Meet Line of Contact, War Thunder’s winter 2025 update! We’re excited to release Line of Contact, and we’re kicking things off with a Closed Beta Test for a brand-new gamemode: Infantry, which you can play soon! On top of that, we’ve got the usual awesome vehicle additions, with armored vehicles and SAM systems rolling out to several nations, including the Ajax, Terminator, M10 Booker, plus the Chū-SAM, NASAMS 3, and HQ11! We’ve also got three Typhoon variants sporting the AESA radar for multiple nations, two cool Second World War aircraft, the FR-1 Fireball and the quirky DB-LK, and a fresh new cockpit for the B-25 and its variants. Some huge ships are joining the fun too, including Stalingrad and HMS Prince of Wales, plus the winter version of Poland has received a beautiful update. To wrap things up, we’ve added some neat features to the hangar, ground battle lineups at 9.3 and above get an additional vehicle in the lineup, and the Severe Damage mechanic has now come to naval battles. Check out the changelog to see all the improvements, vehicles and other features that we’ve included in this major update.Leave your feedback hereInfantry: Closed Beta Testing Going Live Soon!Closed Beta Testing for War Thunder’s new Infantry game mode will start soon! Experience War Thunder battles from the brand new perspective of an infantry soldier through tactical building clearouts, tense sniper duels, and fierce shootouts on city streets. For more details and to submit your CBT application, click through the link below! APPLY FOR THE INFANTRY CBT!Ground Vehicles: Light Vehicles, SAM Systems and the Terminator!Line of Contact introduces the researchable Terminator and the Terminator 2 premium pack! Both look menacing and feature two 30 mm cannons and ATGM launchers on each side of the turret.BMPT-72 (Pack) The modern Ajax light tank featuring a 40 mm cannon and good mobility joins the end of Britain’s light tank line, while the USA’s M10 Booker light tank comes in with 105 mm firepower. Both vehicles have scouting abilities.AjaxM10 Booker Japan has received a Multi-Vehicle SAM vehicle in this update, which features an AESA radar, vertical-launch containers and 12 powerful missiles!Type 03 Chū-SAM Three more SAMs come in this update, the Norwegian/American NASAMS 3 for Sweden and the USA which feature ARH missiles, along with the HQ11 for China, featuring a phased array radar and eight missiles, both providing excellent air defense. NASAMS 3HQ11 New vehicles:

• USA: M10 Booker, NASAMS 3
• Germany: Jaguar 2
• USSR: BMPT, BMPT-72 (Pack), Тоr-М1
• Great Britain: Ajax
• Japan: Type 61 (B) (Pack), Type 03
• China: M1A2T, HQ11
• Italy: Freccia OWS30 (Squadron Vehicle)
• Sweden: NASAMS 3
• Israel: Merkava Mk.1

 AircraftPlanes: New Typhoons and Modern Jets, An Unusual Bomber, An Indonesian Hawk and a New Bomber Cockpit!Line of Contact introduces a new Typhoon jet variant to Germany, Great Britain and Italy. Each feature eight AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles and the new CAPTOR-E AESA radar, helping them to track enemy air targets much more effectively. Typhoon AESA There isn’t just the new Typhoon for jet fans! The USA receives the F/A-18E Super Hornet in Line of Contact, which comes in with more weapon hardpoints, an AESA radar and 12 ARH missiles. The JAS39E comes for Sweden, equipped with Brimstones, an AESA radar and more missile hardpoints, making it a solid improvement over the C variant, plus the Su-30SM2 featuring the IRBIS-E radar and better engines comes for the USSR!  F/A-18E Super Hornet For Second World War (or goofy aircraft) fans, check out the FR-1 and DB-LK! The FR-1 features not just one, but two engines, one propeller and one a jet engine. The DB-LK has an unusual layout with two engines and cockpits, a very interesting wing shape and defensive gunner cones that rotates on the spot. FR-1 Fireball (Premium)DB-LK (Premium) An Indonesian Hawk comes to Japan as a premium pack, featuring good speed and agility, air-to-air missiles and plenty of weaponry options to attack ground targets, making it a suitable and versatile choice to research the Japanese air tree!Hawk 209 (Indonesia) (Pack) And lastly, a new cockpit for the B-25J-20, making it look more beautiful than ever. New B-25J-20 cockpit New vehicles:

• USA: F/A-18E, FR-1 Fireball (Premium)
• Germany: EF-2000 (AESA)
• USSR: Su-30SM2, DB-LK (Premium)
• Great Britain: Typhoon (AESA)
• Japan: Hawk 209 (Indonesia) (Pack), Su-30MKM (Malaysia), F/A-18D Late (Malaysia), MiG-29N (Malaysia)
• China: J-10C, Su-30MKK (Pack)
• Italy: F-2000A (AESA), MB-326B (Premium)
• France: Rafale M F3-R
• Sweden: JAS39E

New cockpits:

• USA: B-25J-20, PBJ-1H, PBJ-1J — detailed cockpit has been added
• USSR, China: B-25J-30 — detailed cockpit has been added
• France: SB-25J — detailed cockpit has been added

 New pilot models:

• USSR: Yak-141, Yak-38, Yak-38M, Su-33 — pilot model has been updated

 Helicopters: New Damage Details!There’s no new helicopter in this major update, instead we’ve given some older helicopters updated modules with more damage details! New modules:Old modules have been given more detail and new ones affecting the functionality of aircraft systems have been added:

• USA: AH-1G, AH-1F, AH-1W, AH-1Z
• Japan: AH-1S, AH-1S Kisarazu, AH-1E
• China: AH-1W
• France: SA 316B Alouette III, IAR 316B
• Israel: Tzefa A, Tzefa B, Tzefa D/E

 Naval Fleet: HMS Prince of Wales, Stalingrad and Other Big Ships!Line of Contact introduces some big ships! Stalingrad, HMS Prince of Wales, and USS South Dakota!HMS Prince of Wales / USS South Dakota New Vehicles:

• USA: USS South Dakota, USS Forrest Sherman
• Germany: Lütjens, Parchim
• USSR: Stalingrad
• Great Britain: HMS Fiji, HMS Prince of Wales
• Japan: IJN Oyodo
• Italy: Armando Diaz, Cassiopea
• France: Le Corse (Premium), Suffren

 Locations & Missions: Updated Winter Poland!The winter version of Poland has been visually refined and improved! We’ve updated the buildings, structures, environmental elements, and vegetation. Everything on this map is now more detailed and vibrant, with countless small details added. Like always with these map updates, the original layout and navigation of the map has stayed near enough the same, meaning you won’t have any surprises when driving around. Updated Poland (Winter) Updated Hangar Features!Your hangar is sort of like your home base, we’ve all spent a ton of time hanging out here. We’ve added weapon stands for missiles, rockets and bombs that display in front of your aircraft and for ground vehicles, ammunition is shown to the side. You can hover over each to see what it does and how it works! When you click on a vehicle in your hangar while using the Customization menu, they will now perform some cool animations! For planes, the canopy and other mechanizations such as the flaps, air brake and rudder move, the engines turn on and propellers start spinning (for helicopters too). For ground vehicles, the turret and roof-mounted machine guns rotate, while for ships the gun mounts and deck torpedo tubes rotate. All premium and event vehicles can now be viewed inside of a detailed and fully equipped hangar! Just click on the vehicle or on the hangar itself, and you’ll be transported to it. Inside, you’ll see mechanics working on the vehicle. Oh, and don’t like the festive hangars? You can now turn them off in the settings if you prefer. Additional vehicles in Ground Force lineupsEver wanted more vehicles in your lineup? At Battle Rating 9.3 and above in both Arcade and Realistic, an additional vehicle is now available in your ground lineups! There’s one for Arcade Battles and two (a tank and SPAA) for Realistic Battles. Check out all the details in the major changelog! Severe Damage For NavalThe Severe Damage mechanic has now been added to naval battles to improve how damage works in the mode. Severe Damage is defined as the depletion of 50% of a ship’s crew survivability and gives you extra reward, which is equal to half the reward for destroying that ship. Check out all the details in the major changelog! There’s plenty more to see!Check out the full changelog for all improvements and additions!New locations and missions

• Poland (Winter) — the map has been completely graphically updated. In addition to the houses, each of which now has a detailed winter variant, the general environment of the location has also been updated: plants, ground textures, ice, and decorative objects. However, the landscape and the general layout of the location have remained largely unchanged, which will allow you to play and use the same tactics as before.
• The hangar has been overhauled. The hangars have been completely overhauled. All buildings now feature more detailed interiors and improved lighting, making the location more atmospheric overall. The hangars now include dynamic effects and maintenance animations, adding depth and realism. Additionally, there is a new feature that allows players to visually inspect all types of armament and the damage they can cause. The naval docks have also been revamped — the ship port is now more lively, making the environment feel more expansive and functional.

Location and mission updates

• Carpathians (all missions) — the unintended path to the hill at D7/E7 has been blocked off. The landscape in D5, which previously allowed vehicles to easily get stuck, has been adjusted.
• In Naval Battles the mandatory choice of the “Airfield” spawn point in bad weather has been removed.
• Minimaps for locations in Naval Battles have been brought to a uniform appearance. The water on them now has the same color in all locations. The water surface displayed on the minimap in the corner of the screen in battles now has transparency to it.
• Aral Sea — a bug that caused graphical artifacts to appear around the shipwrecks has been fixed. (Report).
• Arctic — a bug that caused graphical artifacts to appear around the radar arrays has been fixed. (Report).
• An erroneous wind animation on tree stumps has been removed.
• Cargo Port — a previously missing building has been added to the minimap.

Enduring Confrontation

• A bug where AI ground battles could occur in grid squares located on the other side of the map has been fixed. This bug also caused giant arrows to appear on the minimap. 

Ground Vehicle model, damage model, characteristic and weaponry changes:

• RDF/LT — smoke grenade launchers and the corresponding modification have been added to the model.
• M1A2 SEP V2 — the laser rangefinder modification has been replaced with LWS + laser rangefinder modification.
• Type 24 ICV (P), Type 25 RCV (P) — the Mk.310 HE-TF shell has been added.
• Type 90, Type 90 (B), Type 90 (B) “Fuji” — “trunnions” module has been added.
• Light AA Mk I — the camera in 3rd person view has been moved closer to the vehicle.
• Tetrarch I — engine power has been increased from 165 HP to 167.29 HP at 2850 rpm. (Report).
• IRIS-T SLM — the number of gears has been increased from 12 forward and 2 reverse to 14 forward and 4 reverse. Source: HX2 8x8 brochure by Rheinmetall; HX2 UTF brochure by Rheinmetall; Ungeschütztes Transportfahrzeug (UTF) by Bundeswehr web page; Transmission technology for armored special vehicles by ZF; EcoLife Offroad 2 web page Data sheet by ZF.
• IRIS-T SLM — the maximum speed has been reduced from 100 km/h to 80 km/h. Sources: Luftverteidigungssystem IRIS-T SLM by Bundeswehr web page; Ungeschütztes Transportfahrzeug (UTF) by Bundeswehr web page; HX2 by Rheinmetall web page.
• A13 (all variants) — the number of gears has been reduced from 5 to 4. Reverse speed has been increased from 6 km/h to 7.9 km/h. (Report).
• Churchill III, Churchill NA75, Churchill AVRE Petard, Pz.Kpfw. Churchill — the transmission gear ratios have been corrected. (Report). The maximum engine speed has been increased from 2200 RPM to 2550 RPM. (Report).
• Begleitpanzer 57 — the turret front material has been changed from cast homogeneous armor to rolled homogeneous armor. (Report).
• ELC bis — a bug where the tank did not have the “Artillery Support modification has been fixed. (Report).
• Wiesel (all variants) — the transmission gear ratios have been corrected. The maximum reverse speed has been increased from 29 km/h to 38 km/h. (Report). Source: Bundeswehr web site – Waffenträger Wiesel 1 MK; Bundeswehr web site – Waffenträger Wiesel 1 MELLS; Bundeswehr web site – Waffenträger Wiesel 1 (family overview); ZF 3HP-22 manual by ZF; 24 Automatic Transmission ZF - 3 HP-22 by ZF; Waffensysteme und Großgerät der Bundeswehr.
• TAM — vehicle mass has been reduced from 30.5 tons to 30 tons. (Report).
• TAM — the elevation speed has been reduced from 12°/s to 7°/s. Source: Nuevos vehículos de la familia TAM by TAMSE; Worldwide Tank Fire-Control Systems by CIA; C-71-345-000/MA-001, DATA SUMMARY TURRET, LEOPARD C2 TANK; CARRO ARMATO MEDIO "LEOPARD" Torretta e armamento.
• Bardelas/60mm HVMS — a bug that caused the tank’s front to be raised upwards has been fixed. (Report).
• BMD-4 (all variants), BMP-3 — the gun barrel thicknesses that were too low have been corrected. The 30 mm cannon barrel thickness has been increased from 5mm to 10mm, and the 100 mm cannon barrel thickness has been increased from 5mm to 35mm. (Report).
• ZBD04A — the thickness of the gun barrel has been adjusted as it was too low: the 30 mm gun barrel thickness has been increased from 5mm to 10mm.
• R400 — the FN MAG 60-40 machine guns have been replaced with MG3A1 machine guns. (Report).
• R400 — main gun ammunition amount has been reduced from 29 to 20 shells. (Report).
• T-28 (all variants) — the turret traverse speed has been increased from 15°/s to 24°/s. Source: Наставление автобронетанковых войск РККА. Книга первая. Часть 1 - Материальная часть, вождение, уход и регулировка танка Т-28. 1935.
• M4 748 (a) — the non-functional hull machine gun has been removed from X-ray.
• Namer 30, Namer Tsrikhon — a bug that caused 3rd person night vision to be missing without the NVD modification installed has been fixed. (Report).
• TOG II — a smoke grenade launcher has been added.
• Chieftain 900 — the top speed has been increased from 48 km/h to 52 km/h. (Report).
• Strela-10M (Italy) — the operator icon in the name of the vehicle has been replaced with Hungarian one. (Report).
• Khrizantema-S — the “Elevation Mechanism” modification has been removed.
• Mephisto — a bug where the engine compartment bulkhead did not produce fragments when penetrated has been fixed.
• AMX-10RC — a bug where damage to the ammunition rack in the turret could lead to a fire in the ammunition rack without destroying the vehicle has been fixed. (Report).
• BTR-82AT — a bug where the ATGM in the launcher caused pressure damage to the crew has been fixed.
• Challenger — the ammunition consumption has been corrected. A bug that caused the shells to appear in the X-ray even when all ammo was spent has been fix. (Report).
• Crusader AA Mk.II — a Vickers K coaxial machine gun has been added.
• M55 (all variants) — a bug that caused the lack of an armor plate near the cover of the drive wheel has been fixed.

Aircraft and helicopter model, damage model, characteristic and weaponry changes:Weaponry

• EF-2000, Typhoon FGR.4, F-2000A — double pylons for all AIM-120 missiles have been added. As a result, the maximum possible amount of equipped AIM-120 missiles has increased from 6 to 8.
• F-15C Golden Eagle — MRML pylons have been added, maximum number of AIM-120 missiles has increased to 12. (Report).
• AH Mk.2 Apache, AH-64E (Japan), AH-64E (China), AH-64E (France) — Laser Directional Infrared Counter Measures (LDIRCM) have been added.
• JH-7A, JH-7 Prototype, J-10A, JF-17, J-11B — LS-6(IR) 250 guided bombs with IR+IOG+GNSS guidance have been added.
• MG 151 aircraft gun — a bug that caused the 20 mm Minengeschoß shells to deal less damage than other 20-mm HE shells has been fixed. (Report).
• A6M3 — a bug where the external fuel tank did not drop has been fixed. (Report).
• Su-25 (all variants) — separate launch of flares/chaff has been added.
• Su-7 (all variants) — external fuel tanks have been added.
• LaGG-3-4 — the number of rounds for the ShKAS 7.62 mm guns has been reduced from 800 to 650 rounds per gun. Source: Техническое описание самолета ЛаГГ-3. Книга 1.
• LaGG-3-4, LaGG-3-8, LaGG-3-11, LaGG-3-23, LaGG-3-35, LaGG-3-66 — the number of rounds for the 20 mm ShVAK cannon has been increased from 150 to 160 rounds. Source: Техническое описание самолета ЛаГГ-3. Книга 1.
• Su-9, Su-11 — the number of rounds for the NS-37 forward cannon has been reduced from 40 to 30. Source: Книга ОКБ Сухого, 2024; Вадим Шавров “История конструкций самолётов в СССР 1938-1950”.
• MiG-27 (all variants), Su-17/22 (all variants), Su-25 (all variants), Su-39 — the ammo reserve of the SPPU-22-01 gun pod with GSh-23L gun has been increased from 250 rounds to 260 rounds. Source: Flugzeug Su-22UM3K, Betrieb und Steuertechnik.
• A21A-3, A21RB — wingtip drop tanks have been added. (Report).
• EF-2000, Typhoon FGR.4, F-2000A, F-15C Golden Eagle — the AIM-9L missile and the corresponding modifications have been removed, Silver Lions and Golden Eagles spent on these modifications have been compensated. Part of the rest of the missile modifications have been moved one tier lower, making them easier to obtain.
• B.R.20DR — the nose turret elevation angles have been adjusted from +40°/-40° to +85°/-38°. Source: "Istruzioni sull'impiego della torretta Breda tipo H", Ministero dell'Aeronautica, 1938.
• DB-3B, DB-3A (China) — the maximum permissible weight of the suspended weapons has been increased from 2900 kg to 2980 kg. Source: Техническое описание самолета ДБ-3-2М-85. Книга 1.
• Hunter F.6 — a bug that caused the SRAAM missiles to have a maximum launch speed has been fixed. (Report).
• JH-7A, JH-7 Prototype, J-10A, JF-17 — LS-6 bombs with GNSS guidance no longer require the targeting pod to be installed.
• MiG-21 Bison (Great Britain) — a secondary weapon preset with 2 x ZB-500 incendiary bombs has been added. (Report).
• Tornado F.3, Tornado F.3 Late, Tornado ADV — a bug that caused the BOL countermeasure pylons to release countermeasures in turns, rather than synchronously like on all other aircraft with BOL pylons has been fixed.
• A21RB — the Secondary Weapons customization menu has been added.

 Other

• The operation of all TWS algorithms (TWS, TWS+, ESA TWS) — has been improved. The number of false target tracks appearing in TWS modes with a slow zone scan speed has been significantly reduced.
• Rafale C F3 — the interface of the HMD has been updated. (Report).
• F/A-18 (all variants) — the interface of the HMD has been updated.
• J-10A — the HUD interface has been updated. Report).
• AH-1Z — the RWR page on the MFD has been updated.
• F-2A ATDW — a bug where the central drop tank was always displayed in x-ray mode has been fixed. (Report).
• Jaguar GR.1, Jaguar GR.1A, Jaguar IS — a bug where the right underwing drop tank was not displayed in X-ray mode has been fixed. (Report).
• F-15C Golden Eagle — a bug that caused the IR page of the MFD to be missing when installing AN/AAQ-33 Sniper pod has been fixed. (Report).
• Gladiator Mk.I (China) — the metal 3-blade propeller has been replaced with a wooden 2-blade propeller.
• J8A — the wooden 2-blade propeller has been replaced with a metal 3-blade propeller.
• MB-326K — a bug where the machine gun pods were not visible when in cockpit view has been fixed. (Report).
• Ro.57 Quadriarma —  armor for the pilot’s seat and armored glass has been added. Sources: Catalogo nomenclatore per velivolo bimotore da bombardamento a tuffo Ro. 57", 1943, Ministero dell'Aeronautica; I tuffatori di Crotone, genesi e impiego del controverso bimotore Ro. 57", F. Farina, Aerofan n.74, 2000
• CF-188A — a bug where components of the targeting pod were constantly displayed in X-ray mode has been fixed. (Report).
• F-15E — a bug where components of the targeting pod were constantly displayed in X-ray mode has been fixed. (Report).
• OS2U-3 — the central fuel tank is no longer self-sealing. Source: OS2U-3 Airplane Characteristics and Performance (1 August 1943).
• Mosquito NF.Mk.II — radar module has been added.
• Sea Hawk Mk.100, Sea Hawk FGA.6, Sea Hawk Mk.50 — the front fuel tank has been split into two tanks, and the internal layout of the modules in the fuselage has been adjusted. (Report).
• J-10A — fuel dumping mechanic has been added.

Flight Model changes:

• Yak-28B, MiG-21F-13, J-7II, MiG-21PFM, Su-7 (all variants), MiG-19 (all variants), J-6A, A-5C, Q-5 (all variants) — a bug that prevented the maximum thrust from being displayed in X-ray has been fixed. (Report).
• Re.2005 (VDM) — MW-50 water injection system has been added. Engine power in emergency mode has been adjusted (power in WEP mode has been increased). (Report).
• Boomerang Mk.1/2 — a bug that caused the engine to overheat too quickly during takeoff has been fixed. (Report).
• DB-3A/B — a bug that caused a constant roll to the left side regardless of the aircraft control type has been fixed. (Report).
• B-25 (all variants), PBJ (all variants) — flight model updated, fuel distribution across tanks streamlined, fuel consumption order clarified (performance characteristics remain unchanged)
• The altitude characteristics of jet engines for all jet aircraft near service ceilings altitude has been corrected.
• XP-55 — the flight model has been updated, maximum engine power has been corrected. (Report). Max power (100%) has been set to 1125 HP. Takeoff power (WEP) to 1275 HP. Fuel mass has been reduced to 300 kg. (Report).
• F-47N-25-RE (China) — flap deployment restriction system present on other P-47N aircraft has been added. (Report).
• OS2U-3 — empty mass has been increased from 1400 kg to 1937 kg. Source: OS2U-3 Airplane Characteristics and Performance (1 August 1943).
• P-26A-34, P-26A-34 M2 — the Pratt & Whitney R-1340-33 engine has been replaced with the Pratt & Whitney R-1340-27 one. (Report).
• P-26B-35 — engine power has been increased from 550 HP to 600 HP, engine mass has been increased from 327 kg to 360 kg. (Report).
• Ta 154 A-1 — combat flaps position has been removed. Source: Focke-Wulf Ta 154 Nachtjäger mit 2x Jumo 211 F oder N.- Vorläufige Bedienungsvorschrift.
• F-89B, F-89D — the simultaneous deployment of the flaps and air brake is no longer restricted. (Report).
• F-16I Sufa — the parasite drag of conformal fuel tanks has been reduced. (Report).

Naval fleet model, damage model, characteristic and weaponry changes:Naval weaponry:

• HMS Iron Duke — a bug where the primary rangefinder was giving target designations for the auxiliary 152 mm guns instead of the primary 343 mm guns has been fixed. (Report).
• HMS Colossus — a bug with the torpedo launch trajectory that could cause torpedoes to swerve sharply to one side immediately after leaving the tube has been fixed. (Report).
• Sovetsky Soyuz, Kronstadt — the ship’s seaplane model has been replaced with the KOR-2.
• A bug that caused the shells of the 128 mm SK C/34 and C/41 cannons to be unable to fly at distances further than 10 kilometers away has been fixed. (Report).

Naval characteristics, physics and damage model:

• USS Dealey — a bug that caused depth charges to be visible on the ship’s deck when selecting a preset without them has been fixed.
• Colbert — maximum speed has been reduced from 33 to 31.7 knots.

Naval Visual models and visual parts:

• RN Corazziere — a bug that caused the depth charges to be displayed inside the launchers on the sides of the ship even when they were not selected has been fixed. (Report).
• MPK Pr.1331M — a bug that caused the radome on the mast to rotate has been fixed. (Report).
• Karlsruhe — a bug that caused the ship to disappear in 3rd person view when zooming in has been fixed. (Report).

Interface

• The hangar tooltip for seaplanes in x-ray view now displays information about its model, type, and armament.

