War Thunder

Gaijin Entertainment today announced the start of the Operation H.E.A.T. player event in War Thunder. From August 2nd to August 26th, players are able to complete in-game tasks in battle to get six new and exclusive vehicles: the BT-7 (F-32) light tank, Bf 110 C-6 heavy fighter, River class (K-246) frigate, AUBL/74 HVG armoured car, P-59A jet fighter and Yūdachi destroyer, as well as camouflages and decals.

The new and exclusive vehicles will be interesting to military history fans and seasoned War Thunder veterans alike, both for their historical and tactical significance.

• BT-7 (F-32): In 1939, a single BT-7 light tank was equipped with the 76 mm F-32 tank cannon for testing purposes. The high speed of the BT-7 (F-32) allows players to outmaneuver their enemies, while the upgraded high-caliber cannon can take on most enemies in low-rank battles head on.
• P-59A Airacomet: The P-59A is the very first American jet fighter. Developed during World War II, it was never used in real combat. In War Thunder, the Airacomet will finally be able to prove its worth on Rank IV, fighting alongside top piston-engined aircraft which are more or less equal in combat strength.
• AUBL/74 HVG: This modification of the powerful FIAT AUBL/74 is equipped with a high-velocity 60mm cannon featuring a two-plane stabilizer. Its light armor makes it a nimble opponent, able to snipe accurately at enemies over long distances.
• Bf 110C-6: The C-6 modification of Germany’s “Zerstörer” series of aircraft is part of a special program to outfit the Bf 110 fighter with a heavy cannon armament. Units outfitted with the C-6 were used during the Battle of France in anti-tank duty. In War Thunder, they will be a formidable force to deploy both against ground and large air targets, such as bombers.
• River-class Frigate: The Royal Navy’s River-class rose to reputation by escorting convoys, fighting Axis submarines and supporting ground troops during the D-Day landings. With cannons ranging from 20mm to 102mm, it is effective against aircraft and small warships.
• Shiratsuyu-class Destroyer Yūdachi: The Yuudachi was part of the famous “Tokyo Express”, which ran night-supply runs to the embattled Japanese forces on Guadalcanal. With five 127mm primary cannons and two four-barreled torpedo launchers, it is a formidable warship in War Thunder.

To participate in Operation H.E.A.T. and to get access to the exclusive vehicles, players can participate in regular Random Battles, where they earn distinct “Marks of Distinction” for tankers, pilots and captains. By earning enough “Marks of Distinction”, players can unlock prizes, such as decals, camouflages and the aforementioned vehicles. For example, tankers will receive a coupon for the BT-7 (F-32)with five “Marks of Distinction” , a special camouflage for the BT-7 (F-32) with six, the AUBL/74 HVG with ten, and so on. Players can use the vehicle coupons to unlock the vehicles for their own account, or sell them to other players on the Gaijin Market.

Click here for a full list of prizes and more details on the event.

For more game information and to download War Thunder, please visit the official War Thunder website.

25 Japanese ships, new French tanks and an Anime-style helicopter

Gaijin Entertainment today announced the release of the “Imperial Navy” Content Update for the free-to-play vehicle combat game War Thunder. It sees the debut of the game’s first Japanese navy lineup with 25 different ships ranging from fast escorts like the T1 torpedo boat to the powerful heavy cruiser Furutaka, as well as two playable ships of other nations, 10 tanks, 13 aircraft and one new helicopter in total.

The Heavy Cruiser Furutaka, which is the first heavy cruiser represented in War Thunder, was originally constructed in the 1920s. In-game, it is featured in its late version, after the modernization it received in 1937. This exact variant of the Furutaka took part in the Battle of Savo Island, which was one of the Imperial Japanese Navy’s biggest victories. Other interesting Japanese ships include the submarine chaser Karo-Tei Type 2, which was hunting US-American submarines near Okinawa and the Philippines in the final stages of World War II.

Another guest that reaches War Thunder from the Land of the Rising Sun is the AH-1S, the first helicopter of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces available in War Thunder. Just as in real life, it also sports its Anime-style camouflage depicting the character “Wakana Kisarazu”, one of the four cute fictional girls who in 2012 became symbols of the JSDF’s Camp Kisarazu. Combat helicopters decorated with pictures of those characters created a huge buzz among media and military fans. They are also featured in the Japanese social game called “Rick G Earth” and have inspired a series of plastic models. Now, thanks to an agreement between Gaijin Entertainment and Zoo Corporation, all War Thunder players can use the official Wakana Kisarazu camouflage as well as the female pilot modeled after this character in-game.

