Pakistan Defense Day is celebrated on September 6th, commemorating the day where Pakistan defended their border from Indian troops crossing into the country during the 1965 war. Cultural events and large military parades are held on the day. The country celebrates its Air Force on September 7th and its Navy on September 8th.

 

For this day, the Mi-35M attack helicopter (rank VI) and the A-5C strike aircraft (rank VII) can be purchased with a 30% discount for 6,363 and 6,489 Golden Eagles respectively.

 

When: From September 5th (12:00 GMT) until September 8th (12:00 GMT).

Where: China > Helicopters / Aviation > Premium vehicles.

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• In the 2010s, Pakistan ordered four Mi-35M helicopters with spare parts and weapons from Russia. They are still in service today. The Mi-35M is not the most maneuverable helicopter, but it’s well armed, being able to equip Ataka and Shturm ATGMs, Igla air-to-air missiles, S-8KO and S-13OF rockets, as well as a 23 mm GSh-23L cannon.

• The A-5C is the Pakistan Air Force’s version of the Q-5, which was China’s first mass-produced combat aircraft. It has a good top speed and climb rate along with countermeasures, Matra Magic and Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, rockets and a wide range of bombs.

• The Al-Khalid-I is an improved variant of the Chinese-Pakistan AI-Khalid tank. The fire control system has been improved, the ERA blocks on the turret have been repositioned, and the tank received a more powerful engine. It’s a survivable MBT with an accurate and powerful 125 mm gun, which is backed up by a stabilzer, laser rangefinder and thermal imager.

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You can also purchase these vehicles together with the AI-Khalid-I tank as part of a pack with a 50% discount.

 

To get to the Gaijin Store through Steam, go to the in-game hangar > Shop > Online Store.

This bundle includes:

• A-5C Pack

• Al-Khalid-I Pack

• Mi-35M Pack

Today, we’ll be looking at a trio of Commonwealth Hornets joining the British tree, bringing some sting from across the pond and down under!

In the 1970s Canada, like many other countries, faced a choice of where to go with the modernisation of its jet fighter fleet. Operating 3 aging types with the, CF-101, CF-104 and CF-116 (F-5), a drastic upgrade and streamline was needed for the Royal Canadian Air Force to defend its skies and operate across its vast, often cold, territory. Canada considered many options, like the Tornado, Mirage F.1 and the American roster of F-14, F-15, F-16 and the F-18. While the F-14 came very close, geopolitics and cost lead to the F/A-18 being selected as the winner in 1980. Its characteristics already met the needs of Canadian operations, having a durable undercarriage for rough landings, twin engines for extra reliability and a suitable range for the vastness of its operational coverage, the carrier-borne routes of the Hornet perfectly suited the Canadian requirements.

 

Canadian Hornets feature several modifications both internally and externally, such as lights and other bespoke changes. CF-188s have taken part in operations in the Gulf Wars, Yugoslavia, NATO Peacekeeping and even most recently, operations in the Middle East. Life extension programs have upgraded and will continue to keep the Hornet in Canadian service until a replacement can be procured. 

 

Australia, with a much similar mission to Canada, needed to modernise its fleet of Mirage III fighters. With considerations as far back as 1968 on the future fighter of the Royal Australian Air Force, it was not until the 1980s that the Hornet would ultimately come through as the candidate to replace them after assessing many of the same aircraft that Canada did. After allowing its preferred options in the F-16 and F-18 to mature somewhat, the decision was ultimately made to go with the F/A-18 as it became. Domestic assembly would take place in Australia, with Government Aircraft Factories (GAF) and Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation (CAC) both participating in production and assembly.  Hornets began to enter RAAF service in 1985, and have since been upgraded several times with the Hornet Upgrade Program (HUG), introducing new weaponry, systems, structural reworks and hardware improvements. 

 

Ever since we first introduced the F/A-18 family to the game, many of you have requested the Commonwealth variants of these aircraft. Today, we’re happy to announce 3 versions will be joining the game in the next major update. Representatives from both Canada and Australia will join the British tree, providing an excellent all round platform in both air and ground battles!

