Semyon Alekseevich Lavochkin was born on September 11th 1900. In 1939-40, together with V.P. Gorbunov and M.I. Gudkov, they developed the LaGG-3 fighter, which was widely used at the beginning of the Second World War. This aircraft led to the creation of its successors: the La-5, one of the most widely produced fighter aircraft during the war, and its further development, the La-7.

 

Dolgushin’s La-7 and the La-11 (rank IV) are temporarily available for purchase for 3850 and 4880 Golden Eagles respectively.

 

When: From September 11th (11:00 GMT) until September 15th (11:00 GMT).

Where: USSR > Aviation > Premium vehicles.

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About these aircraft

• S.F Dolgushin was a Soviet ace with 28 aerial victories to his name. This number is emblazoned on the side of the La-7 that Dolgushin flew in the final days of the Second World War. At low altitudes, the La-7 retains excellent speed, maneuverability and rate of climb, and is armed with two 20 mm ShVAK cannons with 340 rounds of ammunition.

• The La-11 was one of the last Soviet piston fighters, a development of the La-9 with an increased fuel capacity. It’s a fairly heavy aircraft, equipped with three 23 mm NS-23 cannons that can easily deal with fighters and bombers.

The Tusk Force major update is not complete without interface refinements! Today, we’d like to tell you about improvements made to aircraft radars, helping you to interact with them in a more visual and convenient way, regardless of whether you are already familiar with them or are just learning. Let’s start!

Before the changes we’re talking about today, players had to use and remember a large number of key binds to use radars. To simplify this, part of the radar control logic will be accessible from the HUD, similar to how it was done for ground-based anti-aircraft vehicles when we added the Radar Control Screen.

The radar on the screen for aircraft in the Tusk Force major update will be interactive, making it possible to click it using the mouse cursor (when activating the “Show mouse cursor” button). You’ll be able to select targets on the radar by simply clicking on them, double-click to immediately capture the desired target, change the mode and range of the radar by clicking on the inscriptions, and when holding the mouse button down, move the radar’s scan area and/or acquisition cursor (with “Cyclic target switching” turned off).

In addition to this, separate buttons can be displayed around the radar screen, which can be used to activate many radar functions (changing mode, scale, etc) with the click of your mouse.

To enable these buttons around the radar, click “Switch the radar control type” in the action bar. Once enabled, and by default, the assigned keybinds will be displayed above the buttons that appear. When clicking the button on the action bar again it will hide the keybinds above the buttons, and then clicking it again will hide the buttons altogether.

There’s also two more actions in the action bar: “Lock Radar/IRST on target” and “Select Radar/IRST target to lock” (which only works when the “Cyclic target switching of aircraft radar” option is enabled in the settings).

These improvements are intended to allow newcomers to quickly master the complexity of how radars work, and for experienced players to use the radar to its maximum ability — and even free up a few keybinds.

That’s it for today, we have some more dev blogs still to come, so make sure to be on the look out for those!

Today we’re checking out the USS Charles F. Adams destroyer that has something unique up its sleeve: RIM-24 Tartar anti-aircraft missiles!

 

Charles F. Adams-class destroyers became iconic ships during the Cold War, combining traditional gunfire with cutting-edge missile technology. The lead ship of the class, USS Charles F. Adams (DDG-2), entered service in 1960 and immediately found itself at the epicenter of history, participating in the Mercury 8 mission and then in the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, where it was involved in enforcing a naval blockade of Cuba. USS Charles F. Adams later served in the Indian Ocean and the Persian Gulf, escorting the aircraft carrier USS Independence.

Despite its active service, USS Charles F. Adams’ fate after its decommissioning in 1990 was dramatic. Years of efforts by veterans and historians to preserve it as a museum in Jacksonville, Florida ran into financial and bureaucratic hurdles. The U.S. Navy refused to hand over the ship, and in 2020 it was sent to Texas for scrapping.

Meet a truly rare gem: a ship with missile weapons! We’d like to introduce the destroyer USS Charles F. Adams today, one of the more unique ships that features both traditional guns, torpedoes as well as guided missiles! Let’s take a further look.

USS Charles F. Adams will be the second Bluewater fleet ship in the game that features missiles, after the Soviet Bravy destroyer. This ship is armed with the RIM-24 Tartar anti-aircraft missile system, already familiar to those who know about USS Douglas, a Coastal fleet boat. These missiles can not only be used against aircraft, but also against enemy ships! The ammunition count for these missiles is a solid 42, so you’ll be able to fire as many as you want without worrying about running out too soon!

