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War Thunder "Air Superiority" - Changelog
14 December 2023
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Welcome to Air Superiority!

We’re ending 2023 in style with the awesome Air Superiority major update. Top-tier jets have been added to several nations, some of which include the F-15, the Su-27 and J-11, the Mirage 4000, plus the JAS39. We’ve introduced Rank VIII for ground vehicles, and subsequently new tanks: M1A2 SEP2, Leopard 2A7V, T-90M, VT-4A1, Strv 122B+ and Challenger 3 (TD)! The USA gets the brilliant USS Roanoke and a few other ships come in for other nations, while Volcano Valley is here for aircraft, set in the beautiful peninsula landscapes of Russia. The ability to use universal backups while in battle and tutorial missions for using aircraft missiles have also been added, and we’ve reworked all types of fire graphics for vehicles and burning buildings to make them look better in general.

There’s dozens of bug fixes, changes and additional new vehicles, so read on to find out what it’s all about.

Aircraft

Ground vehicles

Naval Fleet

  • USA

  • USSR

    • Novorossiysk

  • Great Britain

    • HMS Orion

  • Japan

    • Asagao

  • Italy

    • RN Leonardo da Vinci (Premium)

  • France

    • Courbet (Premium)
    • Vauquelin

New locations and missions

  • Volcano Valley — a new aircraft location has been added with two available: Ground Strike for Arcade battles and Operation for Realistic battles.

Location and mission updates

  • Visual improvements have been added to the tank test drive area.
  • Hürtgen Forest — this location has been reworked based on player feedback: spawns covered, blocked line of sight for shoot throughs.
  • Middle East — this location has been reworked based on player feedback: spawns covered, blocked line of sight for shoot throughs.
  • The following missions have been changed with the location of the bombing bases in them depending on the rank of the battle:
    • [Operation] Lake Ladoga.
    • [Operation] Ladoga. Winter 1941.
    • [Operation] Moscow. 42nd kilometer.
    • [Operation] Moscow. Naro-Fominsk.
    • [Operation] Moscow. Serpukhov.
    • [Operation] Moscow.
    • [Operation] Smolensk. 1941.
    • [Operation] Smolensk. 1941.
    • [Operation] Berlin.
    • [Operation] El Alamein.
  • For trees, wind attenuation when moving away from the model has been added to enhance the visual effect of model switching.
  • Trains driving outside of the playable zone in missions on the Flanders map have been added.

Ground Vehicle model, damage model, characteristic and weaponry changes:

