The Leopard 2A7V is one of the latest modifications of the Bundeswehr’s well-known Leopard series of tanks, featuring upgraded protection as well as other small improvements. Today we’ll be showing you the Leopard 2A7V in all its glory, which’ll be coming to War Thunder in the next major update!


Features:

• Enhanced protection.
  
• Deadly firepower.
  
• Decent mobility, but inferior to its predecessors.
  
• GEN 3 thermals.

The Leopard 2A7V will soon be arriving at the top rank of the German ground forces tree as the latest and most capable modification of one of the most well known Western main battle tanks. Offering you a number of very handy upgrades, the Leopard 2A7V’s capabilities have been improved even further to excel. Let’s take a look!

At a first glance, you may have come to the conclusion that the Leopard 2A7V doesn’t seem to differ much from its predecessor — on surface level, this is also true as this tank doesn't have any radical design changes. For instance, it features the lethal L/55 A1 gun, possesses advanced composite armor and is powered by an MTU 1500 HP engine. As a result, the Leopard 2A7V will still offer you much of the highly regarded mix of great protection, good mobility, and lethal firepower which pretty much defines Leopard tanks.



So what’s different then? Primarily, the Leopard 2A7V comes fitted with a new modular add-on armor package which reinforces its frontal section of the hull. As a result, this particularly vulnerable part is now better protected against kinetic ammunition as well as chemical rounds. In addition to this is mine protection on the underside, however these combined upgrades do come at the cost of added weight. Unlike its direct predecessor, the Leopard 2A7V’s weight rises to an impressive 66.5 tons.




With a drastic weight increase of 11% over the Leopard 2A6 as well as maintaining the same engine, this does mean a decrease in mobility. As a result, the Leopard 2A7V’s top speed reduces from the traditional 68 km/h of the Leopard 2 series to 61 km/h, which overall means getting around in this tank will be slightly worse compared to its predecessors, the Leopard 2A5 and 2A6. Remember to keep this in mind while in battle!

In your matches by Tom, Community Management Team Leader:
“The 2A7 doesn’t have any hard drawbacks realistically, it hits all the key points an MBT needs to hit, and this effectively lets you do everything you need to do in order to perform well. As such there isn’t really a universal ‘correct’ way to play it, the best way to play is the way that you feel aligns best with your personal skillset. Focus on your own strengths, and the vehicle will let you maximize them as much as possible.”

The Leopard 2A7V will soon join the German ground forces tree as one of its first brand new rank VIII vehicles and will become available with the release of the next major update. In the meantime, be sure to stay tuned to the news as we continue revealing what other exciting new features and additions await you. Until then, see you soon!

In today’s blog, we’re excited to be talking about the Strv 122B+, which is a prototype of Sweden’s main battle tank that features further advanced armor while retaining all of the advantages of its predecessor. Meet this new tough nut to crack being added to the game in the upcoming “Air Superiority” major update!


Features:

• Improved armor protection.
  
• Good mobility.
  
• Fantastic APFSDS rounds.

Sweden’s ground forces tree will receive this brilliant top-tier tank, which will arrive at Rank VIII with the release of the upcoming major update, “Air Superiority”. The already outstanding armor protection of Strv 122 MBTs is now reaching an entirely new level in the form of additional armor for the Strv 122B+. Let’s take a look!

The visual appearance of the Strv 122B+ remains virtually unchanged compared to its direct predecessor, the Strv 122B. The reason is because instead, its internal combination of armor packages has undergone some major changes. In general, this new armor builds upon the already great armor of the Strv 122 series of tanks that are generally characterized by very good protection, which allows them to withstand most shaped charges and APFSDS rounds at top tier.




Onto the gun and range of available ammunition which remain the same. The licensed version of the Rheinmetall L/44 gun means you’ll be able to fire three types of formidable APFSDS ammunition: the DM23, DM33 and the top slpprj m/95 round! Coupled with a good reload time and excellent turret rotation speed, the Strv 122B+’s capabilities in any situation in battle are simply second to none. In addition to a fantastic weapon is a laser rangefinder and thermal imaging for the gunner and commander which come in very handy at longer engagements.

However, even a strong tank still has some shortcomings, which are inherited from the Strv 122B. This is the vulnerable spot around the turret ring, where penetration of this area generally leads to a detonation of the ammunition, as well as the inability to accurately aim the gun when it’s perched over the engine compartment. In terms of mobility, the Strv 122B+ is slightly inferior to other top tier tanks, however this isn’t much of a problem. This tank can easily maneuver around, copes well with off-road terrain and has great reverse speed, which means the overall mobility dynamics of the Strv 122B+ is considered good!

