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Adding key bindings for aiming point control created conflicts with certain free-look actions, so to avoid this, we removed the new default bindings. However, key bindings were still needed to make full use of the mechanic, particularly for assigning weapons to aiming points. Since we know not everyone has enough spare keys to bind, we've planned the interface to be the main means of controlling the mechanic from the start and so now we’ve made it possible to assign munitions to aiming points without needing separate key bindings at all, they can be assigned simply by using the tactical map. To assign a weapon to a point, just right-click on it (a hint about this now appears at the side of the map), then use the left and right mouse buttons to select as many suitable munitions as you like from the menu that appears, where handy counters show both the current and maximum available amounts.
Also, for aircraft that use their weapons as the ESM sensor, the display will now automatically exit ESM mode once all missiles have been expended (as at this point it is non-functional), so you no longer need to switch back to radar mode manually.
A logic error in the interface meant that, for a number of aircraft, the game was unable to match certain radar modes with their corresponding ranges, causing both to be skipped and left out of the preset list on the respawn and test flight screens. All values are now back in place, so you can once again fully configure your radar the way you want before spawning in.
When decorators are mounted on vehicles, they get rotated in space based on the slope of the armor at the mounting point. As with everywhere else in 3D graphics, this is done using transformation matrices (without getting too deep into linear algebra, these are essentially tables of numbers that point coordinates get multiplied by in order to rotate objects). A bug meant that when mounting on heavily curved armor, this transformation matrix could be calculated incorrectly, resulting in the new X, Y, and Z axes not being perpendicular to each other, which made the decorator appear warped. This has now been fixed, so decorators should display correctly as intended even on especially curved armor.
The last major update introduced a bug where when moving in reverse, friction force was added to the force produced by the tracks or wheels instead of being subtracted from it, which allowed vehicles to reach some rather unseemly speeds. Some players compared it to a racing game and joked about adding a eurobeat soundtrack, while others filed reports. We're grateful to everyone, both for their vigilance and for their great sense of humor!
Check out the full list of fixes and improvements in the update notes below! Here’s some more: keyboard arrow keys can be assigned to actions again, the "Attention to the Map" command works again when clicking the minimap if the cursor is being shown not via the Alt key, fuel jettison after using rocket boosters works again, trees no longer disappear from optics when zooming in, and the in-battle chat window width has returned to its previous value.
If you've spotted a bug in the game, please use our convenient tool to file a report.
A bug that made fuel dumping impossible after using rocket boosters has been fixed. (Report).
J-22M1A — a bug that caused the fuel in the drop tank to show up in the interface as a part of the fuel in the main fuel tanks, without the separate timer, has been fixed.
Ju 388 J — a bug that caused the crosshair in 3rd person view to disappear and appear in the wrong place has been fixed.
A bug that sometimes caused the turret to move horizontally in jerks when the gun was fully lowered even though the gun itself wasn’t preventing the turret from rotating has been fixed.
A bug that caused the wrong missile type to be loaded into the launchers of multi-vehicle SAMs if the missile type was switched on a launcher vehicle and then the player switched to a radar vehicle before the reload has ended has been fixed.
A bug in the hit analysis menu that sometimes caused armor elements the shell hit to not be highlighted has been fixed.
A bug that caused the commander camera to jiggle when opening and closing the radar controls screen on some SAMs, like the HQ11, has been fixed.
The size of the vegetation-free zone around the airfields has been increased.
The AA settings of corvettes have been adjusted to make it easier to hit them with anti-ship missiles.
A bug that made it impossible to change the preset radar modes on the spawn screen of some aircraft has been fixed. (Report).
\ Rocky Pillars — a bug that caused trees to appear in the air above the cliffs has been fixed. (Report).
A bug that sometimes caused decorators placed on very curved surfaces to deform has been fixed. (Report).
The following decals have been moved to corresponding categories:
Tricolore Test Pilot: to Italy – Aircraft;
Emblem of the Coldstream Guards: to Britain – Tanks;
Coat of arms of Allied Joint Force Command Brunssum: to Germany – Tanks.
Centauro II (P) has been added to the list of vehicles for completing the “Invincible Centauro Italian Tanker” tasks. (Report).
A bug that caused decorators to remain hanging in the air when switching from a ground vehicle with decorators to the Israeli tree in the hangar when no Israeli vehicles were present in the crew slots (or when removing the last Israeli ground vehicle with decorators from the crew slot) has been fixed. (Report).
Patch notes reflect only key changes, meaning they may not include a complete list of all improvements made. Additionally, War Thunder is constantly being updated and some changes may not require an update. Changes reflected in patch notes are formed by taking reactions and requests of the community from the bug reporting service, forums and other official platforms into account. Bug fixes and changes are implemented in order of importance, for example a game-breaking bug will be worked on and implemented sooner.
Please note that vehicle specifications and model visuals may be subject to revision and change before being added to the game.
Aircraft
F/A-18C MLU 2 (Sweden) — a bug that caused the pylons with 2x AGM-154A1 JSOW to not display has been fixed. (Report).
I-16 type 5 — a bug that caused the landing gear to appear deployed when spawning in the air has been fixed. (Report).
Ground Vehicles
FIAT 6616UB — DM63 APDS has been added.
Csaba — a bug that caused some of the textures to display incorrectly has been fixed. (Report).
PGZ88 — a bug that caused the mantlet to give significantly more protection than it should have has been fixed. (Report, Report).
PGZ88 — a bug that sometimes caused graphical artifacts to appear around the vehicle when viewing it from some angles has been fixed. (Report).
Interface
The minimal radar indicator (without a full set of the radar control buttons around it) now has two more buttons: to switch between the radar and IRST and to switch to ESM mode.
Nuclear Escalation
New Battle Rating bracket of 12.0-13.0 has been added to the early era battles. Thus, aircraft with a BR of 13.0 can be matched into both early and late era battles.
A bug that caused the “Peaceful Atom” award from Ground Battles to start being awarded in the game mode has been fixed. (Report).