  • BMP-1, SPz BMP-1, ZBD86, BMP-2, RakJPz 2 (HOT), IT-1, Shturm-S, Khrizantema-S, Swingfire, Type 60 ATM — the damage model of missiles loaded into a launcher has been reworked so that they are now ammunition and not part of the launcher. (Report)
  • Type 62 — track animation has been fixed. (Report)
  • Object 211, Type 63, ZTS63 — exhaust position when afloat has been fixed. (Report)
  • AMX-10M — missing armor at the optic location has been fixed. (Report)
  • E-100 — internal armor plates moved to X-Ray view.
  • Leopard 2A4 (Hungary) — a bug that caused the bulldozer blade animation to not work has been fixed. (Report)
  • M47 (105/55) — a bug where the first stage ammo stowage did not rotate with the turret has been fixed. (Report)
  • T20 — gun mantlet armor has been fixed. (Report)
  • ZiS-12 (94-KM), Phòng không T-34, LOSAT, E.B.R. (1963) — a bug that caused headlights and searchlights to become transparent from the front has been fixed. (Report 1, Report 2, Report 3, Report 4)
  • T-50 - the armor values have been corrected (lowered) from 40 mm to 37 mm. (Report) Mass of the tank has been increased from 13.8 to 14 tons. (Report)
  • Type 60 SPRG — the number of gears and the gear ratio values have been corrected. Source: 制式要綱 60式自走106mm無反動砲(Ｃ) Ｄ８００４Ｃ.
  • OF-40 Mk.1 — turret traverse speed has been increased from 20 to 22.5 degrees per second. Vertical aiming speed has been decreased from 8 to 7 degrees per second. (Report)
  • Leopard 40/70, 47/32 L40, 90/53 M41M — an issue that caused these vehicles to not take pressure damage has been fixed.
  • The firing accuracy of 8.8 cm KwK36 and Flak 37 cannons has been increased. (Report)
  • The firing accuracy of 7.6 cm M32 and M32K cannons has been increased. (Report).
  • Au F1 — the engine and transmission parameters have been revised and set to the values of the AMX-30B. An ability to turn in place has been added. The engine power has been lowered from 720 to 680 h.p. The number of gears and both forward and backward speeds are also set to the values of the AMX-30B. (Report)
  • Au F1 — mass of the vehicle has been increased from 42 to 43.5 tons. The maximum gun depression angle has been improved from -4 to -5 degrees. Source: GIAT VECTEUR brochure.
  • AMX-30 Super — the transmission parameters have been revised. The gear ratio values and the number of gears have been corrected. (Report)
  • M26 (all variants) — the transmission parameters have been revised (Report).
  • Lancia 3Ro (100/17) — the Granata da 100 Mod.914 shell parameters have been corrected. The initial velocity has been lowered from 370 m/s to 244 m/s. The mass has been increased from 16 kg to 16.2 kg. Source: Artiglierie su affusto a ruote ed in installazione mobile, dati principali e caratteristiche, page 22.
  • AS 42/47 — the vehicle type has been changed from Tank Destroyer to Light Tank.
  • The mass values for Ariete tanks have been corrected, in tons:
    • Ariete (P): 53.8 -> 54.
    • Ariete (without WAR kit): 54, no changes.
    • Ariete (with WAR kit): 54 -> 59.5
    • Ariete PSO (without PSO2): 53.8 -> 57
    • Ariete PSO (with PSO2): 53.8 -> 59
  • Challenger 2 (all variants) — the issue which caused the inner track to not block while turning has been fixed.
  • The spall liner for ground vehicles has been implemented. The liner decreases the cone of secondary shard dispersion. Each liner section can be destroyed after being penetrated with a powerful shell, giving no protection in this area. The liner is implemented for the following vehicles: Leopard 2A5, Leopard 2A6 (including the Finnish one), Leopard 2 PSO, Leopard 2A7V, Strv 122A, Strv 122B PLSS, Strv 122B+, Strf 9040C, Lvkv 9040C, Challenger 2, Challenger 2 (2F), Challenger 2 TES, Black Night, Challenger 2E and Challenger 3 TD, Т-90М, M3A3 Bradley.
  • The ability to select an ATGM and look through its sights has been added to the following vehicles: BMP-2, Marder A1-, Marder 1A3, Pbv 302 (BILL), Warrior, Ratel 20.
    Said sight has its own zoom, field of view, and aiming angle parameters.
  • M109A1 (all versions) — the erroneous presence of an automatic loader has been fixed. (Report)

Aircraft and helicopter model, damage model, characteristic and weaponry changes:

  • Weaponry

    • G8N1 — the 1500 kg Type 3 Number 150 armor-piercing bomb and its modification module have been added.
    • Su-25BM — the Kh-29T missile has been replaced with the Kh-29TE. The KAB-500Kr bomb has been replaced with the KAB-500Kr-E
    • Su-39 — the Kh-29T missile has been replaced with the Kh-29TE.
    • JH-7A — GB250 bombs and Kh-29T rockets have been added along with the modification module for each, and a preset for 250 kg bombs has been added with no modification module required.
    • The BRAB-220 (1930) armor-piercing bomb has been added to the SB-2 (all variants), TB-3, BB-1, Su-2 (all variants), Pe-2-1, Pe-2-31, Pe-2-83 and IL-2 (1941).
    • The BRAB-500 (1938) armor-piercing bomb has been added to the SB-2 (all variants), TB-3, Pe-2-1, Pe-2-31, Pe-2-83 and IL-2 (1941).

