War Thunder News

The Harbin Z-19E light attack helicopter will be the first Chinese helicopter available for all War Thunder players!

[h2]Z-19E, attack helicopter, China, rank VI. Premium, available in a pack.[/h2]

Features:

• High combat capabilities
  
• Air-to-air and air-to-surface missiles
  
• Thermal imager
  
• Radar/laser warning system and countermeasures
  
• Lacks turret
  

In the Danger Zone update, China receives its first rotorcraft, the Z-19E attack helicopter, which will become available with the release of the update as part of a special pack in our online store. This is a modern combat helicopter, equipped with up-to-date electronics and effective weapons to perform the full range of battle tasks. A convenient sight with a high magnification, an IRST, a thermal imager and a night vision mode makes it easy to detect, track and destroy armored vehicles at long distances.



To destroy ground targets, the helicopter is equipped with up to 8 BA-9 (Blue Arrow) ATGMs with a launch range of up to 6 km, as well as two types of unguided rockets: up to 76 of small Type-57-1 and up to 28 Type 90-1 with a HEAT warhead. The helicopter does not have a turret or other installed armament, but pilots might suspend .50 machine gun pods under the wings.The Z-19E can also be equipped with air-to-air guided weapons - TY-90 missiles with an all-aspect seeker and a launch distance of up to 6 km.

The helicopter is well protected from possible threats - a radar/laser warning system will warn the pilot about nearby SPAAGs or enemy aircraft aiming at Z-19E, and flares will give a chance to avoid incoming missiles.



The premium Z-19E will significantly strengthen the position of Chinese top tier tanks in mixed battles, and very soon its dark blue silhouette will be a frequent guest in War Thunder battles. Welcome to helicopter battles, China!

On the 10th of June, 1918 the Italian Navy sank the Austro-Hungarian dreadnought SMS “Szent István” during its first major voyage. In honor of this, the 10th of June in Italy is celebrated as Navy Day.

[h3]

From 14:00 GMT on 10th of June until 14:00 GMT on the 13th of June purchase RN Geniere - a premium Rank III Italian destroyer for Golden Eagles.

[/h3]

It has excellent mobility and strong firepower, especially good anti-aircraft weapons. It was withdrawn from sale back in late 2020 and is now temporarily coming back: don’t miss your chance to purchase this rare ship!

The BTR-ZD is a light Soviet self-propelled anti-aircraft unit, developed as a makeshift solution based on the design of the BTR-D airborne APC. Coming soon as part of the next major War Thunder update, Danger Zone, the BTR-ZD will join the battle and provide capable air defense for the mid rank units of the Soviet ground forces tree!

Briefly: A compact Soviet SPAAG, featuring excellent mobility and fast-firing 23mm cannons.

[h2]BTR-ZD, SPAAG, USSR, Rank IV[/h2]

Features:

• Rapid-firing 23mm cannons
  
• Good mobility
  
• Lightweight protection
  
• Exposed crew
  

In War Thunder, the BTR-ZD will be a new SPAA unit arriving in rank IV of the Soviet ground forces tree with the release of the next major update, Danger Zone. Combining a fast-firing automatic AA cannon with a light and highly nimble chassis, the BTR-ZD will be a potent new Soviet skywatcher soon arriving to War Thunder combined battles.



The BTR-ZD comes fitted with a single twin 23 mm ZU-23 anti-aircraft cannon. However, don’t be led astray by its classification as an AA gun as the ZU-23’s high versatility allows it to do much more work than that. Of course, the 23 mm cannons with their high rate of fire make short work of low flying aircraft up to engagement distances of around 2 km. But the cannons can do a lot more than that: thanks to armor-piercing ammunition, the BTR-ZD can effectively engage lightly protected targets and even pose a serious threat to more heavily armored units, if commanders manage to strike their foe in thinly protected areas.

Getting into advantageous firing positions, both for engaging enemy air targets as well as opponents on the ground, should prove to be no challenge for aspiring commanders of the BTR-ZD. That’s because on the one hand the BTR-ZD possesses a low weight of just 9 tons, and a 240 horsepower diesel engine on the other. As a result of this good power-to-weight ratio, the vehicle can reach a respectable top speed of around 60 km/h on paved roads and manages to traverse even more difficult terrain with relative ease. Furthermore, being an amphibious vehicle, the BTR-ZD can also cross deep bodies of water, thus expanding the tactical options for its commanders.




However, being based on the chassis of an APC means that the BTR-ZD doesn’t feature a comprehensive armor scheme. In fact, the vehicle is only fitted with thin aluminum armor plating, giving it enough protection to deflect rifle-caliber fire as well as shrapnel from nearby explosions. That being said, commanders should also bear in mind that the crew operating the anti-air turret on top of the vehicle is also relatively exposed to enemy fire, meaning that the BTR-ZD is everything but well-suited for spearheading an attack on the enemy lines.