Despite the guided missiles, USS Charles F. Adams remains a destroyer with armament typical for this class. The two main 127 mm Mark 18 guns with rapid-fire capabilities are excellent for destroying those lighter sea targets, and the HE-VT shells make these guns great against aircraft as well. There’s also two triple-tube rotating torpedo tubes on each side of the ship that fire anti-submarine torpedoes, which means they have limited effectiveness against ships.

In most battles, USS Charles F. Adams will specialize against aircraft, which comes in handy as many ships at its rank don’t have any air defense capabilities, making this ship helpful to the team. Despite this, the main guns and RIM-24 missiles are also particularly good at taking out smaller boats that are maneuvering sharply while trying to capture points, and enemy destroyers that have weaker armor.

Look out for USS Charles F. Adams at rank IV in the USA’s Bluewater fleet tree, coming to the game in the Tusk Force major update very soon!

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

Meet the 203 mm M55 self-propelled howitzer, coming to the game for the USA, Germany, China, Italy and France!

 

Development of the 203.2 mm M55 self-propelled howitzer began in 1948, when Pacific Car & Foundry received a contract to produce a new self-propelled artillery piece as part of the U.S. Army rearmament program. Built on a chassis with a front-mounted engine and transmission, two prototypes were created: one mounting a 155 mm gun and the other a 203.2 mm howitzer.

The first prototype was completed in July 1952 and soon entered serial production as the M55. However, even after deliveries began, the design required further improvements. In total, 550 M55 units were produced. They served with the U.S. Army until the 1960s, later being exported to allies, including Belgium, Germany, Spain, Italy, and Turkey.

Say hello to the M55 self-propelled howitzer, coming to Rank III for five nations at once: the USA, Germany, China, Italy and France! The firepower of this monster is almost unmatched, so let’s take a closer look!

The M55 is armed with the 203.2 mm (8-inch) M47 howitzer, a rifled gun offering excellent ballistics for a weapon of its size. It fires only one type of round, the staggeringly heavy M106 HE shell, weighing in at 104 kg! The size and weight of this projectile limits the total capacity to only 10 shells, which really isn’t too many. A well trained crew will be able to reload in just under 30 seconds. While it may not look like it, the M55 is turreted, and while it can’t traverse around completely it can still manage 30 degrees to the left and right.

Using a redesigned chassis and new tracks, the M55 shares several components with the M47 tank. Despite its size, the M55 is actually lighter than the M47, and can reach a higher top speed of 56 km/h. That said, this vehicle is poorly suited for frontline fighting, its armor is thin and only just bulletproof. The front-mounted engine and transmission may occasionally absorb hits into the hull, but as the turret is packed with crew and ammunition, any penetration here is usually fatal.

Due to the thin armor and long reload, the M55 is a vehicle that relies on support to work effectively, helping the team behind the frontline by supplying devastating supporting fire from a safer position. The benefit of a cannon this size is that accuracy doesn’t need to be perfect, as long as the shell connects it will more than likely be game over for your target!

That’s it for this one! Look out for this new addition coming to several nations in the next major update Tusk Force. Stay tuned for more dev blogs, as we have many more new additions to show you!

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

Meet the Douglas B-66B Destroyer, a light bomber developed for the U.S. Air Force in the early 1950s as part of America’s shift toward jet-powered tactical aircraft at the beginning of the Cold War.

 

The early 1950s marked a period when the USAF was rapidly modernizing its tactical forces to meet the challenges of the Cold War. At the same time, the Navy was also developing its own jet-powered long range bomber, the A-3 Skywarrior, which quickly attracted interest from the Air Force because of its promising design features. As a result, a derivative of the A-3 was developed for the USAF. The aircraft, designated as the B-66 Destroyer, received an extensive redesign to suit Air Force requirements, including ejection seats, different avionics, and structural changes to handle shorter land-based runways. Its development was driven by NATO’s defense strategy in Europe, where the United States sought fast, nuclear-capable strike aircraft able to breach Soviet defenses and deliver tactical weapons against advancing Warsaw Pact forces.

Entering service in 1956, the B-66 replaced the aging A-26 Invader and became Tactical Air Command’s primary light bomber, despite only 72 units being built. Its service career in the bombing role was short-lived however, as newer strike aircraft like the F-105 Thunderchief and the supersonic B-58 Hustler soon superseded it. Nevertheless, its versatile airframe proved highly adaptable, leading to large-scale conversions into reconnaissance and electronic warfare variants, which continued to serve well into the 1970s.