  • Other

    • A5M4 — 2 x 60 kg Type 97 Number 6 high-explosive bombs have been added.
    • Wasp HAS.Mk.1, SA 316B Alouette III — scope magnification has been changed from 10x to 2.5x-10x.
      Source: The Royal Navy Wasp, An Operational and Retirement History, 2018;
      Flight International 1968, No.3115 Vol.94;
      Jane's Weapon Systems, 1974-75;
      International Defense Review 1968, Vol 1 Issue 4.
    • Scout AH.Mk.1 — scope magnification has been changed from 10x to 2.5x-10x.
      Source: The Anatomy of the Gyroscope, 1988.
    • Swordfish Mk.I — a bug that caused one G.P. 250 lb Mk.IV bomb to not be attached to a pylon has been fixed.
    • MiG-23 (all variants) — the possibility to fire S-24B rockets separately has been removed. The possibility to bomb drop separately has been removed. Source: Самолёт 23-12Б. Руководство по технической эксплуатации № ГК-442Б. Книга 2. Авиационное вооружение. Часть 1.
      Самолёты 2 и 2М. Технологические карты выполнения подготовок к полёту. Часть 2. Авиационное вооружение. Книга 3. Неуправляемое вооружение. К единому регламенту технической эксплуатации №23П.
      Самолёт 23МФ (вариант А). Технологические карты выполнения всех видов подготовок. Часть 2. Авиационное вооружение. Книга 3. Неуправляемое вооружение. К единому регламенту технической эксплуатации №23ПА.
    • MiG-21 (all variants), J-7 (all variants) — the possibility to bomb drop separately has been removed. Source: Самолёт МиГ-21Ф-13. Техническое описание, Книга II - Вооружение. 1963.
      Самолёт МиГ-21ПФМ. Инструкция по эксплуатации № ГК-194. Книга вторая - Эксплуатация вооружения. 1968.
      Aircraft МиГ-21Бис Pilot's Flight Operating Instructions.
    • Su-6 (AM-42) — a bug that sometimes allowed the 37 mm cannons and 4 x FAB-100 bombs to be mounted on the inside fuselage pylons has been fixed.
    • JA37D Viggen — NVD modification has been added.
    • Harrier GR.3 — NVD modification has been added.
    • MiG-23MF — a bug that caused the underside fuselage countermeasure pod to appear in presets it was not included into has been fixed.
    • MH-60L DAP — MAW (Missile Approach Warning system) has been added, with the Countermeasure modification changed to MAW.
    • MiG-23 (all variants) — a bug that caused the underside fuselage countermeasure pod to visually appear in the presets it was not included into has been fixed.
    • Hs 129 B-2, Hs 129 B-3 — the position of the camera for the sight in the cockpit has been corrected.
    • F4D-1 — ammunition capacity of the 20 mm Browning-Colt Mk12 Mod 0 cannons has been reduced from 280 to 260 rounds. Source: Flight Handbook. NAVY MODEL. F4D-1 AIRCRAFT. 1 November 1957. Pages 92-93.
    • A-1H Skyraider, AD-4 Skyraider, AD-4NA Skyraider — ammunition capacity of the 20 mm M3 cannons has been reduced from 200 to 198. Source: NAVWEPS 01-40ALF-2. Handbook. Maintenance Instructions. NAVY MODELS. A-1H - A-1J. SECTION IX - ARMAMENT SYSTEMS.
    • Bf 110 G-2 — a restriction for the joint use of 500 kg and 1000 kg armor-piercing bombs with the 37 mm BK 3.7 cannon has been added.
    • Sea Fury FB.11 — 2 x 1000 lb M.C. Mk.I bombs have been added along with its modification module. The modification research link between bombs and rockets has been removed.
    • Ka-29 — the appearance of the already fired missiles in the missile pod consisting of 4 x 9M114 Shturm missiles has been fixed. (Report)
    • Hunter F.58, Etendard IVM — a ballistic computer for bombs — navigational bombing (CCRP) has been added.
      Source:
      Schweizer Soldat: Monatszeitschrift für Armee und Kader mit FHD-Zeitung, Band 39 (1963-1964), Heft 14, Artikel Schlagkräftigere Flugwaffe.
      Historische Militär-Rechner: Bomben-Abwurfrechner BT-9 des HUNTER (ein SAAB-Export-Produkt).
    • F-5E Tiger II, AIDC F-5E — RWR type has been changed from AN/APR-36 to AN/ALR-46(V)3. Source: T.O. 1F-5E-1 F-5E/F Flight Manual.
      Самолеты зарубежных стран. В помощь строевым частям ВВС. Тактический истребитель F-5E (производство США). 1984
