includes:

• A43 Black Prince Pack
• M10 Achilles Pack
• IS-2 Revenge for the Hero brother Pack
• T-34-85E, 1945 Pack
• M18 Black Cat Pack
• М5А1 5th Canadian Armoured Division Pack

The vehicles from the bundles will also be available for Golden Eagles with a 30% discount from May 7th (11:00 GMT) until May 14th (11:00) on all platforms.50% discounts on selected vehicle packs!

• Senrai Maidens: Maria
• L-39ZA Albatros Pack
• Sevastopol Pack
• Su-25K Pack
• USSR Starter Pack
• T-72AV (TURMS-T) Pack
• Object 120 Pack
• IS-6 Pack
• Senrai Maidens: Elsa
• KMS Gneisenau Pack
• Marder CLOVIS Pack
• Su-22M4 WTD 61 Pack
• German Beginner's Pack

• Leopard Pack
• King Tiger Pack
• Senrai Maidens: Kate
• USS Maryland Pack
• AV-8B Night Attack Pack
• M1 KVT Pack
• F-20A Tigershark Pack
• AH-64A Apache Pack
• US Starter Pack
• T29 Pack
• Mustang Pack
• MiG-21 Bison Pack
• British Starter Pack
• Wyvern Pack

• Japanese Starter Pack
• Type 74 Red Star Pack
• Hawk 209 Pack
• Mirage F1C-200 Pack
• French Starter Pack
• Somua SM Pack
• J-7D Pack
• Chinese Starter Pack
• Swedish Starter Pack
• K9 VIDAR Pack
• CV 90105 XC-8 Pack
• PzH 2000 Pack
• Italian Starter Pack
• F-16A Netz Pack

Note! The following packs will be retired from all platforms after the promotion ends:

• Hawk 209 Pack
• Su-22M4 WTD 61 Pack
• MiG-21 Bison Pack
• F-20A Tigershark Pack
• AV-8B Night Attack Pack
• J-7D Pack

Register Now for the Qualification StageThe War Thunder Championships Series (WTCS) continues! The second Major of the season features a 4v4 top-tier aircraft format. Whether you’re a seasoned pilot or a master of modern air combat, this tournament is for you! You’ll need to build a versatile roster of 7 players and develop the best strategies to dominate every match. And now, let’s take a look at the schedule and prizes!Tournament DatesAfter each Open Qualifier, four teams will advance to the Playoff stage. For full details about the competitive structure and what to expect this season, make sure to read the War Thunder Championship Series 2026 Plans news, which breaks everything down.

• Open Qualifier I: May 9th-10th at 15:00 GMT
• Open Qualifier II: May 16th-17th at 15:00 GMT
• Playoffs: May 23rd-24th and May 30th-31st at 15:00 GMT

REGISTER NOW!Tournament Prizes

Attention! Please note that coupons must be selected within 10 days after the end of the tournament.

Live Streams with Twitch Drops! 

When: Each stream will start from 14:45 GMT.

• Open Qualifier I Stream: May 9th and 10th
• Open Qualifier II Stream: May 16th and 17th

Throughout the two weekends of the Open Qualifiers, live broadcasts will feature Twitch Drops, giving you the chance to earn boosters and Premium Account time. Be sure to tune in during the Finals as well to claim exclusive Twitch Drops rewards.Matches will be broadcast in multiple languages to ensure the best viewing experience, including English, Russian, German, Polish, and French.All matches will be broadcast live also on YouTube, so make sure to tune in and follow the action in real time.FOLLOW

Login to your Twitch account → link your Gaijin account → click “Allow” to be able to receive Twitch Drops!

Discord & Stream Giveaways!During the WTCS 2026 Major II, join the Official War Thunder Esports Discord server to connect with fellow competitive players and take part in exclusive giveaways featuring the following packs:Discord:

• AH-64DJP Pack
• ZTZ96B Pack
• Vickers GBT155 Pack
• Alpha Jet A Pack

Twitch:

• 10x Esports Bundle - 2026 Season, dropped exclusively on our Twitch channel randomly during the show.

The Esports Team wishes you the best of luck in the qualification stages. See you on the battlefield!