Economy and research

• In Naval Battles, the system for calculating rewards (Silver Lions, research points, mission points and “Damage Caused” in the battle statistics) for damaging and destroying ships has been changed. All rewards are now calculated based on the percentage of depleted crew responsible for survivability (displayed in the status panel of the player’s ship and the enemy ship). Previously, rewards were given for damage to ship sections containing crew, and were not related to the depletion of the crew itself. Now, rewards more clearly and effectively correspond to the damage inflicted, as the number of crew members is a more concise and understandable indicator of a ship’s survivability.
• In Naval Battles, the rules for issuing the “Enemy Kill Assist” reward and its amount have been changed when the target is a ship. “Enemy Kill Assist” is now awarded to all players who have depleted at least 20% of the target’s survivability crew, regardless of when this occurred. The reward is now equal to 25% of the reward for destroying that ship, as for all other vehicle types. It’s important to note that the “Destruction of naval vehicles” section in the battle summary displays the total reward for the ship’s destruction, plus any additional reward for destroying the remaining crew. The reward for assisting in destroying a ship is calculated from the net reward for the destruction, excluding any incapacitated or remaining crew.
• In Naval Battles, the mission points awarded for losing your ship now include 30% of the mission points awarded to the enemy for destroying the player’s crew, rather than just 30% of the mission points for the destruction itself (which was only 9 mission points).
• A bug where mission points awarded for damaging naval targets were not dependent on the difference between the shooter’s and target’s Battle Rating, as is the case for all other events and all other vehicle types has been fixed.
• A bug where mission points awarded for damaging, destroying, and assisting in the destruction of a target with a Battle Rating of 1.0 were not calculated correctly has been fixed.
• Tiran 6 has been added as the second vehicle in the Sho’t/Tiran group.

Customization

• The “Game updates (2024-2025)” decals collection has been added.

Awards

• A new Battle Award called “Battered!” has been added to Naval Battles. This award is given for depleting 30% of the crew survivability on Light/Heavy cruisers, Battleships and Battlecruisers.

Interface

• The designs of all aircraft action panel icons have been updated. Now they are done in the same, more minimalist style.
• The “Select all” button has been added to all filter menus.
• An IFF filter has been added to the aircraft radars. It can be configured to show either only friends or only foes or all contacts, as before. The filter can be switched on both with the cursor by clicking on the corresponding button or icon on the radar indicator and with a keybind.
• Information about enemy crew losses has been added to the tooltips for naval awards in the battle summary message. For the “Assistance in destroying the enemy” and “Destruction of naval vehicles” items, the “Crew losses” column indicates the percentage of the target’s crew destroyed by the player (the player’s total contribution to the destruction of that target). For the “Damage to the enemy” item, the “Crew losses” column indicates the percentage of the target’s crew destroyed by the hit.
• Tooltips for the “Damage to the enemy” and “Destruction of naval vehicles” naval awards in the battle summary message now include information about the damage inflicted on the enemy. The “Damage” column indicates the amount of “Damage to Naval Targets” the player incurred for this action, which is added to the corresponding column of the battle statistics table.
• The custom sight folder on PC has been relocated. When you log in for the first time after the update, a popup will display the new directory where your sights have been moved. The new location is:
  • For Windows: Documents\\My Games\\WarThunder\\Saves\\<your user ID>\\production\\UserSights\\.
  • For Linux: $HOME/.config/WarThunder/Saves/<your user ID>/production/UserSights/.
  • For Mac: Users/<user name>/My Games/WarThunder/Saves/<your user ID>/production/UserSights/. 
  • You can find your user ID at any time on your user profile page in the Gaijin.net store
• The ability to switch between the default hangar and the festive ones has been added. This also allows players to disable the festive hangars. The option “Hangar scene” can be found in “Options > Main Parameters > Other Settings”.

Game mechanics

• In Ground Arcade and Realistic Battles, players with vehicles with a Battle Rating (BR) of 9.3 or higher are now given an additional vehicle to respawn with after their spawn or to spawn with instead of using their own vehicle brought into battle. In Arcade Battles, one additional random tank is available, while in Realistic Battles one random tank and one random SPAA are available. The vehicle depends on both the player’s BR and the BR of the session: vehicles with the maximum BR for the session cannot be provided by this mechanic. For example, in a battle with a BR of 9.7-10.7, if the maximum BR of the player’s own vehicle is 10.7, the player will receive a vehicle with a BR between 9.7 and 10.3 as an additional vehicle. If the maximum BR of a player’s vehicle is 9.7, the additional vehicle will have a BR between 9.3 and 10.0. If there is no vehicle in the research tree that matches the BR, then vehicles with lower BR will be used in the selection.
• In Naval Battles, the previous mechanic of randomly assigning additional aircraft has been replaced with the new mechanic, similar to the one described above for Ground Battles. This means that players will immediately see the specific aircraft they have received in their crew slot bar and can change its armament if there are different options available. The possible aircraft options have also been significantly expanded, so players will receive additional aircraft with a higher Battle Rating than before that are relevant to the current battle.
• The “Severe Damage” mechanic has been added to Naval Battles, similar to the mechanic for aircraft. Severe Damage is defined as the depletion of 50% of a ship’s crew survivability. When damage is inflicted, the player receives a reward (Silver Lions, research points and mission points), equal to half the reward for destroying that ship and +1 to the “severe damage” column in the battle statistics window. If any ally finishes off this target, the severe damage in the player’s battle statistics will be replaced by a complete destruction credit of the target. The player who finishes off this enemy will also receive their “destruction” and the full reward for it. If players finish off their severely damaged target, they will receive the remaining half the reward. Severely damaged ships, unlike aircraft, are not written off at the end of the battle and are not converted into complete destructions.
• The requirements for completing Battle Tasks to destroy and assist in the destruction of ships in Naval Battles have been increased due to changes in these mechanics, which will lead to an increase in the number of these actions in battles.
• A new mechanic that has a chance of disabling various onboard electronic systems when an aircraft fuselage is damaged by a single high-damage for rank VII-VIII aircraft and their variants at rank VI has been added. The chances of systems getting disabled vary from system to system and depend on the type and amount of damage received.
• The maximum radius for damaging armored vehicles by blast wave, which depends on the mass of the explosive in TNT equivalent, has been recalculated. Previously, these values were unrealistically overestimated for higher explosive masses, and unrealistically underestimated for low explosive masses. So, for example, large bombs could destroy vehicles with a blast wave at distances where in reality they could not even hit infantrymen, while small-caliber HE shells, due to their underestimated damage radius, often inflicted too little damage.
• The fragmentation fields of HEAT, HE, and AP shells have been recalculated. The number of fragments and the fragmentation field density have been significantly increased.

 Sound

• By popular demand, the sound of the M2 Browning aircraft machine gun has been improved. It now sounds more vibrant and powerful.

Controls

• Now in 3rd person view when using the head-tracking software (TrackIR, OpenTrack, etc.) the camera moves around the vehicle, similar to how it is when using the “Mouse look activation” control.

Matchmaking

• A new matchmaking feature has been permanently turned on for all game modes: it now takes into account the match history of all players in the queue when choosing the mission. It reduces the chances of the same mission occurring twice or more in a row by order of magnitude. The history only works over the course of one game session - when players restart the game, it resets the player’s match history.

A new Royal Malaysian Air Force subtree is coming to the Japanese aircraft tree, with three amazing aircraft arriving in the Line of Contact major update!History of the RMAFThe official founding date of the Royal Malaysian Air Force is considered to be June 2nd 1958, when the Royal Federation of Malaya Air Force (RFMAF) was established, receiving the royal title in recognition of its achievements. Following the formation of Malaysia in 1963, the country’s air force received its current name, the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF). With the withdrawal of British troops in the early 1970s, a gradual modernization of the air force began. The most significant transformations occurred in the 1990s, when the combat aircraft fleet was replaced with more modern aircraft, including the British BAE Hawk light attack aircraft, Russian MiG-29N interceptor, and F/A-18D Hornet all-weather strike aircraft.In 2007, 18 Russian Su-30MKM fighters were delivered to fulfill the role of multirole combat aircraft. Currently, the Royal Malaysian Air Force continues its modernization programs, striving to balance its combat aircraft fleet.Introducing the Royal Malaysian Air Force Subtree!In War Thunder, Royal Malaysian Air Force combat aircraft will join the Japanese aircraft tree, offering new capabilities and exciting aircraft combinations across all game modes. We’ll be introducing three Malaysian jet aircraft at the top ranks for Japan, so let’s take a look at what they are!MiG-29N (9-12SD)Russian MiG-29s that were modified to meet Malaysian military requirements were designated as the MiG-29N. In War Thunder this multirole fighter, although carrying a substantial arsenal of unguided weapons for engaging ground targets, is primarily focused on air combat. You’ll have access to a helmet-mounted targeting system, jam-resistant R-27 missiles (including those with a SARH seeker) for engaging enemy aircraft beyond visual range, and maneuverable all-aspect R-73E missiles for close-in air combat. With the MiG-29N, the signature speed and maneuverability of the MiG-29 family are at your disposal!F/A-18DMeet a two-seat multirole Hornet! This aircraft is comparable in combat effectiveness to the American F/A-18C Late, having excellent maneuverability, up to 10 ARH missiles for long-range air-to-air combat, maneuverable AIM-9L and M missiles for close-range combat, and an impressive arsenal of advanced guided weapons for CAS!Su-30MKMThe Su-30MKM is a special export modification of the Russian Su-30 for the Royal Malaysian Air Force, featuring canards. This versatile fighter-attack aircraft boasts advanced electronics, thrust vectoring, a high speed, and a wide range of weapons. Among the new features, we’d like to highlight the updated onboard defense suite, which includes laser and missile detection systems, a wide-angle DAMOCLES targeting pod, and a new HUD. The armament includes air-to-air missiles with ARH, SARH, and IR seekers, the highly effective Kh-38MTE combined-guidance air-to-ground missile, the impressive Kh-59 ground-attack missile with TV guidance and inertial correction, the Kh-29 series of laser and TV missiles, guided bombs, and a large arsenal of unguided ordnance.That’s it for this one! These three aircraft will be coming to the game in the Line of Contact major update, which is coming very soon. Until then!Please note that vehicle characteristics are still in development and may change before release.

Today we’d like to show you two remarkable battleships that will be coming in the Line of Contact major update! Meet the Pacific Theater veteran USS South Dakota (BB-57) and Britain’s finest battleship, the King George V-class HMS Prince of Wales!USS South DakotaThe American battleship South Dakota (BB-57) is the lead ship of the class, designed to address the primary shortcoming of her North Carolina-class predecessors, that being insufficient protection against 406 mm (16 inch) guns. In order to adhere to the strict 35,000 ton displacement limit, she featured an innovative armor scheme which included a 310 mm thick main armor belt mounted at a 19-degree angle deep within the hull, protected by outer 19 - 32 mm plating that acted as a layer of defense against armor-piercing ballistic caps. USS South Dakota was urgently commissioned on March 20th 1942, after the United States entered the Second World War. She actively participated in combat operations in the Pacific, and during the war her crew was credited with shooting down 64 aircraft, being awarded 13 battle stars. After the war on January 31st, 1947, she was placed in reserve. Later on June 1st, 1962, she was removed from the fleet list, and soon sold for scrap.In War Thunder, USS South Dakota relies on powerful armament consisting of nine 406 mm main guns in three massive turrets. Secondary armament consists of 127 mm dual-purpose cannons in twin mounts, along with a staggering number of anti-aircraft weaponry, consisting of 40 and 20 mm cannons. USS South Dakota boasts exceptional protection, with the main armor belt featuring a distinctly spaced pattern and strategically angled armor. She also carries a pair of Vought OS2U Kingfishers with small bombs mounted under the wings for reconnaissance. South Dakota is a well-balanced, survivable long-range battleship, whose only drawback is her less-than-stellar speed and slow shell ballistics.HMS Prince of WalesKing George V-class battleships were built within the strict constraints of the international naval treaties, which limited several aspects of how ships were built. After a long period of “shipbuilding recess”, British designers were faced with the challenge of designing modern battleships within the maximum permitted displacement of 35,000 tons. The main challenge was balancing powerful armament, reliable protection and a high speed. As a result, a controversial but necessary step was taken, which was to arm the ship with 356 mm guns instead of more powerful 381 mm or 406 mm guns, which were considered a weakness compared to ships from other countries. The second ship of the class, HMS Prince of Wales, was laid down in January 1937 and commissioned in March 1941, well into the Second World War. In May 1941, HMS Prince of Wales, along with the battlecruiser HMS Hood, engaged the German battleship Bismarck in the Denmark Strait. In that battle, Hood was destroyed, but Prince of Wales scored several hits on the flagship of the Kriegsmarine, damaging its fuel tanks and influencing the German decision to stop the attack.Did you know? HMS Prince of Wales’ motto is German, “Ich dien” (I serve).HMS Prince of Wales’ fate was tragic. In late 1941, she, along with the battlecruiser HMS Repulse, was sent to the Far East to intercept Japanese boats. On December 10th 1941, off the coast of Malaya, both ships, deprived of any air cover, were attacked by Japanese aircraft. After sustaining multiple torpedo and bomb hits, HMS Prince of Wales sank, becoming one of the first battleships sunk solely by air power on the high seas.In War Thunder, HMS Prince of Wales comes in at rank VI for the British Bluewater fleet. She stands out for her unusual primary battery of four 356 mm guns, mounted in turrets at the front and back, with another turret with two 356 mm guns elevated linearly above the front. Her secondary armament consists of 16 dual-purpose 133 mm guns, while the core of her anti-aircraft battery consists of the famous eight-barreled 40 mm pom-poms, reinforced by 40 mm and 20 mm automatic guns. Her armor is robust, though concentrated in the center of the ship’s profile. Her main armor belt reaches 381 mm, and her armored deck is 152 mm thick. Like other top-tier battleships for Britain, such as HMS Vanguard, HMS Prince of Wales prioritizes armor and increased survivability over firepower. In battle, you’ll often have to get up close to the most armored opponents, working alongside cruisers, or shoot at longer distances to inflict damage from above. However, HMS Prince of Wales is quite capable of becoming a key player in any battle and will delight you with epic moments and incredible survivability!Please note that the vehicle's characteristics may be changed before being added to the game.