The B-66B Destroyer will soon join the ranks of early jet-powered bombers in the American aviation tree. Although rapid technological advancement cut the service career of the B-66B short in the real world, this new light jet bomber will surely make a name for itself once it joins the fight in War Thunder’s air and combined battles. Let’s take a closer look!

Originally derived from a naval twin-engine jet bomber, the B-66B features sleek swept wings, optimized for transonic speeds. Powered by a pair of Allison J71 turbojet engines, the B-66B can reach top speeds of around 1,000 km/h (630 mph) at medium altitudes. Jet-powered predators may have an easier time catching up to it, but this doesn’t mean that the B-66B will be easy prey. Instead, attacking enemies will first need to bypass the B-66’s powerful defensive turret situated on the aircraft’s tail, comprised of twin 20 mm cannons. With one well-aimed burst of 20 mm high-explosive rounds being enough to shear wings clean off an airframe, make sure to watch out for this mighty sentinel!

With a hefty payload of 12,000 lbs (5,400 kg), you’ll easily be able to destroy a large number of targets in both air and combined battles. Regardless of the particular mission, the B-66B Destroyer does its name justice by offering a selection of conventional 750 lb and 3,000 lb bombs.

That’s it for this one! The B-66B Destroyer is soon arriving in War Thunder as a new light bomber for the early ranks of American jet aircraft with the release of the upcoming Tusk Force major update. In the meantime, be sure to follow the news for the latest information regarding the upcoming update. Until then, clear skies and happy hunting, pilots!

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

Today, we’ll be looking at a slew of Nordic Mosquitoes joining the Swedish aviation tree in the next major update. Bringing speed, firepower and twin engine support from the ever reliable “Mossie”!

 

 

Originally starting life as the unique concept of a fully unarmed bomber, relying only on its speed, the DH.98 Mosquito was the brainchild of Sir Geoffrey de Havilland. Rejected initially by the British air minister at the concept stage, de Havilland used their past experience with designs like the DH.88 Comet Racer and pushed on with refining the DH.98 project by themselves quietly at Salisbury Hall in Hertfordshire. Its wooden construction, unique for a time when most aircraft were increasingly being built out of metal, earned it the nickname “the Wooden Wonder”. It also meant it would not impact the vital production of other key aircraft that were desperately needed, like the Supermarine Spitfire. 

 

Taking to the skies for the first time in November 1940, the Mosquito would prove an invaluable aircraft, being flexible enough to be both a high speed bomber and also multiple fighter / bomber roles too. The airframe was incorporated with 20 mm hispano cannons and machine guns for the fighter role, but the FB variants would see all manner of weaponry, from rockets to the 57 mm Molins cannon. Specialised Night Fighter versions would also see Radars fitted and many variants existed for photographic reconnaissance roles too. 

 

The Mosquito would be so successful that over 20+ nations operated the type from the USA, USSR and China to Norway. Norway was one of the first free European nations to operate the Mosquito, with No. 333 squadron (RNoAF) taking the helm of the F Mk II in 1943.

The Mossie family of aircraft need little introduction in War Thunder, as both new and veteran pilots will no doubt have seen or experienced the “Wooden Wonder” from its variants in game already. But today, we welcome 3 separate variants of the Royal Norwegian Air Force! These 3 new Nordic Warriors bring some twin engine heavy fighter and strike aircraft potential to the Swedish tree, with some new tricks to show off too. On top of this, we also plan to add the  Mosquito NF Mk II and Mosquito TR Mk 33 variants to Great Britain as well. Let's take a closer look at what the F Mk II and FB Mk VI ASH have to offer, coming in the Tusk Force major update.

 

The first of the three is the standard daytime fighter variant, the F Mk II. This version predates the FV Mk II, in that it is a pure fighter version. With a pair of Rolls Royce Merlin XX’s, this version doesn’t feature any bombs, rockets or ground ordinance. The Mk II F will provide the Swedish tree with a versatile twin engined heavy fighter for the mid ranks, with four 20 mm Hispano Cannons and four 7.7 mm machine guns. Certainly not something you would want to take head on!