    • F-8E Crusader, F-8E(FN) Crusader II — ammunition capacity of the 20 mm Browning-Colt Mk12 Mod 3 cannons has been reduced from 576 to 500 rounds. Source: NAVAIR 01-45HHD-1 NATOPS Flight Manual Navy Model F-8D, F-8E pg. 104A (March 1, 1968).
      Standard Aircraft Characteristics Navy Model F-8E Aircraft (July 1, 1967)).
    • Harrier GR.7 — a bug that caused the RWR indication to extend beyond the display in the cockpit has been fixed.
    • MiG-23ML, MiG-23MLA — the type of RWR has been changed from SPO-15 to SPO-10. Source: Самолёт 23-12Б. Руководство по технической эксплуатации № ГК-442Б. Книга 3. Радиоэлектронное оборудование. Часть 1.
      СПО-10. Станция предупреждения об облучении СПО-10 (Изделие С3М) Техническое описание и инструкция по эксплуатации ХА1.090.000ТО.
    • MIG-19PT, J-6A — SPO-2 has been added. Source: Самолёты МиГ-19С, МиГ-19П, МиГ-19СВ. Временная инструкция по эксплуатации и техническому обслуживанию ГК-199.
    • Mi-24 (all variants) — SPO-15 has been replaced with SPO-10 Source: "Временная инструкция по технической эксплуатации вертолёта Ми-24. Книга 4. Радиооборудование."
      Инструкция экипажу вертолёта Ми-24В. Издание третье. Книга 1. Летная эксплуатация. Общие сведения о полёте. Особенности аэродинамики и динамики полёта. 1987.
    • MiG-15 (all variants) — a bug that caused the rocket pods not to drop automatically has been fixed.
    • P-63A-10 — additional variants of secondary weapon customization with one or two 500 lb AN-M64A1 bombs have been added.
    • P-63A-10 (USSR) — additional variants of secondary weapon customization with one or two FAB-250 bombs have been added.
    • Mirage 2000-5F, Mirage 2000D-R1 — a bug that caused the CC-630 30mm DEFA gun pod to not change any flight characteristics has been fixed. Information about the flight characteristics changes has been added to the pod description.
    • S-199 — a SC250 bomb has been added. Source: Predpisy pro letoun S 199.
    • G.91 R/3 — a 750lb M116A2 incendiary tank, 250 kg SAMP Type 25 bomb and LAU-51 rocket launcher pod have been added. The number of bombs and rocket launcher pods has increased from 2x to 4x.
      Source: Siegfried Wache - F-40 Flugzeuge Der Bundeswehr #29 Fiat G/91 R.3 1960-1968 (1997)
      Siegfried Wache - F-40 Flugzeuge Der Bundeswehr #26 Fiat G.91 R.4 (1996).
    • F3H-2 — separate firing of the Browning-Colt Mk12 Mod 3 20 mm Browning-Colt Mk12 cannon has been added to the top and bottom guns. Source: NAVWEPS 01-245FCB-501 p. 115 (Report)
    • Hunter F.58 — drag chute has been added. (Report)
    • Nimrod Mk.II — two wing roundels have been added to each topside wing.
    • Sunderkand Mk. IIIa, Sunderland Mk.V — the X-Ray view of the two side machine guns has been fixed. (Report)
    • B-26B, B-26C — the third-person camera view has been adjusted due to the obscuring tail. This makes it easier to see when firing the offensive guns. (Report)
    • F-5E — a radar lead indicator has been added.
      Source: (NASA-CR-141627) NONCOOPERATIVE RENDEZVOUS RADAR SYSTEM Final Report.
    • AH-1E — NVD removed from the gunner’s sight (Source: TM 9-1425-473-20).
    • MH-60L DAP — research link between the MAW and IRCM modification has been added. Flares/Chaff modification replaced by the MAW modification.
    • MiG-23M — the OFAB-100, FAB-250 and FAB-500 modifications have been moved from tier 2 - 4 to tier 1 - 3 respectively. The R-23R/T modification has been replaced by two modifications: the R-23R and R-23T. If the R-23R/T modification was already unlocked, then the two new modifications have been unlocked automatically.
    • MiG-23ML, MiG-23MF — the OFAB-100 modification has been removed for MiG-23ML. The FAB-250 and FAB-500 modifications have been moved from tier 3 and 4 to tier 1 and 2 respectively. The R-23R/T modification has been replaced by two modifications: the R-23R and R-23T, and the R-24R/T (for MiG-23ML) has been replaced with the R-24R and R-24T. If the modifications were already unlocked, then new modifications have been unlocked automatically.