Meet the KV-8, a variant of the KV-1 with a flamethrower and a 45 mm cannon, with excellent protection!KV-8: A Premium Heavy Tank for the USSR at Rank IIAt a glance:

• Excellent protection
• 45 mm cannon
• Flamethrower!
• Average mobility

Vehicle HistoryIn 1941, Soviet designers were actively developing a flamethrower tank based on the heavy KV-1. Initially, the flamethrower was intended to be mounted in the hull, but in the fall of 1941, a project emerged in Chelyabinsk that would mount the ATO-41 automatic tank flamethrower directly in the turret. It was placed in a single mount alongside a 45 mm cannon and DT machine gun. This modification was designated the KV-8, and the first prototype was completed in December 1941, successfully undergoing trials near Moscow in late December and early January 1942.Serial production of the KV-8 did not actually begin until April 1942. Over one hundred KV-8 flamethrower tanks were produced by September, after which the Kirov Plant switched to production of the lighter KV-8S modification, based on the KV-1S tank.Introducing the KV-8!Today we’re taking a look at the KV-8, which is the vehicle reward in the Legend of Victory event that started today! The KV-8 features a flamethrower alongside a rapid-fire 45 mm cannon, plus good armor, allowing it to close in on enemies at very close range. Right, let’s get all the hot details!The KV-8 is a truly unique modification in the Soviet heavy tank lineup. Its primary armament is the 45 mm 20-K cannon, well known to those who have played Soviet armored vehicles from the early-war period. Reducing the caliber of the KV-8’s gun was needed to make space in the turret for a flamethrower, which would have been impossible to do with a breech-loading 76 mm cannon. The cannon barrel is concealed by an external casing that mimics a 76 mm cannon, and the previous machine guns located on the right of the gun were replaced by the ATO-41 flamethrower mount. Space was also found on the left of the gun, allowing for a DT machine gun, allowing the cannon, flamethrower, and machine gun to be housed in a single turret mount.Flamethrowers aren’t new to War Thunder, as they have appeared before. For those of you who don’t know, the flamethrower is only effective against lightly armored targets with open fighting compartments, and only at close range. This is where the KV-8’s excellent protection comes in handy. At ranks I and II, not many vehicles will be able to cope with the armor of the KV-8, so watch out! As with the Churchill Crocodile, which also has a flamethrower, the new KV-8 can enter flamethrower range relatively safely.The KV-8’s weaknesses include its less-than-stellar mobility and the ineffectiveness of its 45 mm gun. While the tank’s ammo packs decent APHE and sub-caliber rounds for the 45 mm gun, you’re not invincible playing the KV-8. Tank destroyers and tanks with larger guns do pose a threat to the KV-8, so keep this in mind.That’s it for this one! You can unlock the KV-8, two decals, and the unique “FOG-2” decoration rewards by completing stages in the Legend of Victory event, which started today. Happy Victory Day and we wish you good battles ahead!Please note that this vehicle’s characteristics may be changed before it is added to the game.Click here to find out more details about the Legend of Victory event:

Aircraft

• J-11A, J-11B, AH Mk.1 Apache — a bug that caused the chaff to be normal caliber instead of large caliber has been fixed.

 Interface

• A bug that caused internal cannons and machine guns to be in separate categories with no localization in the selection popup for individual hardpoints in the secondary weapon preset customization window instead of in the “Cannons & Machine guns” category has been fixed.

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

We’re pleased to introduce another Legend of Victory event! Tank #445 bearing the inscription “Suvorov” was part of the 508th Separate Flamethrower Tank Battalion. Get this tank, its inscriptions as decals, and the FOG-2 flamethrower as a decoration in a new event commemorating the anniversary of the Allied Victory!

From May 6th (11:00 GMT) until May 18th (11:00 GMT), earn mission points in Ground Battles, unlock stages and receive rewards!

KV-8 — A Premium Heavy Tank for the USSR at Rank IIDevelopment of a flamethrower variant of the KV heavy tank began in 1941. Initially, the flamethrower was intended to be mounted in the hull. However, a twin turret mount was later developed to house a cannon, flamethrower, and machine gun. In January 1942, the KV-8 tank passed trials and entered serial production; by the end of the year, over 100 vehicles had been built. In War Thunder, the new KV-8 is premium heavy tank with a flamethrower and a rapid-fire 45 mm cannon. The tank’s main advantage will be its high level of protection, ensuring good survivability under fire from guns of various calibers. This is especially important for a tank designed for close combat, as the flamethrower and relatively weak 45 mm cannon require close combat to be effective.  “Suvorov” decal “445” decal“FOG-2” tank decorationAmong 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)
• A random camouflage for a vehicle you own
• 1 day of Premium Account

How to get all rewardsEach stage can be completed for 30,000 mission points, where every new stage obtained will give you a new reward.