Update also has plenty in stock for the other branches and nations represented in War Thunder. The game’s last content update introduced the first SAM (surface-to-air) missile system, the Soviet 2S6 Tunguska. Now, competing nations receive similar vehicles as well, e.g. the US-American Bradley ADATS tank, which is capable of attacking both air and ground targets with cannons and 8 guided missiles. Another example is the British Stormer HVM that is equipped with 16 guided missiles, each capable of separating itself into three guided, explosive-filled tungsten rounds.

Fans of modern armored vehicles will receive access to the French Leclerc S1, the first variant of France’s current main battle which is still in service both in France as well as the United Arab Emirates. Fast and well-protected, the Leclerc S1 will offer serious competition to vehicles like the M1A1 Abrams, Soviet T-80U or similar. Another option is the new Japanese Type 16 MCV, a wheeled tank destroyer of the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force that entered service only a year ago, while the fast British jet fighter Hunter F.6 with experimental SRAAM rockets will surely receive a warm welcome by pilots that prefer to fight aggressively. Fans of aviation history will also be able to lay their hands on the unique Messerschmitt Me 264, a prototype German strategic bomber developed as part of the “Amerikabomberprogramm” (“America Bomber” project), which was designed to attack land targets within the United States of America by crossing the Atlantic ocean.

More information on the Update “Imperial Navy” is available on the official War Thunder website.

Gaijin Entertainment announces that the Open Beta of War Thunder’s anticipated World War mode is starting today. The new game mode gives players the opportunity to re-enact famous battles of World War II, to follow in history’s footsteps or change its course completely.

In game, these battles are organized in ‘Operations’, which are based on real world events and combat campaigns, such as the Battle of El Alamein or Battle of Vitebsk. Commanders of either side can move air- and ground armies on a strategic map, and when those armies meet, their clash is resolved by a battle session between players. Results of said battles can have significant effects on the outcome of the Operation, as the defeated side retreats and loses vehicles or even full regiments. An Operation can take up to two hours to complete, depending on the decisiveness of its battles.

Only Squadron Commanders, leaders of War Thunder’s player communities, can initiate the launch of a new Operation, but everyone is allowed to participate – both squadron members as well as the general playerbase. The list of available vehicles in each Operation is limited by historical context, meaning it is not possible to fly a jet fighter over the skies of El Alamein or ride a Japanese tank to battle at Vitebsk. If a player participating in the Operation has vehicles fitting to the historical context, he will be able to take his specific vehicle including crew and modifications. If a player does not own any of the required vehicles, he or she can still participate by receiving a vehicle in its basic modification. This means that participation is open to both veteran players as well war history fans that are still new to War Thunder.

Each operation consists of various battles with differing tasks and available vehicles. Modes include assault, defence, convoy attacks, cover missions as well as head-on confrontations featuring both ground and air forces. The vital link between battles is the strategic map, where commanders may e.g. send an air army to assist ground forces, making aircraft available for one side what previously seemed to be a ground battle only. The diversity of different mission types as well as the asymmetry between relative team power and objectives will open a new experience to players, offering an exciting alternative to War Thunder’s regular PvP battles.

View the War Thunder – World War teaser trailer HERE.

The World War mode is a season-based event, with the first already running until June 10, with the best players set to receive additional rewards. The full schedule of the season and more information about War Thunder is available on the games official website.

Attack Boats, Destroyers and Heavy Cruisers on the Horizon as Japan Prepares for War at Sea

Gaijin Entertainment today announced that War Thunder will soon unleash the might of the Japanese Navy as the game’s fifth Naval Forces vehicle tree. Beta-testing of the initial lineup of the Japanese ships will start at the end of May, with the release of War Thunder’s next major Content Update 1.89.

The initial batch of Japanese ships will encompass more than 20 ships, ranging from torpedo and gunboats to destroyers and cruisers. Many of those were active participants in some of the biggest battles of World War II. This includes the light cruiser Agana, which evacuated Japanese forces from Guadalcanal, and the destroyer Yugumo, which escorted Admiral Nagumo’s strike force against Midway and was sunk during the battles around the Solomon Islands. While the majority of the ships belong to the Imperial Japanese Navy, the game will also see the addition of modern ships of the post-war Japanese Self-Defense Marine Forces, including the PT-15, which was the last torpedo boat to serve in the Japanese Navy.

The oxygen-propelled Type 93 torpedoes, which were used by Japanese destroyers and cruisers of World War II, were the most advanced torpedoes of their time and featured excellent hitting power, range and speed. After the war, they were referred to by most historians as the Japanese “Long Lance”. All players of War Thunder will be able to get their history lesson on that subject very soon, as – true to War Thunder’s realistic approach – both the design and capabilities of the Japanese Navy were recreated as authentically as possible. The Yugumo, for example, is equipped with eight torpedo tubes in two traversable quad-turrets mounted at the center of the ship, allowing the player to launch these devastating weapons to both sides.

After the release of Update 1.89, all players can get access to the beta testing of Japanese ships by completing tasks in War Thunder. Alternatively, access is granted via the purchase of one of the pre-order bundles containing a premium Japanese ship, a sum of premium currency, several days of premium time as well as a unique player title and vehicle decal. One pre-order pack will include the modern patrol boat PG-02 (Rank II), while the other will include the World War II destroyer Kiyoshimo (Rank III).

The launch of the Japanese Navy will also see another first in the game: The introduction of heavy cruisers. More information about this as well as the other new features of the coming Update will be made available on the War Thunder website over the coming weeks.

While the Japanese Navy is getting ready for battle, the fans might try another fun activity – the YouTube Cup. Popular War Thunder YouTube and Twitch content creators like MrSteveGamer or Abinavski will clash in this online tournament on May 6th – May 8th. The live stream from the tournament will be available at the official War Thunder channels on Twitch, YouTube and Facebook with the commentary from PhlyDaily – a famous War Thunder expert with more than 750,000 subscribers.

Battlefield Engineer event with 6 exclusive rare vehicles to acquire starts today in War Thunder

Gaijin Entertainment announced its Battlefield Engineer activity in the military vehicle online game War Thunder. The event gives War Thunder players the opportunity to repair and trade rare military vehicles. Players will get a battle damaged I-180S fighter and will be able to repair it back to operational duty. Restore as many of those fighters as you can to trade them for other rare vehicles including: VFW SPG, Pr.122bis submarine chaser, the Ju 388 J interceptor, the Merkava Mk.1 MBT or the light cruiser HMS Tiger. Top performing players will also get the chance to win exclusive camouflage for those vehicles.

In the event players will receive a damaged I-180S after the first battle.The first step in repairing the aircraft is diagnosing the vehicle in a diagnostic test flight to find out which components are defective. The damage to the components is unique for each aircraft and in most cases they can be indicated by a visual inspection. Armament, flaps, brakes – these and other components can all be tested in a diagnostic flight. Participation in the battle will give the user new components and Aircraft Maintenance Technician Toolkits that will allow them to disassemble and reassemble the plane. Players gain access to more repair components for the I-180S simply by playing the game, alternatively they can also speed up the process by buying the necessary items they need via the Gaijin Market.

Additional I-180S fighters will be received as Vouchers that can be traded for the unique rare vehicles: i.e. the Merkava Mk.1 is the first MBT developed and built by the Israeli armed forces, the light cruiser HMS Tiger is the last traditional WW2-era British gun cruiser design and the Junkers Ju 388J is a German late-war high altitude bomber hunter, designed in response to threats posed by the new American B-29 Superfortress bomber. These models are only available to players participating in the Battlefield Engineer event.

First place ranking players in the team at the end of each battle will receive extra Aircraft Maintenance Technician Toolkits and in some cases a coupon for the unique camouflage. All spare coupons, components and toolkits can be sold to other players in the Market.

More details on the Battlefield Engineer event are available at the official website.

Gaijin Entertainment announces the release of Content Update 1.87 ‘Locked on!’ for the military vehicle online game War Thunder. It adds radar systems as a new game mechanic for aircraft, helicopters and tanks as well as more than 30 new vehicles to the game. The extensive list of new machines includes the first French helicopters, new cruisers and destroyers, the first ground vehicles of the new Rank VII as well as the first surface-to-air missile (SAM) system, the Soviet 2S6 ‘Tunguska’.

Radar systems are a new game mechanic introduced to War Thunder and will be available on a large selection of different vehicles with the release of this update. Installed on anti-aircraft vehicles, they will allow for the detection and engagement of aircraft and helicopters in a large radius, increasing the protection of ground forces against aerial threats. AA gunners will be able to track and lead targets more effectively to counter the fast speed of supersonic aircraft, while the increased effective range will counterbalance the power of helicopters armed with guided missiles.

In turn, aircraft and helicopters that are equipped with radar systems can detect the presence of radar-assisted anti-aircraft systems – and some models can even detect the direction of the signal. Pilots will receive warnings, allowing them to evade an incoming attack by means of maneuvers or hiding behind obstacles. Affected anti-aircraft vehicles, however, can deactivate their radar at any time to reduce their visibility. This “electronic warfare” will make War Thunder’s combined arms battles even more tactically diverse.

16 tanks, aircraft and helicopters in total have been equipped with radar systems so far, including the first vehicle SAM system in War Thunder – the Soviet 2S6 ‘Tunguska’. It is armed with eight 9M311 surface-to-air missiles that will hunt enemy aircraft with speeds of up to 900 m/s, which can alternatively be used to combat armored ground vehicles. More radar equipped vehicles to come – including for Naval forces.

The new vehicles added with Update 1.87 include the first tanks of Rank VII, such as the M1A1 for the US and Challenger 2 for Great Britain, among others. Among the aircraft added with this Update is the fastest jet fighter in the game, the Japanese Mitsubishi T-2, which can reach an impressive 1.6 mach speed. Several aircraft present on Rank V were also equipped with air-to-air guided missiles.

Update 1.87 also includes a new combined-arms combat location, ‘Alaska’, where battles will take place both along wide city streets and in the dense, surrounding forests. Seeing a helicopter emerge behind one of the city’s skyscrapers is sure to turn any battle into a real blockbuster experience!

Watch the War Thunder Content Update 1.87 “Locked On” Teaser Trailer HERE.

More information about the War Thunder Update 1.87 ‘Locked on!’ is available on the game’s official website.

Gaijin Entertainment today announces the imminent release of the major content Update 1.87 for its military vehicle combat game War Thunder. Its release will push the boundaries of ground vehicle technology represented in the game even further, allowing players to go into battle with vehicles of the late 20th century, some of which entered service well after the end of the Cold War. Besides a new rank of modern ground vehicles, the new additions include many new aircraft and ships.

The new Ground Forces Rank VII will contain tanks and combat vehicles created between the late 1980s and 1990s, many of which participated in armed conflicts of their time. Some of the new vehicles, their features and unique combat capabilities will be detailed in the forthcoming War Thunder Developer Diaries, the first of which was recently released.

In it, players can read all about an icon of modern-day tank combat, the British main battle tank Challenger 2. In its current iteration, it is the most modern MBT to have ever served in the British Army. With Update 1.87, players of War Thunder will be able to command the Challenger 2, one of the world’s best tanks, in virtual battles all over the globe. Developed in the mid-1980s to replace the Challenger 1, it is has been on active service since the late 1990s and participated both in peacekeeping missions, as well as in military conflicts in Iraq.

Like its predecessor, the Challenger 2 in War Thunder boasts a great combination of mobility and firepower. Now featuring Chobham armour, it is one of the best protected vehicles in the game, and especially dangerous in frontal engagements. It will be a formidable enemy, even to the strongest vehicles the other War Thunder nations have to offer.

Learn more about Rank VII for Ground Forces, the Challenger 2 main battle tank and other upcoming vehicles and additions of Update 1.87 in the War Thunder Developer Diaries.

Gaijin Entertainment has today announced the release of Update 1.85 “Supersonic” for the vehicular combat MMO War Thunder. As the game’s most extensive expansion this year, it has added nearly 50 new vehicles including the first supersonic jet aircraft with guided air-to-air missiles, a new Italian ground vehicles tech tree, new modern tanks such as the U.S. M3 Bradley and Soviet T-72A, as well as new destroyers and light cruisers for Naval Forces.

With Update 1.85, Aviation in War Thunder has seen the dawn of a new era of air combat. The game’s previous five ranks of aircraft have been extended by the new top Rank VI, which will house several new near- and supersonic aircraft armed with guided air-to-air missiles. The first modern jet fighters to join War Thunder will be the American F-100D Super Sabre, the British Gloster Javelin Mk 9 and the Soviet MiG-19PT. Combat at supersonic speed will be subject to War Thunder’s realistic physics model, allowing players to observe the cone-shaped vapor cloud and those on the ground to hear the characteristic “sonic boom”.

Aircraft on Rank VI, as well as helicopters, can now be equipped with infrared guided air-to-air missiles as a new type of armament. These early guided missiles, while lethal when striking an unsuspecting enemy, are not very maneuverable and can be avoided by quick evasive maneuvers. A new warning system, which will alert affected players of an incoming attack, will help to do it in time. On helicopters, which are more limited in their evasion abilities, players can deploy infrared countermeasures for their own protection.

The Ground Forces of War Thunder have also seen a major addition this update, with almost 30 Italian vehicles from the 1930s to the end of the Cold War now available in-game. This includes vehicles such as the Breda 501 and B1 Centauro, which are excellent examples for Italy’s impressive lineup of fast and powerful wheeled combat vehicles. The anti-aircraft tank OTOMATIC is also sure to please Italian tankers on higher ranks, as its fast and powerful 76mm cannon with both sabot and proximity-fuse shells can punish enemy tanks and aircraft equally efficiently. For the other nations, the new vehicles include the long-awaited T-72A main battle tank for the Soviet Union, the ATGM-equipped infantry fighting vehicles M3 Bradley and Type 89 for United States and Japan respectively, as well as the Israeli Sho’t Kal Dalet, a modified Centurion tank available for Great Britain.

The War Thunder Naval Forces will also see several new additions, with two new destroyers as well as the four new cruisers, the U.S. USS Raleigh (CL-7), German KMS Köln, British HMS Dido and Soviet Krasny Krym. With Update 1.85, ther recently introduced Royal Navy also completed its closed beta testing, making more than two dozen British warships available to all players.

New locations for War Thunder include Vietnam, a new battlefield for tankers with the characteristic thick vegetation, narrow paths and coastal villages popularized by Vietnam War movies. Pilots can now dogfight over the skies of ‘Afghanistan’, depicting a modern-day version of the mountainous state featuring big cities among vast mountain ranges, while captains will be able to go to battle around the ‘Tierra del Fuego’ archipelago at the border of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

More information about War Thunder Update 1.85 “Supersonic” is available on the game’s official website.

Gaijin Entertainment has announced details about this year’s Festive Quest for War Thunder, a traditional in-game event marathon that allows players to obtain several exclusive Premium vehicles and additional bonuses entirely for free and simply by playing the game.

The Festive Quest will run from December 21 to January 14, and rewards include the two aircraft MB.152C1 (France) and Fw 190 C (Germany) as well as the two ground vehicles SU-85A (USSR) and T30 Heavy Tank (USA). The vehicles were specifically created for this year’s Festive Quest and can only be obtained by participating in the event. Other bonuses unlocked along the way in are several decals, camouflages and decorative items. All vehicles are awarded as coupons, which means players can either use them for their own account, or sell them after the event for premium currency to other players on the Gaijin Marketplace.

About the ‘Festive Quest’: The War Thunder Festive Quest is an in-game event marathon offering varying challenges for players on tanks and aircraft. Players can progressively advance within the event by completing in-game tasks such as destroying enemy vehicles or capturing objectives. With every challenge unlocked, players receive a different in-game bonus, including the aforementioned vehicles at certain milestones.

Detailed information about the War Thunder Festive Quest is available on the official game website.

Gaijin Entertainment has announced that the upcoming Update 1.85, nicknamed ‘Supersonic’, will introduce a new top rank of aircraft to the free-to-play vehicular combat MMO War Thunder. The new Rank VI will feature supersonic jets armed with air-to-air guided missiles – a completely new type of armament in the game.

Supersonic Rank VI aircraft: The in-game nations USA, Great Britain and USSR will be the first nations to feature new Rank VI aircraft. Among those is the first mass-produced supersonic jet, the F-100 Super Sabre, which will be available for the U.S. Air Force in the F-100D modification. Royal Air Force pilots will get their hands on the two-engine Gloster Javelin F.A.W. Mk.9, while the USSR will receive the MiG-19PT, the fastest of the three.

The new aircraft can reach a maximum speed of 1200 to 1450 km/h (745 to 900 mph), enabling them to quickly gain altitude to easily catch up with adversaries and take an advantageous position for an attack above the battlefield. At the same time, the high speeds will require pilots to react quickly and anticipate the actions of their enemies, as maneuvering at the speed of sound is by far not an easy task.

Air-to-air guided missiles: The main feature difference of aircraft of Rank VI is the availability of air-to-air guided missiles as a choice of armament. These missiles are guided by infrared, which means they follow enemies by tracking the hot exhausts of jet and gas turbine engines.

This new type of armament will be available for helicopters as well; which will also receive new types of defense to counter air-to-air missiles: heat flares, exhaust infrared suppression system and counter-optical-electronic systems. Deployed infrared countermeasures disrupt the missile guidance, thus ensuring that cannon-based armament remains important.

If a missile is fired at a player, an on-screen warning will let the target know about the incoming attack. In such a case the best course of action is to change the direction of flight direction immediately to evade the attack.

Additional Rank V aircraft: With the embrace of a new supersonic era of combat aviation in War Thunder, several new Premium aircraft will be made available on Rank V for the respective nations. Among the aircraft that will help to quickly unlock the latest supersonic aircraft will be the Soviet MiG-15bis ISh, the American F-86F-35 Saber and the British Meteor F Mk.8 Reaper. All aircraft will feature a large selection of rocket and bomb armaments, which will also provide new opportunities to combat high-ranking enemy tanks in combined arms battles.

More information is available on the official War Thunder website.