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New visual effects in the Sons of Attila update!

Today, we’d like to share with you some of the new features and effects coming to War Thunder in the upcoming “Sons of Attila” major update!

[h2]New trees and wind effects[/h2]

We’re introducing a brand new technology for the trees present on Ground Forces battlefields. Now tree branches and trunks will sway and move with the same wind forces that already impact smoke and weather during battles. In calmer situations, trees will be still and motionless. However, with gusty and stormy winds present, trees will move and bend depending on how strong the wind is!

[h2]Shots and explosions[/h2]

In our efforts to make tank battles even more spectacular, the game will now have new effects for the discharge of powder gasses after every shot. Prolonged bursts of machine gun fire and autocannons now also lead to reddening of the barrels due to heating. The effects of hits to enemy vehicles have also been improved. Fuel leaking from burning tanks can also pour onto the ground in burning jets, and each explosion leads to the formation of a cloud of dust raised from the ground by a shock wave! We have also improved the visual effect of smoke munitions detonating.

[h2]Destroyable ammo and decorators[/h2]

Now all external ammunition on vehicles, be it smoke grenades or bombs on aircraft suspensions, can be hit and destroyed by enemy fire. External ammunition can be destroyed without detonation (in this case it will be subtracted from the total ammunition load), detonated (with the standard parameters for damaging its warhead) or set on fire. The probability of a particular event depends on the power of the damaging factors of the hit projectile — the more powerful, the greater the likelihood of an explosion. So even well-aimed machine gun fire or a high-explosive shell that hits a tank can trigger its smoke grenades, and the enemy will find himself inside his own smoke screen. Lastly, if installed decorators are hit by enemy fire, they can also be destroyed!

[h2]Aircraft voice warning systems[/h2]

On modern aircraft, voice informant warnings will now be present on those aircraft that had them. Pilots will be able to hear them both in third-person view and while playing from the cockpit. “Bitchin’ Betty” will warn you about dangerous altitudes, critical G-force overloads, warning signals from the radar warning receiver, and alert you to the readiness of guided weapons on the aircraft. In the “Sons of Attila” major update, “Bitchin’ Betty” will be available for the F-16 series and AH-64D, while Soviet pilots will have the “Rita” voice warning system for the Ka-50, Ka-52, Mi-28N, Mi-28NM, Mi-24V, Mi-24P (USSR), as well as for the MiG-29s.

An aircraft voice warning system is a pilot's best friend!

[h2]Realistic HUD for helicopters[/h2]

The cockpits of modern helicopters will now also be equipped with fully functional HUDs similar to what some aircraft already have. The first helicopters to receive the new HUDS are the Ka-50/52, Mi-28N/NM and Mi-35M series of helicopters.

Leopard 2 PSO: Urban Warfare Tactics



A special version of the Leopard 2 series tank, which has been specifically designed for urban combat, featuring improved defensive capabilities. Meet this new German top-tier tank, coming in the “Sons of Attila” update!

[h2]Leopard 2 PSO, MBT, Germany, rank VII[/h2]

Features:
  • Additional armor — useful protection!
  • Modern Fire Control System.
  • Upgraded engine to help compensate for the additional armor.
  • .50 Cal gun on the turret roof.
  • Bulldozer blade.


The Leopard 2 PSO will be coming to the game at rank VII of the German ground forces research tree in the upcoming major update “Sons of Attila”! This upgraded variant will offer more protection, as well as a new engine and additional combat capabilities. Let’s dive further into the details!



Specifically designed for urban combat environments, the Leopard 2 PSO features additional modules of armor that have been added to the sides of the hull and turret — which are typically the most vulnerable areas of the Leopard’s armor layout. Thanks to the addition of this extra protection, the Leopard 2 PSO will now have increased survivability against shaped charge rounds, as well as hits against autocannon fire. These additional armor modules can also improve protection against kinetic shells fired from other MBTs, but typically kinetic shells will have no problem against this extra protection!



Moving onto a more obvious part of the Leopard 2 PSO, which is the large dozer blade that is located at the front. The purpose of this dozer blade was to clear any obstructions that the tank may face, and in the game, will be able to move terrain around on the map — the same as any other dozer blade. It also gives additional protection, especially against shaped charged shells and guided missiles!

Furthermore, in addition to new armor, the Leopard 2 PSO received a Euro-Powerpack engine and a new transmission. This has been added to help with the weight of the additional added armor, and despite its higher HP, you will not notice any improvements to the speed compared to previous Leopard 2 versions. As for ammunition that can be fired, the Leopard 2 PSO features a new, exciting DM11 high-explosive shell to play with. And, as with previous Leopard 2 variants that you are familiar with, the Leopard 2 PSO features excellent shells and firepower, a laser rangefinder, as well as thermal imaging for the commander and gunner.



That’s this dev blog wrapped! The specifically designed urban warfare Leopard 2 PSO will be waiting for you at the end of the German research tree with the release of the “Sons of Attila” update! Though, before that, we’ll continue to release dev blogs so that you will be able to see what else we’ve got coming. See you soon!

Improved Chaparral: Oppa Chaparral Style!



The Improved Chaparral SAM will help strengthen the ranks of the US and Israeli ground forces trees when it comes to War Thunder in the upcoming major update!

