Winter is in full swing, it’s time to warm up and settle down for a brand new Winter Extreme in War Thunder! To brighten up your long dark evenings, we’ve prepared a heap of prizes for you that can be unlocked just by playing — all you need is to do your best in random battles and earn mission score!

You can get yourself some high rank event vehicles of all types, trophies with various rewards, coupons for decals, camouflages for event vehicles, player icons and decorations! Last year the low tier premium was given to the tankers, this time we’ve got something special for the pilots!

Let’s light up the Christmas tree together!

When: From December 20th 2023 (11:00 GMT) until January 9th 2024 (11:00 GMT)

By completing tasks in this event, you’ll be able to earn the following vehicles.

A Rank II Premium for Sweden. — [url]Click here to learn more.[/url]


A Rank VIII Event Vehicle for France. — [url]Click here to learn more.[/url]


A Rank VI Event Vehicle for the USA. — [url]Click here to learn more.[/url]


A Rank VII Event Vehicle for Germany. — [url]Click here to learn more.[/url]



“Winter Extreme” decals











[expand type=details]



[/expand]

Event vehicles at Rank IV-VIII and decals will be granted in the form of coupons, while Rank II premium vehicles, decorations and camouflages will be immediately activated on your account.

All event rewards will be issued for a specific number of Marks of distinction earned in the specified vehicle type in the appropriate game mode.

---

• 50,000 — 100,000 Silver Lions
  
• Silver and EXP boosters
  
• Random wagers and orders
  
• Universal backups (1-3 pcs.)
  
• Random camouflage for a purchased vehicle of any type
  
• 1 day of Premium account

• Activate all 5 coupons for decals on your account to receive the 6th decal “Snowboarding”.

“Snowboarding” decal

More about collections on the WT Wiki!


To get one Mark of Distinction for a tanker/pilot/sailor, earn 40,000 mission points in random battles in Rank III or higher (from Rank I for event vehicles) in the corresponding vehicle type and in the corresponding game mode. Point multipliers that vary based on vehicle rank and difficulty level are stated in the task description. The tasks are all the same and are renewed every two days at 11:00 GMT.




A unique opportunity to obtain items from past winter events! From December 20th until January 15th, the “Snowman” and its “Carrot” will be available to purchase in the Item Store. The “Snowman” will bring you unique decals, decorations, vehicles and camouflages from all past War Thunder winter events. Some items from past events appear as coupons for the first time and you’ll be able to trade them on the Market. You can also get Silver Lions, boosters, universal backups, wagers and orders.

The cost of the “Snowman” is 10,000 Silver Lions, and the cost of the “Carrot” is 50,000 Silver Lions. “Carrots” can also be obtained for 3 and 10 Marks of Distinction in the “Winter Extreme” event. All “Snowmen” and “Carrots” will disappear from your inventory on January 15th at 12:00 GMT, so be sure to use them before then!

Now you can open multiple chests at once! When you choose a “Snowman” in your inventory, in the bottom right part of the screen a “Consume several” button will appear that opens a menu that allows you to choose a number of chests to open. Then in the window with your received rewards you can open the same amount of chests again by pressing a single button.



The “Snowman” can contain the following rewards (open spoiler)

[expand type=details]
Vehicles (both immediately activated on the account and available as coupons):
Tornado IDS MFG
T-80UM2
USS Newport News
Late 298D (only direct to the account)
MiG-23MF (Germany)
C. 202D (only direct to the account)
AGS
A.C.I (only direct to the account)
IJN Hayanami (only direct to the account)
MPK Pr.201K
MiG-21PFM
Ro.57 Quadriarma (only direct to the account)
Class 3 (P)
E.B.R. (1954) (only direct to the account)
USS Baltimore
Type K-8 No.13 (only direct to the account)
TIS MA
J6K1
Merkava Mk.2B (USA)
QF 3.7 Ram
Jaguar
PT-811
Fw 190 C
M.B.152C1
T30
SU-85A
PBM-3 “Mariner” (only direct to the account)
Leningrad (only direct to the account)
P-40C
NC.900 (only direct to the account)
Ersatz M10 (only direct to the account)
AEC Mk II
Me 262 A-2a
Ki-21-I hei
LVT(A)(4) ZIS-2 (USA)
Type 62 (USSR)*
P-63C-5 (USSR) (only direct to the account)
VK 45.01 (P)
M8A1 GMC
I-301
* the chances of receiving the Type 62 (USSR) are far lower than the other vehicles and are around 0.001%.