    • MiG-23MLD, MiG-23MLA — the OFAB-100, FAB-250 and FAB-500 modifications have been moved from tier 2 - 4 to tier 1 - 3 respectively. The R-23R/T modification has been replaced by two modifications: the R-23R and R-23T, and the R-24R/T with the R-24R and R-24T. If the modifications were already unlocked, then new modifications have been unlocked automatically.
    • Mirage 2000 (all variants), F-14 (all variants) — minimal range in pulse-doppler head-on search mode (HPRF waveform) has been increased to 5 km.
    • F-16 (all variants), MiG-29 (all variants) Yak-141 (all variants), Harrier AV-8C, J-8F, JH-7A, Mirage 2000-5F, Saab JA37 (all variants) — in all-aspect pulse-doppler track mode (MPRF waveform) abeam targets can be tracked in look-up cases. In head-on aspect pulse-doppler track mode (HPRF waveform) abeam and tail-on targets tracking depends on signal return — to — ground clutter ratio. This means that abeam targets can be tracked in look-up cases and tail-on targets track range strongly depends on fighter altitude: higher — larger.
    • A-4E/H/N, F-100A/D, F-104C/G/S, F-105D, F-4 (all variants), F-5 (all variants), Jaguar A, Kfir (all variants), A-7 (all variants), Buccaneer (all variants), Sea Vixen F.A.W. Mk.2, Hunter F.58, A-6E TRAM, F-14 (all variants), F-16 (all variants), A-10A (all variants), AV-8B/C, Sea Harrier FRS.1, Tornado F.3/ADV, Su-25T, Su-39, MiG-29SMT, Ka-52, Mi-28 (all variants), A-5C, Q-5L, J-7E, JH-7A, J-8F, J-11 — RWR will roughly estimate range to the radiation source using received signal strength. The stronger signal (and closer the source) is — the closer to the scope center it is indicated.
    • F-4E/EJ KAI, Kurnass (all variants), F-5E/E (China), F-16 (all variants), F-14B, A-10 (all variants), AV-8B/C, Sea Harrier FRS.1, Tornado F.3/ADV, Su-17M4, Su-22M3/M4/UM3K, Su-25 (all variants), Su-39, MiG-27 (all variants), MiG-23MLD, MiG-29 (all variants), Yak-141, Mi-24P/V, Mi-35, Ka-50, Ka-52, Mi-28 (all variants), A-5C, Q-5L, J-7E, JH-7A, J-8F, J-11 — RWR, which in real life can identify friendly and enemy types of radars (NATO, Eastern Block + China), will be able to identify friendly and enemy radars by unit side in RB mode. This is implemented this way because players can use aircraft of any nation on any side.
    • Mirage F1C (all variants) — the Matra R530E modification has been added. If the Matra R530 modification was already unlocked, then the new modification has been unlocked automatically.
    • Su-17M2 — the laser guidance aiming camera has been removed. Now the laser beam guidance is performed by changes in the aircraft’s course.
    • Super Etendard — night vision system for the pilot has been added.
    • Harrier GR.3 — night vision system for the pilot has been added.
    • F-4 (all variants except the F-4C), F-111A — CCRP mode for bombs has been added.
    • Ki-48-II Otsu — the upper machine gun in the turret has been replaced with the Type-1 machine gun. Turret being able to shoot through the tail has been fixed.
    • JH-7A — a bomb load option that does not require modification research has been added.
    • Mi-4 — the A-12.7 machine gun has been replaced with a TKB-481 in a gun mount. The number of rounds for the TKB-481 machine gun has been reduced from 900 to 200. Turret aiming angles have been adjusted from -55/+8 degrees to -50/0. Source: Ми-4 Техническое описание, книга 1, 1955.
    • A-4E Early, A-4E Early (M), A-4H, A-4N (Ayit) — the type of RWR has been changed from AN/APR-36 to AN/APR-25.
    • Kikka — the Otsu mod. modification has been moved to the first tier of modification research.
    • F-104 (all variants), Jaguar (all variants) — ejection seats have been added.
    • Mirage 2000C-S5 — drop tank has been added.
    • An issue which caused periodic countermeasures to cease functioning when the pilot lost consciousness due to overload has been fixed. (Report)