[h2]Improved Chaparral, SAM SPAA, USA (rank VI) and Israel (rank VII)[/h2]

Features:
  • Two types of missiles to choose from.
  • Thermal imager.
  • 12 missiles onboard.
  • Lacks armor protection.


The American-made Chaparral anti-aircraft missile system will appear in the US and Israeli ground forces research trees in the upcoming “Sons of Attila” major War Thunder update! While the Chaparral does not come with its own radar, each missile can be guided through a normal sight that also features thermal imaging. Let’s dive deeper into the details.



We’d like to let you know that the incoming Chaparral will arrive at a different rank and Battle Rating within the US and Israeli research trees. This is because of the difference in available missiles. The Chaparral in the US tree will receive two types of Surface-to-air missile — the default MIM-72A, which, interestingly enough, is an adapted AIM-9D Sidewinder, as well as the more advanced MIM-72E, which is available through researching this modification. While the Sidewinder will allow you to securely acquire targets from behind, the MIM-72E is an all-aspect seeker, which certainly makes it more devastating! The Chaparral in the Israeli tree will be located at rank VII, with the MIM-72E missile being available by default after purchasing the vehicle. The more advanced MIM-72G missile will be available through researching this modification, and offers a dual-channel (IR/UV) seeker with rosette scanning capabilities. The total number of missiles that the Chaparral can carry is 12: 4 on the launcher, and 8 spares.



Moving onto the armor, the Chaparral uses an adapted version of the M548 cargo carrier chassis, which means there is virtually no armor to speak of. This means that the Chaparral can be penetrated just by rifle-caliber machine guns. Because of the lack of armor, the Chaparral has a relatively low weight, which allows it to reach up to 61 km/h on paved roads, as well as being able to move smoothly off road.



4 crew members sit perfectly next to each other in the vehicle with their arms out to their front, hence the title reference! Look for the new Chaparral anti-aircraft missile system in the US and Israeli ground forces research tree after the release of the upcoming major update. Stay tuned, as we’re continuing to share news about the most interesting vehicles and features of the upcoming update “Sons of Attila”. See you!

Mi-8TV: A Good Mate To Have



The assault modification of the multi-purpose Mi-8 helicopter was envisioned as a "flying IFV" (Infantry Fighting Vehicle) with combat capabilities close to that of dedicated attack helicopters.

[h2]Mi-8TV, Attack Helicopter, USSR, Rank V[/h2]

Features:
  • High payload capacity.
  • Falanga ATGMs.
  • Large size.


Exciting news for all helicopter aviation enthusiasts, the legendary Mi-8 is coming to War Thunder! Meet the assault version of the most widely produced helicopter in the world, armed with rockets, bombs, and even ATGMs! The Mi-8TV will be joining Rank V in the Soviet helicopter branch in the "Sons of Attila'' major update.



The main advantage of this new giant is its impressive combined payload, making it unmatched at its rank in the game. It can carry standard and incendiary bombs from 250kg to 500kg each, Falanga-M ATGMs with a max range of 4km, and most impressively, up to 192 S-5K unguided rockets. With some careful aim, a skilled pilot can coat enemy positions with an unavoidable flurry of HEAT.



The Mi-8TV's forward armament consists of just one 12.7mm machine gun. While it can angle partially in any direction, it doesn't have full traverse. Either way, it's better than nothing and will come in handy against aerial targets at close range. However, most opponents are much better armed regarding closer range engagements, so the machine gun should not be considered as a primary weapon.



Although the Mi-8TV is significantly faster than the Mi-4AV, it's not exactly agile. Its large size makes it difficult to maneuver effectively, and is notably hard to control at high speeds. Pilots would be much better off utilizing cover for surprise attacks rather than relying on its flight characteristics. The Mi-8 is huge and very easy to spot and hit from a distance. The most successful sorties will come from giving enemies very little time to react. Pilots should avoid sitting high up in the sky, and use cover to get in close if equipped with unguided rockets or bombs.



In summary, the Mi-8TV is an interesting alternative to the early Mi-24s and a must-have for any aviation enthusiast. By the way, German pilots will also get their own Mi-8! An export version capable of carrying up to 6 "Malyutka" ATGMs. So, don't forget to check your hangars right after the "Sons of Attila" update!

Screenshot Competition - My Dearest!



Welcome to the 83rd War Thunder Steam Screenshot Competition!


Decals? Decals! So many to pick from, and so many combinations! We loved seeing pictures of your unique vehicles in the game. The three most popular and three selected by us will get 300 GE. See the winners down below!

[h2]Let’s begin the 83rd edition of our competition![/h2]

Create a stunning screenshot and submit it on the War Thunder Steam Community Hub with the tag #WTscreen83. You have time until 08.09.2023 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.


[h3]Terms:[/h3]
    Capture a screenshot of your favorite vehicle in War Thunder!
    You must add the #WTscreen83 tag (title cannot have any other text in it).
  • 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.


[h2]And now, time for the winners of the competition’s 82nd edition - Fresh Paint![/h2]

[h3]Winners selected via community votes:[/h3]
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3027417294
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3026501140
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3025902935

[h3]Winners selected by our judges:[/h3]
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3027420307
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3026010709
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3027098501

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