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role was short-lived however, as newer strike aircraft like the F-105 Thunderchief and the supersonic B-58 Hustler soon superseded it.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.

---

---

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.

---

---

“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.

---

---

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.

---

---

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

---

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.

[carousel][/carousel]

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.

[/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=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.

 

[carousel][/carousel]

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)

 

[carousel autoadvance="true"][/carousel]

[carousel][/carousel]

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;

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.

[carousel autoadvance="true"][/carousel]

 

• 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.

[carousel autoadvance="true"][/carousel]

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!