Let’s start with the Canadian variant, the CF-18, otherwise officially known as the CF-188. The CF-188A features an AN/AAS-38B targeting pod, as well as GBU-10, GBU-12 and GBU-16 Paveway IIs, GBU-24 Paveway IIIs as well as AGM-65D and G for an immense guided arsenal to bring to bare on ground targets. Alongside conventional armaments like high drag and standard bombs, napalm bombs and the CRV-7 rocket pods unique to this Hornet Variant. We also can’t forget to mention the internal 20 mm M61A1, which features SAPHEI rounds and a firing rate of around 6000 rpm. This lets you make short work of lightly armored ground targets, as well as making use of its radar gunsight for accurate shots in the air. 

The CF-188A is coming as a premium aircraft, providing a versatile option for those wishing to storm through the ranks of the British aircraft tree! Pre-orders for it have started today.

Speaking of which, for its air-to-air weaponry, the CF-188A will feature the AIM-7P missile, which needs no introduction to many pilots! This is one of the best Semi-Active Radar Homing (SARH) missiles in game, losing out only to the likes of the R-27ER. AIM-7P features both datalink and inertial guidance, meaning even if your aircraft loses radar lock, you can require lock at a later stage and the missile will continue its path once reconnected. That’s not to mention its excellent range, letting you reliably hit targets from 15km and even sometimes up to 20km away! Not forgetting the all-aspect AIM-9L for those short range engagements.

The first Australian variant will be the RAAF F/A-18A (Early), which will help to bridge the gap between the Phantom FG.1 and Sea Harrier FA.2. This variant will feature a slightly trimmed down arsenal compared to the CF-188A, but with a lower Battle Rating naturally to suit that. You can expect the same excellent handling in terms of flight performance (not forgetting the maneuvering mode control!) as well as a very well rounded RWR system that keeps you well informed of the threats around you, including threat ID and directional warning. In terms of weaponry, this version features the AIM-9L for short range, and for longer ranges, the AIM-7M/F variants. Ground attack wise, this F/A-18 will feature conventional bombs, high drag bombs, napalm as well as a twin set of AGM-62 ER/DL TV guided bombs. For a touch more precision in your strikes!

 

Lastly we can delve into the  RAAF F/A-18A (Late)! This version will be the HUG-2+ upgrade. Featuring a LITENING targeting pod and JDAMs which are unique to this Hornet modification. You can also expect 10 of the active radar-guided AIM-120C-5 AMRAAMs. This will be a truly versatile all round force both in the skies and against ground targets, with robust loadout options for almost any mission you face. 

 

We hope fans of Commonwealth aviation will enjoy these “aircraft with a sting” as we welcome more Australian and Canadian vehicles to the game. That’s all for now, stay tuned to the news for more details on what else you can expect in the next major Update for War Thunder!

 

Please note that this vehicle’s characteristics may be changed before it is added to the game.

Today we’ll be taking a look at the Sky Sabre, a Multi-Vehicle SAM System consisting of one radar vehicle and two launch vehicles with lethal missiles!

 

The Sky Sabre has its roots back to the early 2000s, when the British Government awarded MBDA UK a contract to develop a new, common missile under the Future Local Area Air Defence System (FLAADS) program. This program aimed to replace the old Rapier missile systems that had been in service since the 1970s.

What came from the FLAADS program was the CAMM (Common Anti-Air Modular Missile), designed to be used on a multitude of different platforms; either land, air or sea. It was first incorporated onto Royal Navy ships in 2018 and an extended-range variant called the CAMM-ER was developed in 2023 in collaboration with Italy.

The Sky Sabre, which uses the CAMM missile, entered service with the British Army in December 2021, with six being operated by the 16th Regiment Royal Artillery. In 2022, to reinforce NATO anti-aircraft security in the region, one Sky Sabre was sent to Poland and remained in service until December 2024, when it was returned to the UK for maintenance and repairs.

Currently, five Sky Sabres are being used for training and protecting the skies of the UK. One Sky Sabre has been located on the Falkland Islands since early 2022, where it replaced all Rapier missile systems previously stationed there.

Meet the Sky Sabre, joining Great Britain at the end of the SPAA line in the Tusk Force major update, ready to reinforce British ground force lineups with some lethal anti-air firepower! This is all thanks to two types of surface-to-air missiles that can take out aircraft at long ranges. Let’s take a closer look!