 

The FB Mk VI (ASH) is a unique modification that sees the removal of the four 7.7 mm guns in the nose, replaced with the AN/APS-4 ASH radar set, similar to what can be found already in game on the F6F-5N. This radar allows the Mossie to hunt seaborne targets by means of an air to surface radar. As well as the obvious change to the nose, you’ll also find the other elements of the radar antenna on the wingtips.

 

The Nordic trio is rounded off by the conventional variant of FB Mk VI, familiar to players already in the British tree. A reliable all round strike aircraft that still packs a significant punch with its battery of four 20 mm Hispano cannons and four 7.7 mm Browning Machine guns in the nose. Along with a decent set of suspended and internal ordinance, such as the familiar RP-3s and general Purpose bombs to bring to bear against ground and naval targets too. A solid package that bolsters the lineups of the Nordic nations!

 

That’s all for now, stay tuned to the news for more details on what else you can expect in the Tusk Force major Update for War Thunder!

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

Hey everyone! We’re back with some more monthly historical inscriptions and markings for you. This time the rotation was tweaked a bit to include Rosie the Rocketer. We usually don’t add new decals for one nation back to back as we want each nation and branch to get a turn regularly, but it was a good time to include it alongside the Pages of History event. So, we hope the rocketers and indeed Rosies among you enjoy adding it to your collection! And of course, we hope you like the rest of the markings this time around as well, have a look!

The following decals will be available from September 8th (11:00 GMT) until October 8th (09:00 GMT).

All tasks can be completed using vehicles that are rank III or higher.

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The personal motif of Charles Carpenter, U.S. Army. Major Charles Carpenter was a history teacher and later a reconnaissance pilot during the Second World War, flying the Piper L-4 Grasshopper. Somewhat dissatisfied with his unarmed plane and the limited impact he was having, Charles sought approval to strap several bazooka launchers to the struts of his plane to give it some firepower. Despite his fragile aircraft and the limited range of the rockets, Charles was credited with destroying six German armored vehicles, two of which were Tiger I models, a feat that quickly made him a legend. He named his aircraft “Rosie the Rocketer”, a play on the symbolic character of Rosie the Riveter, who represented the women who made up a large part of America’s factory workforce during the Second World War. The somewhat crudely designed rocket and accompanying inscription were painted on the right side of his aircraft, just under the cockpit.

“Have Another” marking, No. 419 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force. Although sources conflict over which specific aircraft bore this marking, it is unmistakably the work of Bennett Ley Kenyon, a British tail gunner and artist who served with No. 419, whose work would help to inspire the film “The Great Escape”. After being shot down and captured, he created documentation for the escape preparations on scraps of parcel paper, and these scraps helped to visually inspire the events of the film many years later. While specific details are scarce, the marking was likely inspired by an Australian crew member, creating a fitting example of Commonwealth representation: an Australian-themed emblem, designed by a Brit, on a Canadian squadron's aircraft. It depicts a cartoon kangaroo standing on a bomb, while a joey in its pouch scans for targets with binoculars. The marking was painted below the cockpit on the right side of one of the squadron's Halifax bombers.

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“Nice II” inscription, 2e Régiment de Cuirassiers (2nd Cuirassier Regiment), French Army. While in English the name may present a different meaning at first, this marking refers to the French coastal city of Nice (pronounced 'niece' in English). Naming vehicles after cities was a common French practice during and after the Second World War, with names often chosen based on the crew's origins, the unit's formation location, or its area of deployment. The numeral “II” indicates that there was an original “Nice" tank, that was either lost in battle or decommissioned. “Nice II” was a post-war M4A1 Sherman (registration number 802594) used by the French Army in the 1950s, with the inscription painted on the hull side, below the turret.

The emblem of 254 “Midland” Squadron, IAF. Formed in 1980, the squadron initially flew the Kfir C.1 and later operated the C.2 variant and the Mirage IIICJ, flying combat patrols during the 1982 Lebanon War. The squadron disbanded shortly after in 1984, as its arsenal of Kfir C.2 aircraft were set to be transferred to the U.S. Navy. There they became part of the "Aggressor" program with unit VF-43, and were redesignated as the F-21A Lion. The marking depicts a stylized bird against the coastline, with a red outline possibly representing the view from an aircraft window. The marking was not universally applied, but was generally positioned high on the tail of the squadron’s aircraft.