In your matches by Dmitry, Game Designer:
“The Swedish research tree is my favorite in the game because of its wide variety and really interesting and unique vehicles. As with previous Strv 122’s, you’ll be able to count on the 122B+’s strong turret and UFP, and with the addition of more armor it’ll be even stronger. I recommend taking fights as much as you can where you’ll be able to take hits, but also make sure to use the slpprj m/95 APFSDS round that is great for dealing with T-80 tanks especially.”

You’ll be able to enjoy the Strv 122B+ as well as dozens of other new vehicles and other improvements in the upcoming “Air Superiority” major update, which we’re currently working on right now. Until then, keep an eye on our news and see you soon!

The VT-4A1 is the later modification of Chinese main battle tanks developed specifically for foreign operators while incorporating many cutting edge technologies from other domestic vehicles of the time. Today we’ll be talking about this tank which is arriving to War Thunder in the “Air Superiority” major update!


Features:

• Powerful main gun!
  
• Low silhouette.
  
• Active Protection System.
  
• Excellent mobility.

The VT-4A1 will arrive at the top of China’s ground tree at the all-new Rank VIII for ground forces in War Thunder! Featuring compact dimensions, superb firepower and enhanced protection, the VT-4A1 incorporates many of the design features already familiar to other Chinese tanks. Let’s take a look at the details!

Representing the successor to the MBT-2000 which you may already be familiar with, the VT-4A1 has substantial upgrades over its predecessor. While inheriting the same level of firepower as found on other Chinese MBTs at its rank, the VT-4A1 really sets itself apart from its close relatives when it comes to protection. Featuring a blend of composite armor in its hull and turret as well as additional FY-4 ERA blocks bolted on the front and side sections, this tank is ideally protected against the most common threats found at top tier battles, especially concerning chemical munitions.




Furthermore, the VT-4A1 comes fitted with a hardkill Active Protection System (APS), which is a feature that hasn’t yet been featured on Chinese ground vehicles! As a result, when playing this tank, you’ll enjoy additional protection from this advanced defensive system, which is capable of automatically neutralizing incoming enemy rounds. ATGMs are going to have a hard time attacking this tank!

Although the VT-4A1 can boast about much improved protection, this upgrade does come at the expense of additional weight. Namely, this tank’s combat weight has increased to 52 tons compared to the 48 tons of the MBT-2000. In order to offset the additional weight, this tank is equipped with a more powerful 1300 HP engine.



However, this upgrade only manages to partially offset the substantially increased weight of the VT-4A1 as its top speed dips to slightly to 70 km/h — whilst being lower than the WZ1001(E) LCT for example, this tank’s mobility can by no means be considered poor. In fact, with a good power-to-weight ratio, the VT-4A1 can zip around the battlefield and conquer even the most challenging terrain types with relative ease.

In your matches by Tom, Community Management Team Leader:
“Like pretty much every top MBT, a vehicle like this can play anywhere effectively. But to get the most out of your survivability consider playing at range hull down. The lower plate is very weak, and as the turret is free of ammo this is the area you’ll want to operate it. The APS does have the chance to also stop slower kinetic rounds as well as ATGMs, so the further away from your enemy you are, the higher the possibility of your APS working against their dart.”

The VT-4A1 will be available in the Chinese ground forces tree as its first brand-new Rank VIII tank, coming to the next major update “Air Superiority”! That’s it for this blog, until the next one, keep an eye on the news and enjoy your matches!

We loved seeing the screenshots you shared with us from the past week! The planes soaring high above, and the tanks jumping through the air were fantastic. The three most popular and three selected by us will get 300 GE. See the winners down below!


Create a stunning screenshot and submit it on the War Thunder Steam Community Hub with the tag #WTscreen97. You have time until the 15th of December to submit your screenshot.

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

• Your screenshot must include a vehicle of rank III or below.
  
• You must add the #WTscreen97 tag (title cannot have any other text in it).

[/b]

Screenshots need to be compliant with the War Thunder rules.

You need to be the author of the screenshot.

Screenshot needs to be new. You cannot use those which have previously been published or used in other competitions.

We will only accept raw screenshots from the game. You cannot use any editing software nor any other visual enhancements (like Nvidia Ansel filters).

You can use filters and settings built into War Thunder.