Just like some of the vehicles released in the previous major update, the Sky Sabre is a Multi-Vehicle SAM System (MVSS). This means it comprises three vehicles: a radar vehicle that tracks targets, and two launcher vehicles that can be placed. The radar is the SAAB Giraffe AMB, and when using it, you’ll be able to track and fire at targets using the newly added Radar Control Screen, just like the other MVSS vehicles. 16 missiles from the launchers (when both are placed) can be fired simultaneously and track individual targets when you click on them on the radar control screen. Like the other MVSS vehicles, this makes the Sky Sabre a serious threat against planes and helicopters!

Trivia: The Sky Sabre launches missiles vertically using a “cold launch” system. This is where gas pushes the missile out of the launcher and into the air, then the missile turns towards its target using an orientational engine before the missile engine itself starts and makes its way to the target.

The Sky Sabre features the EMADS launcher system developed by MBDA. This launcher can hold 8 missiles and fires two types which are both brand-new to the game: the CAMM and CAMM-ER, each with a range of 25 km and 45 km respectively. These missiles are extremely powerful and will explode in the proximity of planes and helicopters and can reach a max speed over Mach 3! Both missiles feature an ARH+IOG+DL guidance system, making them excellent at tracking targets in all points of flight.

Did you know?: CAMM is short for “Common Anti-Air Modular Missile”. As the name might suggest, CAMM can be incorporated onto various platforms and is currently used on Royal Navy ships and the Sky Sabre. The use of these missiles on ships and land vehicles both make up the “Sea Ceptor” and “Land Ceptor” weapon systems.

Both the radar and launchers are mounted onto the MAN HX77 8x8 truck. This truck, with all equipment mounted, weighs around 32 tons and is capable of reaching top speeds of 100 km/h thanks to its good engine. It has virtually no armor protection to speak of, and you should not be expecting to survive against bombs, tank shells, and strafing aircraft (if they even manage to get that close to you!) Plus, the radar vehicle is really tall, so make sure to *try* and hide it somewhere! That may be difficult though.

So that’s the Sky Sabre for you — deadly CAMM missiles that are capable of taking out planes and helicopters at medium to long engagement ranges with ease! Be on the look out for this vehicle coming to the game in the Tusk Force major update soon.

Please note that this vehicle’s characteristics may be changed before it is added to the game.

Introducing the next major update trailer for War Thunder: Tusk Force!

Today we’ll be going over Mackensen, the main reward in the Black Hussar naval event!

 

The decision to develop new battlecruisers in Germany was influenced by information surrounding the British Queen Elizabeth-class battleships, equipped with 381 mm guns and a speed of up to 25 knots. On August 13th, 1912, Naval Minster Alfred von Tirpitz instructed Vice-Admiral Rohlmann to develop options for ships with eight 340 mm or 350 mm guns. After analyzing six projects, the option with 340 mm guns was initially chosen, but was rejected due to insufficient speed and seaworthiness. Further calculations showed that a displacement of 31,500 tons was necessary to achieve the required characteristics, which Tirpitz considered unacceptable.

In search of a compromise, a version with eight 305 mm guns and stronger torpedo armament was proposed, which was even approved by Kaiser Wilhelm II. However, the naval command and the weapons department opposed it, insisting on more powerful weaponry. After much debate, they settled on a design with six 380 mm guns, following the example of the Bayern-class battleships, but in November 1913, work resumed in favor of eight 350 mm guns. Tirpitz, despite resistance, agreed to increase the displacement limit to 31,000 tons. On December 8th, 1913, this design was finally approved.

Following the 1914-1915 program, the initial plan was to build seven cruisers, but only four from the project were laid down. Due to the outbreak of World War I, resources were redirected in favor of the submarine fleet and land operations. Not a single ship of this class was completed. In accordance with the Treaty of Versailles the cruisers were to be transferred to the Allies, but due to their unpreparedness for independent sea passage, they were replaced by the battleship Baden. In 1921-1922, the hulls of the unfinished ships were scrapped for metal.

Mackensen is a battlecruiser that is not only distinguished by excellent weaponry and good survivability, but is also one of the fastest capital ships of its era! How can you get this battlecruiser? Mackensen can be obtained in the Black Hussar naval event that started today (link to details below). Let’s get acquainted with this ship!

