- For PC
- For MAC
- For Linux
- OS: Windows 7 SP1/8/10 (64 bit)
- Processor: Dual-Core 2.2 GHz
- Memory: 4GB
- Video Card: DirectX 10.1 level video card: AMD Radeon 77XX / NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660. The minimum supported resolution for the game is 720p.
- Network: Broadband Internet connection
- Hard Drive: 17 GB
- OS: Windows 10/11 (64 bit)
- Processor: Intel Core i5 or Ryzen 5 3600 and better
- Memory: 16 GB and more
- Video Card: DirectX 11 level video card or higher and drivers: Nvidia GeForce 1060 and higher, Radeon RX 570 and higher
- Network: Broadband Internet connection
- Hard Drive: 95 GB
- OS: Mac OS Big Sur 11.0 or newer
- Processor: Core i5, minimum 2.2GHz (Intel Xeon is not supported)
- Memory: 6 GB
- Video Card: Intel Iris Pro 5200 (Mac), or analog from AMD/Nvidia for Mac. Minimum supported resolution for the game is 720p with Metal support.
- Network: Broadband Internet connection
- Hard Drive: 17 GB
- OS: Mac OS Big Sur 11.0 or newer
- Processor: Core i7 (Intel Xeon is not supported)
- Memory: 8 GB
- Video Card: Radeon Vega II or higher with Metal support.
- Network: Broadband Internet connection
- Hard Drive: 95 GB
- OS: Most modern 64bit Linux distributions
- Processor: Dual-Core 2.4 GHz
- Memory: 4 GB
- Video Card: NVIDIA 660 with latest proprietary drivers (not older than 6 months) / similar AMD with latest proprietary drivers (not older than 6 months; the minimum supported resolution for the game is 720p) with Vulkan support.
- Network: Broadband Internet connection
- Hard Drive: 17 GB
- OS: Ubuntu 20.04 64bit
- Processor: Intel Core i7
- Memory: 16 GB
- Video Card: NVIDIA 1060 with latest proprietary drivers (not older than 6 months) / similar AMD (Radeon RX 570) with latest proprietary drivers (not older than 6 months) with Vulkan support.
- Network: Broadband Internet connection
- Hard Drive: 95 GB
In short: this prototype was based on developments in the MBT-70 project, sporting spaced armour, a 152mm cannon combined with launcher capabilities, firepower of both conventional and ATGM munitions, and an slightly less powerful engine.
After the unsuccessful joint MBT-70 project, the American Congress approved funding for the development of a cheaper version of the MBT-70, called the XM803. Although it failed to save the concept of the MBT-70, fans of US ground vehicles can look forward to the introduction of the XM803 to the game with War Thunder’s upcoming update 1.79!
Once it became apparent that the MBT-70 project was doomed to fail in the early ‘70s due to high costs and reliability issues, the U.S. Congress decided to cut their losses on the project by cancelling the MBT-70, and instead, diverted funding to the development of a new project called XM803.
The XM803 was, in essence, envisioned to be a “budget version” of the MBT-70. Although the new vehicle would heavily be based on the MBT-70, inheriting many of its design solutions, it would also try to drastically reduce production costs by using more conventional and only American-made parts. Although this meant that the XM803 had to give up some of its high-tech equipment in favor of lower production costs, it was projected that the influence of these changes on the XM803’s combat performance would be minimal.
Despite showing favorable performance and being seen as a promising design by the Army, the XM803 still remained a comparably expensive tank to produce even with the applied changes over the MBT-70. Moreover, neither the MBT-70 nor the XM803 seemed to offer any substantial increase in combat performance over the already in service M60 Patton to justify the high production cost. This ultimately led to the Congress cancelling work on the XM803 only a short while after the cancellation of the MBT-70. In the late 1970s, some funding of the two failed projects would later on find its way to support the development of an entirely new, but this time around, more conventional tank project. That tank of course being the legendary M1 Abrams itself.
In War Thunder, the XM803 will make its way to the game as part of the upcoming update 1.79 as a brand new researchable MBT, available to all tankers at the sixth rank of the American ground forces tree. By inheriting many characteristics of his predecessor, players who have already unlocked and played the MBT-70 will unlikely find new surprises with the XM803. Nonetheless, that doesn’t mean that the XM803 doesn’t have its own set of unique attributes that differentiate it from the MBT-70.
Interestingly: The main reason for the closure of the MBT-70 project was its incredibly high cost, with one vehicle costing the the equivalent of about 7 million USD with modern conversion rates. The XM803 wasn’t able to save much in terms of budget - production costs were only about $100,000 less.
As the general layout and design was mostly derived from the previous MBT-70, players can expect comparable protection and mobility levels from the XM803. However, although both the XM803 and the MBT-70 use the same engine, the former had its power output reduced by 100 horsepower, resulting in a total power output of 1250 hp. As a result of this, future commanders of the XM803 can still expect to reach top speeds of around 40 mph (64 km/h), but the time it will take to reach that top speed will be slightly slower than that of the MBT-70.
In terms of firepower, the XM803 still retains the XM150 gun/launcher system as found on the MBT-70, firing identical ammunition choices. However, if you consider yourself a fan of the MBT-70’s roof-mounted 20mm cannon, then we’re afraid there’s some bad news ahead. As an additional measure to reduce the MBT-70’s complexity and production cost, engineers decided to remove the retractable 20mm roof-mounted cannon and replaced it with a simpler remote controlled .50 caliber turret above the commander’s cupola on the XM803.
Be sure to take control of the final iteration of the MBT-70 design coming to War Thunder as part of the upcoming update 1.79. Until then, stay tuned to the news for the latest information on War Thunder’s next major update. At ease, tankers!
More devblogs
The War Thunder Team
Comments (258)
What? Why? XD
I DARE you to put this thing 8.7 because of hurr durr underwhelming armament .50cal instead of 20mm autocannon. Im so not gonna fight this thing in a T54 or Maus! Just don't! And I know you guys thought about putting it 8.7! Don't!
The regular MBT is not 9.0 material anyway. They're really not hard to fight, you can kill them in T-50s and Panzer IIIs
DominantReverse, a maus can be killed by any tank in the game, if they get really lucky, there's a video of someone killing a maus with a 50.cal from a sherman, doesn't mean that the maus is balanced at 1.0.
T-80 when
It's already in the game, Rank 2 BR 2.3
getting warmer, but still pretty cold
What is the name of 1:79 patch ? :) (Title, nickname) I like this ugly vehicle. :)
now we are talking! ♥
Drop the Leopard 2 already Gaijin!
No!! maybe it breaks if they drop it from a too high position
meh
hurr durr 8.7 because .50cal instead of 20mm. lets go club T54, Maus and the likes
Looks cool. Nice work Gaijin
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