Welcome to the 202nd War Thunder Steam Screenshot Competition!

Thanks for all of your submissions last week! For this theme, we’re shifting the spotlight to vehicles built for speed and precision. Light tanks, fighters, helicopters, and coastal craft all excel at striking quickly and staying mobile - so capture a screenshot that shows your agile machines at work! The three most popular and three selected by us will get 300 GE. See the winners down below!

Let’s begin the 202nd edition of our competition!

Create a stunning screenshot and submit it on the War Thunder Steam Community Hub with the tag #WTscreen202. You have time until the 19th of December to submit your screenshot.

After that date, 6 winners will be selected (3 of which will be the highest rated by the community and 3 selected by our judges), each of which receive a reward of 300GE.

How to Participate!

Terms:

• Your screenshot must include an aircraft or helicopter with one engine, a light tank or wheeled vehicle, or a coastal fleet vehicle.
  
• You must add the #WTscreen202 tag (title cannot have any other text in it).
  
• Artists may only win by popular vote once per four screenshot competitions.
  
• Screenshots need to be compliant with the War Thunder rules.
  
• You need to be the author of the screenshot.
  
• Screenshot needs to be new. You cannot use those which have previously been published or used in other competitions.
  
• We will only accept raw screenshots from the game. You cannot use any editing software nor any other visual enhancements (like Nvidia Ansel filters).
  
• You can use filters and settings built into War Thunder.
  
• You can use the replay functionality built into War Thunder.
  
• Rewards will be delivered to the author's account within 14 working days.
  

And now, time for the winners of the competition’s 201st edition – Personalized Armor!

Winners selected via community votes:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3619941103
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3618604532
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3620043536

Winners selected by our judges:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3619464615
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3620070069
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3618795421

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

Wrap up warm and head over to the concert! The Santa troupe will be performing a set in a wide variety of genres, something for everyone! Decorate your vehicles with a decal of your favorite musician, hang up some lights, and make New Year’s battles even more festive!And, of course, it wouldn’t be complete without some excellent gifts! Four vehicles will be available to unlock, three of which are Rank VI-VII machines. That’s not all though, you’ll be able to win a huge number of prizes with the Festive Cupcake chest too!

When: From December 19th (11:00 GMT) until January 8th (11:00 GMT), complete tasks and get rewards!

Participate and get Rewards!VehiclesBy completing tasks in this event, you’ll be able to earn the following vehicles.MiG-25PDH-75MA Rank VII Event Vehicle for the USSRA Rank I Premium for ChinaThe MiG-25 series of aircraft set dozens of speed and altitude records, and the family is still considered among the fastest production fighters in all of history. The “PD” (interceptor-modified) variant will be the first aircraft in War Thunder capable of reaching speeds of approximately 3,000 km/h at high altitudes! The MiG-25 has no guns and relies purely on air-to-air missiles in combat. It’ll have two types of missiles with all-aspect IR seekers, the R-40TD for medium-range combat and the R-60M for short-range air combat plus the R-40RD with a SARH seeker.Curtiss Hawk fighters were not only in demand in the United States, but were also widely exported to its allies. A stellar example were the Chinese-built H-75M variants with fixed landing gear, which proved their worth against the Japanese Empire in the early stages of the war. In War Thunder, the Chinese H-75M is a rank I premium fighter with heavy and light machine guns, featuring decent speed and agility for its rank. IJN TosaCRV Block 2A Rank VI Event Vehicle for JapanA Rank VII Event Vehicle for Great BritainTosa-class battleships were conceived as the pinnacle of Japanese dreadnought development, armed with ten powerful 410 mm guns in five turrets, and featuring advanced sloped armor. However, their construction was interrupted by the Washington Naval Treaty of 1922. In War Thunder, Tosa will be a classic heavy battleship with outstanding firepower and solid armor protection. These advantages are complemented further by a wide array of secondary guns and powerful 610 mm torpedoes. Despite its impressive size, Tosa still maintains decent maneuverability, allowing this versatile leviathan to fill any role necessary!The wheeled Boxer CRV was supplied by the Rheinmetall Group under the LAND 400 rearmament program, and is currently the most modern vehicle of its class in service with the Australian Army. In War Thunder, this Boxer will make its way to the British ground forces tree. This fast infantry fighting vehicle is armed with a powerful 30 mm automatic cannon with versatile anti-air and anti-armor shells. It also comes equipped with SPIKE anti-tank guided missiles, which are capable of engaging both tanks and helicopters at significant ranges. Christmas Cosmetic RewardsDecorate your vehicles with Christmas themed decorations, decals, and get yourself a special profile icon too!“Christmas Disco Ball” decoration for ground vehicles“Christmas Pickup Truck” decoration for Bluewater ships“Metalhead Santa” profile iconDecals:“Winter Concert” decal collection Complete the Decal Collection!Activate all decal coupons on your account to get a special decal called “Legend of Rock”! “Legend of Rock” decal Learn more about collections on the War Thunder WikiVehicle CamouflagesAmong the rewards in the event is also this chest. When opened, there is a chance to receive one of the following items:

• 50,000 — 100,000 Silver Lions
• Silver Lion and research point boosters
• Random wagers and orders
• Universal backups (1-3 pcs.)
• Random camouflage for a vehicle you own
• 1 day of Premium account

Marks of DistinctionThe event vehicles at ranks V-VII and the decals are given as coupons, while the premium rank I vehicle, profile icon, decorations and camouflages will be activated on your account as soon as you unlock them.All event rewards are issued for achieving a certain number of “Marks of Distinction” for each vehicle type in the corresponding mode.TasksTo earn one Mark of Distinction for each category, you’ll need to earn 40,000 mission points in random battles of rank III or higher (or from rank I while using event vehicles) in each corresponding game mode. There are also point multipliers based on the rank and mode you play as well, these specifics can be found in the task description. Each Mark of Distinction task is the same, and a new task will begin every two days at 11:00 GMT. If you missed a Mark of Distinction, you can purchase each one for Golden Eagles until January 12th. You can do this in the following menu: Nickname → Achievements → Winter Concert → Tasks for tankers/pilots/sailors. Take a bite of the Festive Cupcake!The Festive Cupcake is coming next week, we’ll tell you more about it soon!The Festive Cupcake will reward you with vehicles, camouflages, decals, decorations and profile icons from previous winter events. Useful consumables will also drop of course, including boosters, universal backups, wagers and orders. Some items will be available in coupon form for the first time, meaning you’ll be able to sell them on the Marketplace! The Festive Cupcake can be purchased for 60,000 Silver Lions.The Festive Cupcake silver box Detailed Terms

• The exact terms of each task can be found here: Nickname → Achievements → Winter Concert.
• To get a Mark of Distinction, you need to complete a task in the corresponding vehicle type in the corresponding game mode. For example, a Mark of Distinction for pilots can only be received by playing Air battles (AB/RB/SB).
• You can complete tasks in multiplayer battles in all game modes except for “Assault” and “\ Naval Battles”.
• You can complete tasks not only in vehicles of Rank III and above, but also in lower rank event vehicles. These are vehicles from large events such as winter and summer marathons, WWII chronicles, BP seasons and crafting marathons. In the stat cards of these vehicles you can find the name of the event in which they first became available.
• The Mark of Distinction is considered received if the achievement’s color is has turned gold. If you’ve completed the task and it hasn’t turned gold yet, join another battle and afterwards it should turn gold.
• Missed Marks of Distinction can be purchased for Golden Eagles in the Achievements window until January 12th 2026. Make sure you pick the right achievement category: either for tankers, pilots or sailors.
• Rewards received in the form of tradable coupons will be available for trading on the Market from January 12th 2026. The time from which the coupon can be traded can be viewed in the coupon description in game. The option of trading each coupon separately depends on the time of its receipt and doesn’t depend on the vehicle type.
• The “Upgrade for coupon” item is valid until 12:00 GMT on February 1st 2026. Until this time, you can use it or exchange it for War Bonds. Afterwards, it’ll disappear from your inventory.
• For 8 Marks of Distinction you’ll receive an untradable coupon for a vehicle. Upon activating it, you’ll instantly receive a corresponding vehicle. If you do not wish to use the vehicle and want to sell the coupon on the Market instead, you’ll need the “Upgrade for coupon” item.
• For 10 Marks of Distinction, you’ll receive an untradable “Upgrade for coupon” item. You can use it to make the vehicle coupon you received tradable and then sell it on the Market. The date on which a traded coupon becomes available for sale can be seen in its description in the game.
• PlayStation and Xbox players will be able to exchange decal coupons for similar ones. The exchange is available in the Workshop → Exchange items “Winter Concert” window.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Today we’re happy to unveil a new frontrunner for advanced SAM systems. Say hello to the HQ11, currently in service with the PLA!HQ11: A SAM System (SPAA) for China at Rank VIIIAt a glance:

• Radar and launcher on one vehicle
• 8 vertical launch missiles
• Phased array radar
• No optical sight
• Large size

 Vehicle HistoryThe HQ11 system was displayed in 2022 at the Zhuhai Air Show, a development of the earlier FM-3000 missile system shown in 2014, presented as a “universal terminal defense system”. The launcher is mounted on an eight-wheeled chassis and is equipped with 8 vertically launched surface-to-air missile containers. Each battery typically includes a command and control vehicle, four launch vehicles and an artillery vehicle. The HQ11 differs from previous anti-aircraft systems by its compact and significantly more autonomous design, the use of phased array radar, and significantly increased capabilities for simultaneously engaging multiple targets.Introducing the HQ11!This new top-of-the-line SAM system will soon be the pinnacle of the Chinese anti-aircraft line when it arrives to War Thunder in the Line of Contact major update. Let’s take a look at this anti-air titan in more detail!China’s new top anti-aircraft vehicle is only a single machine, rather than the Multi-Vehicle SAM System that has become commonplace for other nations. This large four-axle truck houses both the radar and targeting system and the containers for the vertically launched FM-3000 missiles. These missiles are certainly powerful, and feature a combined guidance system. This consists of inertial guidance during the initial and cruise phases of flight, radio command guidance based on radar data, and finally active radar homing during the final interception phase. These missiles are also fairly versatile in regards to altitude and range, with a maximum engagement range of 30 km and a minimum effective range of around 1 km.As this advanced system rather uniquely combines the radar and launcher on a single vehicle, you can potentially operate the missiles in third-person view (which is not too convenient, but still possible). Though, the primary and most useful interface will be via the typical radar control screen. The advanced phased array radar is responsible for detecting and tracking targets, scanning the surrounding space and updating all the relevant data with high frequency.Despite the single vehicle setup, the HQ11 is still huge and fragile. With its launchers and antenna deployed, it’s a very easy vehicle to spot, so what do you do? The ideal position for such a vehicle is behind some form of vertical cover, trees, rocks or buildings. The radar array will still be able to detect targets, and with the help of an ammo box you’ll be able to keep operating effectively and with relative safety. No target will be safe from the HQ11, be it at close range or long range, these advanced missiles will find their target!The HQ11 will be ready and waiting for you at rank VIII of the Chinese anti-aircraft line in the upcoming Line of Contact major update. Thanks for reading today’s blog, and we’ll see you soon for even more!Please note that the vehicle's characteristics may be changed before being added to the game.

