Today we are pleased to present the Japanese answer to American Thunderbolts and Super Fortresses! Meet the Ki-87 - The high altitude interceptor!

Shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor, it became clear that Japan would require machines that were capable of stopping US bombing raids. The army commissioned therefore, to create and produce a high-altitude fighter capable of intercepting enemy bombers before they hit Japanese controlled islands. This objective sought, was achieved in part, by creating a twin-engined Mitsubishi Ki-83 and Kawasaki Ki-102, both of which are well-known to War Thunder players. In competition with the above-mentioned projects, an aircraft created by Kunihiro Aoki from the Nakajima Aircraft Company was a single-engine fighter equipped with a super-turbocharger and a pressurized cabin.





It took over two years to create the prototype of the Ki-87. Engineers encountered a number of problems, one of the biggest of which was the use of the super-turbocharger. The first flight of the machine took place in April of 1945. Ultimately, the aircraft had to reach nearly 700 km/h, whilst being equipped with 4 cannons: 2x20mm and 2x30mm, so that a pilot would be able to intercept enemy aircraft operating at high altitude, specifically the American B-29 Superfortress. However, before the machine had reached its full efficiency in battle, the war between Japan and the United States of America was over.

Read the full Dev Blog article on the Official War Thunder Forums!

Today we are pleased to present the Japanese answer to American Thunderbolts and Super Fortresses! Meet the Ki-87 - The high altitude interceptor!

Shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor, it became clear that Japan would require machines that were capable of stopping US bombing raids. The army commissioned therefore, to create and produce a high-altitude fighter capable of intercepting enemy bombers before they hit Japanese controlled islands. This objective sought, was achieved in part, by creating a twin-engined Mitsubishi Ki-83 and Kawasaki Ki-102, both of which are well-known to War Thunder players. In competition with the above-mentioned projects, an aircraft created by Kunihiro Aoki from the Nakajima Aircraft Company was a single-engine fighter equipped with a super-turbocharger and a pressurized cabin.





It took over two years to create the prototype of the Ki-87. Engineers encountered a number of problems, one of the biggest of which was the use of the super-turbocharger. The first flight of the machine took place in April of 1945. Ultimately, the aircraft had to reach nearly 700 km/h, whilst being equipped with 4 cannons: 2x20mm and 2x30mm, so that a pilot would be able to intercept enemy aircraft operating at high altitude, specifically the American B-29 Superfortress. However, before the machine had reached its full efficiency in battle, the war between Japan and the United States of America was over.

Read the full Dev Blog article on the Official War Thunder Forums!

The advanced Soviet Su-6 attack plane, found itself in the shadow of its world-famous colleague, the Il-2. Nonetheless, it was an excellent assault aircraft that we are pleased to present in War Thunder update 1.63.

At the end of the 30s, a true race began between designers in the Soviet Union. Their aim was to create the best attack plane the Red Army had ever seen. The country's leaders, designers and engineers were well aware that soon, the Soviet people would have to withstand an assault from the strongest army in the world – that of Hitler's Germany. This attack plane couldn't just be good – it had to be the best! The competition between the design bureaus was dramatic, full of emotion, victories, and alas, defeats. In the end, the Ilyushin Design Bureau’s Il-2 rightfully took the garland of victory owing to its numerous advantages. But was it an easy victory? Not by any means!





The best minds in the aviation industry competed in the race to design an attack plane for the looming war. Pavel Osipovich Sukhoi was one of them. His attack aircraft, the Su-6, demonstrated complete superiority over the Il-2 in terms of its flight characteristics during testing. The Su-6's armour also surpassed that of Ilyushin's creation. Its shortcoming was in its armament – Sukhoi did not plan for the mounting of rockets, the aircraft's usable bomb load amounted to a mere 120kg, and it had no cannons. The criticisms of the expert committee were taken into account and the aircraft was equipped with VYa-23 cannons. The bomb capacity was increased and the attack plane was given the ability to carry 10 RS-82 or RS-132 rockets. However, testing was never fully finished with the new armaments – the only available specimen of the M-71 engine broke down.

Read the full Dev Blog article on the Official War Thunder Forums!

The advanced Soviet Su-6 attack plane, found itself in the shadow of its world-famous colleague, the Il-2. Nonetheless, it was an excellent assault aircraft that we are pleased to present in War Thunder update 1.63.

