“Sky Odyssey” Launch Trailer

Finally, Naval Enduring Confrontation, Bullet Hell and fan-favorite Nuclear Escalation temporary events after a series of tests and improvements became new full-fledged permanent modes, marking a major new step for War Thunder gameplay evolution.

The MiG-35 combines the speed and maneuverability associated with the MiG-29 family with significantly more advanced avionics and weaponry. It features an active electronically scanned array radar with a wide field of view, a missile approach warning system and laser warning system, as well as a targeting pod for laser-guided weapons. Its air-to-air arsenal includes up to eight R-77-1 active radar homing missiles, while ground and naval targets can be engaged with weapons including Kh-38ML missiles, Grom-2 glide weapons and the new Kh-35U anti-ship missile.

At the other end of the jet era, F-102A Delta Dagger offers a very different style of aerial combat. The world’s first mass-produced supersonic delta-wing interceptor arrives for both the USA and Israel, with the latter receiving a Greek modification. The Delta Dagger has no guns whatsoever: instead, it can carry up to six AIM-4 Super Falcon air-to-air missiles, including infrared- and semi-active radar-guided variants, together with 24 unguided rockets housed in the missile bay doors. Its unusual armament encourages pilots to exploit the aircraft’s speed, strike quickly and disengage before the enemy can respond.

Tankers can take command of the EMBT, an experimental European Main Battle Tank combining the chassis of the German Leopard 2A7 with the turret of the French Leclerc S2. Available at Rank VIII for both Germany and France, the EMBT combines strong mobility and armor with a long-barreled 120 mm gun, an automatic loader and OFL 120 F1 APFSDS ammunition. Its Leopard-derived powerplant and comparatively low weight make it particularly mobile for a modern main battle tank, allowing it to perform both aggressive pushes and defensive maneuvers.

The Harimau brings a modern Indonesian light tank to the Japanese ground forces tree. Designed for mobility, reconnaissance and support, it features a tracked chassis, modern thermal imaging equipment, a laser warning system and laser rangefinder. Its Cockerill turret houses a 105 mm rifled gun with an automatic loader and access to DM63 APFSDS ammunition. The Harimau’s light protection makes head-on engagements risky, but its mobility, compact profile and rapid reload make it well suited to flanking, capturing objectives and supporting heavier vehicles.

Sky Odyssey is available now in War Thunder. More information about the update and the complete list of changes can be found on the official War Thunder website.

‘Sky Odyssey’ Update Trailer

The new map is based on the Darwin Hill area near the settlement of Darwin, the site of fierce clashes between British commandos and Argentine forces. The archipelago’s landscape here is distinctive, with a treeless plain biome, rugged rocky coasts, and yellow thickets of gorse, making it a favorite among tourists from around the world. The buildings are predominantly single-story, and due to the harsh climate, almost every farm has its own greenhouses and fenced enclosures for poultry and livestock.

Greece’s aviation lineup spans from mid-20th-century aircraft all the way to some of the most modern combat jets currently serving in the Hellenic Air Force. The odyssey begins with the SB2C-5 Helldiver dive bomber, which was delivered to Greece in the spring of 1949. Closer to the modern era, we have the A-7H and A-7E, specialized land-based attack versions of the Corsair II developed specifically for Greece. These aircraft can carry a huge variety of weaponry for anti-tank missions, but can also attack air defense systems using Shrike anti-radiation missiles while still protecting themselves against fighters with Sidewinder air-to-air missiles. At the top of Greece’s lineup sits the Rafale EG (AESA). It’s a perfect blend of excellent flight performance, cutting-edge avionics, and the most advanced weaponry available.

Greece’s ground vehicle lineup includes useful imported vehicles such as the Soviet-made Osa-AKM and Tor-M1 SAM systems, along with the German Leopard 2A6 HEL modification — a unique variant built for the Greek Army, featuring reinforced upper glacis armor. Both the Greek aviation and ground vehicle subtrees will be part of the Israeli tech tree, and this combination will provide players with more tactical options.

A modernized “Super Lynx” development, the AW159 is a multi-role naval helicopter with a huge selection of air-launched munitions. Much like its predecessor, the Lynx, the Wildcat has a tremendous amount of speed and agility at its disposal, allowing it to quickly get into position and reposition as needed. The weapons available to the Wildcat allow you to switch roles mid-game based on your team’s needs. The Spike NLOS is better suited for destroying tanks, while the Martlet is more effective against SAM/SPAA systems, helicopters, and lighter vehicles. This makes the Wildcat particularly useful in the later stages of a match, when it can clear out enemy air defenses and give your team’s aviation more freedom to operate.

More information on the update’s content is available on the official War Thunder website.

Watch the Infantry CBT#3 Trailer HERE.

The new map is four times larger than previous infantry locations and is inspired by the landscapes of Central Africa. It is built around battles for five capture points. During this testing phase, players will encounter a wide range of modern military hardware, including M1A2 SEP V2 and T-90M main battle tanks, AH-64A and Mi-28N helicopters, 2S6 and LAV-AD air defense systems, as well as modern small arms used by the USA and Russia.

To support large-scale engagements on “Kivu,” new gameplay rules for bigger maps are being tested. Players will be able to respawn not only at their base but also at capture points already secured by their team, making movement across the vast battlefield more dynamic. War Thunder will also introduce its first troop transport vehicles — light cars capable of carrying up to five soldiers at once — allowing faster deployment to key objectives. In addition, new UAV control range settings have been added for large-scale battles.

Arcade Battles will return to infantry combat during this third testing phase. The marker display logic has been reworked: markers are now shown only when a player has a direct line of sight to an enemy model, and they disappear when the target is obscured by smoke, explosions, trees, other obstacles, or is at extreme distance. This change improves readability in Arcade mode while preserving the importance of cover and concealment. Movement speed has also been adjusted — heavily equipped soldiers move faster than in Realistic Battles, making the mode more dynamic.

Significant changes have also been made to soldier classes. Weapon presets have been revised, and specialized equipment such as RPGs, MANPADS, and drones is no longer available to every soldier. As a result, players will need to choose more carefully between the four available classes and tailor their loadouts to the situation on the battlefield.

Players who have not yet joined the test can apply for access on the official War Thunder website.

Gaijin Entertainment announces the release of Heavy Cavalry, a new major content update for the online military action game War Thunder. The update brings dozens of new ground, air and naval vehicles, including M1A2 SEP v3 and Т-90M Arena-M MBTs, introduces anti-radiation missiles and electronic support measures to expand high-tier combined battles, and adds new machines for many nations, including Indonesian Leopard 2RI, Argentinian IA 58A Pucará and Serbian J-22M1A Orao. Naval battles are reinforced as well, with the German warship Admiral Scheer joining the fleet.

‘HEAVY CAVALRY’ UPDATE TRAILER

One of the headline features of Heavy Cavalry is the arrival of anti-radiation missiles and electronic support measures. These new tools give pilots a specialized way to hunt radar-guided air defense systems. Anti-radiation missiles are designed to detect enemy radar emissions and guide themselves toward the source, while ESM equipment helps pilots locate signal sources, select targets and provide missile guidance. The first wave features weapons such as the AGM-88 HARM, AS-37 ARMAT, ALARM, YJ-91, CM-102, LD-10, and Soviet Kh-family missiles, including a ramjet-powered model.

Aviation fans can now take the IA 58A Pucará into battle, the first domestically designed and produced Argentine aircraft to appear in War Thunder. This compact twin-turboprop ground attack aircraft combines 20 mm cannons, machine guns, bombs, rockets and even a torpedo option. While not fast, the Pucará is agile, responsive and well suited for close air support, especially in Ground Battles where its flexible payload can be used against a wide range of targets.

More information on the Heavy Cavalry update is available on the War Thunder official website.

Gaijin Entertainment announces that the next major content update “Heavy Cavalry” will be available for the military online action game War Thunder in mid-June. It will feature the very latest modern MBTs, such as the American M1A2С Abrams, the true knights of the modern battlefield. Dozens of other new vehicles are coming to the game including Yak-130 and M-346FA light combat/trainer aircraft and the immense North Carolina battleship. The game environment, objects, buildings, and roads have been completely redesigned for the classic 38th Parallel and Ash River locations, and a new version of the winter Ardennes map will be added.

‘Heavy Cavalry’ Update Trailer

The M1A2C, the most advanced production variant of the U.S. Abrams main battle tank, arrives in War Thunder as the new peak of the M1A2 line. Building on the SEP v2 family, this modernized Abrams features significantly improved frontal turret protection, making its turret cheeks extremely difficult to penetrate at medium and long ranges, while the researchable TUSK package adds ARAT 2 explosive reactive armor to the hull and turret sides for extra protection against ATGMs. Its firepower is also upgraded with the powerful M829A3 APFSDS round, designed to perform better against certain types of explosive reactive armor, while the U.S. version also gains the XM1147 high-explosive round with a programmable fuse.

The Yak-130 is a compact and highly agile modern Russian strike aircraft, bringing impressive handling, strong thrust-to-weight ratio and a surprisingly diverse suspended arsenal. Developed from the same early training aircraft project that later led to Italy’s M-346 family, the Yak-130 will be joined in the same update by Italian M-346FA, giving players two related but distinctly different aircraft to master.

The Yak-130 is powered by two turbofan engines, capable of reaching around 1,050 km/h at sea level while remaining exceptionally responsive in flight. It does not carry radar or air-to-air guided missiles, but makes up for this with a wide selection of ground-attack ordnance, including several types of unguided rockets, free-fall and TV-guided bombs for precision strikes. Small, fast and easy to control, the Yak-130 should become a dangerous support aircraft for players who enjoy aggressive low-altitude attacks and precise strikes against ground targets.

One of the new features debuting in the update is the addition of arresting gear at ground airfields. An aircraft equipped with an arresting hook attaches to one or more sequentially arranged cables, significantly reducing the landing run on short airfields. Attention to small but important details like this makes War Thunder battles even more realistic with each update. More information on the new content and features in the “Heavy Cavalry” update is available at the official War Thunder website.

Gaijin Entertainment is pleased to announce that the new Ninth Wave Major Update for the online military action game War Thunder is now available for players. In addition to rank IX aviation and domestic Hungarian aircraft, it brings completely redesigned water physics and visual effects in naval battles! Iconic new vehicles include the Chinese J-15T fighter jet, the Italian Centauro II tank destroyer, the Russian Pantsir-SM-SV air defense system, and the French aircraft carrier Foch.

Watch the official ‘Ninth Wave’ Update Trailer HERE.

With the Ninth Wave update, naval battles have become even more epic. Subsurface scattering has been implemented for water, which calculates the distribution of light as it interacts with objects beneath the surface, creating a sense of interior volume within the body of water. Reflections on the water surface at different viewing angles are now more accurately rendered, and sea foam rendering is now based on swirl physics and wave resonance. The interaction between objects and water has also been improved, making bomb explosions and torpedo movements even more realistic.

The Chinese J-15T multirole carrier-based combat aircraft is externally reminiscent of the Russian Su-33, which served as the basis for the 15 series jets. Its internal components are completely different however – ​​for example, it features an advanced active phased array radar and Chinese WS-10B engines with an afterburning thrust of nearly 14,000 kgf each. The pilot can carry a large arsenal of unguided and guided weapons, including anti-ship missiles, on 12 hardpoints.

The Centauro II is an Italian wheeled tank destroyer, the prototype of which was unveiled in 2016. Unlike the first Centauro, the new model features the HITFACT Mk II turret, in which the automatic loader and ammunition stowage are located behind an armored bulkhead and separated from the crew, significantly increasing survivability. The arsenal includes the effective DM53 round with a penetration of over 620 mm, capable of combating even the most advanced armored vehicles. Furthermore, the Centauro II has a more powerful 720 horsepower engine, which quickly accelerates the vehicle to speeds in excess of 100 km/h.

The Pantsir-SM-SV is a modernized Russian anti-aircraft artillery system built on a mobile tracked chassis, and equipped with an improved radar with increased detection range and two new types of ammunition. The long-range 95Ya6M missiles fly up to 40 km at a speed of 1,700 meters per second. Their warhead deploys several dozen meters from the target, showering it with shrapnel. The new small TKB-1055 missiles are designed to engage multiple small targets at close range, such as UAVs, incoming munitions, and light helicopters. More information about the update is available on the official War Thunder website.

Gaijin Entertainment announces that the “Ninth Wave” major update for the online military action game War Thunder will be released in mid-March. It introduces Rank IX and the most modern generation 4+ aircraft, such as the F/A-18F and Su-30SM2. The major update will also feature Hungarian planes, redesigned classic maps like “White Rock Fortress” and “Ardennes” and dozens of new ground, air, and naval vehicles, including the American destroyer Helm, which was one of the first to fight back against the enemy at Pearl Harbor.

‘Ninth Wave’ Update Trailer

The Australian F/A-18F Super Hornet is a two-seat modification of the renowned fighter-bomber, capable of carrying a large number of AMRAAM active radar-homing missiles for long-range air combat and a vast arsenal of air-to-surface weapons for ground attack. These aircraft were delivered to the Australian Air Force from 2010 to 2012, and were used in Iraq in 2014.

White Rock Fortress, one of War Thunder’s first ground battle locations, was essentially rebuilt from scratch according to modern graphics standards, with an abundance of fine visual details, while maintaining the navigation familiar to veterans. A similar graphical overhaul awaits fans of the Ardennes map, with abandoned gun emplacements, collapsed buildings, and trees covered in autumn gold now look significantly better, while all approaches, bypasses, and terrain layout remain unchanged. There are also some gameplay innovations: abandoned vehicles (bulldozers and tractors) can now be used as temporary mobile cover by pushing them forward.

Hungarian combat aircraft will be added to the Italian aviation research tree, starting with the Héja I and II fighters, based on the all-metal Reggiane Re.2000 monoplane from the Second World War. The Héja I features an 8mm steel backplate, which adds some weight but significantly increases survivability. In the Héja II, Hungarian engineers installed a new domestically produced propeller-engine system, redistributed the fuel tanks, and installed Hungarian Gebauer 1940.M GKM heavy machine guns with a higher rate of fire.

The M1296 Dragoon is an American combat vehicle based on the Stryker platform, featuring a new unmanned turret with a 30 mm XM813 cannon. Its shells can effectively destroy light vehicles and helicopters, and even penetrate the side of any main battle tank. Its fast wheeled chassis allows it to accelerate to 100 km/h on hard surfaces, maneuver quickly, and flank the enemy.

More information about the “Ninth Wave” update can be found on the game’s official website.

“Line of Contact” Release Trailer

The M10 Booker is a modern American light tank with good mobility, a 105mm XM35 gun, and the best armor-piercing shell of its caliber, capable of penetrating even the best protected main battle tanks. The fire control system includes a convenient panoramic sight, a laser rangefinder, and a thermal imager. Although the M10 Booker program was canceled this year, two dozen vehicles were delivered to the troops in February 2024. In War Thunder, this tank is ideal for reconnaissance and in the sniper role.

The F/A-18E Super Hornet is a major upgrade of the F/A-18C Hornet, significantly different from the original model. For example the airframe was redesigned and is 90% different, featuring an increased proportion of composite materials. It is the most modern and advanced carrier-based 4++ generation fighter-attack aircraft in the US Navy, equipped with an active electronically scanned array radar, 11 hardpoints, a vast arsenal of smart weapons, and a convenient helmet-mounted targeting system.

The BMPT Terminator is a Russian specialized tank support vehicle. Its two 30mm automatic cannons can engage light vehicles and aircraft, while the Ataka ATGM allows for tank hunting. The first iteration of the Terminator also has an automatic 30mm AGS grenade launcher as part of its combat module. Both Terminator versions added to War Thunder use a tank chassis (T-90 or T-72), which provides good mobility and a good amount of protection compared to infantry fighting vehicles and other light vehicles.

More information on the update is available on the official War Thunder website.

Watch the Line of Contact Update Trailer

Infantry battles will take place exclusively on new maps specially created for the new mode. Test participants will be able to fight for two in-game nations (the USA and the USSR/Russia) with pre-installed sets of modern weapons and gear, as well as ground and air vehicles. New maps, nations, and military hardware will regularly be added to the game in the future, just as in other War Thunder modes.

Infantry squads in the Closed Beta will be armed with 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; MAC 11 and PP-19 Bizon submachine guns; as well as hand grenades, grenade launchers, MANPADS, reconnaissance drones, and FPV drones. During the Closed Beta, infantry will be supported by M1 Abrams and T-72B tanks, M3A3 Bradley and BMP-3 fighting vehicles, and AH-64A and Mi-24V helicopters.

More information will be provided on how to access the closed beta test on the official War Thunder website.

Gaijin Entertainment is pleased to announce the new major update “Spearhead” for the online military action game War Thunder is now available to players! It includes visual remakes of the maps “Stalingrad” and “Carpathians”, along with dozens of new ground, air, and naval vehicles. Some standout examples include the Italian MB-326K attack aircraft, the Israeli M113 HVMS IFV, the American F-15C Golden Eagle fighter jet and the Venezuelan Su-30MK2 AMV fighter jet.

Watch the “Spearhead” Release Trailer HERE.

The MB-326K is a strike modification of the Italian MB-326, a fully armed and agile trainer aircraft! Pilots can equip a wide range of weaponry, from various free-fall bombs of calibers between 250 and 500 lb, napalm bombs and several unguided rockets. The aircraft also features powerful internal 30 mm DEFA guns, and can bolster this firepower further with 7.62 mm miniguns and an additional pair of 30 mm cannon pods.

The Venezuelan Su-30MK2 AMV is a modern heavy fighter with 12 weapon hardpoints. It is able to equip a total payload of over 8000 kg, all while maintaining high maneuverability and reaching speeds exceeding mach 2 with a full combat load. It can equip a large range of weaponry, from the familiar air-to-air missiles, TV-guided bombs and Kh-29L and Kh-29TD air-to-surface missiles. This special Su-30 modification can also equip the Kh-59M – a giant missile new to War Thunder, designed to engage ground and naval targets.

The legendary Stalingrad map, which debuted in the game 10 years ago, has been completely visually overhauled as well. This upgrade has not functionally changed the map, focusing instead on graphical improvements – this way this much loved map will stay familiar to players, while also being much more visually appealing. Another original map, Carpathians, has been upgraded in a similar way too. All objects and foliage have been remodeled from scratch, giving it a much more realistic and fresh appearance.

The full list of changes in the “Spearhead” update is available on the official War Thunder website.