  • Secondary weapon customization added to aircraft:

    • IL-4, Yer-2 (ACh-30B) (e), Yer-2 (ACh-30B) (I), Ju 88 A-1, Ju 88 A-4, Ju 188A-2, Ar-2, Beaufighter Mk.21, D4Y2, D4Y3, Ar-234 B-2, Ar-234 C-3.

Flight Model changes:

  • PBY-5/5a (all variants) — the flight model has been updated. Improved sea worthiness. Improved handling on water.
  • F-16A (all variants)/AJ/C-Block 50/D-Block 40 Barak II — fuel tank inerting system has been added.
  • Jaguar (all variants) — a bug that caused the incorrect display of performance changes when installing the New boosters modification has been fixed.
  • AM-1 Mauler — a bug that led to an uncontrollable turn of the aircraft during takeoff when using the “Mouse Aiming” control has been fixed.
  • P-39 (all variants) — the flight model of this aircraft has been completely updated according to the current capabilities of the physical model. Polars of wings, fuselage, empennage, and propeller blades have been recalculated and corrected. Moments of inertia have been corrected.

Naval fleet model, damage model, characteristic and weaponry changes:

  • Naval weaponry:

    • The ability to automatically release sea mines has been added. When holding down the button, a mode is activated so that all mines are sequentially dropped until the last one.
    • HMS Blackpool — a bug where choosing torpedoes and limbo mortar as additional weapons caused the aiming speed of the limbo mortar to be underestimated has been fixed. (Report)
    • The speed of the weapon control system has been increased; lead calculations and calculation updates are now quicker.
    • USS Douglas, USS Asheville — a description of the tracking radar has been added.
    • USS Pittsburgh — the horizontal aiming limits of the main caliber stern turret has been increased. (Report)
    • USS Nevada — search radar model name changed from SC to SK. (Report)
    • Opytny — a bug that caused torpedoes to not be replenished in AB has been fixed. (Report)
    • IJN Settsu — a bug where the fire control calculation stopped when switching to the auxiliary caliber guns has been fixed. (Report)
    • Type 89 7.7 mm machine gun — the ammo belt filling and its display on the icon which showed 8 rounds instead of 4 has been fixed.
    • The Arcade Battles horizontal drive speed multiplier for naval guns has been increased from x1.6 to x2.
    • USS Litchfield, USS Barker — for the 76mm auxiliary gun, the base shell has been changed to semi-armor-piercing instead of HE-TF. Both of these shells are now available as stock for these ships.

  • Naval modifications and crew skills:

    • RN Attilio Regolo — a modification for new anti-aircraft artillery has been added.

  • Naval characteristics, physics and damage model:

    • USS Roanoke — the size and placement of crew compartments has been fixed. The crew distribution has been changed to favor inner modules. The amount and placement of fuel tanks, charge and additional armament cellars has been fixed. The placement of the radio room and the size of the central artillery station has been fixed.
    • The resistance of coal bunkers to torpedo hits has been reduced.
    • RN Duilio — a bug that caused anti-aircraft guns on the opposite side of the torpedo hit to malfunction has been fixed. (Report)
    • Jeanne D’Arc — a bug that caused the pumps to not match each other in the X-ray and the damage model has been fixed. (Report)
    • MTB Vosper (both) — a bug that caused the anti-fragmentation shield on the 20 mm gun to be rotated 90 degrees has been fixed. (Report)

  • Naval Visual models and visual parts:

    • USS Texas — X-ray details have been improved.
    • Marat — a bug that caused the visual models of the propellers to not match the X-ray has been fixed.
    • USS Somers — rangefinder display in X-ray view has been fixed.
    • HMS Spey — fuel tank display in X-ray view has been fixed.
    • HMS Leopard — a bug that caused a constant rotation of the tracking radar antennas separately from the fire director was fixed. (Report)
    • Letuchiy — the rollback direction of the 88 mm gun has been fixed. (Report)
    • HMCS Terra Nova — the position of the third-person camera when zooming in has been fixed — the ship model no longer disappears. (Report)

  • Interface

    • The disappearance of destroyed fuel tanks, anti-torpedo buoys, and coal bunkers in the ship’s hit camera has been fixed. Their display in full or damaged state has been placed on the back layer so that they do not overlap the internal modules.
    • Weapon group icons have been added to the gun indicators above the action panel — Main Caliber, Auxiliary or Anti-Aircraft.
    • A more visual indication of the impact of proficiency vs skill improvement for crew experience points has been added to the crew skills window.