Patch notes reflect only key changes, meaning they may not include a complete list of all improvements made. Additionally, War Thunder is constantly being updated and some changes may not require an update. Changes reflected in patch notes are formed by taking reactions and requests of the community from the bug reporting service, forums and other official platforms into account. Bug fixes and changes are implemented in order of importance, for example a game-breaking bug will be worked on and implemented sooner.
IAR-81C (DB 605) — a bug that caused the aircraft to be hidden from the tech tree when the test-drive was active has been fixed. (Report).
☢MiG-29SMT (9-19) — a bug that caused chaff to be missing from the available countermeasures has been fixed.
Scimitar Mk.2 — Battle Rating in all game modes has been adjusted from 8.0 to 8.3. A bug that caused the machine gun muzzle flash to appear in the wrong place has been fixed. (Report). A bug that caused the gunner optics to be located inside the turret and have unlimited aiming angles has been fixed. (Report).
To balance the queues a few nation presets have been added to an early era battles (Battle Ratings 10.3-12.7), where Great Britain, Sweden and France can now play in the same team with the USSR and China, as well as a preset for 11.7-12.7 BR bracket where USA and Germany play versus all other nations.
Project 956 — a bug that sometimes caused the ship to ignore air targets has been fixed.
Patch notes reflect only key changes, meaning they may not include a complete list of all improvements made. Additionally, War Thunder is constantly being updated and some changes may not require an update. Changes reflected in patch notes are formed by taking reactions and requests of the community from the bug reporting service, forums and other official platforms into account. Bug fixes and changes are implemented in order of importance, for example a game-breaking bug will be worked on and implemented sooner.
Scimitar Mk.2: An Event Vehicle Light Tank for Great Britain at Rank VI
At a glance:
High speed and reversible transmission
30 mm cannon with APDS rounds
Additional composite armor elements and slat armor screens
Meet the agile Scimitar Mk.2 reconnaissance vehicle, equipped with add-on armor. This new model is the vehicle reward in the Scimitar Strike event that started today!
You’ll feel familiar with the Scimitar Mk.2 if you already played the variant of the Scimitar already in the game. The main differences that the Mk.2 has is a new turret and additional armor on the sides. This makes it more resistant to smaller caliber guns, and it can even withstand hits from some early gen ATGMs if you’re lucky! More armor means more weight, which is the case for the Scimitar Mk.2. However, it does have a new engine and automatic transmission with a reversing transmission, allowing you to still get into good positions and reverse away from danger when needed.
The Scimitar Mk.2 has a 30 mm cannon that can fire APDS rounds. Make sure to utilize these as much as you can by aiming for the side armor of most tanks, which the rounds will be able to penetrate. They will however be able to penetrate the front of many SAM/SPAAs and light tanks. You can use this vehicle’s speed to excel at flanking maneuvers and rapidly capturing or contesting objectives. Its main drawback, as with the first Scimitar, is the autocannon’s relatively low rate of fire, resulting from its three-round clip feed system. Make sure to keep this in mind when picking your targets.
Like all light vehicles in the game, the Scimitar Mk.2 relies on mobility to survive. It’s a heavier vehicle than its predecessor, but it still retains excellent mobility, being able to reach speeds of up to 80 km/h on paved roads. This is excellent, but the icing on the cake with the Scimitar Mk.2 is its reverse transmission, which also allows the vehicle to reverse up to 80 km/h as well!
Developer comment: The Scimitar Mk.2 has some advantages and disadvantages compared to the regular Scimitar. It has slightly improved protection due to the slat armor, but this comes at the cost of slightly reduced speed. This puts this vehicle in a good position to be an event vehicle, as it doesn’t differ much from the variant available in the tree: players who are not interested in it are not missing out on a unique playstyle, but players who do want to get it get another versatile light tank for their British Rank VI lineups if they like.
In 2009, BAE Systems was awarded a contract by the British Army to upgrade FV107 Scimitar reconnaissance vehicles for operations in Afghanistan. Engineers replaced the gasoline engine with a Cummins BTA diesel engine and installed an automatic transmission; they also enhanced mine and ballistic protection and added specialized crew seating and an air conditioning system. The vehicle received new sighting systems, forward-facing cameras, and updated communications equipment. The hull was raised to improve interior space, and an emergency escape hatch was added. The vehicles could be fitted with additional armor and slat armor, which increased the combat weight of the vehicle of the Scimitar Mk.2 to 12 tonnes.
A total of 50 vehicles were upgraded; they entered service in 2011 and were first deployed to Afghanistan in September of that year.
So that’s the Scimitar Mk.2 for you! You can get this vehicle in the Scimitar Strike event that started today. More info in the link below!
Click here to find out more details about the Scimitar Strike EventPlease note that vehicle specifications may be subject to revision and change before being added to the game.The confrontation between North and South Korea that began in 1950 quickly escalated into a large-scale conflict, with the USSR and China supporting one side, and the USA, Great Britain, and several other nations backing the other. The war marked the first time jet aircraft were used on a massive scale. American B-29 Superfortress bombers dominated the Korean skies, but soon they met a new challenge: Soviet MiG-15 fighter jets!
On April 12nd 1951, B-29 bombers escorted by American fighters headed toward northwestern North Korea but were intercepted by Soviet MiG-15s. Casualty figures vary, but the victory belonged entirely to the USSR, with Soviet pilots managing to shoot down several bombers and fighters with no or minimal losses of their own. In the United States, this day became known as “Black Thursday”.
When: From July 23rd (11:00 GMT) until July 27th (11:00 GMT).
Where: You can find the event in the “Events & Tournaments” tab from the hangar.
The event is available in Realistic and Simulator Battles modes. Each player has three respawns.
The objective of the American side is to protect the AI B-29 bombers flying to attack the airfield, while the objective of the Soviet side is to shoot down these bombers!
Battles take place in Realistic and Simulator Battles using the following vehicles:
MiG-15 (USSR, Rank V)
F-86A-5 (USA, Rank V)
We're excited to present a new iteration of the Nuclear Escalation mode!