At the end of the 30s, a true race began between designers in the Soviet Union. Their aim was to create the best attack plane the Red Army had ever seen. The country's leaders, designers and engineers were well aware that soon, the Soviet people would have to withstand an assault from the strongest army in the world – that of Hitler's Germany. This attack plane couldn't just be good – it had to be the best! The competition between the design bureaus was dramatic, full of emotion, victories, and alas, defeats. In the end, the Ilyushin Design Bureau’s Il-2 rightfully took the garland of victory owing to its numerous advantages. But was it an easy victory? Not by any means!





The best minds in the aviation industry competed in the race to design an attack plane for the looming war. Pavel Osipovich Sukhoi was one of them. His attack aircraft, the Su-6, demonstrated complete superiority over the Il-2 in terms of its flight characteristics during testing. The Su-6's armour also surpassed that of Ilyushin's creation. Its shortcoming was in its armament – Sukhoi did not plan for the mounting of rockets, the aircraft's usable bomb load amounted to a mere 120kg, and it had no cannons. The criticisms of the expert committee were taken into account and the aircraft was equipped with VYa-23 cannons. The bomb capacity was increased and the attack plane was given the ability to carry 10 RS-82 or RS-132 rockets. However, testing was never fully finished with the new armaments – the only available specimen of the M-71 engine broke down.

Read the full Dev Blog article on the Official War Thunder Forums!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXthtFdCKBo
“Gladiators” Duel Championship - prize fund - over 200,000 Golden Eagles

For the first time, the tournament will take place in Arcade Battles mode! (automated tournament)

Realistic and Simulator battles will take place in automated tournament and play-off stages



Gaijin Entertainment together with our official partners - Mad Catz, announces the start of the “Gladiators” duel championship with a prize fund of more than 200,000 Golden Eagles! The Tournament is available in the “Events and Tournaments” section in the game.

Gladiators is a team duel match, which incorporates practically all formats of air battles:

• 1st round - duel: one vs one
  
• 2nd round - air battle pairs: two vs two
  
• 3rd round - final air battle as a squad: four vs four.

Especially for this tournament, a new mission has been developed - the “Gladiators 4x4”, where all three air battles are started one after the other. The following score system is used for the different rounds:

• 1st round = 1 point
  
• 2nd round = 2 points
  
• 3rd round = 3 points

In case of a draw after 3 rounds, an additional 4th round will be played in the format of four vs four.

For more information, read the full Event Announcement here!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXthtFdCKBo
“Gladiators” Duel Championship - prize fund - over 200,000 Golden Eagles

For the first time, the tournament will take place in Arcade Battles mode! (automated tournament)

Realistic and Simulator battles will take place in automated tournament and play-off stages



Gaijin Entertainment together with our official partners - Mad Catz, announces the start of the “Gladiators” duel championship with a prize fund of more than 200,000 Golden Eagles! The Tournament is available in the “Events and Tournaments” section in the game.

Gladiators is a team duel match, which incorporates practically all formats of air battles:

• 1st round - duel: one vs one
  
• 2nd round - air battle pairs: two vs two
  
• 3rd round - final air battle as a squad: four vs four.

Especially for this tournament, a new mission has been developed - the “Gladiators 4x4”, where all three air battles are started one after the other. The following score system is used for the different rounds:

• 1st round = 1 point
  
• 2nd round = 2 points
  
• 3rd round = 3 points

In case of a draw after 3 rounds, an additional 4th round will be played in the format of four vs four.

For more information, read the full Event Announcement here!

Brrrrrrrrrrrrt - yes, if you already recognize this gunfire, you know something special is coming. It is the sound of a hydraulically-driven, six-barrelled, 20mm Vulcan minigun that can fire up to 3,000 rounds per minute! We present to you the M163 Vulcan SPAAG.

The M163 VADS (Vulcan Air Defence system) is a self propelled anti-aircraft gun used by the US Army that was based on the M113 Armored Personnel Carrier. It was a fast, lightly armored, amphibious (can reach up to 4 mph, but only forward), nimble platform that could carry up to 13 personnel to the battle - including crew. The M163 was put in service in 1969 and while it’s no longer produced (671 vehicles were built), it was never decommissioned. M163 VADS was powered by a GM 6V53 diesel engine with a maximum of 212 horsepower. With its low weight of 12.5 tons, it was capable of reaching 40 mph (64 km/h). The SPAAG itself was operated by a four-men crew.