The Line of Contact update brings the American F/A-18E Super Hornet carrier-based fighter-attack aircraft, one of the best aircraft in its class in the world, to the game!F/A-18E Super Hornet: A Jet Fighter/Naval Aircraft for the USA at Rank VIIIAt a glance:

• 11 weapon hardpoints!
• Radar with AESA
• Can carry up to 12 ARH missiles
• Guided bombs and missiles for ground attack

 Vehicle HistoryThe F/A-18E Super Hornet carrier-based fighter-attack aircraft was developed as a major upgrade of the F/A-18C Hornet. A full-scale development contract was signed in December 1992, and the prototype first flew in November 1995. Despite its external resemblance to its predecessor, it was essentially a new aircraft, with a 90% redesigned airframe, featuring an increased proportion of composite materials and new aerodynamic solutions. The increased dimensions allowed for a third more fuel capacity in the internal tanks and the addition of weapons hardpoints, while maintaining flight performance thanks to more powerful F414-GE-400 engines and an improved control system.To save time and money during the initial development phase, nearly 90% of the new aircraft’s avionics were borrowed from the F/A-18C. However, with the start of serial deliveries in November 1999, a program of consistent upgrades began. Block I, which began in 2001, installed new open-architecture onboard computers, an improved electronic warfare suite, modern displays, and the Joint Helmet-Mounted Sighting System (JHMCS). The next and most significant step was the Block II upgrade program, which began in 2005. Its key element was the installation of a new Raytheon AN/APG-79 active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, the first units of which were delivered to the aircraft in 2007. This upgrade, along with modernization of the entire avionics suite and cockpit, dramatically increased the Super Hornet’s combat capabilities, turning it into one of the most technologically advanced combat aircraft in the modern era.Introducing the F/A-18E Super Hornet!Today we’re taking a look at one of the main stars of the Line of Contact major update! Meet the magnificent F/A-18E Super Hornet, the US Navy’s most modern and advanced carrier-based fighter-attack aircraft. Let’s take a look at this jet aircraft, which is sure to sting enemy opponents!

Developer Note: We would like to draw attention to the fact that the F/A-18E Super Hornet and other jets for USA, USSR, China and Sweden that are coming in Line of Contact means there are four vehicles at rank VIII vertically for these nations, which is something we said we would not do. This will only be temporary as we would like to confirm that in early 2026 we’ll be introducing rank IX for aircraft, which aims to solve this problem by moving some rank VIII aircraft to rank IX along with some economic changes. However, until then, you can still use aircraft at rank VII to effectively research the new top-tier jets released in the Line of Contact major update. Stay tuned for more news coming in the next few months!

Despite having a one-letter name difference from its predecessor, the F/A-18C, the new Super Hornet is in many ways a completely new aircraft. Let’s take a look at the key differences and characteristics. First off, the Super Hornet has a new AN/APG-79 active phased array radar, providing you with real-time target information. The wing area has been increased, and the number of weapon hardpoints has increased to 11. When loaded for beyond-visual-range combat, the Super Hornet can now carry up to 12 AIM-120B or C-5 ARH missiles, plus an external fuel tank under the fuselage and a pair of AIM-9L or M Sidewinders on the wingtips!The F/A-18E Super Hornet retains (and improves!) the exceptional anti-ground capabilities of its predecessor. The aircraft’s arsenal now includes a new ATFLIR targeting pod with a thermal imager, and the variety of ground-attack weapons remains the same, but the payload has increased. In addition to the 20 mm cannon and conventional bombs and rockets, Super Hornet players will have the choice of a vast arsenal of guided weapons, from the APKWS II air-to-ground missiles, advanced AGM-65E and F Mavericks, Paveway II, Paveway III and JDAM guided bombs, as well as long-range JDAM-ER and LJDAM laser-guided bombs, which in addition to inertial guidance with GPS corrections, and Walleye II bombs with a television seeker. Basically, there’s something for everyone!In addition to weapons, you’ll also be able to utilize enhanced visibility capabilities, active and passive defense, including a convenient helmet-mounted display and target cueing system for air combat, an advanced informative RWR, and a large supply of flare/chaff.Along with the increased payload and number of weapon hardpoints, and despite the larger wing and extensive use of lightweight composite materials, there was a need for increased thrust on the aircraft. The Super Hornet was given a pair of new F414-GE-400 engines with an afterburning power of approximately 9,470 kgf, making the aircraft’s speed and maneuverability performance comparable to earlier models in the series. While the Hornet family can’t match the best interceptors in speed, its speed and most importantly, maneuverability are more than sufficient for air combat and anti-missile maneuvers!The epic Super Hornet, surrounded by a vast arsenal of available weapons, is waiting for you in the hangars of the upcoming Line of Contact major update. We’re finalizing preparations for the release and look forward to seeing you playing it!Please note that this vehicle’s characteristics may be changed before it is added to the game.

The Sultan of Oman celebrates Armed Forces Day on December 11th. Oman is a long-standing ally of the United Kingdom and the United States, having hosted coalition troops in 1991 and 2001. The Omani Armed Forces have over 42,000 soldiers and are armed with modern equipment, including the Challenger 2 main battle tank, Piranha armored fighting vehicle, and Centauro tank destroyer. The Centauro RGO is available for purchase with a 30% discount for 6,734 Golden Eagles! 

When: From December 11th (11:00 GMT) until December 15th (11:00 GMT).Where: Italy > Army > Premium vehicles.

 

• This vehicle will stay available to purchase after this promotion ends.

About this light tank

• The Centauro RGO (rank VII) is an export variant of the Centauro B1 MGS, produced specifically for the Omani Armed Forces. Its increased weight is offset by a more powerful engine, allowing you to quickly take advantage of map positions. Its 120 mm cannon reloads quickly and fires excellent APFSDS rounds. A thermal imager helps you locate targets, and an LWS will let you know when an enemy is lasing you.

Today we’ll be taking a look at the NASAMS surface-to-air missile system, a joint development between Norway and the United States, coming to Sweden and the USA in the Line of Contact major update! NASAMS 3:  A SAM for the USA and Sweden at Rank VIIIAt a glance:

• IR seeker and ARH seeker missiles for all combat ranges
• Compact SAM
• Good mobility
• No protection

 Vehicle HistoryDevelopment of the NASAMS air defense missile system began in the 1980s by Norwegian company Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace in collaboration with American company Raytheon Missiles & Defense. The project’s primary goal was to replace the aging Improved Hawk systems in the Norwegian Armed Forces.The key principle in the development of NASAMS was to standardize and the use of existing, proven components to reduce costs and accelerate development. The AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missile with an active radar homing head was used as the primary weapon. A towed six-container launcher was developed for its ground launch. The detection and guidance system was a modernized AN/MPQ-64 Sentinel three-dimensional radar.Testing of the system with actual missile launches was successfully completed in June 1993. By late 1994 and early 1995, the system had achieved initial operational capability and began entering service with the Norwegian Air Force, but its full operational capability was not completed until 1998. In 2019, the modernized NASAMS 3 was developed, capable of using AIM-9X Sidewinder Block II IR-guided missiles and extended-range AMRAAM-ER missiles.Introducing the NASAMS 3!The renowned NASAMS medium-range air defense system is coming to War Thunder as a Multi-Vehicle SAM System for two nations, the USA and Sweden. Let’s get acquainted with this new vehicle, coming in the Line of Contact major update! Like all Multi-Vehicle SAM systems, the NASAMS consists of three vehicles: a Target Acquisition And Designation System (TADS) and two self-propelled launchers (SPLS). The launcher system features six containers mounted on a three-axle truck chassis and can fire three types of missiles: the AIM-120 with an active radar homing head, the AMRAAM-ER with extended range, and the all-aspect AIM 9-X Sidewinder Block II with an infrared seeker and excellent maneuverability. This means you’ll be able to provide cover for the team at both medium and short ranges and at high altitudes as well!The Target Acquisition And Designation System (TADS), which is slightly unusual for Multi-Vehicle SAM systems, has a different chassis. It’s built on a military jeep platform, and even with quite a sizable Sentinel radar, it’s still relatively compact. The vehicle is easier to conceal in low terrain or foliage, which is crucial for the survivability of the entire system.The NASAMS is coming to two nations, the USA and Sweden, where it will be a top-tier rank VIII air defense system. Two missile types allow for complete airspace control without any blind spots, while the system’s excellent mobility allows for deployment in unexpected locations and quick repositioning if needed. Look out for this vehicle coming in the Line of Contact major update, and we’ll catch you in the next blog! Please note that this vehicle’s characteristics may be changed before it is added to the game.

On December 10th, 1938 the Hudson bomber, developed by Lockheed, made its maiden flight. It demonstrated its versatility in service with Great Britain, Canada, and the United States, patrolling maritime borders, transporting cargo, participating in reconnaissance operations, and fought enemies with bombs and torpedoes. Almost 3,000 examples of this aircraft were produced. The Hudson Mk V is temporarily available for purchase for 700 Golden Eagles!

When: From December 10th (11:00 GMT) until December 15th (11:00 GMT).Where: Great Britain > Aviation > Premium vehicles.

 About this aircraft

• The Hudson Mk V can carry four 250 lb and six 100 lb bombs, plus eight AP Mk I rockets with up to 100 mm armor penetration. This aircraft is not just dropping bombs, it’s also fairly fast with effective frontal and defensive armament, totaling five 7.7 mm machine guns. Surprise your opponents both on the ground and in the air with this rare bird!

Today, we’ll be introducing you to the new generation of Eurofighter aircraft to crown the German, British and Italian aircraft trees. Meet the Typhoon AESA series! EF-2000 (AESA), Typhoon (AESA) and F-2000A (AESA): Jet Fighters for Germany, Great Britain and Italy at Rank VIIIAt a glance:

• New CAPTOR-E AESA radars!
• Wide field of view for tracking targets
• Very fast scan and track refresh rates
• Exceptional situational awareness
• 8 AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles!