Please note: After finishing a stage, you need to collect the reward manually. To do this, click on your name in-game, go to “Legend of Victory: KV-8” and click the “Get Reward” button.

You’re able to earn mission points in Ground Battles at Rank III or above in Arcade, Realistic and Simulator Battles. The number of mission points to complete a stage depends on the game mode and the maximum Rank of the vehicle that you use in battle. There’s a multiplier for earning mission points, which is shown in the task description in-game.You can also earn mission points by using event vehicles that are Rank I and II. Event vehicles that can be used have the name of the event that they were obtainable in on their stat card.

Stages change every two days at 11:00 GMT on May 8th, 10th, 12th, 14th and 16th.

Rewards are given when you complete a specific number of stages

• For 1 Stage: trophy with a random reward
• For 2 Stages: one of the decal rewards
• For 3 Stages: trophy with a random reward
• For 4 Stages: one of the decal rewards
• For 5 Stages: “FOG-2” tank decoration
• For 6 Stages: non-tradable coupon for the KV-8

Discounts on purchasing stages using Golden EaglesUnfinished stages can be purchased for Golden Eagles, but if you’re significantly close to completing a stage, its price will be significantly reduced as well.Let’s say you have earned 85% of the required mission points to complete a stage, then the price of purchasing this stage will be halved. If you’re near the finish line for a stage and are at 95% progress, then the price will be reduced by five times. For example, if you’ve scored 26,000 mission points, then the price for unlocking this stage will be 299 Golden Eagles. If you’ve scored 29,000 mission points, then you’ll only need 119 Golden Eagles. Keep this in mind if you’re not able to complete a stage in time!The Upgrade for couponWhen you complete 6 stages, you’ll receive a non-tradable coupon for the KV-8, where using it will immediately activate the vehicle onto your account. If you don’t want the vehicle and would like to sell the coupon on the Market, you’ll need the “Upgrade for coupon” item.

The “Upgrade for coupon” item can be earned in parallel with the stages throughout the event from May 6th (11:00 GMT) until May 18th (11:00 GMT) for 500,000 mission points.

After receiving the “Upgrade for coupon” item, you can convert a non-tradable coupon for the vehicle into a tradable one and sell it on the Market. The tradable coupon can be sold after 6 days from the moment it’s created.

To make a tradable coupon, select the “Coupon KV-8” (USSR)” in your inventory and click the “Modify” button.

The “Upgrade for coupon” item is valid until May 22nd (11:00 GMT). Until this time, you can use it or exchange it for War Bonds. Afterwards, it’ll disappear from your inventory.You can track the progress of the stages and the “Upgrade for coupon” item by clicking on your Nickname > Achievements > Legend of Victory: KV-8. If you don’t manage to complete a stage in time or would like to purchase a stage, you can purchase each stage with Golden Eagles until May 22nd from the Achievements window, which will give you the corresponding rewards.

Welcome to the 222nd War Thunder Steam Screenshot Competition!

Thanks for all of your submissions from last week! This week, the theme is moving to urban battlefields with towns and bridges. Capture a screenshot with at least one vehicle and a building or bridge in the background! The three most popular and three selected by us will get 300 GE. See the winners down below!

Let’s begin the 222nd edition of our competition!

Create a stunning screenshot and submit it on the War Thunder Steam Community Hub with the tag #WTscreen222. You have time until the 8th of May 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 architecture such as buildings or bridges.
  
• You must add the #WTscreen222 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 221st edition – Tried and True!

Winners selected via community votes:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3714236426
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3713845115
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3715303951

Winners selected by our judges:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3715801009
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3716095436
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3714546737

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

 In May, Poland celebrates several holidays in a row! May 1st is Labor Day, May 2nd is Flag Day, and May 3rd is Constitution Day, one of the country’s most important holidays. It was on this day in 1791 that one of the world’s first “modern” constitutions was adopted, ensuring the separation of powers and expanding the rights of citizens.Open the “The Polish Constitution Day” trophy!