When: From July 22nd (13:00 GMT) to July 28 (13:00 GMT)
Nuclear Escalation depicts a large-scale conflict involving nuclear weapons, putting you in command of front-line aviation armed with nuclear bombs. The battlefield situation is constantly shifting. Break through enemy defensive lines and destroy enemy depots and convoys to cut off front-line supply routes and dramatically shift the course of the operation. Knock out airfields and destroy artillery, MLRS, and tactical ballistic missile systems that strike your forces' positions from a distance. Suppress anti-aircraft positions, both medium and long-range systems, and destroy the carrier fleet along with its escort. And, of course, fight for air superiority — all with unlimited respawns!
Since the last run in June, we've made a lot of changes. Here are the highlights:
Two separate aircraft "eras" are now available at once, each with two Battle Rating brackets: 10.3–12.0 and 11.7–12.7 in the first era, and 13.0–14.0 and 13.7–14.7 in the second.
Anti-aircraft behavior on land and at sea has been significantly reworked and rebalanced, particularly for short-range SAM systems. For example, they no longer fire while moving at full speed, and now activate their search radars earlier.
Silver Lion rewards for destroying targets have been rebalanced, with rewards for ground vehicles doubled — resulting in an overall increase in rewards.
We've also fixed and improved a lot more. Here's the full rundown!
This time, two mission variants will be available simultaneously in the event, each corresponding to its own aircraft era. Aircraft with a Battle Rating of 10.3–12.0 and 11.7–12.7 fight in early-era battles, while those with a Battle Rating of 13.0–14.0 and 13.7–14.7 fight in late-era battles.
The new nuke carriers, which were recently added to the Ground Battles, are also available in the late-era Escalation battles.
As for the nation lineup, as one of our balancing decisions we've kept only two: USSR vs. everyone, and USSR + China vs. everyone.
Changes have also come to this mode's key force, anti-aircraft systems. Originally, to achieve acceptable server performance during battles on a huge map with hundreds of active units, we had to completely disable search radars on short-range SAM systems. However, this was frustrating and didn't give players the information they needed to make decisions in advance, even after search radars were set to activate on missile launch.
Now, following a series of additional optimizations, here's what's been implemented: short-range SAM systems will activate their radar once a player gets within a distance roughly 1.5 times the system's missile launch range. This should give players enough time to make decisions and strike the SAM sites with anti-radiation missiles before the system opens fire.
We've also fixed another important issue: SAMs in convoys no longer fire while moving at full speed. Instead, as intended, they slow down to launch and guide missiles onto their target, making them easier to fight.
That said, SAMs haven't become passive bystanders. Primarily to address the Kh-31, we've added new anti-radiation missile (ARM) countermeasure logic: if a SAM system detects an incoming munition fired at it from a sufficiently long distance, it can temporarily shut down its radar. When the radar comes back on, the missile will likely miss, since it will have already accumulated significant guidance error. As a result, both teams are now forced to launch ARMs from a closer range to their targets.
Additionally, we fixed a bug where small munitions like the GBU-39 and GBU-53 were being ignored by the HQ-11 and SPYDER. These weapons now also have a new mechanic: small (GBU-39, GBU-53, SPICE 250, 9M127 Vikhr, Brimstone) and stealth (AGM-154 JSOW) munitions now receive lower priority from SAM AI, as a temporary "pseudo-RCS" mechanic. Note that this is a temporary measure, a full implementation of radar cross-section mechanics is planned for later this year.
Long-range air defense systems no longer fire on low-flying targets beyond 20 kilometers, and assign lower priority to targets that are moving away from them, allowing them to better defend against genuinely important threats.
A small change has also been made to SAM markers: the detection range at which a SAM can be spotted now increases while it's firing. Additionally, markers now persist for 10 seconds after you or an ally stop detecting the target.
Overall, SAM systems should become more balanced overall, the ones that were too strong will be weaker, and the underperforming ones should now do their job better. We hope you enjoy the changes!
We've adjusted (mostly significantly increased) the ticket cost of destroyed vehicles for team scoring, and increased both the total ticket pool and the number of tickets required to trigger the next escalation stages. This should make the impact of destroying enemy ground vehicles more noticeable.
We've also rebalanced Silver Lion rewards for destroying enemy vehicles. Rewards for destroying aircraft have been reduced by 8%, while rewards for destroying ground vehicles have doubled, meaning that rewards overall have increased. Please note the mode is still under active development and the in-battle balance keeps evolving, so these values may not be final.
Both the fleet's SAM AI and armament, as well as the munitions used against them, have been reworked as well.
We've fine-tuned the targeting logic for ship-based air defenses and adjusted their engagement ranges, and fixed a bug that caused low-flying targets (anti-ship missiles in particular) to not be engaged by AI ships at all. Ships have also received new SM-2MR (RIM-66C) surface-to-air missiles. All of this has improved the effectiveness of their air defenses, which were previously inadequate.
An important change has been made to all weapons capable of striking ships too, anti-ship missiles, guided glide bombs, and guided bombs alike. Their seeker heads can now select crew compartments as targets, meaning hits will on average land on more critical parts of the ship. This will be especially noticeable when attacking aircraft carriers.
You can find more details in the changelog, give it a try, the event has already started! Jump in and share your feedback with us! Good luck, pilots!
F/A-18E, F/A-18F (Britain) — the maximum number of AGM-154A1 JSOW bombs that can be carried simultaneously has been increased to 10. (Report).
F/A-18C Late, F/A-18C MLU 2 (Sweden), AF/A-18A Late (Britain) — the maximum number of AGM-154A1 JSOW bombs that can be carried simultaneously has been increased to 8. (Report).
☢F-16A ADF (USA, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, France, Sweden), ☢F-16A MLU (China), ☢F-16D Barak II (Israel), ☢F-2A (Japan) — a bug that caused the bomb to be counted as the one in the bomb bay has been fixed.
☢F-16A ADF (USA, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, France, Sweden), ☢F-16A MLU (China) — a bug that caused the ballistic computer to not function has been fixed.
A bug that caused the “Crew” category to be missing from the X-ray filters in the hangar has been fixed. (Report).
The anti-air logic has been refined.
The SAMs in the convoys now slow down when firing and guiding the missile.