Its primary and only weapon was the powerful 20mm M61 Vulcan Gatling cannon with a maximum rate of fire of 3,000 rounds per minute (that is incredible 50 rounds per second!). It uses an automatic feed system and thanks to its high muzzle velocity provides flat trajectory. The maximum range of the cannon is just over 3 miles (5 km) and its elevation angle range from +80 to -5. The M163 standardly carried 2 100 pieces of ammunition. While the vehicle uses a small radar for range calculation, its weapon was not radar guided and was dependant on an optical lead-calculating sight operated by the gunner.

Read the full Dev Blog article here!

Brrrrrrrrrrrrt - yes, if you already recognize this gunfire, you know something special is coming. It is the sound of a hydraulically-driven, six-barrelled, 20mm Vulcan minigun that can fire up to 3,000 rounds per minute! We present to you the M163 Vulcan SPAAG.

The M163 VADS (Vulcan Air Defence system) is a self propelled anti-aircraft gun used by the US Army that was based on the M113 Armored Personnel Carrier. It was a fast, lightly armored, amphibious (can reach up to 4 mph, but only forward), nimble platform that could carry up to 13 personnel to the battle - including crew. The M163 was put in service in 1969 and while it’s no longer produced (671 vehicles were built), it was never decommissioned. M163 VADS was powered by a GM 6V53 diesel engine with a maximum of 212 horsepower. With its low weight of 12.5 tons, it was capable of reaching 40 mph (64 km/h). The SPAAG itself was operated by a four-men crew.





Its primary and only weapon was the powerful 20mm M61 Vulcan Gatling cannon with a maximum rate of fire of 3,000 rounds per minute (that is incredible 50 rounds per second!). It uses an automatic feed system and thanks to its high muzzle velocity provides flat trajectory. The maximum range of the cannon is just over 3 miles (5 km) and its elevation angle range from +80 to -5. The M163 standardly carried 2 100 pieces of ammunition. While the vehicle uses a small radar for range calculation, its weapon was not radar guided and was dependant on an optical lead-calculating sight operated by the gunner.

Read the full Dev Blog article here!

Summer is full of surprises, sometimes these are not so pleasant, August ends with an invasion... of pirates!
Modern bounty hunters are not limited to use an old sailboat, but still prefer to travel in groups. So while their appearance may have changed over time, what you can never change, is their insane love for treasure.

Or can you?

Our intelligence reports: large groups of ships sailing Under the black flag closing in on our support depots. Obviously, the sea bandits decided to capture the warehouses and use them as cargo transit bases. So don’t relax, a pirate is not a one-eyed, one-legged bearded man with a need to say “Yaaaaaaarrrr!” these days, he is a skilled captain who will fight for his cargo till the bitter end!

Pilots, prepare to go hunting for the pirates “Black Spots”!



Join the battle between aircraft and pirate ships in the special “Under the black flag” Event!

Use the aircraft of any nation to destroy pirate ships with torpedoes. Completing these tasks will be possible in both the “Under the black flag” Event and in regular battles. Destroy 30 pirate ships in the “Under the black flag” Event to earn a “Black Spot”.

Read the full Event Announcement on the Official War Thunder Forums!

Summer is full of surprises, sometimes these are not so pleasant, August ends with an invasion... of pirates!
Modern bounty hunters are not limited to use an old sailboat, but still prefer to travel in groups. So while their appearance may have changed over time, what you can never change, is their insane love for treasure.

Or can you?

Our intelligence reports: large groups of ships sailing Under the black flag closing in on our support depots. Obviously, the sea bandits decided to capture the warehouses and use them as cargo transit bases. So don’t relax, a pirate is not a one-eyed, one-legged bearded man with a need to say “Yaaaaaaarrrr!” these days, he is a skilled captain who will fight for his cargo till the bitter end!

Pilots, prepare to go hunting for the pirates “Black Spots”!



Join the battle between aircraft and pirate ships in the special “Under the black flag” Event!

Use the aircraft of any nation to destroy pirate ships with torpedoes. Completing these tasks will be possible in both the “Under the black flag” Event and in regular battles. Destroy 30 pirate ships in the “Under the black flag” Event to earn a “Black Spot”.

Read the full Event Announcement on the Official War Thunder Forums!