You can use the replay functionality built into War Thunder.

Rewards will be delivered to the author's account within 14 working days.

[/list]


https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3102440839
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3103866460
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3102362505

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3103339347
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3105281845
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3103346770

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

Say hello to this new American MBT which is the modern version of the acclaimed Abrams that features additional armor for urban environments as well as modern electronics. Today, we’ll be telling you all about what this MBT has to offer you when it arrives at Rank VIII of USA’s ground forces tree in the next major update, “Air Superiority”!


Features:

• ARAT II ERA protection.
  
• Remote controlled gun on the turret roof.
  
• GEN 2 thermal imagers.

Welcome to the long-awaited top-tier tank for the USA’s ground forces MBT line, this advanced Abrams features ERA protection and a remote-controlled gun on the turret roof. Concentrated firepower, modern technology and American ambition, it really has it all! Without further ado let’s take a look at what this tank has to offer.

From a visual standpoint, the M1A2 SEP V2 looks noticeably different compared to other Abrams variants in the game — on the turret’s roof, there’s an armor shield for the commander and a large-caliber machine gun. The hull and turret sides are covered with metal slats (that look a bit like roof-tiles), which are ERA modules known as the ARAT II, specifically designed for this tank. These plates — which are mounted on top of ERA blocks — will help to protect you from HEAT shells and ATGMs fired at the sides of this tank.



You may already be familiar with the protection for the regular M1A2 SEP in terms of its TUSK research modification for extra armor, but the ARAT II plates cover a noticeably larger area and simply look cool. In short, the M1A2 SEP V2 will be a fantastic addition to the American ground forces tree, enabling you to challenge any opponent that you may meet.




Despite having such a large mass, the M1A2 SEP V2 still has great mobility, allowing you to get to important areas in battle quicker than your opponents. For shells that can be fired, this tank has the same shells as the previous M1A2 SEP, with the top round being the lethal M829A2! In addition to this, the CROWS II module that features a 12.7 mm machine gun will enable you to ultimately have some fun and spray down obstacles as well as light tanks and low flying aircraft. In comparison to the previous Abrams, the M1A2 SEP V2 has GEN 2 thermals for the gunner and commander, so in short everything that you need to succeed is here!

In your matches by Egor, Lead Ground Forces Game Designer:
“Here are some ways I recommend to play based on how I play tanks personally. I’d play from a distance, take slopes in hull down positions and observe the battlefield through binoculars, using your map knowledge to strategically position yourself. On the flip side I’d also use the SEP V2’s mobility to flank at the start of the battle and stop enemies from approaching capture points where possible — adapt to the circumstances you find yourself in. Both scenarios of course depend on the map that you get.”

The M1A2 SEP V2 TUSK II will be available to research at Rank VIII of USA’s ground forces tree when it arrives at the next major update, “Air Superiority”. For now, keep an eye on the news for our next dev blogs and see you soon!

The F-15 Eagle is a dedicated American air superiority fighter developed in the aftermath of the Vietnam War and based on the experiences gained from it. Today we’ll be talking exactly how this mighty jet will be when it comes to several nations in the “Air Superiority” major update!


Features:

• Capable of Mach 2.3!
  
• Excellent maneuverability.
  
• Advanced ordnance.
  
• Countermeasures.

Soon arriving to the American, Israeli and Japanese aircraft trees in the “Air Superiority” major update, the F-15 will become the new top dog of their respective trees, meaning you’ll be offered with an unmatched combination of agility and speed coupled with lethal firepower. So, let’s dive into the details!

Let’s first talk about the engine and performance. The F-15 is powered by a pair of Pratt & Whitney F100 turbofan engines, generating an impressive thrust output confirmed by the F-15’s top speed which sits at Mach 2.3 at an altitude of 36,000 ft (10,900 meters). Thanks to its extremely powerful engines, the F-15 possesses an excellent thrust-to-weight ratio which allows it to quickly climb to altitude but also to recover from energy-consuming dogfights much quicker.



Furthermore, the F-15 features a more traditional fixed wing with low wing loading, unlike the F-14. This, plus its ability to generate lift with some sections of its fuselage, gives the F-15 truly incredible agility despite its impressive size! As a result, this aircraft can perform very tight turns while losing only minimal energy in the process. This means if you enjoy the thrill of dogfighting in its purest form, you will feel right at home when flying the F-15!

Interesting: During the mid 1980s, the F-15A was used as a launch platform for the experimental ASM-135 anti-satellite missile.