Short-range SAMs now turn on search radars before launching a missile: when the player is in the radar’s spotting distance (roughly 1.5 times more than the missile’s launch range) and when trying to defend from incoming attacking munitions.
Logic for defending against ARMs has been added. When an ARM is launched from a sufficiently long range, the AA can turn off the radar as a defensive measure.
Gunned SPAAs now choose targets based on threat priority, instead of just selecting the closest target.
A bug that caused the AA to ignore guided bombs with a mass higher than 1500 kg has been fixed.
A bug that caused the HQ11 and SPYDER AIO to ignore small-caliber munitions like GBU-39 and GBU-53. Long-range AA still ignore such munitions.
Radar detectability and the size of a munition now affect the range at which SAMs attack them. Currently the only “stealth” munition is the AGM-154 JSOW, and the small ones are GBU-39, GBU-53, SPICE 250, 9M127 Vikhr and Brimstone.
The minimal altitude of the targets which the long-range SAMs attack on the distances more than 20 km has been increased from 100 meters to 300 meters.
The priority of the targets flying away from long-range SAMs is now significantly lower, so that the site can better defeat more dangerous threats.
Two aircraft “eras” are simultaneously present in the event, each of them having two Battle Rating brackets. The battles of the early era have aircraft with the following Battle Ratings: 10.3-12.0 and 11.7-12.7; and the late era has aircraft with the following BRs: 13.0-14.0 and 13.7-14.7.
New nuke carrying aircraft are available in late era battles: ☢F-16A ADF (USA, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, France, Sweden), ☢F-16A MLU (China), ☢F-16D Barak II (Israel), ☢F-2A (Japan), ☢MiG-29SMT (9-19) (USSR).
Only 2 nation presets have been retained: USSR vs all, and USSR + China vs all.
The costs of some vehicles in tickets which are deducted from a team’s total when a vehicle is lost have been corrected:
aircraft carrier: 100 → 500;
destroyer: 30 → 60;
SAM site search radar: 5 → 100;
SAM site launcher: 5 → 30;
AA on the airfield, in the convoy or near the factory or strongpoint: 5 → 20;
HQ11 and SPYDER AIO SAMs: 5 → 30;
player’s aircraft: 30 → 20.
Total team ticket pool has been increased from 9000 to 10000. The number of lost tickets for an escalation stage has been increased from 2500 to 3000 for the first stage, and from 6000 to 7000 for the second stage.
The Silver Lion reward for destroying enemy units has been adjusted: the rewards for destroying aircraft has been reduced by 8%, the rewards for destroying ground units have been doubled.
Ship AA logic has been configured. Target engagement ranges have been configured. A bug that caused low flying targets, including ASMs to not be shot at by ships has been fixed.
The new SM-2MR (RIM-66C) SAM has been added to AI ships.
Markers of targets spotted by other players now stay for 10 seconds after they are no longer being spotted.
The distance at which the marker of an AI SAM becomes visible at now increases when they fire.
The set of weather presets used in the game mode has been expanded.
A bug that allowed the on-hover tooltips on the tactical map to display out of its bounds and thus become partially hidden has been fixed.
Patch notes reflect only key changes, meaning they may not include a complete list of all improvements made. Additionally, War Thunder is constantly being updated and some changes may not require an update. Changes reflected in patch notes are formed by taking reactions and requests of the community from the bug reporting service, forums and other official platforms into account. Bug fixes and changes are implemented in order of importance, for example a game-breaking bug will be worked on and implemented sooner.
Pavel Osipovich Sukhoi was born on July 22nd 1895. In the early 1910s, while a student in Gomel, he witnessed a flight by the famous aviator Sergei Utochkin; he loved it so much that he decided to dedicate his life to aircraft design. During the 1920s and 1930s, he worked under the supervision of Andrei Tupolev, and after developing the BB-1 bomber, he was given his own design bureau. The BB-1 — designated the Su-2 — saw extensive use during the early stages of the Second World War. The Su-7 was Sukhoi’s first production jet aircraft, while the Su-24 frontline bomber remains in service to this day.
When: From July 22nd (11:00 GMT) until July 25th (11:00 GMT).
Where: USSR > Aviation > Premium vehicles.
The Su-7BMK can only be purchased during this promotion.
2,695 Golden Eagles
5,236 Golden Eagles
6,363 Golden Eagles
About the Su-7BMK
The Su-7BMK is an export modification of the Su-7B fighter-bomber, supplied to the air forces of Algeria, Afghanistan, Iraq, India, Egypt and Syria (the Egyptian version of the aircraft is the variant we have in the game). It inherited excellent speed characteristics from the Su-7B and at the same time received two more hardpoints. Its forward armament consists of two 30 mm cannons, and the range of outboard weapons includes rockets of various calibers, 250 and 500 kg high-explosive bombs, and incendiary tanks.
The following new nuclear weaponry carriers have been added to Ground Battles with a session Battle Rating of 13.0 and higher. They carry not only the nuclear bomb itself, but a set of air-to-air missiles, 2 IR guided and 2 ARH guided. The following aircraft have been added: ☢F-16A ADF (USA, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, France, Sweden), ☢F-16A MLU (China), ☢F-16D Barak II (Israel), ☢F-2A (Japan), ☢MiG-29SMT (9-19) (USSR).
Now when launching the last ARM, if the aircraft has no integrated ESM sensors, the radar indicator will automatically switch from the ESM mode to radar mode.
The guidance logic of all guided munitions has been revised so that when firing at ships the crew compartments can be selected as the target, thus the munition on average will hit more vital parts of the ships.
Fw 189 C — a bug that caused the open canopy to insufficiently slow down the aircraft and to not get torn off at high enough speed has been fixed.
He 111 H-6, He 111 H-16 — a bug that caused the 250 kg bombs to get stuck in the bomb bay when released has been fixed.
Me 163 B, Me163 B-0 — a bug that caused the fuel tanks not in the cockpit to remain self-sealing despite the updated information in the X-ray hint has been fixed. Source: CGD-256 ME 163, Volume II - Me 163 B Airplane Manual.