The BTR-ZD is soon arriving to rank IV of the Soviet ground forces tree as part of the next major War Thunder update. In the meantime, be sure to stay tuned to the news as we continue revealing what other exciting new features and additions await you in the upcoming update. Until then, happy hunting tankers!

Aircraft setup in ground Arcade battles has been updated:
• The following aircraft have been added to the bomber list of BR 7.3 — 9.7:
  
• A-7D with AGM-65A x4 (instead of 1000 lb x12)
  
• Yak-38M with S-24B x4
  
• A-4N (Israel) with AGM-65A x3 (instead of 1000 lb x5)
  

• The following aircraft have been added to the bomber list of BR 10.0+:
  
  • F-5E with AGM-65B x4
    
  • F-4E Phantom II with AGM-65B x4
    
  • MiG-27K with Kh-29T x2 (instead of FAB-500M-62 x7)
    
  • Su-17M2 with S-24B x6 (instead of FAB-500M-62 x8)
    

Changes to helicopter PvE mode:
• BR ranges have been changed from 7.7-9.0 / 9.3+ to 7.7-9.3 / 9.7+.
  
• Score multiplier for damaging and destroying enemy bases has been reduced by 20%.
  
• BR of helicopters have been updated for Arcade battles:
  
• AB 205 A-1: 8.3 → 7.7
  
• H-34: 8.3 → 8.0
  
• AH-1G: 8.3 → 8.7
  
• Mi-4AV: 8.3 → 8.7
  
• UH-1D (Germany): 8.7 → 9.0
  
• UH-1B: 8.7 → 9.0
  
• UH-1C: 8.7 → 9.0
  
• UH-1C XM-30: 8.7 → 9.0
  
• SA 316B Alouette III: 9.0 → 8.7
  
• A.109EOA-2: 9.3 → 8.7
  
• IAR 316B: 9.3 → 8.7
  
• AH-1S early: 9.3 → 9.7
  
• SA 341F Gazelle: 9.7 → 9.0
  
• SA 342M Gazelle: 9.7 → 9.3
  
• Mi-24P HFS 80 (Germany): 9.7 → 10.0
  
• Mi-24P (Germany): 9.7 → 10.0
  
• Mi-24V: 9.7 → 10.0
  
• Mi-24P: 9.7 → 10.0
  
• HKP9A (FC): 10.0 → 9.7
  
• Mi-28A: 10.0 → 10.3
  
• AH-1Z: 10.0 → 10.3
  
• EC-665 Tiger HAP: 10.3 → 10.0
  
• Ka-50: 10.3 → 10.7
  
• AH-64DJP: 10.3 → 10.7
  
• Mi-35M: 10.3 → 10.7
  
• EC-665 Tiger UHT: 10.7 → 10.3
  
• Ka-52: 10.7 → 11.0
  

The current provided changelog reflects the major changes within the game as part of this Update. Some updates, additions and fixes may not be listed in the provided notes. War Thunder is constantly improving and specific fixes may be implemented without the client being updated.

In the upcoming Danger Zone update, Israeli helicopters come to War Thunder! A few words on history, initial line-up and the first look on the new to the game light attack helicopter MD 500 TOW.

In 1975 the Israeli Air Force received its first batch of 6 American Bell AH-1G Cobra strike helicopters, previously used in Vietnam. Israeli pilots enthusiastically began to master a new type of military aircraft and nicknamed the American helicopters Tzefa - “Palestine viper” - after the largest poisonous snake in the region. A little later, the AH-1G was replaced by the AH-1S equipped with anti-tank missiles, and the Hughes MD500 TOW light helicopters, also equipped with ATGMs to destroy armored vehicles. Israeli attack helicopters received a baptism of fire in 1979 where they were widely used in battle in the First Lebanon War, showing a high combat efficiency. The last helicopters of the AH-1 series were retired from service in 2013.



Despite the active use of combat helicopters and a highly advanced military industry, Israel does not consider developing its own combat helicopters. At the moment, the IAF operates various versions of the American AH-64 Apache attack helicopter.



Israeli helicopters come to the game in the Danger Zone update. You will meet not only familiar AH-1G, AH-1Q and AH-1F Cobras, excellent high-rank Apaches, including the premium Peten. The Hughes MD500 TOW light attack helicopter will first appear in the Israeli tech tree. This five-blade rotor light, tiny and very agile helicopter capable of carrying the venerable TOW and TOW-2 anti-tank missiles, as well as Hydra-70 unguided rockets.



Israeli helicopters will become helpful assistants for armored vehicles in War Thunder mixed battles and will surely perform well in the helicopter gaming modes. The update is coming soon! Stay tuned!