The emblem of the Japanese Naval Association (海軍協会). While not directly under the remit of the Imperial Japanese Navy, the association was created in 1917 to build public support for naval activities. Initially, its focus was on promoting naval expansion, particularly the construction of large warships that required considerable national backing. During the Second World War, its focus shifted to naval recruitment and providing support for service members and their families. This quintessential naval marking was most widely used as a badge.

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The emblem of the Central Air Defense School (中央防空学校), Chinese Army. Initiated by the Chinese Aviation Administration in 1933, the school was formally established in January 1934 at the Jianqiao air base in Hangzhou and would later be relocated and renamed several times. Its curriculum was based on training materials translated from various countries, including Germany and Great Britain, which provided students with several useful perspectives. The school also used a wide variety of foreign anti-aircraft equipment, purchasing guns from nations such as Germany, Czechoslovakia, and the Soviet Union. While the school was light on vehicles, it did have at least one Vickers Artillery Tractor, where the emblem of the school was painted on the lower plate.

An emblem of Battaglione "Lupo", Decima Flottiglia, Motoscafi Armati Siluranti (“Wolf” Battalion, 10th MAS Flotilla), RSI. While not an armored group by any means, the Lupo battalion acquired several L6/40 light tanks during 1944, though details of their operational history are nebulous and conflicting. Three of the tanks were recovered in poor condition from Ciriè, north of Turin. It is likely that at least one was completely stripped for spare parts in order to put one L6/40 into combat service. One L6/40 was deployed by the battalion south of Turin in Venaria, and another was seen later in Alba (though without the 20 mm cannon), it is unclear whether these were the same or separate vehicles, though superficial analysis of the camouflage suggests they may have been the same machine. Their last, or perhaps only working tank was finally abandoned at a rail depot in Milan in late 1944. The wolf marking, adapted from the battalion's badge, was painted on the front sides of the turret.

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An emblem of 1. Skånska Flygflottiljen (1st Squadron of the Scania Air Wing) F 10, Swedish Air Force. The emblem's origins date to 1942, when the squadron operated Gladiator and J20 fighters. Because its missions were often flown early in the morning or late at night, local residents could hear the aircraft but rarely see them, earning the unit its unofficial nickname, the “Ghost Squadron” (its official callsign remained Johan Röd). The emblem was used sporadically until the squadron's disbandment in 2002, appearing on the tails of its J35 Draken and J37 Viggen aircraft. Its most famous usage was on Viggen Number 57, which was painted bright red, with the ghost prominently displayed on the tail and replacing the national roundels. A secret tiny ghost could be seen on the forward-left wheel hub. Reportedly, when the aircraft visited F 21 Luleå someone placed a hockey sticker on the wheel, which was then covered by a ghost when the aircraft returned to F 10.

The emblem of the Schwere Panzerjäger-Abteilung 559 (559th Heavy Tank Destroyer Battalion), Wehrmacht. Formed on August 26th, 1939, the battalion was initially equipped with only 3.7cm Pak guns and would be rearmed and renamed several times to reflect its changing arsenal. It received its “heavy” designation on April 10th 1944, shortly before the battalion received its first Jagdpanthers, though it also continued to operate the StuG III and later the Panzer IV/70. The unit remained active until the end of the Second World War, participating in the Battle of Geel and the Ardennes Offensive. The marking depicts a somewhat modern-looking rendition of the Jagdpanther, and was seen in the final stages of the war on the front-right mud guard of the battalion's Jagdpanthers.

A personal marking of Amet-khan Sultan, 9GvIAP (9th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment), Soviet Air Force. Graduating as a pilot in 1940, Amet-khan had a distinguished career as both a fighter and test pilot. His record of 30 solo and 19 shared aerial victories earned him the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. He would end the war flying the La-7, but during 1943 he flew the P-39 Airacobra extensively over Kuban, where this marking is said to originate. Although no photographic evidence of the snake marking appears to exist, eyewitness accounts of his plane during this time do report a yellow zig-zag patterned snake on his aircraft. The choice of a snake is at least thematically fitting, as a link to the Airacobra. Accounts reliably suggest that the snake was positioned along the left side of the fuselage on his P-39, with the head of the snake in front of the cockpit and the tail at the end of the engine exhaust

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Monthly markings can be found in a special tab at the bottom of the customization menu, (Monthly Decals) after a month, they’ll be moved to their corresponding category.

You can check the exact terms and track the progress of completing tasks for these decals by going to your Player Profile > Decals > Monthly Decals. From here, click the “Track progress” button on each decal to track from the hangar.