F5W torpedo — torpedo parameters have been corrected to match the original Italian W 170/450/5.46 torpedo.
A bug that caused the Yak-38M attack aircraft to spawn in the Ground Arcade Battles with 2 additional AAMs which made it impossible to safely leave the plane without using them has been fixed. (Report).
RIM-24 — flight model has been updated, the missile has been updated to a fully physical control model.
A bug that made it impossible to bind actions on the keyboard arrow keys has been fixed. (Report).
Patch notes reflect only key changes, meaning they may not include a complete list of all improvements made. Additionally, War Thunder is constantly being updated and some changes may not require an update. Changes reflected in patch notes are formed by taking reactions and requests of the community from the bug reporting service, forums and other official platforms into account. Bug fixes and changes are implemented in order of importance, for example a game-breaking bug will be worked on and implemented sooner.
Crews often have to operate in the field. When there’s no fully equipped hangar with tools and specialists nearby, resourcefulness and ingenuity come into play! We’re dedicating Battle Pass Season 24 to the makeshift mechanics and resourceful engineers ready for the boldest improvisations. This season’s vehicle rewards were born from improvisation: the Romanian IAR-81 fighter fitted with a Bf 109G engine, and a Somali modification of the Italian FIAT 6616 armored car, equipped with a 57 mm rocket pod!
The German Bf 109 T-2 fighter is now available in the Warbond Shop for the first time. You can also obtain a trophy containing “Road Signs” decorations and the new “Black Widow” decal in exchange for Warbonds.Beginning on: July 22nd (12:00 GMT)
Ending on: October 21st (12:00 GMT)
What is the Battle Pass? The Battle Pass is an event that lasts for 90 days where players can earn rewards for completing challenges and earning progress points. Rewards range from Silver Lions and boosters to season-exclusive decals, decorations, vehicles and more. Completing the Battle Pass is simple: you earn progress points that unlock levels, earning valuable things along the way!
Leveling up the Battle Pass & Challenges
Leveling up is simple! Gather progress points to unlock more levels. One level is 10 progress points. Points can be obtained through logging into the game, completing Daily Tasks and completing specific Challenges. New Battle Pass Challenges unlock once a week and another three can be obtained through reaching specific levels.
Login to the game! Get 1 to 5 progress points for doing this.
Complete Daily Tasks! Get 2 to 5 progress points for each of these.
Complete Battle Pass Challenges! Get 30 points for each of these.
Click here for all of the Challenges
The Battle Pass can be accessed on the right side of the screen while in the hangar
Click here for all of the Rewards
Check out all of the rewards in the season below.
“Do It Yourself” decal“Just a scratch” decal“Caution! Fragile” decal“Load Master” decal
Reactive armour ” decoration
“Homemade Sledgehammer” decoration“Homemade Raft” ship decoration“FIAT 6616UB” profile background
Due to supply issues with the German Jumo 211Da engines, Romania decided to test their IAR-81 fighter with a Daimler-Benz DB 605 engine, taken from the Messerschmitt Bf 109, which was an aircraft already manufactured under license in Romania. The prototype successfully completed trials in the summer of 1944 but did not enter mass production due to technical issues. In War Thunder, the IAR-81C (DB 605) is a rank III premium fighter in the Italian aviation tree. Compared to the standard IAR-81C, the DB 605-equipped model offers a noticeable boost in speed and climb rate. The aircraft can carry a pair of Wfr.Gr.21 rockets or two 50 kg bombs on its hardpoints.
In the mid-2010s, a Somali field modification of the Italian FIAT 6616 armored car appeared, equipped with a 57 mm rocket pod on top. While the rocket pod has no independent aiming capabilities, it will at least follow the direction of the turret horizontally. In War Thunder, the FIAT 6616 (UB) is set to be a fast, agile wheeled scout vehicle armed with a rapid-fire 20 mm cannon, capable of unleashing a salvo of 16 rockets at the enemy in close-quarters combat!
To purchase a Battle Pass using the “Upgrade Coupon”, you need to wait until the current season ends and the new season begins. You’ll then be able to exchange two Upgrade Coupons in the Battle Pass purchase window. Upgrade Coupons must be available in your inventory to do this.
The Warbond shop can be accessed by clicking on Shop > Warbond Shop from the hangar or from the Battle Pass window by clicking “Shop”
What is the Warbond Shop? The Warbond shop is connected with and runs in tandem with the Battle Pass. Items in the Warbond shop can be purchased with a currency called Warbonds that are earned in the Battle Pass. There are a total of 6 shop levels and each one can be unlocked by reaching specific levels in the Battle Pass. In addition to purchasing with Warbonds, each item from shop level 3 requires a certain number of medals to purchase. Medals can be obtained through completing Special Tasks.
Bf 109 T-2 (Germany) — first time in the Warbond shop!
The Bf 109 T was designed for carrier-based operations, but the second version lacked the necessary equipment. Instead, it was deployed in Norway, operating from short mountain airfields. It is a typical early Bf 109, featuring a good rate of climb, two 20 mm cannons and two 7.92 mm machine guns, and the capability to carry either a single 250 kg bomb or four 50 kg bombs into combat.
“Black Widow” decal
Check out this sneak peek of the Australian CA-27 jet fighter, which really is the Sabre at its best!
Hey everyone! The Heavy Cavalry update has just released, yet we’re already working hard on content for the next major update. Today, we’re taking a peek behind the scenes at the first work-in-progress images of the Australian CA-27 jet fighter.
This is an Australian design based on the American F-86 Sabre jet fighter with a new engine and armament. It features the Rolls-Royce Avon engine and the machine guns have been replaced with 30 mm ADEN autocannons, plus there is new ordnance, new to the F-86 series.
Despite its visual resemblance to the Sabre, the CA-27 is essentially a new aircraft. Using the Avon engine required redesigning the air intake and the entire rear fuselage; modifications were also made to the wings to accommodate fuel tanks alongside a full complement of external weaponry. The CA-27 model for War Thunder is being built from scratch, currently our team of artists are looking at documentation and photographs, adding increasingly detailed elements to the model.
