Pilots and tankers!

Beginning today, we will be releasing lists of aircraft we currently have in development or plan to develop in the future. The aircraft announced are a part of our vision to ultimatley have complete aircraft trees for each of the War Thunder nations. We will be highlighting the most noteworthy models not yet introduced into the game. Let’s begin with Britain!

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Canberra Mk.I

The English Electric Canberra was a first-generation jet-powered light bomber manufactured in large numbers throughout the 1950s. The Canberra could fly at a higher altitude than any other bomber through the 1950s and set a world altitude record of 70,310 ft (21,430 m) in 1957. Due to its ability to evade the early jet interceptors, and its significant performance advancement over contemporary piston-engined bombers, the Canberra was a popular export product and served with many nations. It remained in service with the RAF until 2006. A testament to the value in which the aircraft was held.

The American B-57 Canberra and the IL-28 tactical frontline bomber, Canberra’s Soviet counterpart, will also be added to the American and USSR trees respectively.

Sunderland

The Short S.25 Sunderland was one of the most successful flying boats of the World War II. While being merely a redesigned S.23 Empire passenger aircraft, Sunderland was remarkable for its outstanding durability and significant effective range. The aircraft’s massive defensive armament of up to 18 MG’s allowed it to take care of its own safety. Sunderland was used widely as a reconnaissance aircraft and U-boat hunter and helped the Allies to put an end to the German U-boat arm’s dominance in the North Sea. This superb flying boat remained in service of some of the Commonwealth air forces until 1967.

Firebrand

The Blackburn Firebrand was a single-engined shipborne fighter, developed and produced by Blackburn Aircraft for the British Fleet Air Arm in the middle 40s. Speed was not Firebrand’s strong point, but its load-carrying capability and constructional strength made the aircraft well capable of performing the strike fighter’s duties. A wing of Firebrands armed with heavy torpedoes or up to 16 RP-3 unguided rockets was surely a force to be reckoned with. The Fleet Air Arm received the first combat worthy Firebrands after VE Day, so the fighter did not participate in actual combat.

Stay tuned for the Japanese aircraft tree next Monday!

Join the discussion about the future of the British aircraft tree here!