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All of the emblems will come with a detailed description. This will generally consist of the history of the marking, its design, which vehicles used it, and where it was often placed on vehicles historically if applicable (some emblems are taken from badges, which weren’t always applied). This way you can more easily recreate the original positioning if you’d like.

We hope you like the selection for September! While we’re all eagerly awaiting the Tusk Force major update, we hope you have fun adding these decals to your collection in the meantime. Enjoy, keep leaving your suggestions, and we’ll see you in a month!

Thanks for your outstanding submissions! For this round, the focus turns to the wreckage left behind in battle. We would like to feature screenshots that include destroyed vehicles, whether they’re smoldering tanks, burning ships, or downed aircraft. How many wreckages can you fit in a single screenshot? 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 #WTscreen188. You have time until the 12th of September 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 destroyed or heavily damaged vehicle(s).
  
• You must add the #WTscreen188 tag (title cannot have any other text in it).
  
• Artists may only win by popular vote once per four screenshot competitions.

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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.

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https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3559212725
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3559456966
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3559531255

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3559550396
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3559036808
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3560130632

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

Today we’ll be covering the Buk-M3 SAM system, one of the most famous surface-to-air missile systems.

 

Development of the Buk surface-to-air missile system began on January 13th, 1972. The system was intended to combat targets at medium and low altitudes and was set to be completed by mid-1975. Before the system could be completed however, there were urgent concerns regarding the anti-air defense of tank divisions, and so a decision was quickly made to create the system in two stages. On May 22nd, 1974 a decree was issued to develop a simplified version — this initial variant was autonomous and self-propelled, and able to be integrated with existing Kub-M3 SAM system vehicles.

The fully-fledged 9K37 Buk system successfully completed testing in 1979, consisting of a command post, a radar station, six launcher vehicles with four SAMs each, loading vehicles and a communications platoon.

Modernization began after the Buk was adopted into service, and resulted in several improvements. The Buk-M1 featured increased jamming immunity and expanded target engagement capabilities, the Buk-M1-2 could fire a new missile, with the generally improved Buk-M2 followed after. The most modern iteration of the system, the Buk-M3, was accepted into service in 2016. It features new 9M317M series missiles, a new combat control post, an improved radar vehicle, new TELs (transport erector launcher) with 12 missiles each, and a new TELARs (transporter erector launcher and radar) with 6 missiles each.

Meet the Buk-M3, a modern Russian surface-to-air missile system coming to War Thunder in the next major update. It will come to the game as a Multi-Vehicle SAM system, meaning it consists of three vehicles: a radar vehicle, and two launcher vehicles with six missiles each. Let’s take a look at what the Buk is capable of!

Let’s start by going over the weapons. As soon as you spawn into a battle and position your radar vehicle, you’ll be able to deploy one or two launcher vehicles that each have six 9M317MA missiles in launch canisters. The guidance for them is a combination of active radar homing with inertial guidance on the missile’s flight trajectory and data link. The massive missiles have a large warhead and a radio fuse with a large proximity detonation range, as well as a long time in flight. The 9M317MA missiles have a thrust vector control and overload of 30G, allowing them to hit targets with ease, even at short distances. The missile containers are angled and the missiles cannot be launched vertically, so make sure to position the launcher vehicles accordingly!

Did you know? “Buk” means “Beech” (a type of tree).

The radar vehicle is where the gunner operates the system, able to control almost the entire airspace above the battle and simultaneously lead and hit up to 12 targets at once! Even if this vehicle is destroyed you’ll still be able to continue fighting aircraft. The launcher vehicles have their own sight with a thermal imager, and their radar is capable of both detecting and tracking targets, albeit in a narrow sector.

Interesting: The Buk detection station radar has a low rotation frequency, so one revolution takes 4.5 seconds. Each launcher vehicle has a radar with a phased array antenna, which allows for rapid scanning of the airspace. During operation, the data from these radars is integrated, and as a result the gunner receives a rapid update of information about targets in the sector of fire.

We’ve gone through the technicalities, let’s look at the base vehicle itself. The Buk-M3 is on a tracked chassis, providing a top speed of up to 70 km/h. Both the launcher and radar vehicles are very large, especially the radar vehicle with the rotating radar antenna. They’re also predictably only protected by bulletproof armor; they can survive some shrapnel from indirect hits from small bombs or rockets, but that’s about it.

That’s it for now! The Buk-M3 will be joining the game in the next major update. Soon, we’ll be back with some more dev blogs, so keep an eye out!