The CA-27 will take its place in the British research tree, filling a gap in the early jet fighter line. This aircraft is a maneuverable dog fighter that the tree lacked at these ranks, offering handling familiar to Hunter pilots, but now in the agile airframe of the Sabre. We’ll showcase the results of this work closer to the update’s release!
Please note that vehicle specifications and model visuals may be subject to revision and change before being added to the game.The history of the CVR(T) family of combat reconnaissance vehicles dates back to the 1960s. By tradition, they were given names starting with the letter “S”: Scorpion, Striker, Spartan, Samaritan, Sultan, and Samson. The seventh vehicle in the series was the Scimitar, named after the Middle Eastern saber, being fast and deadly. Get an upgraded version of the Scimitar along with themed decals and a decoration in this new ground vehicle event!
From July 22nd (11:00 GMT) until August 5th (11:00 GMT), earn mission points in Ground Battles, unlock stages and receive rewards!
Among the rewards in the event is also this chest. When opened, there is a chance to receive one of the following items:
Please note: After finishing a stage, you need to collect the reward manually. To do this, click on your name in-game, go to “Scimitar Strike” and click the “Get Reward” button.
You’re able to earn mission points in Ground Battles at Rank III or above in Arcade, Realistic and Simulator Battles. The number of mission points to complete a stage depends on the game mode and the maximum Rank of the vehicle that you use in battle. There’s a multiplier for earning mission points, which is shown in the task description in-game.You can also earn mission points by using event vehicles that are Rank I and II. Event vehicles that can be used have the name of the event that they were obtainable in on their stat card.Stages change every two days at 11:00 GMT on July 24th, 26th, 28th, 30th and August 1st and 3rd.
The “Upgrade for coupon” item can be earned in parallel with the stages throughout the event from July 22nd (11:00 GMT) until August 5th (11:00 GMT) for 600,000 mission points.
After receiving the “Upgrade for coupon” item, you can convert a non-tradable coupon for the vehicle into a tradable one and sell it on the Market. The tradable coupon can be sold after 6 days from the moment it’s created.To make a tradable coupon, select the “Coupon Scimitar Mk.2” (Great Britain)” in your inventory and click the “Modify” button.The “Upgrade for coupon” item is valid until August 10th (11:00 GMT). Until this time, you can use it or exchange it for War Bonds. Afterwards, it’ll disappear from your inventory.You can track the progress of the stages and the “Upgrade for coupon” item by clicking on your Nickname > Achievements > Scimitar Strike. If you don’t manage to complete a stage in time or would like to purchase a stage, you can purchase each stage with Golden Eagles until August 10th from the Achievements window, which will give you the corresponding rewards.
Patch notes reflect only key changes, meaning they may not include a complete list of all improvements made. Additionally, War Thunder is constantly being updated and some changes may not require an update. Changes reflected in patch notes are formed by taking reactions and requests of the community from the bug reporting service, forums and other official platforms into account. Bug fixes and changes are implemented in order of importance, for example a game-breaking bug will be worked on and implemented sooner.
Last weekend marked the conclusion of the WTCS Challenger League Major II, the second major event of the War Thunder Championships Series Challenger League.
In the end, Team Warning secured first place and strengthened their position in the standings with 139 points. Close behind, COVERT claimed second place with 101 points, while NEXUS completed the podium in third place with 84 points.This second Major has further shaped the race for the Challenger League title, with Team Warning delivering a dominant performance at the top of the standings. COVERT and NEXUS also confirmed themselves as strong contenders as the season progresses, while ENP and SkyHammer remain well within reach of the leading pack heading into the next stage of the competition.
After each Open Qualifier, four teams will advance to the Playoff stage. For full details about the competitive structure and what to expect this season, make sure to read the War Thunder Championship Series 2026 Plans news, which breaks everything down.
Open Qualifier I: August 22nd to 23rd
Open Qualifier II: August 29th to 30th
Playoffs: September 5th to 6th and September 12th to 13th
Make sure to follow us on our social media channels to stay updated with match schedules, highlights, exclusive content, and future events on X and Instagram.
Join the Discord community, participate in some giveaways, support your favorite team, and be part of the action throughout the entire 2026 season!
Esports Bundle - 2026 Season -15%
To get to the Gaijin Store through Steam, go to the in-game hangar > Shop > Online Store.
This pack includes:
Esports Veteran Pack - Season 2026
Winter Warrior Esports Pack - Season 2026
15.98 13.58
On July 14th 1789, the Bastille fortress-prison fell, becoming a pivotal event of the French Revolution. More than 90 years later, this date began to be celebrated as a national holiday. In the 20th century, a military parade on the Champs-Élysées was added to the festivities, featuring the Patrouille de France painting the world-famous tricolor in the sky with smoke!
When: From July 14th (11:00 GMT) until July 17th (11:00 GMT).
Where: France > Aviation > Premium vehicles.About is aircraft
When: From July 14th (11:00 GMT) until July 17th (11:00 GMT).
Task: Earn 3,000 mission points in battles where you used French vehicles at rank III or higher to receive the “Bastille Day” trophy!Inside this trophy, you’ll receive one of six previously available decals:
“Bastille Day” decal
“Heart of France” decal
“Bastille Day” decal“Cocarde de France” decal
“Bastille Day” decal
“Bastille Day 2025” decalAll decals are found in the “Holidays” section.
If you already have all six decals, you’ll receive one of the following items instead:Please note: After finishing the task, you need to collect the reward manually.
Additional details:
A bug that caused vehicles to move backwards much faster than they should has been fixed. (Report, Report, Report).
A bug where the shell impact point indicator was tied to guns that had not yet aimed at the target, causing it to appear only after all guns had finished aiming, has been fixed.
A bug that caused the “Attention to the map” command to stop working when clicking on the minimap if the show cursor button was different from the default one (Alt) has been fixed. (Report).
Patch notes reflect only key changes, meaning they may not include a complete list of all improvements made. Additionally, War Thunder is constantly being updated and some changes may not require an update. Changes reflected in patch notes are formed by taking reactions and requests of the community from the bug reporting service, forums and other official platforms into account. Bug fixes and changes are implemented in order of importance, for example a game-breaking bug will be worked on and implemented sooner.
