War Thunder News

Another three outstanding Premium jet fighters that will boost research for any aircraft in their nation, including the freshly announced rank VIII top-tiers!

[h3]In order to purchase pre-order packs you need to open Gaijin Store from the hangar via Steam browser.[/h3]

[h2]McDonnell Douglas F-4J(UK) Phantom II[/h2]
A special version of the legendary American Phantom II fighter, designed to reinforce the air defense forces of the British home islands. This Phantom received the designation F-4J (UK) and became one of the most technologically advanced versions of the famous jet fighter. The first 8 interceptors supplied to the Royal Air Force had tail codes T, I, G, E, R, S, Q, N - after the name of the 74th Tiger Squadron. One of the best aircraft of the West in the RAF livery is now a Premium!



[h2]J-7D[/h2]
Quick to break the sonic barrier, very high roll rate, excellent maneuverability with little energy loss, and decent air-to-air missiles make this member of the J-7 family one of China's best aerial dogfighters. However, the J-7D can also work effectively against ground vehicles! A ballistic computer helps to precisely target every single bomb or anti-tank rocket, while the radar warning system keeps a pilot aware of possible AA therats.



[h2]MiG-23ML[/h2]
An improved version of the formidable MiG-23M Flogger-B, a high-speed multirole jet fighter with a variable sweep wing and a more powerful engine. High altitudes are where the MiG-23ML is at its element, combining speed over Mach 2 with a wide range of air-to-air missiles, including the advanced R-24 series and the all-aspect agile R-60M. When hunting the ground targets, be sure to try the massive S-24B unguided rockets and the heavy-load Kh-23M missiles with manual guidance.

The M728 is a combat engineering vehicle, developed on the basis of the American M60A1 tank by the Chrysler company during the early 1960s. Fans of peculiar American ground vehicles and oversized weapon calibers alike may look forward to the M728 soon making its way to War Thunder as part of the next major update!

Briefly: A heavily modified M60A1 capable of simultaneously reshaping both the landscape as well as hulls of enemy tanks thanks to its high-caliber demolition gun!

[h2]M728, medium tank, USA, premium, rank V[/h2]
Features:

• 165mm demolition cannon
  
• Dozer blade
  
• Premium bonuses
  
• Good protection
  
• Large profile
  

In War Thunder, the M728 will be a very special new vehicle making its way to the higher ranks of the American ground forces tree as part of the next major update Apex Predators. Namely, the M728 will be the first American ground vehicle to feature a 165 mm cannon, thus giving seasoned tankers access to one of the largest caliber weapons available to ground forces along with all the destructive power that comes with it. However, that’s just the tip of the iceberg on what the M728 has to offer. Keen to find out more? Then let’s take a closer look at this steel beast!



One of the first things that will strike tankers looking at the M728 for the first time is undoubtedly its gun. Although appearing somewhat modest in comparison to the vehicle’s overall size, the 165 mm M135 cannon certainly doesn’t underdeliver in terms of its destructive potential. Although a novel weapon for American tankers, the M135 cannon is actually a friendly face in disguise. Namely, the cannon represents a modified version of the British L9A1 cannon, found on the Centurion AVRE, already familiar to experienced British tankers. As a result, both weapons share near identical properties and, more importantly, destructive power once tankers become confident with the cannon’s tricky ballistics.



Apart from the substantial upgrade in firepower, the M728 has a lot in common with the standard M60A1 that tankers recognize as being one of the earliest American ground units found at Rank VI. As a result, players familiar with the M60 family of vehicles will know what to expect from the M728: it inherits the family’s good balance between mobility and protection, meaning that the M728 can stand its own in a firefight and also keep up advancing allies without fearing of being left behind. Thanks to its role as an engineering vehicle however, the M728 brings with it a handy gadget: a dozer blade. With it, tankers can quickly fortify their position by digging and thus shielding particularly vulnerable parts of the hull against incoming enemy fire.