Economy and research

  • The required level for ground vehicle crews when purchasing the “Expert” qualification have been reduced due to Rank VIII vehicles being added:
    • Rank IV: Level 30 → Level 25;
    • Rank V: Level 45 → Level 35;
    • Rank VI: Level 55 → Level 45;
    • Rank VII: Level 60 → Level 55.
  • The required level for ground vehicle crews when purchasing the “Ace” qualification have been reduced due to Rank VIII vehicles being added:
    • Rank II: Level 50 → Level 45;
    • Rank III: Level 60 → Level 50;
    • Rank IV: Level 70 → Level 60;
    • Rank V: Level 80 → Level 70;
    • Rank VI: Level 85 → Level 80;
    • Rank VII: Level 90 → Level 85.
  • The cost of researching and purchasing ground vehicles of rank VI-VII has been reduced, and some vehicles have been moved from rank VII to rank VIII. The values of the following parameters have been reduced: the purchase price of vehicles in SL; the cost of putting vehicles in crew slots in SL; the purchase price of Expert Crews; the total cost of purchasing modifications in SL; the cost of researching vehicles in RP; the total cost of researching modifications for RP. For vehicles transferred to a higher rank, the RP earnings multiplier, and in some cases the SL earnings multiplier have been increased.
  • The parameters for some squadron ground vehicles have been adjusted in accordance with changes to similar researchable vehicles: the RP earnings multiplier has been increased, the SL earnings multiplier has been increased; the cost of researching squadron vehicles with squadron points has been increased, and the purchase price for Golden Eagles has been increased.
  • A new progression rule has been established for Rank VIII vehicles — both MBTs and other vehicles with high-caliber guns. For the tank’s ammunition, along with a HEAT-FS shell, one of the APFSDS shells is available immediately after purchasing the tank. We’ve decided to introduce this rule due to the fact that Rank VIII MBTs have well developed, all-round HEAT defense, and HEAT shells can be ineffective even against the side protection of tanks.
  • IJN Mikuma — has been moved from Rank IV to Rank V.

Customization and Achievements

  • New Gaijin.net achievements for using nuclear weapons, destroying an aircraft carrying nuclear weaponry, and using guided bombs have been added.
  • The ability to not lose the daily login streak in War Thunder by playing War Thunder Mobile has been added. The link with QR-codes for downloading War Thunder Mobile has been added to the daily login streak window.
  • The colors for the standard and desert camouflages for modern Italian armored vehicles have been adjusted. The three-color camouflage has been fixed (the shape of the spots have been changed and the colors have been adjusted).

Awards

  • A reward for shooting down an enemy aircraft that is carrying a nuclear weapon has been added: “Peaceful Atom”. This reward is given in Ground Arcade and Realistic battles and only if the delivery aircraft has not yet dropped the nuclear bomb.

Interface

  • Training missions have been added to the vehicle modification window, allowing you to familiarize yourself with the weapon that a modification unlocks and test them. Training missions are available after researching and purchasing the corresponding modification. If you have not yet familiarized yourself in a mission for a weapon, the modification is marked with a “new” icon, which shows from in the hangar to the mission itself: on the “Modifications” button, on the modification itself and on the “Test” button, which starts the mission. The “new” icon disappears on all weapon modifications when viewing any single modification of a given weapon type. For example, if you view any missile with IR seeker (let’s say AIM-9L), the icons will disappear on all missiles with IR seeker (AIM-9B, AIM-9G, R-60, R-73 etc.). You can always return to the modification window and test any weapon that you are interested in again. Missions are currently available to test the following aircraft weapons:
    • Air-to-surface missiles with manual guidance;
    • Air-to-surface missiles with laser guidance on an aircraft with a stabilized target designator, but without a targeting pod;
    • Air-to-air missiles with an infrared seeker.
    • Air-to-air missiles with SARH seeker.
  • An aircraft’s parameters HUD is now displayed in the optical seeker view.