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

In early July, the Armored Apex 4v4 tournament came to an end. And what a finale it was! Team AVReS stormed through the qualifiers, dominated the play-offs, and finished undefeated with a 3-0 sweep over LEET on Sinai. With this incredible run, AVReS not only claims the Armored Apex 2025 trophy, but also rises to the top of the WTCS leaderboard with 256 points!

Make way for the last Major of the 2025 season before the Grand Finals. The Air Superiority Tournament, sponsored by {LINK REMOVED}Thrustmaster!

Note: Open Qualifiers are open to everyone.

At the end of each Open Qualifier, four teams will advance to the Play-Offs. For full details, check out the War Thunder Esports in 2025: The Beginning of a New Era article on Steam.

• Open Qualifier I: September 13th-14th at 15:00 GMT

• Open Qualifier II: September 20th-21st at 15:00 GMT

• Play-Offs: September 27th-28th & October 4th-5th at 15:00 GMT

This is the line-up for Open Qualifier I & II, it will remain unchanged for the Play-Offs.

 

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Again we’ll be partnering with {LINK REMOVED}Thrustmaster to offer you prizes worthy of this competition:

{LINK REMOVED}Thrustmaster, founded in 1991, is a pioneering brand in consumer simulation equipment.

Proud of its expertise and core values of “Passion, Quality and Innovation”, Thrustmaster continually strives to enhance realism and immersion in legendary gaming worlds by offering thrilling and truly exceptional experiences. From video game enthusiasts to casual gamers, Thrustmaster accessories for PCs and game consoles bring everyone’s dreams to life.

For each Open Qualifier, there’s a total of 86,400 Golden Eagles, plus Research Point & Silver Lion boosters and Premium Account time!

• 1st place HOTAS Warthog (for each player in the team)

• 2nd place T.16000M FCS FLIGHT PACK (for each player in the team)

• 3rd place T.FLIGHT HOTAS 4 (for each player in the team)

 

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DISCLAIMER: Due to logistical reasons, we are only able to deliver prizes to the following countries and territories:

UNITED KINGDOM, BULGARIA, POLAND, ROMANIA, FRANCE, SPAIN, GERMANY, LUXEMBOURG, NETHERLANDS, DENMARK, BELGIUM, PORTUGAL, FINLAND, ITALY, SWEDEN, CYPRUS, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, NORWAY, CANADA, CROATIA, SLOVAKIA, IRELAND, AUSTRIA, CZECH REPUBLIC, HUNGARY, SWITZERLAND, SINGAPORE, AUSTRALIA, LATVIA, GREECE, LITHUANIA, ESTONIA, MALTA, BRAZIL, SOUTH AFRICA, MEXICO, SLOVENIA, HONDURAS, TURKEY, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, NEW ZEALAND, LEBANON, ARGENTINA, JAPAN, BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA, PHILIPPINES, SERBIA, ISRAEL, MOROCCO, UKRAINE, INDONESIA, ARMENIA, CHINA, KAZAKHSTAN, ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA, PUERTO RICO, KUWAIT, REPUBLIC OF KOREA, ICELAND, INDIA, VIETNAM, ANGUILLA, SAUDI ARABIA, ANDORRA, REUNION, MARTINIQUE, MALAYSIA, CHILE, THAILAND, NORTHERN IRELAND, GIBRALTAR, JORDAN, MACEDONIA, TUNISIA.

If your country of residence is not included in this list, you’ll need to provide a postal address in any of these countries in order to receive your prize.

• Open Qualifier I Stream: September 13th-14th

• Open Qualifier II Stream: September 20th-21st

Watch the Open Qualifier matches live across both weekends and grab Twitch Drops, including boosters and premium account time! Even more rewards await during the Finals, so don’t miss out. Streams are available in English, Russian, German, Polish and French for the best experience.

Throughout the WTCS Air Superiority Major, join the Official War Thunder Esports Discord to connect with fellow competitive players and take part in exclusive giveaways featuring these packs: 

• L-39ZA Albatros Pack

• Northrop NF-5A Pack

• F-2A ADTW Pack

• MiG-29 Sniper Pack

• F/A-18C Hornet (Swiss) Pack

The Esports team wishes you the best of luck for the qualification phases. May skill be with you!

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

This pack includes:

• Decal "Flanking Snail";

• Title "Slick flanker";

• 300 Golden Eagles;