Today we are pleased to announce that we have opened the Official War Thunder Discord server! The War Thunder Discord server is the ideal place for you to get the most up to date game news, talk to other community members and make new friends playing War Thunder.
JOIN HERE!The Official War Thunder Discord server is run by the community team, who will regularly chat with everyone, and share insights or other information that may be interesting. War Thunder developers will occasionally pop in and make themselves be known as well. You can chat with everyone in the General chat channel, allowing you to talk to other community members and staff members directly.
We want the Official War Thunder Discord Server to be a relaxed environment. Share your experiences, whether that be positive feedback or constructive criticism.
We’ve designed the server in way so that you can meet new people and get a squad going. Head over to the Find Players and Find A Squadron chat channels, let yourself be known and meet others!
The server is new and may not be perfect yet, but over time we’ll be adding new channels and improving it where needed. Let us know what you’d like to see, and we’ll try and make it happen!
Hey everyone! We’re back with a new set of decals for you for July, we hope you’re staying cool! We have quite an eclectic mix this time around with a little bit of everything, personal markings, squadron markings, graffiti, the lot. We have also discovered that our decal artist dislikes clowns very much, sorry Fenris!
We’ve also got a small survey for you if you have the time, just some short questions about the monthly decal event, what decals you like, whether the event enhances your enjoyment of the game, things like that. It should only take a minute or so, please consider clicking below if you’d like to give some feedback.The following decals are available from July 9th (11:00 GMT) until August 10th (09:00 GMT).
All tasks can be completed using vehicles that are rank III or higher.“Downs’ Clowns” Emblem, USAI./ZG 26 Emblem “Ringelpitz”, GermanyDeal 10 tons of base damage while using US BombersDefeat 50 players using German Aircraft
151st Combined Arms Brigade Emblem “Thunder Flying Tiger”, China132ª Brigata corazzata “Ariete” Emblem, Italy1st Mine Countermeasures Squadron Emblem, BritainWin 10 battles using Chinese TanksPlay 20 battles while using Italian Ground Vehicles with a minimum of 60% Battle ActivityScore 20000 Damage using British Coastal Vessels
Monthly markings can be found in a special tab at the bottom of the customization menu, (Monthly Decals) after a month, they’ll be moved to their corresponding category.
You can check the exact terms and track the progress of completing tasks for these decals by going to your Player Profile > Decals > Monthly Decals. From here, click the “Track progress” button on each decal to track from the hangar.All of the emblems will come with a detailed description. This will generally consist of the history of the marking, its design, which vehicles used it, and where it was often placed on vehicles historically if applicable (some emblems are taken from badges, which weren’t always applied). This way you can more easily recreate the original positioning if you’d like.
That’s all for today, thanks for reading down to the bottom! We hope you like the selection for July and thank you generally for participating in these events, they’re fun to make. Give the survey a look if you can, and we’ll see you in August!
A bug where the button to open the Secondary weapons menu was missing from the aircraft information window accessed via the crew slots in the hangar has been fixed.
The Tank Football leaderboards now allow you to view rankings from previous game days.
Patch notes reflect only key changes, meaning they may not include a complete list of all improvements made. Additionally, War Thunder is constantly being updated and some changes may not require an update. Changes reflected in patch notes are formed by taking reactions and requests of the community from the bug reporting service, forums and other official platforms into account. Bug fixes and changes are implemented in order of importance, for example a game-breaking bug will be worked on and implemented sooner.
(Click the arrow to see the next image. Click the image to enlarge)
For the third testing stage, we’ve prepared a new, large-scale location called Kivu, set in Central Africa. This is the largest map that has featured in an Infantry CBT to date, being roughly four times the size of the previous locations. We’ve put significant effort into server optimizations, so we plan to once again launch a 64-vs-64 player format (128 players per session) to ensure everything is running smoothly.
We’ve also created new gear and character appearances for both factions, specifically tailored to this new setting.(Click the arrow to see the next image. Click the image to enlarge)
We’ve also included a special arsenal of small arms and hardware for this stage of testing on Kivu (excluding specialized weaponry such as pistols, shotguns, drones, RPGs, and MANPADS).
U.S. Weapons Arsenal
Small Arms:
M4A1
M16A4
TAC-50
SCAR-L
M249 Para
MAC-11 PDW
XM5
M110 SDMR
Vehicles:
M1A2 SEP V2
LAV-AD
AH-64A
Soviet Weapons Arsenal
Small Arms:
AK-12
AK-74M
KSVK
Kord 6P67
RPK-74M
PP-19
AK-15
SVDM
Vehicles:
T-90M
2S6
Mi-28N
(Click the arrow to see the next image. Click the image to enlarge)
(Click the arrow to see the next image. Click the image to enlarge)
For battles on Kivu, we’ve added a passenger vehicle capable of carrying up to five soldiers at once. Now, a squad can move across the map together by boarding the vehicle, and even switching from a passenger seat to the driver’s seat on the fly if the driver is taken out of action.
One of the most frequent requests from participants in previous testing phases was the ability to configure graphics settings specifically for Infantry without altering War Thunder’s general settings. We’ve implemented this: a dedicated tab for infantry modes has been added to the “Graphics” section of the session settings, positioned alongside the general settings, which remain in place and continue to apply to the game’s other modes.
We keep fighting cheaters using your reports and the anti-cheat systems, and as usual, today we’re sharing a bit of info on bans that we’ve distributed over the past month. If you’d like to help keep War Thunder free from cheating, you can find out how to file a report and how our anti-cheat system works on our Wiki.
We recommend that you set a strong password for your account and enable two-step authentication in your profile security settings. We have the following 2FA options available: email, SMS, TOTP (Gaijin Pass/Google Authenticator).
We’d also suggest that you turn on 2FA for the email that is linked to your Gaijin account for additional security, as this will protect your account from fraudsters. And remember, don’t use prohibited client modifications and never share your account information with anyone.The War Thunder TeamAEC Mk II — a bug where the wrong wheels were damaged upon being hit has been fixed.