The partially constructed Mackensen promised to be very competitive against the warships of its time. After lengthy discussions, 350 mm guns in four twin turrets were approved as the main caliber of the Mackensen. These guns can fire two types of massive 600 kg shells: armor-piercing and semi-armor-piercing with a large explosive charge. The power of Mackensen’s main caliber is enough to counter any ship of its rank, but the guns will have a hard time dealing with the most protected battleships in the game, even at short distances. There are 150 mm guns in casemate mounts with 6 on each side of the ship. Mackensen’s excellent torpedo armament is also worth mentioning: five torpedo tubes carry large 600 mm torpedoes, with a total ammunition load of 25.

Mackensen is also decently survivable overall. A sufficiently large crew can keep the ship running for quite a while, and although Mackensen’s armor is inferior to that of battleships, it provides good protection in medium and long-range combat. All vital compartments are protected by a 300 mm main armor belt, with armor of almost the same thickness on the main elevators. The gun platform’s armor belt is protected by 150 mm armor.

Speed is one of Mackensen’s main strengths, especially among its contemporaries. It can reach speeds of up to 28 knots (almost 52 km/h). A notable downside however is that the anti-aircraft weaponry is not very impressive. Mackensen only has slow firing 88 mm guns at its disposal, and there are no small caliber anti-aircraft guns present at all. It’s best to stay close to your allies when playing this ship!

You can get Mackensen in the Black Hussar naval event that started today! Want to learn more about the event? Be sure to check it out through the link below!

https://steamcommunity.com/games/236390/announcements/detail/547870690696495395

Please note that this vehicle’s characteristics may be changed before it is added to the game.

• A bug that allowed aircraft to remain mostly unharmed from forward fuselage impacts from large air-to-air missiles with warheads similar to or larger than the AIM-9 has been fixed.

 

• The technical issues with Custom Battles and Air Simulator Battles have been resolved, custom rooms can now be created again.

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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.

• IJN Yukikaze — a bug where the visual model showed the torpedoes being launched in the wrong order has been fixed.

 

• A bug on tanks with LWS that caused the laser irradiation notification on the compass to not disappear after the exposure had ended has been fixed.

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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.

We’re pleased to present visual improvements to two more Ground Battle locations: Eastern Europe and Poland, coming in the next major update!

Eastern Europe is one of the most popular locations in Combined Battles, and also one of the earliest ground maps to be added to the game. We’ve gone ahead and refreshed the appearance of this much loved location, making it more detailed, natural and lively. The main battle area and its surroundings are now more distinct with a strong autumnal vibe. The vegetation and trees have been reworked too — plant life more typical for Eastern Europe is now more abundant, such as conifers with tall trunks. The landscape is easier to see through now too due to the taller trunks and higher foliage. The urban section of the map has also been transformed, with the architecture as a whole reworked and improved. Buildings and bridges have been improved with more realistic detail.

Inside the town and beyond its boundaries, many small objects and fences dot the landscape, making it feel a lot more natural and lived in. Eastern Europe is now visually a lot prettier, but the gameplay and flow of the map remain the same, for those of you who’ve played hundreds of battles here it won’t take much time to settle in!

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Good old Poland! It’s incredible to think of the sheer number of battles we’ve all fought here, how many points we’ve captured and all the times we’ve rumbled through these narrow streets. We’re proud to give one of the earliest ground locations a big visual update! All of the buildings and structures have been reworked, and countless small destructible objects have been added. Some examples are window frames, drainpipes, flower beds, railings, and a host of small details to make the location feel a lot more real and lively.

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There have also been some noticeable changes outside of the town too. Firstly, vegetation has been completely reworked, unnaturally large bushes that hid tanks have been removed, and new grass has been added. Secondly, the prominent rocks and stones around the landscape have been visually reworked. We’ve put a lot of extra attention to the look of the soil and roads, intersections and the banks of the lake in the middle. That’s not all, we’ve also added a few easter eggs to the map too, but no hints, you’ll have to discover them yourself! Make sure to post on our social media if you find some!

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Our team is working tirelessly to ensure than the game rules are being followed and that cheaters don’t stay in War Thunder. You can help us with this! Find out how to file a report and how our anti-cheat system works on our Wiki.