 Vehicle HistoryEarly on in the 1990s, before the Eurofighter had even taken to the skies, collaborative efforts between European nations were already developing what we would now know as an Active Electronic radar or solid state radar. While the ECR-90 (CAPTOR-M in production) would be the radar to see the Eurofighter into service with the consortium nations, work in the background to develop its replacement was ongoing. Initially the CAESAR (Captor Active Electronically Scanned Array Radar) radar, produced by the Euroradar consortium of nations (Germany, Great Britain, Spain and Italy), would serve as the foundation for CAPTOR-E, the next generation of radar sets for the Eurofighter. Through its testing and development, CAESAR would mature and be developed into the next generation of AESA radars for the Eurofighter: the ECRS series. The European Common Radar System (ECRS) was developed by Leonardo (ECRS Mk 0 & Mk 2) and Hensoldt/Indra (ECRS Mk 1), with integration being carried out by BAE Systems and Airbus Germany on aircraft platforms. Operationally, Qatar and Kuwait are already using the ECRS Mk 0 on their Eurofighters. Now the main Eurofighter operator nations are beginning to integrate their chosen versions of the ECRS onto production aircraft, with examples from Spain and Britain having already flown on production examples of the Eurofighter. Germany is also carrying out ongoing integration of the ECRS Mk 1 and Italy has agreed the acquisition of the ECRS Mk 2 for its Eurofighters after developing that version with the UK. It is expected all four nations will have operational service examples in the next few years and into the 2030s.  Introducing the AESA Eurofighters!The Eurofighter series doesn’t need much of an introduction to most pilots, but today, we promise something CAPTORvating indeed! The new AESA CAPTOR-E radar series, or European Common Radar System (ECRS) as it is also known, is a next generation radar system that provides some of the best coverage and performance in game to date. Coming in the Line of Contact major update, Germany, Great Britain and Italy will each receive an example of this new development for a very potent top combat aircraft. Let’s take a closer look at what you can expect to find on the Eurofighter AESAs when they come in the Line of Contact major update! In game, the examples of the Eurofighter Typhoon you can already find excel at BVR combat. Their excellent flight performance and long range AIM-120Cs, coupled with their high countermeasure count makes for an exceptional standoff platform for long range aerial engagements. The AESA equipped Eurofighters take this to the next level. The ECRS offers a significant upgrade in both field of view and scan rates. Being an electronically scanned radar, the refresh rate of targets is lightning fast compared to most mechanical scan radars, providing significantly better tracking updates to directional changes.Unlike some other “fixed plate” AESA radars, the ECRS can also make use of its repositioner to achieve an average of 50% larger scan area volume when looking at existing mechanical sets. On the German Eurofighter equipped with the ECRS Mk 1, this provides a field of view of ±90°, while the Mk.2 on British and Italian aircraft extends this to ±100°. As a result, you’ll benefit from much better airspace awareness and the ability to track targets that would normally fall outside of the gimbal zone! The German EF-2000 AESA will also come with a PIRATE FLIR/IRST, allowing for IR locking for the first time on this example like the British and Italian versions have. A much welcomed addition no doubt! The upgrades however don’t stop there. All Eurofighters in game will feature a double AMRAAM pylon on stations 2 and 12. Meaning the maximum AIM-120 capacity is now 8 on these aircraft. An excellent loadout to put that new radar to good use with. While this aircraft’s improvements are focused on the air side of things, you can still expect to find the familiar complement of guided air-to-ground ordnance in the form of Brimstones, Paveway, LJDAM and more for an all round excellent multi-role platform. The Eurofighters also feature an impressive countermeasure and defensive suite, providing all-around coverage, excellent situational awareness, and a robust package of defenses against incoming threats. The new Eurofighter AESAs will be joining the game in the Line of Contact major update, with Germany, Great Britain and Italy all welcoming an example to their respective trees. We hope you enjoy them! Until next time, stay tuned for more! Please note that this vehicle’s characteristics may be changed before it is added to the game.

Today we’re checking out the M10 Booker, a light vehicle with a 105 mm gun, designed primary as a support vehicle for infantry.M10 Booker: A Light Tank for the USA at Rank VIIAt a glance:

• 105 mm gun with M900 APFSDS rounds
• Thermal imager and laser rangefinder
• Good speed
• Decent protection for its class

 Vehicle HistoryIn the 2010’s, the US Army wanted to design a new vehicle that would act as direct fire support for infantry units. In 2015 the US Army started a new program called Mobile Protected Firepower (MPF), with two designs being submitted: BAE Systems designed a vehicle based on the M8 AMG, and General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) the Griffin II. Both companies were awarded contracts to build prototypes.Both prototypes were shown in December 2020 and February 2021, but BAE Systems was rejected due to not following the requirements. GDLS’s Griffin II was accepted in June 2022 and a contract for 96 vehicles was ready, with the US Army planning to purchase up to 504 of them. In 2023, the Griffin II was officially designated the M10 Booker and the first batch of 26 were delivered in February 2024.However, in May 2025 the US Army cancelled the M10 Booker, despite receiving some vehicles. The decision was due to its excessive 42 ton weight which was seen as too much for bridges and C-17 transport aircraft. As of November 2025, it is currently unclear what will happen to the 26 vehicles that have already been delivered.Introducing the M10 Booker!Meet the M10 Booker, a new US light tank coming to War Thunder in the next major update! This tank was developed for the U.S. Army and features a light chassis, great top speed and a 105 mm gun. Let’s dive into the details of this “Chibi Abrams”!Despite having a strong start to its life, the M10 Booker fell out of favor with the U.S. Army and was canceled earlier this year, despite the army receiving 26 units. It features the XM35 105 mm gun, which is familiar to the American ground forces tree through the XM8 light tank. The M10 Booker lacks an autoloader, but in addition to the HEAT and excellent M833 APFSDS round, the available ammunition includes the M900 APFSDS shell with over 500 mm of penetration! In combat the Booker will be able to penetrate even the strongest MBTs in the usual weak areas, such as the lower plate, breech and turret ring. The M10 Booker’s FCS includes a handy panoramic sight, a laser rangefinder and a thermal imager.Interesting: The M10 “Booker” is named after Robert D. Booker who was KIA in Tunisia during the Second World War and Stevon Booker who was killed during the 2003 invasion of Iraq.Moving onto the chassis now, which is tracked with the engine and transmission mounted at the front. Despite its considerable weight for a light vehicle (42 tons!), the M10 Booker is still quite agile, with a maximum forward speed of 64 km/h and an excellent reverse speed of just over 40 km/h. And for a light tank, the M10 Booker’s armor protection is not bad, frontally it can withstand hits from many autocannons, and its sides can withstand heavy machine gun fire. However, as you would expect, the M10 Booker cannot withstand shots from enemy MBTs, any penetrating hit will likely cause significant damage to modules and crew. Hits into the turret have a high chance of detonating the main ammunition rack as well, so make sure you’re careful when it comes to pushing targets — the armor is indeed strong for a light tank, but not strong enough to shrug off tank cannons.That’s it for this one! The M10 Booker will be an excellent light tank for the higher ranks, relying on good firepower and mobility. Whether it’s reconnaissance, sniping, or second-line support, this mini-tank excels in any role, be it team play or solo. Look out for this new addition in the US ground forces tree at rank VII with the release of the Line of Contact major update. Until next time! Please note that this vehicle’s characteristics may be changed before it is added to the game.

Today, we’re taking a look at the British Army’s Ajax, featuring a 40 mm cannon, great mobility, excellent ammo options and a lethal fire control system!Ajax: A Light Tank for Great Britain at Rank VIIAt a glance:

• 40 mm CTC cannon that can fire telescoped ammunition
• 70 km/h max speed forward, 35 km/h backwards
• Thermal imager and laser rangefinder
• No ATGMs
• Light armor

 Vehicle HistoryIn the 1990s, the UK was looking to replace their CVR(T) family of vehicles. These were from the 70’s and certainly showed their age, so the army looked for a more advanced modular platform that could fill a variety of roles to replace them with. Through the Future Rapid Effect System (FRES) program, General Dynamics UK (GDUK) competed against BAE System’s CV90, with GDUK’s ASCOD 2 winning the competition. A contract was awarded in March 2010 for ASCOD 2, which had been a development from an Austrian and Spanish design (ASCOD is an acronym for “Austrian Spanish Cooperation Development”).During initial development, the designated name for the design was “Scout SV” until it was renamed to Ajax. There are six vehicles that fill a variety of roles under this name, each on the same platform. In September 2014, the UK Government put in an order for 245 turreted Ajax vehicles. The vehicle was due to enter service in 2017, but due to a series of challenges, including noise and vibration problems that caused hearing issues to crew members in 2020, trials were paused, causing delays. However, according to the UK Government, the complications faced by the Ajax platform have now been solved.The production of these 245 turreted Ajax vehicles continues in Merthyr Tydfil and Oakdale in Wales. As of April 2025, 100 Ajax variants have been delivered to the British Army and more are expected to continue to be delivered over time up until 2028-29.Introducing Ajax!Meet the British Army’s turreted Ajax, featuring a fast-firing cannon, a great top speed and excellent ammo and electronic devices, coming in the Line of Contact major update! Built in Wales, UK, an order for 245 turreted Ajax vehicles is still being carried out by General Dynamics UK to form the backbone of the British Army’s future armored units. Let’s take a look at what this vehicle can offer!The Ajax family was designed to replace the outdated CVR(T) vehicles and be the British Army’s advanced vehicle platform of the future. The platform in general, in which there are six, all feature either excellent firepower or systems to have a 24/7 electronic overview of the battlefield and to support troops in a variety of roles. The turreted Ajax that is coming to War Thunder features a 40 mm CTC cannon which can fire cased telescoped ammunition. This ammunition is special in that the projectile is stored within the cartridge case itself, providing excellent characteristics over conventional rounds. The main ammo of choice against armored vehicles is the APFSDS rounds, capable of penetrating enemy tanks from the side without much issue, even at an angle. There’s also two HE rounds, both impact and remote fuze, and another specifically for taking out aircraft, known as the kinetic energy burst round (AHEAD). All in all, thanks to Ajax’s variety of ammunition choices for many combat scenarios and a 200 RPM rate of fire for the 40 mm gun, this vehicle is a deadly force to be reckoned with!Interesting: The name “Ajax” refers to the turret Ajax, but is also the umbrella term for six of the vehicles in total. They are all based on the same platform and each have different roles: the turreted “Ajax” with a cannon as a fighting vehicle , “Ares” for carrying troops on the battlefield, “Athena” as a command vehicle, “Argus” as an engineering equipment vehicle, “Atlas” as a recovery vehicle and “Apollo” as a repair & tow vehicle.In terms of electronic devices, Ajax’s three-man crew has access to many important systems for engaging targets at all ranges. This includes a laser rangefinder, thermal imager and panoramic sight, meaning you’ll be able to hone in on enemy targets at all distances and in any weather scenario.In real life, Ajax is meant for the reconnaissance role, where vehicles are typically quite light. However, it still weighs a ton (literally and figuratively)! Coming in at a hefty 40 t or so, Ajax is one of the heavier vehicles in this class in the world, making it medium weight instead of light. For comparison, the EBRC Jaguar weighs 25 tons and the Bradley is about 30 tons. Having said this, the MTU engine has 816 HP and can accelerate Ajax up to 70 km/h forward and 35 km/h in reverse. This means you’ll be able to reach advantageous positions relatively quickly, scout enemies and take them out from behind. You’re also backed up with smoke grenades on the front of the turret, allowing you to get out of bad situations if needed. Just don’t smoke your teammates!As one might expect, Ajax’s armor is relatively thin. It’s enough to protect against smaller explosions and heavy machine guns, but anything bigger will pierce right through and take out the crew inside. Keep this in mind and lay low as with all lighter vehicles! If you’ve tried the new EBRC Jaguar, Ajax will perform very similarly in terms of firepower as they have the same gun, so you’ll be able to use that experience to your advantage when playing with this new British vehicle!That’s it for this one! The British Army’s new Ajax will be arriving at the end of the light tank line for Britain in the Line of Contact major update. Providing excellent firepower and mobility, this one should be a lot of fun to play. See you soon for more dev blogs! Please note that this vehicle’s characteristics may be changed before it is added to the game.

Hey again! We’re back for the final set of monthly historical decals for the year, one for each nation. Incidentally we have some slightly rarer makings this time around, we were quite taken with the exasperated shark of (Tauch-)PzAbt. C. We thought “FOR SALE” would be fun too, this one was painted on a landing craft, and while we primarily want to include markings that were placed on playable vehicles we have in the game, we thought this one would have some fun applications, thanks for submitting it on the forum! We check the suggestions regularly, so make sure to keep posting decals there!

The following decals will be available from December 8th (11:00 GMT) until January 12th (09:00 GMT).All tasks can be completed using vehicles that are rank III or higher.

“FOR SALE” Inscription, USA(Tauch-)PzAbt. C Emblem, GermanyScore 20000 Damage while using American VesselsFinish in position 1-5 five times while driving German Tanks
“FOR SALE” Inscription“FOR SALE” inscription, U.S. Navy. As the story goes, in early 1945 two sailors aboard LSM-51 named John Kann and Joe Sherrill were sent over the side to scrape and paint the hull, after losing favor with the ship's officer Warren Treece. While over the side of the hull, the two hatched a plan to defy their punishment by playing a joke, by painting a big “For Sale” sign on the hull. After completing their artwork, several days later the ship’s captain was hailed by the TG Commander, who asked "how much do you want for it?" In a calmer moment after the confusion, Captain James Potts rowed out in a dinghy and saw the sign. He flew into a rage, swearing to punish the person responsible, thankfully no one on board revealed it was Joe and John. In Joe’s retelling of the story 50 years later, he claims to have painted the sign in red zinc-chromate primer, though photos show that the sign matches the color of the glossy white hull number, suggesting this detail was misremembered. The inscription was painted large across the port side of the ship.