When: From May 1st (11:00 GMT) until May 4th (11:00 GMT).Task: Earn 3,000 mission points in battles where you used any vehicle at rank III or higher to receive the “The Polish Constitution Day” trophy!

Inside this trophy, you’ll receive one of four decals:“Winged Hussar” decal“Love Poland” decal“Chwat” decal“”City of Wilno” Emblem, No. 317 Squadron” decalThese decals are located in the “Holiday” vehicle appearance section.If you already have all four 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 → Polish Constitution Day.

Anti-Cheat, Privacy, and Fair Play: Clarifying the FactsHey everyone! Today, we’d like to go into the topic of anti-cheat as there have recently been concerns regarding data privacy. This is entirely understandable, especially in situations where there is limited information available and a lot of speculation.With that in mind, we’d like to shed some light on how anti-cheat protection works in War Thunder, how it collects and processes data, and how it helps keep the game fair and enjoyable for all honest players. While we will deliberately avoid going into specific technical details that could be useful to cheat developers, we will outline the general principles behind modern anti-cheat systems used across the industry, including our own. We’ll also explain how technical data is collected and handled in compliance with General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).Fair Play Starts with Game DesignLet’s start with the fact that War Thunder uses a server-authoritative model, meaning that critical gameplay logic — such as physics, positioning, penetration, damage, speed, collisions, reload, and even visibility — is calculated on the game server. Even if there is an attempt to manipulate these elements on the client side, it will be ignored by the server and may additionally result in the player being flagged as a cheater.As many of you are already aware, War Thunder also utilizes the commonly used Fog of War mechanic. This means that the client is only informed of enemy positions when they fall within the player’s field of view or hearing range.These are fundamental yet crucial preventive design elements that must be implemented at the game development level. They form the first line of defense in online games like War Thunder, reducing reliance on anti-cheat systems alone and helping ensure a fair playing environment from the ground up.A Layered Approach to Anti-CheatAs you may already know from our previous responses, we use a combination of trusted third-party anti-cheat solutions, which are currently Viking and BattlEye. BattlEye is a kernel-level anti-cheat that replaced EAC, while Viking is a ring-3 anti-cheat system embedded directly into the game client. Both systems are PC-exclusive and operate alongside each other. While we will focus more on the latter, the overall behavior described here reflects a common workflow shared by most modern anti-cheat software.The client-side security module runs on your PC as an inherent part of the game and only when you are participating in an online session. It scans, among other things, Random Access Memory (RAM), including running processes and window overlays, looking for patterns (signatures) associated with known cheats or gameplay automation software. A report is generated and sent only when a match is detected, and it contains strictly violation-specific data.The client module itself is obfuscated, and all transmitted data is encrypted. However, given sufficient time and expertise, reverse-engineering the anti-cheat module and intercepting read data before it is sent is an inherent risk that cannot be fully eliminated. To address this, detection signatures are designed to minimize the amount of data reported while still maintaining enough abstraction to avoid revealing the exact detection vectors.In summary, Viking is a ring-3 anti-cheat embedded within the game client and does not have the privileges required to access data that would require administrator rights, as the game itself does not request such permissions. While it does not operate within an isolated environment like kernel-level anti-cheat systems, it is designed to provide effective protection with high responsiveness, focusing specifically on safeguarding the game from the cheaters.Why player reports matterPlayer reports, statistics, and server logs are regularly monitored by a dedicated team of specialists with in-depth technical and gameplay knowledge. These sources play an important role in identifying suspicious behavior and supporting the overall anti-cheat process.Only players who are evaluated and confirmed as cheaters through manual review are subject to further action. Especially in more serious cases — particularly those involving individuals suspected of developing cheats or attempting to decompile or reverse-engineer the game or anti-cheat systems — more in-depth investigations may be conducted by the anti-cheat team.As part of this process, and in line with our legitimate interest in protecting the integrity of the game and the experience of all players, a more detailed dataset containing the relevant data may be collected. This data is then cross-referenced with previously gathered information to identify new and valid detection vectors for previously undetected cheats.
How Do Anti-Cheat Systems Work with Detection Data?Anti-cheat systems operating in compliance with GDPR must balance two key priorities: protecting user privacy and safeguarding the developer’s legitimate interest in maintaining a fair and secure game environment.The data collected by Viking anti-cheat is AES-encrypted, stored on secure dedicated servers, and only accessible to authorized anti-cheat personnel. It is used strictly for the detection and prevention of cheating and other forms of unsporting behavior.To maintain a balance of interests, some aspects of how anti-cheat systems operate are kept confidential. Certain elements of anti-cheat operations qualify as trade secrets. Revealing its detailed processing methods could compromise the effectiveness of the anti-cheat system, allowing malicious actors to circumvent existing and future detection methods. In turn, this would directly undermine fair play and put the time, effort, and investment of legitimate players at risk.To provide you more clarity, here is an overview of how long different categories of data are stored:

• Data on which a ban decision is based, or data directly related to cheat development, is stored indefinitely to ensure the effectiveness of our anti-cheat measures. In the event of account deletion, all anti-cheat related data is subject to either anonymization or pseudonymization, depending on the circumstances of the individual case. This depends on whether the data may be required for future cheat prevention purposes.
• Data collected through signature matching that does not result in a ban is automatically deleted within one year.
• Data collected from players suspected of cheating or cheat development — but ultimately deemed irrelevant — is automatically deleted within three months, and often sooner following the completion of the investigation.

How have we tackled cheating over the last decade?To provide basic context, cheats can generally be categorized into three groups: internal, external, and DMA-based. This reflects how cheating methods have evolved over time, with each category introducing increasingly complex techniques designed to evade detection.As some veteran players may remember, we previously used an internal anti-cheat system prior to the introduction of Easy Anti-Cheat (EAC). Its primary objective at the time was to counter increasingly common, but relatively easier to detect, internal cheats by scanning memory associated with the game.Easy Anti-Cheat was introduced to War Thunder in 2019 to address the growing number of external cheats.Back in 2023, a key challenge was the prevalence of automation bots and cheats, with monthly ban waves averaging no more than 300 banned users per month. Recognizing our shortcomings in this area, we expanded our dedicated anti-cheat efforts by hiring additional staff focused specifically on this problem, and by strengthening cooperation with anti-cheat providers like Viking to ensure even better protection  of Gaijin titles.Early results became noticeable starting from November 2023, with 4,139 bans issued. This marked the first Fair Play report to surpass the 1,000-ban milestone with over a 1000% increase of issued penalties, followed by even stronger results in the subsequent months: 6,818 bans in December 2023 and 9,569 bans in January 2024. In December 2024, the outdated Kamu EAC version was replaced with BattlEye, further strengthening our anti-cheat toolkit in the ongoing battle against cheating. We continue to step up our efforts to combat cheats and unsportsmanlike behavior, aiming to maintain strong detection coverage against publicly available cheats and automation bots while keeping infection rates low. We also continue to regularly inform the community about progress through our Fair Play reports, with over 20,000 cheaters and bots banned in the last five months alone covered by 3 previous Fair Play reports.

As per tradition, we’re holding a big sale at the beginning of May, featuring vehicles, upgrades, consumables, and Premium Account time. It’s time to find great deals! After this sale ends, new discounts will be available in the Gaijin store.

When: From April 30th (11:00 GMT) until May 7th (11:00 GMT)To get to the Gaijin Store through Steam, go to the in-game hangar > Shop > Online Store.

Discounts on vehicles

• 30% discount when purchasing vehicles from all nations with Golden Eagles and Silver lions. The discount is valid on all vehicles throughout the entire sale period.
• Discounts don’t apply to the purchase and upgrade of Squadron vehicles and vehicles that were released in the Ninth Wave and Line of Contact major updates.

Discounts on upgrades

• 30% discount on modifications
• 30% discount on talismans
• 30% discount on backups

Discounts on Premium Accounts

• 50% discount on Premium Accounts for 90 and 365 days for Golden Eagles in the hangar.
• 50% discount on Premium Accounts for 180 days in the Gaijin Store.

Discounts in the Gaijin store

When: From May 7th until May 14th

Get bundles with rare vehicles at attractive prices! We’ll be sharing more details about the bundle contents and discounts soon. Stay tuned!