Since our last fair play, we’ve banned 2639 accounts that were found to have violated the rules. Specifically 3.2.3 of the EULA namely in the automation of gameplay (using bots) and cheat software. For complete transparency, we’re publishing the full list of these banned players. This list will be available for two weeks after the publication of this article.

Additionally, 210 accounts have been banned for a week or longer for intentional teamkilling, ramming and griefing.

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), and Telegram bot, which we suggest trying if SMS 2FA messages are not reaching you.

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 Team

The T58 is an American experimental heavy tank developed in the mid-1950s as part of the U.S. Army’s effort to counter the latest Soviet heavy tanks during the early Cold War.

 

During WWII, American armor had relied on numbers, mobility, and combined-arms tactics rather than direct superiority in firepower or armor. However, the appearance of newer Soviet heavy tanks, like the IS-3, caused deep concern as existing U.S. medium tanks would struggle against it. In response, the U.S. initiated a heavy tank program that eventually produced the M103 heavy tank. Yet even as the M103 entered service, U.S. planners worried it might already be insufficient to deal with future Soviet designs intended to succeed the IS-3.

The T58 project, which began in the mid-1950s, was intended as an answer: it took the M103 chassis and paired it with an experimental oscillating turret mounting a 155 mm gun. The oscillating turret idea was inspired by contemporary French tanks, particularly the AMX-50 series, and was seen as a way to manage the weight of such a large cannon while incorporating an autoloader to offset the difficulties of handling massive shells. The 155 mm gun was designed to defeat any heavy armor the Soviets could produce. However, the T58’s development coincided with a major shift in U.S. and NATO doctrine, which moved away from specialized heavy tanks toward the main battle tank (MBT) concept. This was primarily due to logistical concerns and the belief that nuclear weapons on the battlefield reduced the need for heavily armored behemoths. As a result, the T58 was never pursued beyond the prototype stage, with the project being canceled in 1957.

Well protected, powerful and packing a mighty punch; a description befit to practically all early Cold War American heavy tanks. The T58 represents the pinnacle of American heavy tank design and the last behemoth of its kind before the MBT concept was widely adopted. It’s available starting today in the Gaijin store as a pre-order pack, coming in with special pre-order bonuses! Let’s go into the details of this beast.

The T58 represents a further development of the M103 heavy tank in which engineers sought to “future proof” the American heavy tank design against more advanced Soviet counterparts. The most important aspect of this undertaking was to equip the T58 with a monstrous 155 mm cannon, capable of breaching through even the most heavily protected enemy encountered on the battlefield. As such, the T58 will join the gang of “big guns” in ground battles, possessing the capability to utterly devastate its foes with its lethal HEAT and HESH rounds.

Despite the large caliber however, the T58’s T180 cannon features good ballistic properties overall, and thanks to the presence of an autoloading mechanism the rate of fire is also very fast for its caliber. However, as the autoloader is limited to just six rounds, you may often find yourself quickly expending the available ammo and having to undergo a lengthy reload to replenish the magazine. So it’s best to take this into account during intense combat!

The gun is not the only thing that makes this titan so impressive. As with other American heavy tanks, the T58 boasts excellent protection. It inherits the M103’s well protected hull and couples it with a unique oscillating turret design with complex geometry, resulting in excellent protective qualities. However, a major limiting factor of the turret is the limited elevation angles which may put the T58 at a disadvantage on more uneven terrain.

With its combat weight sitting at an impressive 60 tons, the T58 is also one extremely heavy unit to shift around on the battlefield. Outfitted with a 810 HP engine, the T58 can reach top speeds of up to 35.4 km/h on paved roads. As a result, you may find yourself behind the front line at the start of battle, and may get caught out when repositioning. On the other hand, the T58 will be a true force to be reckoned with in urban environments where mobility plays less of a deciding factor! 

The T58 can be obtained by purchasing a pack in the Gaijin store and will become available with the release of the next major update. Thanks for joining us in today’s devblog and we hope you’re excited as we are for the arrival of this new American titan to War Thunder ground battles! We’ll see you in the next devblog and until then, happy hunting tankers!

Please note that these vehicle’s characteristics may be changed before they are added to the game.