All vehicles will be immediately credited to your account, but there’s a chance to get it in the form of a coupon unless otherwise specified.

Camouflages (coupons only):

• Tornado IDS MFG: Anniversary camouflage MFG 2 (first time as a coupon)
  
• T-80UM2: Bicolor summer camouflage (first time as a coupon)
  
• USS Newport News: Deforming camouflage (first time as a coupon)
  
• MiG-23MF (Germany): Tricolor camouflage
  
• AGS: Snow w/Open Terrain camouflage MERDC
  
• MPK Pr.201K: Deforming camouflage
  
• MiG-21PFM: Demonstration camouflage
  
• Class 3 (P): PATRIA camouflage
  
• USS Baltimore: Deforming camouflage Design 33 16D
  
• TIS MA: Bicolor green camouflage
  
• J6K1: Experimental camouflage
  
• Merkava Mk.2B (USA): Tricolor camouflage
  
• QF 3.7 Ram: Late bicolor camouflage
  
• Jaguar: Deforming camouflage Bow sea
  
• PT-811: Deforming camouflage Design 20L
  
• Fw 190 C: Nonstandard tricolor camouflage
  
• M.B.152C1: Early camouflage
  
• T30: Winter verdant camouflage MERDC
  
• SU-85A: Bicolor summer camouflage
  
• P-40C: Olive-green camouflage

Decorations (both immediately activated on the account and available as coupons):

• Christmas gnome (first time as a coupon)
  
• Christmas sleigh (first time as a coupon)
  
• Christmas mill (first time as a coupon)
  
• Cuckoo watch (first time as a coupon)
  
• Christmas sock (first time as a coupon)
  
• Christmas deer (first time as a coupon)
  
• New Year Tree (first time as a coupon)
  
• Snowman (first time as a coupon)
  
• Sparkler (first time as a coupon)
  
• Snowboard
  
• Snowshoe
  
• Biathlon rifle
  
• Ice Climber’s Backpack
  
• Snowmobile NKL-16/41
  
• DUKW
  
• Assault rifle with grenade launcher (USSR)
  
• Assault rifle with grenade launcher (China)
  
• Assault rifle with grenade launcher (Germany)
  
• Assault rifle with grenade launcher (Britain)
  
• Assault rifle (Sweden)
  
• Carl Gustaf M/45
  
• Assault rifle (China)
  
• Type 63
  
• Assault rifle (Japan)
  
• Assault rifle (USA)
  
• Assault rifle (Britain)
  
• Assault rifle (Germany)
  
• Assault rifle (France)
  
• Assault rifle (USSR)
  
• Christmas Wreath
  
• Sleigh
  
• Ski
  
• Skates

Decals (both immediately activated on the account and available as coupons):

• “We can climb it” decal
  
• “Christmas Lights” decal
  
• “Powder Day” decal
  
• “Secret Santa” decal
  
• “Times to Travel” decal
  
• Metal Bull (only direct to the account)
  
• “Raging Tiger” decal (only direct to the account)
  
• Battle Rabbit (only direct to the account)
  
• “Warrior of the North” decal
  
• “Warrior of the Slavs” decal
  
• “Desert Warrior” decal
  
• “Guard Warrior” decal
  
• “Warrior of the Rising Sun” decal
  
• “The Sherwood Warrior” decal
  
• “Warrior of the East” decal
  
• “Legion Warrior” decal
  
• Pin-up pilot China
  
• Pin-up pilot Sweden
  
• Pin-up pilot Italy
  
• New Year’s pin-up (China)
  
• New Year’s pin-up (France)
  
• New Year’s pin-up (Germany)
  
• New Year’s pin-up (Italy)
  
• New Year’s pin-up (Japan)
  
• New Year’s pin-up (Sweden)
  
• New Year’s pin-up (Britain)
  
• New Year’s pin-up (USA)
  
• New Year’s pin-up (Russia)
  
• Pin-up pilot USA
  
• Pin-up pilot Russia
  
• Pin-up pilot Britain
  
• Pin-up pilot Japan
  
• Pin-up pilot Germany
  
• Pin-up pilot France
  
• Shark Jaws (1)
  
• Shark Jaws (2)
  
• Shark Jaws (3)
  
• Shark Jaws (4)
  
• “Christmas tree” victory marks
  
• Xmas Rocket
  
• Xmas Sock
  
• Xmas Tree

Profile icons (will be immediately activated on the account and in the form of the coupons):

• Winter Pilot (first time as a coupon)