As expected, the F-15 “Eagle” certainly has sharp claws. In general, its payload options are optimized for air combat which is reflected in its impressive air-to-air missile armament, consisting of up to 4 short and 4 long range missiles. Thanks to this, you’ll be able to choose from a range of late AIM-9 Sidewinder and AIM-7 Sparrow missiles. For Japan and Israel, you’ll have access to the additional option of outfitting the F-15 with respective domestic missiles, such as the AAM-3 or Python-3.

Although the F-15 is optimized for aerial combat, it can certainly also pounce on prey found at ground level. Apart from conventional 500 and 2,000 lb bombs as well as incendiary bombs, the American and Israeli F-15 can also carry up to 3 x 2,000 lb TV-guided bombs. Rounding off the Eagle’s weapon options is the 20 mm M61 Vulcan cannon which can be used to devastating effect both against aerial but also surface targets in combination with computer-aided targeting and the appropriate ammunition!

In your matches by Jan, Marketing Manager:
“The addition of the F-15 is going to redefine the meta for top tier air combat. It’s fast, and it bleeds little speed thanks to its extremely powerful engines, but these must be handled responsibly. Remember that a large fuel load makes it physically impossible to do sharp maneuvers, which the F-15 is capable of at minimum load, so take care of your wings!”

The F-15 Eagle is simultaneously arriving at the top rank of three nations in War Thunder when the “Air Superiority” major update is released, and each F-15 will of course have its own camouflage depending on the nation. This blog is done, but there’s still more to come. Keep an eye on the news, but until then, enjoy your matches and see you soon!

We’re excited to be showing you one of the first brand-new Rank VIII ground vehicles coming to the game in the next major update. Say hello to the utmost modern representative of the T-90 family of MBTs created under the “Breakthrough” modernization program!


Features:

• New turret design.
  
• Frontal Relict ERA protection.
  
• Barrel-launched ATGMs.
  
• Laser Warning System (LWS).
  
• Reduced number of weakspots.
  
• Very slow reverse speed.

A fantastic all-new T-90 variant, the T-90M will be added to War Thunder in the next major update at Rank VIII of the USSR’s ground forces tree. The T-90M is at the forefront of the T-90 family of tanks, featuring a new welded turret with built-in modular ERA and a new fire control system. Let’s take a look at what this formidable beast has to offer!

One of the first things you’ll have noticed with the T-90M is that its turret looks slightly different to its predecessors, and that’s correct! This tank features a new welded turret with an extended bustle at the back that holds a selection of the ammunition. Thanks to this addition, some shells that were previously located in the main fighting compartment have been moved into this new isolated area, helping to improve the T-90M’s survivability when penetrated from the front.



A new welded turret also needs some sort of reactive protection and this is exactly what has been added to the T-90M. This tank features Relict ERA scattered across the turret’s side and front as well as the upper front plate, which in turn will help you survive extra hits from ATGMs fired from tanks and helicopters.

Moving onto guns and ammo, which the T-90M inherits from the T-90A: a 125 mm smoothbore cannon that can fire tandem-charge 9M119M1 ATGMs, HEAT-FS, HE and two APFSDS rounds. However, what’s changed the most is the fire control system. This addition means the commander now has a new panoramic sight, the gunner and commander have fantastic thermal sights, plus a very handy laser rangefinder. You may have also noticed that the Shtora-1 active protection system (the red-looking eyes) is absent on the T-90M, however this tank still has a laser warning system, allowing you to react to missile threats in advance.




As for mobility, the T-90M has a new engine with enough additional power to compensate for its increased mass. Despite this increased weight, this tank is as fast and vigorous as you’d come to expect with Russian MBTs, however the burning question you may have is if its reverse speed is any better, and the answer is no. Tragically, it still inherits a measly 4 km/h reverse speed from its predecessors, so be sure to keep this in mind when in battle!

In your matches by Nikolay, Ground Forces Game Designer:
“My advice here is similar to how I play the T-72 and T-90, which is at medium ranges, use its mobility to your advantage if you’re under fire, while making it difficult to aim at vulnerable weak points. As for short ranges, keep close to your allies because the slow reverse speed and not the best reload speed leave you with no chance if your shot doesn’t penetrate in a 1v1 scenario, or you suddenly run into several opponents.”

The intimidating T-90M will be added to the USSR’s ground forces research tree at the all-new Rank VIII in the next major update. Until then, continue to keep an eye out for dev blogs on our website and see you soon!