Lastly, the M728 is also a premium vehicle meaning that tankers will earn more rewards for each action performed in combat - a particularly useful perk for players aspiring to climb to the top ranks of the American ground forces tree!

The Panavia Tornado is arriving soon as the new rank VIII strike aircraft in three gaming nations with the next major War Thunder update!

[h2]Tornado IDS (GR.1), strike aircraft, Britain/Germany/Italy, Rank VIII[/h2]
Features:

• Variable sweep wing
  
• Large payload
  
• Advanced weapons
  
• Supersonic
  

In War Thunder, the Tornado IDS (or GR.1 in service with the RAF) will be the new top strike aircraft awaiting veteran pilots at rank VIII of the British, German and Italian aviation trees following the release of the next major update, Apex Predators. Featuring variable geometry wings and supersonic capabilities, the Tornado might be a strike aircraft by designation but thanks to its incredible versatility, it can certainly get a lot more done than that! Let’s get to know the famous ‘Tonka’ a bit better, shall we?



The Tornado IDS joins the club of aircraft in War Thunder outfitted with variable geometry wings, also called ‘swing winged’ aircraft. Like other aircraft outfitted with this feature, the Tornado can boast its optimal aerodynamics both during subsonic and supersonic flight, thus ensuring excellent handling characteristics at all speeds. Furthermore, the Tornado can easily achieve supersonic flight thanks to its two purpose-built Turbo-Union turbofan engines. As a result, the aircraft can achieve a top speed of around 1,400 km/h at ground level while at higher altitudes the Tornado can accelerate even over 2,300 km/h (Mach 2.2). Thanks to such impressive flight characteristics, the Tornado can quickly get in and out of trouble and also escape pursuing aircraft.

Speaking of combat scenarios, we mentioned earlier that the Tornado is an extremely versatile aircraft, but how exactly? Apart from its excellent flight characteristics that bring it on par with some interceptors and fighters, it's also due to its lethal weapons arsenal. Upon obtaining the aircraft, pilots will have access to a pair of 27mm cannons with 180 rounds of ammunition available per gun. Now while these guns are certainly useful for strafing ground targets and blasting enemy pilots out of the sky during intense dogfights, they alone don’t define the Tornado’s arsenal.



What does however, make the Tornado’s armament stand out is its selection of suspended ordnance options. These range from later models of the AIM-9L Sidewinder air-to-air missile over laser-guided bombs to more conventional freefall bombs of various calibres. Such a diverse arsenal allows the Tornado to not only inflict great damage to hostile ground troops but it can almost immediately switch to combat air patrol duties and provide air cover for its allies once the strike weapons have been expended.



The various modifications of the Tornado IDS will be making their way to the top rank of the British, German and Italian aviation trees with the arrival of the next major War Thunder update, Apex Predators. In the meantime, make sure to keep scanning the horizon for more news as we continue unveiling what else the upcoming update has in store for our players. Until then, clear skies and happy hunting pilots!

The holidays are coming, it's time to put on your festive camouflage! Check out our latest fashion suggestions for the 2023 winter season!

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Your screenshots submitted last week were explosive! Many of your screenshots looked like they came from the movies! The three most popular and three selected by us will get 300 GE. See the winners down below!

[h2]Let’s begin the 45th edition of our competition![/h2]

Create a stunning screenshot and submit it on the War Thunder Steam Community Hub with the tag #WTscreen45. You have time until 16.12.2022 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.

[h2]Important addition: Screenshot theme - Sands of Time![/h2]

[h3]Terms:[/h3]

Through recorded history, many battles have been fought on the beaches and in the deserts around the globe. War Thunder has many beaches and deserts, too! Do you have artistic screenshots from them you’d like to share? We would love to see them!
You must add the #WTscreen45 tag (without other text).
• 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 44th edition - Explosions![/h2]

[h3]Winners selected via community votes:[/h3]
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2897151058
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2897212220
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2896778429

[h3]Winners selected by our judges:[/h3]
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2898776489
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2897233769
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2897373309

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