Aerobatic Smokes:

• New Year Aerobatic Smoke (only activated on your account)

Silver Lions

• 10,000 — 1,000,000

Expendable items

• Battle trophy (Research points booster)
  
• Battle trophy (Silver lions booster)
  
• Universal backup
  
• Universal backup x2
  
• Universal backup x3
  
• Random wager
  
• Random order

[/expand]


For those who not only want to spend their extra Silver Lions, but also Golden Eagles — a special Christmas Chest is available in the item shop. This chest can only be purchased with GE, but inside it you will find a huge set of useful items: premium account, SL, universal backups and boosters, premium vehicles and also all vehicles that have ever been sold for GE or Warbonds but aren’t currently attainable in the game or on the market (full list below)

Picking up a Christmas Chest is a bargain! If you have opened enough chests you’ll be guaranteed to receive talismans and premium vehicles. And that’s not all, the average value of the chest contents are almost one and a half times the price of the chest itself!

Also, after opening a specific number of chests you’ll receive memorable prizes. For 3 chests, a unique New Year sticker; for 5 chests, a festive naval flag; for 7 chests, a festive ground vehicle decoration; and for 10 chests, an amazing pilot Santa Claus player icon!




Gingerbread House decoration

[expand type=details]
Christmas Chest purchase price: 999 Golden Eagles
Guaranteed Prize: 1 day premium account + 120000 Silver Lions (total purchase price of 490 Golden Eagles)
Additional Guaranteed Prize:

(1) Talisman for vehicles (15% chance but at least once for every 14 chest openings); breakdown of chance by vehicle rank:

If all vehicles of the dropped rank already have a talisman the player will be refunded fully for the Christmas Chest — 999 GE.

(2) Premium vehicles including unavailable for sale (15% chance but not less than once for every 14 chest openings); breakdown of chances by vehicle ranks:


Unavailable for purchase vehicles presented in the Christmas Chest along with the usual premium vehicles:

• Lightning F.53
  
• F-86F-35
  
• J29D
  
• J35A
  
• YP-38
  
• T-2 Early
  
• MiG-17AS
  
• MiG-21 SPS-K (Germany)
  
• Milan
  
• S.O.4050 Vautour IIN
  
• A-4E (Israel)
  
• SAV 20.12.48
  
• Type 74 (G)
  
• Type 69-IIa
  
• M26E1
  
• UH-1C XM-30
  
• P-61A-11
  
• Bostwick's P-47M-1-RE Thunderbolt
  
• Lanovski's P-47M-1-RE Thunderbolt
  
• Wetmore's P-51D-10 Mustang
  
• USS Cowell
  
• Pz.Sfl.Ic
  
• Panzer IV/70(A)
  
• He 112 B-1/U2 (Germany)
  
• P-47D (Germany)
  
• La-5FN (Germany)
  
• Tempest Mk V (Germany)
  
• Sea Hawk Mk.100
  
• Z20 Karl Galster
  
• T31
  
• T-34 (1st Gv.T.Br.)
  
• МК-IX "Valentine" (USSR)
  
• KV-1E
  
• KV-2 (ZiS-6)
  
• IS-2 "Revenge"
  
• Mi-24D (USSR)
  
• Pokryshkin's P-39N-0 (USSR)
  
• Pe-2-205
  
• IL-2M "Avenger"
  
• Golovachev's Yak-9M
  
• Fw 190 D-9 (USSR)
  
• Spitfire Mk IXc (USSR)
  
• MiG-15bis ISH
  
• Stroyny
  
• Neustrashimy
  
• Achilles (65 Rg.)
  
• Boomerang Mk II
  
• D.520 (Great Britain)
  
• Typhoon Mk Ib
  
• Plagis' Spitfire LF Mk IXc
  
• Prendergast's Spitfire FR Mk XIVe
  
• Hunter FGA.9
  
• HMCS Haida
  
• J2M4 Kai
  
• IJN Kiyoshimo
  
• Т-62 №545
  
• T-69 II G
  
• P40 "G.C. Leoncello"
  
• RN Geniere
  
• F-84F IAF (France)

[/expand]

• The exact terms of each task can be found here: Nickname → Achievements → Winter Extreme.
  
• To get a Mark of Distinction, you need to complete a task in the corresponding vehicle type in the corresponding game mode. For example, a Mark of Distinction for pilots can only be received by playing Air battles (AB/RB/SB).
  
• You can complete tasks in multiplayer battles in all game modes except for “Assault”.
  