We’re going to be showing you one of the first Rank VIII MBTs coming to the game, which will be the Challenger 3 (P)! Capable, lethal and up to the challenge, today we’ll be talking about exactly how this new addition will be when it arrives in War Thunder.


Features:

• Deadly L/55 A1 smoothbore cannon!
  
• Improved engine pack.
  
• GEN 3 thermals.
  
• Laser Warning Receiver.

The Challenger 3 is coming to War Thunder in its prototype form that was presented to the British MoD in 2019, and will be arriving to the British ground tree with the release of the next major update! Coming in at the all-new Rank VIII for ground vehicles, this tank is the ultimate Challenger, as it’s armed with an L/55 A1 smoothbore cannon, has better engine horsepower, excellent thermal sights, plus a great selection of ammo. Without further ado, let’s take a look at what this tank has to offer.




There’s one stand-out addition to the Challenger 3 (P) that significantly enhances its capability in battle compared to the Challenger 2, and that’s the L/55 A1 smoothbore cannon! This fantastic gun is mounted into a modified Challenger 2 turret, meaning you’ll have access to the lethal DM53 APFSDS round, HEAT-FS and even a HE-TF round. Although this gun is a welcomed addition, it does mean access to the traditional HESH and smoke shell is completely lost. Furthermore, the modified turret features excellent electronics, including a brand-new commander optic, GEN 3 thermals for the gunner/commander and LWS/LR, although a machine gun is absent from the turret roof.





Moving to the hull and armor, which remains virtually identical to the Challenger 2. Particularly in the form of composite armor around the front, a large lower front plate and the weakness of the driver’s vision port. It’s also worth noting that additional armor packages that are quite familiar to previous Challenger 2s cannot be equipped on the Challenger 3 (P) in-game. Despite having a modified turret to house the larger L/55 A1 cannon, the turret cheeks of this tank still remain the same as the armor of its predecessor, which is decent in general.

One burning question that you may be asking is if mobility has improved, and… it has! Slightly. The Challenger 3 (P) has a 1500 HP engine instead of the standard 1200 HP engine, however the top speed remains at 59 km/h, which is still on the low side compared to other MBTs. Thanks to this extra horsepower, this tank will generally be able to get around better and reach its top speed quicker. It’s also worth keeping in mind that this tank weighs 66 tons, which is in between the weight of the regular Challenger 2 (62.5 tons) and TES (74.8 tons).

In your matches by Tom, Community Management Team Leader:
“The CR3 offers something quite important. With better mobility, advanced thermals and a very powerful round you can effectively aim and fire on enemies faster due to the more forgiving firepower. This is the advantage you should aim to utilize as much as possible while you play. As top tier tanks are very universal there’s no strict playstyle to employ, but just keep in mind that you don’t absolutely need to fight up-close for your advantages to work.”

Overall, the combination of excellent electronic systems, better horsepower, good armor and a smoothbore gun will make the Challenger 3 (P) a breath of fresh air when playing the British top tier lineup. Don’t forget that the recently announced Rank VII Challenger 2 (OES) premium — coming soon too — will help you research the Challenger 3 (P) faster. That’s it for today’s blog, until next time, see you soon!

The next major update for War Thunder — “Air Superiority”!

In the next major update, we’ll be bringing you a cool new aircraft location inspired by the nature in Kamchatka, which is a peninsula located at the very edge of Russia. Today we’ll be taking a look at this new location with some words from one of its designers, Pavel.

Volcano Valley is going to be a new aircraft location that will be added to the map rotation when the next major update is released. This brand-new location has a nice mix of beautiful areas, as it features several erupting volcanoes that are spewing hot lava and smoke, beautiful lakes and rocks, plus small islands and majestic hills.



One of the coolest areas of this location is the volcanic massif, consisting of a group of volcanoes that contrast with a picturesque valley where endless birch forest groves stretch. Passing through the center is the beautiful meandering, fast-moving Kamchatka River that also has nearby crystal clear lakes, as well as swampy pools.



Near the volcanoes is a dead forest, which is a rather atmospheric place. This is due to the result of an eruption that turned part of the area with trees into a scorched forest. A layer of ash covers the soil here, and it’s mixed with burnt out lifeless tree trunks that have remained for several decades.



This corner of pristine nature and volcanic eruptions has now become a battlefield of opposing forces for air superiority. You’ll be able to fly out your aircraft on this new location when the new major update releases!