M1A2 SEPv3, M1A2 — position of the mesh with the “TUSK” modification has been fixed.
Leopard 1A5BE — the “rose” texture on the torn barrel has been fixed.
Hummel — the inscription on the rear of the hull has been fixed.
Yak-130 — a bug with the positioning of the aerobatic smoke has been fixed.
Tu-2 (all variants) — the variometer operation has been fixed.
F3D-1 — the altimeter operation has been fixed.
F-106A — automatic opening and closing of doors when launching air-to-air missiles has been fixed. (Report).
F-111A — automatic opening and closing of doors during AAM launches and bomb drops has been added.
Alaska, Sweden — collision of the trees on these locations has been fixed.
Hürtgen Forest, Ash River — a collision bug with some of the rocks has been fixed.
Maginot Line (Winter) — a collision bug on the frozen lake has been fixed.
A “Crew” section has been added to the ship hangar’s X-ray filter; activating it allows you to view the compartments containing the reserve crew. As a reminder, the full distribution of the crew across the ship can be viewed in the Protection Analysis tab, located within the Armor section.
Patch notes reflect only key changes, meaning they may not include a complete list of all improvements made. Additionally, War Thunder is constantly being updated and some changes may not require an update. Changes reflected in patch notes are formed by taking reactions and requests of the community from the bug reporting service, forums and other official platforms into account. Bug fixes and changes are implemented in order of importance, for example a game-breaking bug will be worked on and implemented sooner.
The Challenger League Major II is here, and the competition is about to reach its most exciting stage!
After battling through the qualifiers, the best teams have earned their place in this major and are ready to showcase their skills against some of the strongest rising talent in the scene. Every match matters as they fight for valuable league points, prestige, and a chance to establish themselves among the Challenger League's elite.
The tournament will be played in the intense 4v4 Air format, where teamwork, communication, and tactical execution will make all the difference. With over 500,000 Golden Eagles and exclusive rewards on the line, the pressure is on and only one team will come out on top.
Who will seize the opportunity and become the Challenger League Major II Champion?
Team Warning
Team Warning is an international lineup built around experienced air combat specialists and months of dedicated practice. Making their Challenger League debut, they'll be looking to prove they have what it takes to challenge the established contenders.
Team NEXUS
After an impressive runner-up finish at Challenger League Major I, NEXUS returns with confidence and momentum. This young international squad has already established itself as one of the league's strongest contenders and will be aiming to go one step further this time.
Team COVERT
COVERT enters Major II with a roster built around experienced tournament players eager to make their mark. With a balanced lineup and high ambitions, they'll be looking to challenge the league's established names.
Team SkyHammer
SkyHammer has steadily grown into a dangerous competitor through perseverance and constant roster development. After earning their place in Major II, they're determined to prove they can compete with the Challenger League's best.
Team TreaX
TreaX is a fully French roster rebuilt through months of hard work and dedication. After successfully qualifying for Major II, the team is ready to show that their rapid improvement can translate into strong results on the big stage.
Team EnyoProxy
The defending Challenger League Major champions return with a target on their backs. After dominating Major I and taking the early lead in the championship standings, EnyoProxy will be looking to prove their title was no coincidence.
Team LegitBongo
Born from a passionate community brought together by its captain, LegitBongo is one of the most unique stories in this competition. The team will be looking to turn that passion into results in their Challenger League debut.
Team OlySt
Following a strong third-place finish at Challenger League Major I, OlySt returns with renewed confidence. Blending experienced veterans and talented newcomers, they'll be aiming to climb even higher on the podium this time around.
Watch the event on July 4th-5th and July 11th-12th starting 14:40 GMT on the official English and Russian War Thunder Esports channels and receive:
Weekend 1: July 4th-5th
50% RP Booster
50% SL Booster
1 day of Premium
Weekend 2: July 11th-12th
50% RP Booster
50% SL Booster
1 day of Premium
Login to your Twitch account → link your Gaijin account → click “Allow” to be able to receive Twitch Drops!
You can also watch the event live on our YouTube channel War Thunder Esports!
You’ll also find highlights and replays of all the matches there.
FOLLOW ON TWITCHFOLLOW ON YOUTUBE
Make sure to follow us on our social media channels to stay updated with match schedules, highlights, exclusive content, and future events on X and Instagram.
Join the community, support your favorite team, and be part of the action throughout the entire 2026 season!
Esports Bundle - 2026 Season -15%
To get to our online Store through Steam, go to the in-game hangar > Shop > Online Store.
This bundle includes:
Esports Veteran Pack - Season 2026
Winter Warrior Esports Pack - Season 2026
15.98 13.58
A major update has arrived, bringing with it a namesake trophy containing camouflage coupons created by the WT Live community. Inside, you’ll find a wide range of new camouflages for vehicles featured in recent events and the Heavy Cavalry major update, making it a perfect opportunity to deck out your newly acquired machines! The trophy also offers a chance to obtain coupons for rare vehicles and a unique decal.
Coupons for rare vehicles
19 camouflage coupons for ground vehicles
17 camouflage coupons for aircraft
2 camouflage coupons for naval vessels
2 camouflage coupon for helicopters
A coupon for the Heavy Cavalry decal
To unlock the trophy, you’ll need the new “Heavy Cavalry” key that can be purchased on the Market for GJN. For each key you buy, a portion of the sale is split among the skin makers in the box, so with each purchase you are directly supporting our talented community! Read more about the Market and Gaijin Coins on the Wiki.
You can become a creator of user camouflages — check out the updated guide on our Wiki! It will bring you both glory and real money as a part of the War Thunder partnership program! Additionally, all authors who are included in these trophies will receive a unique title, player icon and decal. Join the creative team over on WT Live!
About
This page aggregates Steam news feeds, patch notes, and developer announcements for War Thunder, sourced from official Steam community posts.
Major updates, balance changes, and seasonal events often correlate with player-count spikes — cross-reference announcements here with the live charts on the main War Thunder statistics page.
Articles link back to Steam for full changelogs. SteamScope refreshes news entries as new posts are published to the game's Steam hub.