(Tauch-)PzAbt. C EmblemThe emblem of Tauch-Panzer-Abteilung C, Panzer-Regiment 28, 18. Panzer-Division ("Submersible" Tank Battalion C, 28th Panzer Regiment, 18th Panzer Division), Wehrmacht. Much like Battalion B (which also used a sea creature for its emblem), this battalion was composed of “Tauchpanzers” or “diving tanks.” These were modified Panzer III and IV models that were capable of driving along the seafloor. They were modified for Operation Sea Lion, the plan to invade Great Britain which never reached reality. The emblem of Battalion C was a rather exasperated-looking shark, appearing slightly pained and less menacing as many German armor markings. The design varied slightly, with some sharks being simple line drawings while others had color. Positioning varied as well, but most sharks were painted on the hull side of the Pz.III and IV models in use with the battalion, usually below the front of the turret with the shark facing forward.
"Storsjöodjuret" Emblem, Första divisionen, F 4 Frösön3rd Armored Battalion Emblem, "King Kong", ChinaPersonal Marking of Alexander Kilaberidze, 65th GIAP, USSRDestroy 30 Ground or Water targets while flying Swedish aircraftPlay 20 battles while using Chinese Tanks with a minimum of 60% Battle ActivityFinish in position 1-3 three times while using USSR Aircraft
"Storsjöodjuret" Emblem, Första divisionen, F 4 FrösönThe emblem of Första divisionen, F 4 Frösön (1st Division of the Jämtland Wing), Swedish Air Force. During 1944, the 1st division swapped out their previous penguin emblem for a new one, depicting “Storsjöodjuret” (The Great Lakes Monster). Similar to the more widely known Loch Ness Monster, the folklore creature is said to inhabit lake Storsjön in Jämtland. It was first recorded in 1635, in a story where a runemaster sealed the creature into the depths of the lake, though its origin story has been adapted several times since this initial telling. Much like Nessie, visitors to the lake still claim to have spotted the creature, though evidence is predictably dubious. The marking of Storsjöodjuret coiled around a red bomb was most commonly positioned on the B-17A light bombers of the division, painted on both sides under the front of the cockpit before the engine.

3rd Armored Battalion Emblem, "King Kong"The emblem of the 3rd Regiment of the Armored Brigade, ROCA. The emblem of the regiment is a stylized rendition of King Kong. The original film was exported to China after its initial domestic release and became quite popular culturally. King Kong as an icon is powerful and resilient, making it quite a fitting motif for an armored force. The emblem was used most commonly as a patch, but was placed on several armored vehicles of the regiment, notably their Stuarts and M8 Scotts. The emblem was regularly positioned on the front plate, on the upper hull for Stuarts and the lower hull for Scotts.

Personal Marking of Alexander Kilaberidze, 65th GIAPThe personal marking of Alexander Nikolaevich Kilaberidze, 65th GIAP (65th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment), Soviet Air Force. Alexander joined the Air Force in 1941, but would advance to Guards Major of the 65th by 1944, before being lost in an air collision on October 10th, 1944. He was credited with at least 11 aerial victories, 10 of which were Fw 190s. The origin of the marking itself is unclear. Kilaberidze was from Georgia, and so his monster may be a depiction of the folklore creature Gveleshapi (გველეშაპი), often visually represented as a cross between a snake and a dragon. In original stories, the creature is more of a force of nature rather than an evil beast to be slain, which would make it a promising candidate for the origin, and a fitting marking. It may also be a depiction of the dragon from the story of St. George as they share visual similarities. However, as this creature is traditionally more evil, it may be a less likely choice for a personal marking. It was painted prominently behind the cockpit on Alexander’s Yak-9.

3rd Reconnaissance Unit Emblem, Japan102ª Squadriglia Emblem, ItalyDefeat 40 players using Japanese Light TanksDefeat 50 players using Italian Aircraft
3rd Reconnaissance Unit EmblemThe emblem of the 3rd Reconnaissance Unit, JGSDF. The unit was created in 1951, and was restructured and rebased numerous times throughout its history. The core duty of the unit through the majority of its service was to support the wider 3rd Division by collecting and relaying intelligence. It operated until 2023, when it was disbanded along with the 3rd Tank Battalion, merging together into the new 3rd Reconnaissance Combat Battalion. In the early 2000s until disbandment, this emblem was used on some of the unit's vehicles. The black panther was chosen for its ability to move swiftly and stealthily through tough terrain, with the three claw marks representing the 3rd unit. It was placed on the turret sides of the unit’s Type 87 RCVs.

102ª Squadriglia EmblemThe emblem of 102ª Squadriglia, X Gruppo Autonomo Caccia “Baleari” (102nd Squadron, 10th Autonomous Fighter Group “Balearic”) Regia Aeronautica. The group operated under the 10th “Balearic” Fighter Group during the Spanish Civil War. It was based at Palma de Mallorca with its primary duty being the defense of the Balearic Islands. The emblem of the squadron was a cartoon-style bulldog, and despite being reminiscent of bulldog characters from actual cartoons, the emblem predates any of these examples, meaning it was likely a fully original emblem. It was painted on both sides of the CR.32 biplanes of the squadron, towards the end of the fuselage, with the bulldog facing forward on the left side and backward on the right side.

161 Squadron Emblem, IsraelER 2/33 Savoie "Cocotte" Emblem, France27th Armoured Brigade Emblem, BritainDefeat 20 Ground or Water targets while flying Israeli HelicoptersPlay 20 battles while using French Aircraft with a minimum of 60% Battle ActivityEarn 15000 score using British Ground Vehicles161 Southern Cobra Squadron Emblem (1987)The emblem of 161 “Southern Cobra” Squadron, IAF. In 1975, Israel were given a batch of AH-1G helicopters for testing, but as they lacked advanced armament they were sent back to the USA to be upgraded to the AH-1S standard for greater anti-armor ability. The squadron was formed in 1980 along with 160 Squadron, both equipped with 15 MD 500 and 3 upgraded AH-1S helicopters that were sent back from the USA. They would later receive the AH-1F, which was credited with destroying several tanks in the Lebanon War, and finally the AH-1E in 1987. The last cobras in operation with Israel were retired in 2013, primarily due to budget restraints and the prominence of the more powerful AH-64. Their cobra marking was not universally applied, but appeared most regularly on their later AH-1E helicopters, positioned on the middle of the tail.ER 2/33 Savoie "Cocotte" EmblemThe emblem of Escadron de Reconnaissance 2/33 Savoie (2nd Reconnaissance Squadron of the 33rd Wing 'Savoy'), French Air Force. The squadron was formed over 100 years ago in 1913, and would be renamed and restructured numerous times, but its emblem would remain relatively unchanged throughout the century. It depicts a “Cocotte”, which in this context refers to an origami chicken. Initially the design had a beak painted, and the eye would change between facing forward and facing backward across different iterations, as if keeping a look out for danger. This more modern version could be found on the Mirage III and Mirage F1 jets of the squadron, positioned in the middle of the tail. Though some alternate placements also exist, occasionally being painted in front of the air intakes on the Mirage III for special liveries, and in front of the cockpit on the squadron’s RF-84F Thunderflash aircraft in the 1960s. 27th Armoured Brigade EmblemThe emblem of the 27th Armoured Brigade, British Army. The brigade was formed on November 26th 1940, and became a key part of the Normandy Landings. Shermans of the Staffordshire Yeomanry and the 13th/18th Hussars under the brigade landed on the beaches, and would take part in the Battle for Caen and Operation Goodwood. The brigade was disbanded shortly after this operation, and its regiments were transferred to other formations within the army. The brigade's emblem is a seahorse on a shield, which initially may seem an unusual choice. It served as a link to the cavalry units that many of its members originated from, and as the tanks arrived from the water, the motif of a seahorse was practically a perfect fit. The emblem was often placed on the sides of the lower glacis plate and the edge of the rear plate, though there was some variation between vehicles and vehicle types.


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.Well, that’s the last set of decals for 2025! It’s really flown by hasn’t it? We hope you’ve enjoyed collecting these this past year, we’ll be back in January for more. If we don’t see you beforehand, enjoy the holidays in whichever way you like to celebrate, collect some interesting decals and we’ll see you soon!

Welcome to the 201st War Thunder Steam Screenshot Competition!

We loved getting to see all of the screenshots that you shared with us last week! This week, showcase your custom creations! Additional camouflages can be found on Warthunder Live and in the Marketplace. Historical recreations and fiction are welcome! The three most popular and three selected by us will get 300 GE. See the winners down below!

Let’s begin the 201st edition of our competition!

Create a stunning screenshot and submit it on the War Thunder Steam Community Hub with the tag #WTscreen201. You have time until the 12th of December to submit your screenshot.

After that date, 6 winners will be selected (3 of which will be the highest rated by the community and 3 selected by our judges), each of which receive a reward of 300GE.

How to Participate!

Terms:

• Your screenshot must include a vehicle with a custom skin, decals, or decorators.
  
• You must add the #WTscreen201 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 200th edition – Legends of War!

Winners selected via community votes:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3614415334
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3616821287
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3616197998

Winners selected by our judges:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3614684702
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3614598045
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3617357382

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

Hey everyone! Today, we’re going through the details regarding War Thunder’s infantry mode test and revealing some details about how the new game mode will work.APPLY FOR THE INFANTRY CBT!How do I get into Closed Beta Testing?Submit your participation request through the link above to register your interest. We’ll go through the invitations and if you are picked we’ll send you an invitation to the email that’s linked to your account. The closed beta test (CBT) will be held in several stages, with invitations sent out for each. All participants in any CBT stage will automatically gain access to all subsequent stages.How does Closed Beta Testing work?CBT battles will take place in the “Events and Tournaments” section from the hangar on a specially created, detailed location in two game modes. These gamemodes are Arcade and Realistic: Arcade features markers for soldiers and vehicles with mixed lineups, while Realistic has no markers and nation vs nation setups, as well as different respawn rules. In Arcade mode, teams can have mixed lineups, while in Realistic mode equipment and vehicles depend on the selected nation. All weapons and vehicles in the CBT will be modern. At the start of the closed beta, participants will have access to two playable nations and presets containing small arms, engineers and special weapons, as well as combat vehicles from two countries, the USA and the USSR/Russia. Infantry from other playable nations will gradually be added to the game over time. We’re planning to conduct testing in several stages, with bug fixes and new content added between each stage. The first closed beta session for War Thunder infantry is planned to begin after the release of the December 2025 major update.Welcome to Granitograd!Granitograd is a new location for infantry, ground vehicles and aircraft set in Eastern Europe. Battles during the closed beta testing phase will take place in “Domination” mode, with soldiers and vehicles from two teams battling for control over three points within the location: a motor pool building, a school, and a shopping mall. Granitograd features various passageways and countless opportunities for cover. Infantry units will be able to operate within buildings on multiple levels and climb onto rooftops, while armored vehicles can carve new routes through fences and debris with cannon fire or ramming.Weapons and AttachmentsThe infantry mode in the CBT will feature preset vehicle and soldier squads, with each side equipped with US and Russian military equipment. Infantry squads will be armed with a variety of small arms, including the M4A1, M16A4, M7, AK-74, AK-12, and ASM Val assault rifles, M249 Para and RPK-74M light machine guns, M110A1 SDMR and SVD-M designated marksman rifles, and MAC 11 and PP-19 Bizon submachine guns, all modified with optical or red dot sights, underbarrel grenade launchers and laser sights, tactical grips, and bipods. Before battle, you can also equip each squad’s soldiers with special weapons and gear from a set of presets, containing engineering charges, hand grenades, grenade launchers, MANPADS, reconnaissance drones, FPV cameras, and additional first aid kits.During the CBT, infantry will be supported by M1 Abrams and T-72B tanks, M3A3 Bradley and the BMP-3 IFVs, with AH-64A and Mi-24V helicopters available in Realistic Battles. In Arcade Battles, after achieving a certain number of kills, players can initiate a time-limited air battle using helicopters with unguided and guided weapons. Vehicles in infantry battles will be controlled in first-person mode, from the commander’s camera, driver’s camera, or gunner’s sight. Vehicles will not have arcade engine power boosts, and flight models and vehicle mobility match the settings of War Thunder’s Realistic Battle mode.Take positions!When in the shoes of infantry, players will remain in the role of a single soldier, but with full tactical control over the entire squad. Squad members automatically follow the commander and assist in all combat situations. If needed, each soldier can be quickly assigned to key positions with the press of a button. Just a few clicks allow a sniper to secure a point and deploy cover for their squad, while an assault soldier can deploy defenses and control possible attack vectors on a captured point. This approach makes commanding each soldier easy and convenient, without distracting you from the battle itself.The main objective in the Domination mode is to capture and hold control buildings with multiple floors. Clear each floor, seek cover and organize your defenses. Tanks and infantry fighting vehicles can also capture some control areas, but they’re quite vulnerable in urban, close-quarters combat. Their primary role is to support their allies and neutralize enemy vehicles. Each control building contains ammunition and explosive resupply crates for both the defenders and attackers.Which platforms is the Closed Beta Test (CBT) taking place?At the launch of the CBT, PC players on Windows, Linux and Mac, as well as PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series consoles will be able to participate. Since Infantry Mode is still in development, some functionality will be limited during the CBT. Specifically, Ultra-Low graphics settings will not be available at the start of the CBT, nor will ray tracing modes be available for consoles.There’s so much exciting stuff ahead! We invite you to be the first to test War Thunder’s infantry mode. Your opinions and experience will help us to make infantry battles as engaging as possible, so let’s get going!