Game mechanics

  • The ability to use universal backups in the respawn window without needing to activate them first in the modification window before a battle has been added.
  • In Ground Realistic Battles, when an enemy is destroyed, a new skull destruction icon instead of the regular hit icon is displayed in the hit marker, signaling that the enemy has been destroyed.
  • Contextual hints about the use of certain mechanics and equipment of ground vehicles have been added and occur when certain conditions are met. Each hint is only shown once per spawn; i.e. it can be shown again the next time you respawn in the current battle, or in the next battle. Each hint is shown no more than three times in three months. Whenever the corresponding mechanic is used, the game remembers this fact as showing a hint, so it doesn’t get shown to experienced players if possible. Currently the following tips have been added:
    • When trying to use the target lock of radar/IRST from third-person view, if the target lock is available only from the sights or binoculars, a hint recommending to switch to the sights is shown.
    • When trying to use the target lock of radar/IRST from the sights or binoculars, if the target is missing, a hint recommending to point the sight to the target is shown. The successful target lock from the sights or binoculars is counted as a successful hint show.
    • When not moving for 40 seconds, a hint about the ability to use binoculars to safely inspect the area is shown. The total binoculars usage time of 3 seconds is counted as a successful hint show.
    • When getting damaged from the front, if the vehicle has smoke grenades, a hint about the possibility to use smoke grenades is shown. Using smoke grenades under any circumstances is counted as a successful hint show.
    • When getting damaged from the rear, if the vehicle has ESS, a hint about the possibility to use ESS is shown. Turning ESS on under any circumstances is counted as a successful hint show.

Graphical

  • There has been a complete rework of all fires in the game. This includes fire on locations, for example volcano effects or burning buildings and also fires on tanks, boats and ships. A fire of each different module has its own visual effect of fire and smoke.
  • Additional detail to the effects of large-caliber hits (from 80 mm) have been added.
  • When a tank explodes, there is now a chance of fuel leakage and a subsequent fire.
  • Updated and added new effects for the interaction of aircraft landing gear with various surfaces such as ground, snow, sand, concrete, asphalt and carrier decks. A unique effect has been added for each of the surfaces when the landing gear touches, moves and the interaction of air flows from the aircraft engines.

Sound

  • Ultra-low frequencies have been added to the sounds of explosions, gun shots, and aircraft engines to give more richness to the game mix.
  • The sounds of machine guns on ground and naval vehicles have been adjusted. More dynamic and characteristic sound features have been added to each weapon.
  • The sounds of autocannons on ground units have been corrected: TNSh, ZSU-23-4 Shilka cannons, Oerlikon KDA cannons (Gepard SPAA), Oerlikon KAD B17 cannons, 2A14 cannons (PG87), Rh202 cannons. ZSU-23-4 Shilka cannons now sound like a twin 2A14.
  • PKT and SGMT machine guns now have their own sounds. Before that, they had a set of general ones.
  • The MG4 5.56 (PUMA) machine gun now has its own sounds. Before that, it has sounded like an MG42/MG3.
  • Rockets and ATGMs that fly past have been given positioned fly-by sounds.
  • The sounds of flying shells and bullets are now positioned around the player depending on the direction of fire.
  • The sounds of hits to the player’s ground vehicles when in the gunner/driver view are now positioned depending on the direction of fire.
  • A new type of voice informant has been added to the following Chinese aircraft: J-8F, J-11 and JH-7A.
  • The phrases of the following tank crews have received updated and correct voice acting: Polish and French.
  • The phrases of the following tank crews have received their own unique voice acting: Argentine and Indian.
  • The following languages have received full voiceovers of the radio command messages: Portuguese and Spanish.
  • The following languages have received additional voiceover phrases of the radio command messages (target designation, request for help, etc.): Portuguese, Spanish, Hungarian, Korean, Serbian and Turkish.
  • Aircraft controls (control stick, thrust lever and rudder pedals) now emit sounds when moved inside the cockpit view, creating another channel of feedback between the player and the aircraft.
  • A bug that caused support for voice mods for ground vehicle crews to stop working has been fixed.