• You can complete tasks not only in vehicles of Rank III and above, but also in lower rank event vehicles — those that could be received in large events such as winter and summer marathons, WWII chronicles, BP seasons and craft marathons. In the stat cards of these vehicles you can find the names of events in which they first became available in the game.
  
• You’ll only have received a Mark of Distinction if the achievement’s color is golden (If you’ve completed the task and it hasn’t turned gold yet, join another battle and afterwards it should turn gold).
  
• Missed Marks of Distinction can be purchased for Golden Eagles in the Achievements window until January 11th 2024. Make sure you pick the right achievement category: either for tankers, pilots and sailors.
  
• Prizes received in the form of tradable coupons will be available for trading on the Market from January 12th 2024. The time from which the coupon can be traded can be viewed in the game in the coupon description. The option of trading each coupon separately depends on the time of its receipt and doesn’t depend on the vehicle type.
  
• For 8 Marks of Distinction you receive an untradable coupon for a vehicle. Upon activating it, you'll instantly receive a corresponding vehicle. If you do not wish to use the vehicle and want to sell the coupon on the Market instead, you’ll need the “Upgrade for coupon” item.
  
• For 10 Marks of Distinction, you’ll receive an untradable “Upgrade for coupon” item. You can use it to make the vehicle coupon you received tradable and then sell it on the Market. The date on which a traded coupon becomes available for sale can be seen in its description in the game.
  
• The “Upgrade for coupon” item has an expiration date. You can either use it or exchange it for War Bonds before it expires.
  
• PlayStation and Xbox players will be able to exchange decal coupons for similar ones. The exchange is available in the Workshop → Exchange items “Winter Extreme” window.

Enjoy this festive quest during the festive season!

The JAS39 Gripen is the latest multirole jet fighter developed by Saab and fielded by the Swedish air force. Striking not only in appearance but also in its capability, the Gripen will soon represent the pinnacle of Swedish military aviation technology, and today we’ll be talking about it!


Features:

• Superior maneuverability.
  
• Mach 2 top speed.
  
• Versatile weapon loadouts.
  
• Countermeasures.

Welcome to the JAS39 Gripen, the latest multirole jet fighter operated by the Swedish Air Force and is set to become the most advanced aircraft to arrive at the top ranks of both the Swedish and the British aircraft tree (in the form of the South African variant) in the next major update, “Air Superiority”. Possessing not only excellent flight characteristics but also a very versatile arsenal, the JAS39 is sure to quickly become a firm favorite if you value flexibility as a key characteristic in your aircraft. Let’s take a look!




Representing a further development of the design philosophy of the preceding Viggen, the JAS39 incorporates some incredible innovations which make it clearly stand out from its predecessor while at the same time reducing its overall size and weight. For instance, although the Gripen also prominently features the use of canards, unlike on the Viggen, the ones found on the JAS39 are fully powered and thus substantially improve the aircraft’s handling characteristics, especially at extremely high and low speeds. Speaking of speed, the Gripen can attain a top speed of 1,900 km/h at high altitudes thanks to its light airframe and powerful RM12 turbofan engine. As a result, you’ll be able to quickly get into the heat of battle and won’t need to fear being outrun by your opponents if they decide to break off from the engagement.

Interesting: In the absence of a thrust reverser and to decrease the stopping distance during landing, Swedish engineers made clever use of the Gripen’s canards by allowing them to be rotated nearly 90° to act as additional air brakes after touchdown.

Talking about engagements however, what does the Gripen bring to the fight? The answer to that question depends on the fight that you’ll be preparing your Gripen for! As a baseline, the JAS39 comes fitted with an integrated 27 mm Akan m/85 autocannon which can effectively be used against both aerial and ground targets, provided the correct ammunition is being used for each target type.



For intercepting aircraft, the Swedish version of the Gripen can be equipped with RB 74 and RB 74(M) air-to-air missiles for close combat, and the RB 71(DF) for longer ranges. The South African JAS39C in the British line carries AIM-9L and AIM-9M missiles for the closer ranges, as well as the Skyflash for long range. Additional countermeasure pods can be mounted under the wings, and also on the same pylon as your short range AAMs! If the situation calls for some ground strike action, the Litening II targeting pod allows the Gripen to use GBU-12, GBU-16, GBU-10, and GBU-24 laser guided bombs. JAS39C pilots can also equip AGM-65B Maverick missiles, while the JAS39A uses the AGM-65A (Designated as the RB 75). The Swedish version can also be equipped with unguided rockets, but bombs will be available for both versions: Mk.82 and Mk.83 for the JAS39C, and Mk.82 and domestic m/71 120 kg bombs for the Swedish JAS39A.

In your matches by Scott, Community Manager:
“Whilst you don’t have the most advanced longer range missiles when compared to some of your competition, getting up close and personal is where the Gripen will excel with its AIM-9Ms. That's not to say the Skyflash won't be useful in certain longer range situations though. You have a lot of countermeasures to use to your advantage as well as a solid amount of 27 mm cannon ammo. Avoid the initial head on contacts near the start of the match as much as possible. Once you are in the heat of closer quarters combat, very few aircraft will offer you a hard time in dogfights. Your low speed maneuverability is almost second to none.”

The Gripen will soon be making its way to War Thunder in the “Air Superiority” major update. Besides the early Swedish JAS39A production variant, an export modification of this aircraft operated by the South African air force, designated JAS39C, will also be added to the British aircraft tree. In the meantime, make sure to stay tuned to the news for the latest information regarding the upcoming update!

Today we’ll be taking a look at the Mirage 4000, an experimental variant of the renowned Mirage jet fighter developed in parallel to the Mirage 2000. Featuring a twin-engine configuration and vastly improved aerodynamics, the Mirage 4000 will soon be arriving at Rank VIII of the French aircraft tree in the “Air Superiority” major update!


Features:

• Superb aerodynamics!
  
• Twin-engine propulsion.
  
• Versatile arsenal.
  
• Top speed of Mach 2.2.

As the name already suggests, the Mirage 4000 builds upon the legacy of the Mirage family of aircraft and propels nearly all aspects of it to the next level. A sleek design, more power and increased payloads all make the Mirage 4000 stand out from the competition, but there’s a lot more to it than that! Let’s find out some more as we go into the details below.



The Mirage 4000 is the first aircraft of the Mirage family in War Thunder to break away from the traditional single-engine design and instead prominently feature a twin-engine layout. As such, the Mirage 4000 is powered by a pair of the familiar SNECMA M53-P2 turbofan jet engines. As a result, this jet can accelerate up to a maximum top speed of Mach 2.2! However, it’s not just the top speed that makes the Mirage 4000 stand out from the crowd. More importantly perhaps is the aircraft’s superb agility. Featuring the signature Mirage delta wing design, coupled with controllable canards in front of the engine air intakes gives this aircraft fantastic maneuverability at both low and high speeds. Thanks to this as well as other improvements, this jet can comfortably engage virtually any opponent it meets in the skies.

Interesting: Although the Mirage 4000 never made it into production due to adverse circumstances, its advanced design and superior performance paved the way for the development of the legendary Rafale fighter.

While good aerodynamics certainly represent a good start, it’s by far not what rounds out a fully fledged fighter design. This task would fall onto the armament and the Mirage 4000 has quite something to show for in this aspect as well. Apart from its standard armament of two ventral mounted 30 mm DEFA cannons, the Mirage 4000 can equip up to 8 x R550 in one loadout, or 3 x 530F air-to-air missiles. These loadouts favor aerial engagements, but what if the mission also calls for ground strike capabilities?




In this case, the Mirage 4000 can boast a high degree of flexibility with its arsenal. Namely, you’ll have access to a wide assortment of guided and as well as conventional munitions. Some highlights include the familiar AS-30L Nord AGM, up to 6 x 2000 and 1000 lb bombs, as well as 2 x BGL 1000 guided bombs to name a few. As a result, the Mirage can engage a vast number of enemy ground targets, thus making it an ideal pick to put into your ground lineups!

In your matches by Alex, Aircraft Game Designer:
“On this new aircraft I would advise to play with speed and work with its medium range missiles by trying to stay near to the enemy, two engines and dynamics of this aircraft will allow you to do this. A large number of short-range missiles gives you the opportunity to make even small mistakes in missile launches, unlike other French top planes, where every missile counts. Its wings will also allow you to quickly turn to the enemy, but I don’t recommend engaging in protracted maneuvers, as you’ll quickly lose valuable speed. In ground battles, the choice of weapons is very large, from missiles to guided bombs, my choice here is the AS-30L or a full set of assault bombs.”

The Mirage 4000 will soon be coming to the French aircraft tree in the next major update, “Air Superiority”! That’s this blog wrapped.In the meantime, be sure to follow the news for the latest information regarding the upcoming update. Until then, see you soon!

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!