A brand new series of combat vehicles based on the T-72 family of tanks with 30 mm cannons and anti-tank missiles!BMPT “Terminator”: An ATGM Carrier for the USSR at Rank VIIBMPT-72 “Terminator-2”: A Premium ATGM Carrier for the USSR at Rank VIIAt a glance:

• Combat module with 2x30 mm cannons and ATGMs
• T-72 tank chassis
• LWS and laser rangefinder
• Thermal imager

 Pre-order – BMPT-72 “Terminator-2” PackTo get to the Gaijin Store through Steam, go to the in-game hangar > Shop > Online Store.69.99This pack includes:

• BMPT-72 “Terminator-2” (Rank VII, USSR)
• Premium accout for 20 days
• 2500 Golden Eagles
• Pre-order bonus: unique title “Judgement Day”
• Pre-order bonus: unique decal "BMPT-72"

Vehicle HistoryWork on the Terminator support vehicle began in the mid-1980s, based on the T-72A tank. State trials of the BMPT were successfully completed in 2006, and the vehicle was approved for mass production. Initial plans would see the vehicle adopted into service with the Russian army by 2010, but these plans did not materialize. Serial production only began in 2011, with the first batch of vehicles intended for the Armed Forces of Kazakhstan.Later in 2013, a new version of the vehicle was unveiled, named the BMPT-72 "Terminator-2." This modification was a conversion of in-service T-72 tanks, which were adapted into fire support vehicles. The key differences from the original version included a higher degree of commonality with the base T-72 tank, a reduction of the crew from five to three people, and reinforced armor on the anti-tank guided missile launchers. This modernization was aimed at increasing survivability while simultaneously reducing operational costs.Both variants of the vehicle were shown off at several international arms exhibitions, garnering a lot of attention due to their futuristic appearance. In 2017, the BMPT underwent testing in real combat conditions during the conflict in Syria. Later that same year, the first production vehicles began to enter service with the Russian army.Introducing the Terminators!The famous Terminator series of support vehicles is coming to the game in the Line of Contact major update! We’re happy to present the researchable 2017 model BMPT Terminator, and are opening pre-orders for the premium BMPT-72 Terminator 2! Today we’ll go through the key features of these imposing vehicles and the differences between both models, let’s go!The idea of a specialized vehicle for supporting tanks was prompted by their high vulnerability in modern urban combat conditions. The BMPT — Boyevaya Mashina Podderzhki Tankov (Tank Support Combat Vehicle) — is not only intended to fight infantry, but can also engage enemy armored vehicles itself using ATGMs. The combat module of the Terminator series includes a pair of 30 mm automatic cannons, equipped with high-explosive fragmentation shells for aircraft and APDS for more armored targets. The primary weapon of the Terminators, however, will be the Ataka ATGM. Two types of warhead are available: tandem charge and HE.Both Terminators are built on a tank chassis, the T-90 for the regular Terminator and the T-72 for the Terminator 2, meaning these support vehicles will be relatively well protected. The vehicle hulls have combined armor, featuring steel and composite armor elements in combination with ERA blocks and slat armor. Both variants also have a dozer blade, which can be used to dig a trench in order to hide the hull, only exposing the combat module to the enemy — perfect for defensive positions around cap points.Both vehicles have smoke grenade launchers, laser rangefinders and laser warning systems, along with night vision devices and thermal imagers (only for the gunner on the BMPT, and for the gunner and commander on the BMPT-72). The primary difference between the two is the crew count, 5 on the BMPT and only 3 on the BMPT-72. The regular BMPT features the AGS automatic grenade launcher with 30 mm fragmentation grenades as part of its combat module, while the BMPT-72 receives some additional armor on the ATGM launch containers to protect against machine guns and shrapnel, as well as additional slat armor on the sides and rear protecting the engine compartment area. Both vehicles are ultimately quite similar, just with small unique advantages in different areas.Pre-orders for the BMPT-72 Terminator 2 are open from today! Pick it up before the update lands for some extra bonuses, along with a hefty supply of Golden Eagles and Premium Time! Thanks for reading today's blog, we hope you’re as excited as we are for the Terminators!Please note that these vehicles are still in development and certain characteristics may change before release.

Introducing the Line of Contact major update and a new War Thunder game mode, featuring infantry!Testing Infantry!War Thunder is launching closed beta testing for a new, standalone game mode, which brings player-controlled infantry squads onto the battlefield alongside ground vehicles and helicopters!In this mode, you’ll experience large-scale battles featuring soldiers in various combat roles with modern weapons, gear and equipment. Tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, drones and attack helicopters provide ground and air support for the team.If you’re a firearm enthusiast, your time has come! Dive into diverse weapon customization and outfit your squad with a wide array of equipment, including personal body armor, grenades, MANPADS, grenade launchers, and much more! Choose from countless weapon attachments, such as scopes and underbarrel grenade launchers to customize your weapons to your playstyle.Get ready to experience War Thunder battles from the brand new perspective of an infantry soldier through tactical building clearouts, tense sniper duels, and fierce shootouts on city streets!APPLY FOR THE INFANTRY CBT!We’ll be sharing more details about the Infantry CBT soon in a dev blog, so be sure to keep an eye out for that!

Hey everyone, today we’ll be taking a look at some new features in the hangar and the updated Winter Poland location, both coming to the game in the next major update!New Features in the HangarWeapons Displayed on Stands!We’re pleased to introduce a new look for the hangar of each vehicle type. You’ll now be able to take a closer look at the available weaponry for each ground vehicle and aircraft when viewing them from the hangar. Using weapon stands, the weapons are displayed to the front or side of the vehicle, allowing you to visually see them, like at an arms expo! You can also hover your cursor over each one to bring up the weapon’s stat card for shells, missiles, rockets and bombs. In ground vehicle hangars, there are demonstration samples of armor plates penetrated by various types of projectiles. Here you can clearly see the difference between penetration by an armor-piercing projectile and by an anti-tank missile or a high-explosive shell! In ground vehicle hangars, there are demonstration samples of armor plates penetrated by various types of projectiles. Here you can clearly see the difference between penetration by an armor-piercing projectile and by an anti-tank missile or a high-explosive shell (to note, at the time of writing this news, the stands are still under development). There is also a button in the hangar where you can enable or disable the display of shells and weaponry if you prefer them to not be shown.Adding Some Life to Vehicles!When you click on a vehicle in your hangar, they will now perform some cool animations! For planes, the canopy and other mechanizations such as the flaps, air brake and rudder move, the engines turn on and propellers start spinning (for helicopters too). For ground vehicles, the turret and roof-mounted machine guns rotate, while for ships the gun mounts and deck torpedo tubes rotate.Detailed Hangar for Featured Premium Vehicles!Featured premium and event vehicles can now be viewed inside of a detailed and fully equipped hangar! Just click on the vehicle or on the hangar itself, and you’ll be transported to it. Inside, you’ll see mechanics working on the vehicle! Toggle Festive Hangars On or Off!Starting with the next major update, you’ll be able to customize your hangar’s appearance if you ever want to change things up (or don’t like the festive hangars!). Looking for some Christmas spirit in the middle of the hot summer? No problem, activate the festive New Year’s hangar. Is your hangar too bright and you’re in the mood for something more atmospheric? Turn on the night-time Halloween hangar! This also means you can turn off the New Year or Halloween hangars if you don’t like them *sad hangar noises*.Updated Poland (Winter)Following the visual improvements to the classic summer version of the beloved Poland ground battles map, it’s time to refresh the winter one. Welcome to the new winter Poland! Our artists did a great job to visually transform the location, all buildings, structures, environmental elements, and vegetation have been improved. Everything on this map is now more detailed and vibrant, with countless small details added. Like always with these map updates, the original layout and navigation of the map has stayed near enough the same, meaning you won’t have any surprises when driving around.In addition to the central urban section of the map, the natural environment surrounding it has been updated too. All of the wintry vegetation and snowdrifts have been entirely redesigned, and the dirt roads have been improved too. The ice lake looks much more realistic now too, with snowdrifts, deep cracks and air pockets under the surface.That’s all for this blog! Soon you’ll be able to check out your weapons in detail, see the new premium hangar for featured vehicles, and take in the frosty air of the newly updated winter Poland with the release of the next major update, coming your way soon!

A gun boat with radar, an automatic 57 mm cannon, and a six-barreled 30 mm AK-630 autocannon: meet a hunter and a ruthless anti-aircraft platform!AK-225: An Event Vehicle Gun Boat for the USSR at Rank VAt a glance

• Air target tracking radar
• 30 mm gatling cannon
• Automatic 57 mm cannon with AP and HE-F shells
• Decent speed

 Vehicle HistoryThe AK-225 Gunboat was constructed at the Primorsky Shipyard in Leningrad, and entered service on January 7th, 1969. It was a representative of Project 205PE, which was developed as a patrol export version for countries with friendly relations with the USSR. As part of the 41st Missile Boat Brigade of the Black Sea Fleet, this vessel underwent numerous trials, during which the need to strengthen its armament became apparent. On an experimental basis, a new 57 mm cannon was installed on the bow of the AK-225 to increase the firepower.After additional trials however, the results showed that the additional 57 mm mount was still insufficient for the tasks the vessel was intended to perform. By the time these trials concluded, the general concept of gunboats in the Soviet fleet had changed, and the naval doctrine had shifted towards other classes of ships. As a result, despite some technical successes, Project 205PE was not approved for mass production. On June 24th, 1991, the AK-225 was removed from the ship register of the navy, and was scrapped two years later in 1993.Introducing the AK-225!The main reward in the Sea Defender naval event is an experimental Soviet patrol boat! The AK-225 features two different automatic cannons and an air target tracking radar, more than capable of proving itself in coastal combat and supporting the larger fleet with its anti-air abilities! This event started today, so let’s get acquainted with this new boat.Unlike the other Project 205PE patrol ships, the AK-225 is equipped with an experimental 57 mm AK-175 cannon, which has greatly expanded the range of targets it can engage. This cannon can fire two types of shells – high-explosive fragmentation and armor-piercing. This gun can comfortably deal with small vessels and is even capable of detonating the magazines on destroyers with its AP shells. However, the barrel will overheat if fired for too long, so avoid long bursts of fire.The auxiliary armament of the AK-225 is the famous six-barreled AK-630 cannon, with an incredible fire rate of 5000 rounds per minute! It can quite literally cut through boats at close range like a saw. This cannon is especially useful for taking down air threats at low altitudes, with aiming aided by the tracking radar. The speed of this vessel is fairly effective too, it can reach a max speed of 36 knots (up to 67 km/h), so the AK-225 will be very suitable for swiftly capturing points.In War Thunder, the AK-225 joins the game as a Rank V event vehicle. Its powerful small-caliber armament will make it an excellent choice for coastal combat, though it is still more than capable of supporting larger vessels with its powerful anti-aircraft weaponry. It can comfortably support the team by capturing and defending points, and can even detonate destroyers with its AP belt!You can get the AK-225 yourself completely free by taking part in the Sea Defender naval event that started today. More details on this event in the link below!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 Sea Defender event: