War Thunder News

Today, we’ll familiarize you with the ultimate version of the MiG-21 series that will soon be joining the skies of War Thunder. Meet the MiG-21 Bison, based on the MiG-21-93 upgrade and domestically upgraded by India, a ferocious new premium aircraft with a plethora of weaponry on offer!

[h2]MiG-21 Bison: A Premium Jet Fighter for Great Britain at Rank VIII[/h2]

Features:

• Wide array of air-to-air options: R-73 and R-27.
  
• Modernized HUD and HMS for R-73.
  
• Air-to-ground ordinance options.
  

Vehicle History
[expand]
In the early 1990s, Mikoyan and its partner companies launched an upgrade and modernization package for the MiG-21Bis with the aim of offering it to the many operators of the type over the world. Their aim was to prolong the service life of the aircraft against rapidly advancing newer types of aircraft coming along at the time and on competing offer.

Taking to the skies for the first time in 1995, the new 21-93 variant would see the integration of many modern features, such as R-73 and R-27. The latter made possible thanks to its upgraded pulse-doppler Kopyo radar developed from the Yak-141 / MiG-29 series of radar. A new canopy would be introduced, along with a modernized Heads-Up-Display and Helmet mounted sight to make full use of the R-73s capabilities.

India would officially pursue a contract in 1996, with the HAL company handling domestic modernization work after an initial batch of aircraft modified in Russia. India was already one of the largest operators of the type, having the MiG-21 in service since the 1960s across various types. The new upgrade was planned to take the type into the 21st century for the Indian Air Force. Known officially as the MiG-21UPG (For Upgrade) but later as the “Bison”. Internally the cockpit was also reworked to include HOTAS controls. New integrated countermeasures were installed along the wing roots on the upper surface, providing additional protection and survivability in combat. 

The Indian Air Force plans to retire all MiG-21 Bison aircraft by 2025, replaced in service by the domestically developed HAL Tejas.
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Pre-order - MiG-21 Bison Pack
74.99

• MiG-21 Bison (Rank 8, Great Britain)
  
• 2500 Golden Eagles
  
• Premium account for 20 days
  
• Pre-order bonus: unique "Falcon Slayer" title
  
• Pre-order bonus: unique “No. 51 Squadron IAF batch” decal
  

[h2]Meet the MiG-21 Bison![/h2]

Few families of vehicles need little introduction more than the MiG-21 series. From the early F-13 variant, to the staple MFs and rounding off with the Bis, multiple nations and many pilots have come to love and fear the Fishbed series in game. Joining the ranks of the British tree as a premium will be the ultimate version to grace the skies, sporting the features many of the most modern aircraft in the game have become renowned for. Much like South African vehicles, Indian vehicles will be introduced into the British tree. Let’s dive deeper into what you can expect with the Bison!



Perhaps the most significant upgrade over the standard Bis models already in game comes in the form of its advanced weaponry. You can expect to see the familiar all-aspect advanced R-73 missile that some of the top jet fighters in game are currently equipped with. Couple this with the Helmet Mounted Sight and the Bison already stands up well against some of the better modern fighters in the game currently. Its upgraded Kopyo radar also means this MiG-21 can sport the R-27, making the Bison a formidable threat both in close range dogfights and at long range engagements too. 

Under the hood, you’ll find the same R-25-300 engine powering the Bison, which is already a powerful engine that gives the airframe its famed performance. But it does mean the aircraft won’t get any flight performance boost over the Bis models. Defensively, an upgraded Tarang RWR suite and new integrated countermeasures found above the wings provides enhanced survivability over what many of the other MiG-21s offer. Meaning when you do find yourself on the wrong end of a missile lock, the Bison has a better chance of getting you through to the other side.  



The MiG-21 Bison also features a number of air-to-ground options, many of which can be found on the Bis. Thanks to this, the Bison doesn’t sacrifice its multirole capabilities despite the numerous air-to-air upgrades. Unguided S-8 rockets, Mk.82 and Mk.83 bombs as well as the KAB-500KR TV Guided bomb mean you retain plenty of options to take the Bison out into combined battles and support your team from the skies. Plus, you’ll still retain the S-24 and S-5K Rockets, OFAB-100, ZB-500 and standard FAB-500 bombs from the MiG-21Bis in your arsenal.



In your matches by Scott, Community Manager: “The Bison will be a breath of fresh air compared to whats already available in the British tree. Compared to many of the sluggish missile carriers (with the exception of the Gripen of course), the Bison will provide an excellent agile fighter with a potent and dangerous combination of R-73s and a HMS to make best use of them. Whilst you do have some BVR punch, R-73s are going to form the core of your load-outs in the Bison. Make use of the excellent acceleration carried over from the MiG-21Bis and don’t find yourself making too many turns and bleeding too much speed. Hit and run tactics will work well for the Bison, getting into a fight, throwing off some R-73s at unsuspecting opponents at high angles and getting out of the fight quickly whilst making use of your extra countermeasures is the way to go.”



Very soon, you’ll be able to take to the skies in the Bison yourself and greatly speed up your progress in the British tree at the same time, since it’s a premium. This modernized icon will offer a taste of the top performance and advanced weaponry found in War Thunder. That’s it for now!

It’s D-Day. June 6th, 1944. 80 years ago today, Allied forces landed on the beaches of Normandy to take back France. As part of Operation Overlord, more than 150,000 Allied soldiers landed at Normandy, first by parachutes and gliders and then under the cover of aircraft and artillery and from transport ships. In total around a million people were involved in this operation.

We’re honoring the largest seaborne invasion ever today on its 80th anniversary. Take a look at the various different activities and discounts that we’ve created dedicated to this day.

[h2]Unique Bundles Available in the Gaijin.net Store![/h2]

When: From June 6th (12:00 GMT) until June 10th (12:00 GMT).

Celebrate the anniversary with the following unique bundles available for purchase in the Gaijin store.

[h3]“First in Deed” Bundle -40%[/h3]
$59.02

• M4A3E2 Sherman Jumbo Cobra King;
  
• M18 Black Cat Pack;
  
• George Bostwick's P-47M-1-RE Thunderbolt Pack;
  
• Mustang Pack;
  
• Unique title: “First in Deed”;
  
• Unique decal: “First United States Army Insignia”.
  

[h3]“Sledgehammer” Bundle -40%[/h3]
$56.38

• M10 Achilles Pack;
  
• Sherman Firefly Ic Pack;
  
• Prendergast`s Spitfire FR Mk.XIVe Pack;
  
• Typhoon Pack;
  
• Unique title: “Sledgehammer”;
  
• Unique decal: “2nd Army Formation badge”.
  

[h3]“Overlord” Bundle[/h3]
$75

• M4A3E2 Sherman Jumbo Cobra King;
  
• M18 Black Cat Pack;
  
• George Bostwick's P-47M-1-RE Thunderbolt Pack;Mustang Pack;
  
• M10 Achilles Pack;
  
• Sherman Firefly Ic Pack;
  
• Prendergast`s Spitfire FR Mk.XIVe Pack;
  
• Typhoon Pack;
  
• Unique title: “Overlord”;
  
• Unique decal: “SHAEF insignia”.
  
• + Decals and titles from “First in deed” and “Sledgehammer” bundles.
  

Note! You can also get a unique title and the decal, if you log in to the game from the 6th to the 10th of June and gain at least three victories, whilst at the same time you previously purchased all separate packs which are included in the bundles above (M4a3e2 Sherman purchased in the game using Golden Eagles). The titles and the decals will be assigned after the 11th of June to all users who have fulfilled these conditions.

[h2]Get a D-Day themed Ship Flag and Decal![/h2]
Decorate your vehicles with the unique D-Day ship flag and decal that features the flags of France, the US, Great Britain and Canada.

When: From June 6th (12:00 GMT) until June 10th (07:00 GMT).

Task: Play 3 battles using US, British, and French vehicles at rank III or higher to receive the “D-Day Allies Badge” decal!
Task: Get a total of 10,000 mission points with US, British and French vehicles of rank III or higher in Naval Battles to receive the “80th Anniversary of D-Day (1944-2024)” ship flag!

Additional details:

• You must use a minimum of rank III.
  
• Your activity must not be below 70%.
  
• You can complete the task in random battles, except for Enduring Confrontation missions, and [Assault] mode.
  
• Track your progress in the hangar by clicking Nickname → Achievements → Holidays → 80th anniversary of the Normandy landings.
  
• You can find the decal in the “Holidays” tab in the Customization menu.
  

[h2]Participate in the Operation Overlord event to earn the Churchill AVRE![/h2]

When: From June 5th (11:00 GMT) until June 17th (11:00 GMT).

The Operation Overlord event, part of our D-Day 80th anniversary celebrations, has just begun! In this event you can get yourself the Churchill AVRE, a special vehicle first used during the Normandy Landings, plus two decals and the Flying Dustbin decoration.

[h3]CLICK HERE FOR ALL THE DETAILS[/h3]

[h2]The Military Engineer: Percy Hobart in June’s Pages of History![/h2]

When: From June 1st (11:00 GMT) until June 30th (11:00 GMT).

For June’s Pages of History, we’re honoring Percy Hobart. Hobart was the main man behind Hobart’s Funnies, a set of special engineering vehicles, including the Churchill AVRE, that played a vital role on D-Day. Complete 8 tasks and his profile icon is yours.

[h3]CLICK HERE FOR ALL THE DETAILS[/h3]

[h2]HMS Belfast is Available at a 50% Discount! [/h2]

When: From June 6th (12:00 GMT) until June 10th (07:00 GMT).
Where: Great Britain > Bluewater fleet > Premium vehicles.

HMS Belfast played a crucial role on D-Day, being one of the first ships to bombard the Normandy coast before Allied troops landed, softening up German defenses. HMS Belfast is now a permanent static display on the River Thames in London and is one of only three bombardment ships left from D-Day. She’s available for a discount on this special occasion!


[h2]D-Day Tournament Series![/h2]
We’ve prepared some aircraft, ground and naval vehicle D-Day tournaments that you can register for right now until June 8th! In these tournaments you can win the special “D-Day” decal and “Normandy Ace” title. Be sure to join the official Esport Discord community!

[h3]CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE TOURNAMENTS WEBSITE[/h3]

How to participate in the War Thunder Tournaments

Meet the Churchill AVRE “Petard”, a special modification of the well-known Churchill heavy-tank developed to support infantry units in breaking through heavily fortified positions. Featuring a special high-caliber mortar, this heavy-duty vehicle can be obtained in the Operation Overlord event!

[h2]Churchill AVRE “Petard”: A Premium Heavy Tank for Great Britain at Rank II[/h2]

Features:

• Destructive 230 mm mortar!
  
• Excellent armor protection.
  
• Sluggish mobility.
  
• Limited range on the mortar and low muzzle velocity.
  

Vehicle History
[expand]
In 1942, the British army began developing a new heavy assault vehicle that was intended to provide critical support to engineers during combat as part of the Hobart’s Funnies series. After evaluating several potential chassis, tank designers ultimately settled on the Churchill heavy tank as being the ideal option due to its extensive protection, roomy interior and ability to fit side doors for quick access to and from the vehicle. Additionally, the vehicle’s standard primary armament was swapped out with a special 230 mm mortar, capable of blasting away heavy fortifications. After successful testing, the Churchill AVRE "Petard" entered production in January 1943, being converted from standard Mk. III and Mk. IV Churchill tanks. Making its debut during the Normandy landings, the Churchill AVRE "Petard" remained in service for the remainder of the war with over 750 vehicles being produced.
[/expand]

[h2]Meet the Churchill AVRE “Petard”![/h2]

The Churchill AVRE "Petard" is another one of Britain’s interesting vehicles from the Hobart’s Funnies series of vehicles, designed with specific tasks in mind. This one is for demolishing fortified positions, but of course in War Thunder you’ll be able to have fun taking out enemy vehicles in whatever way possible! Let’s take a look at it.



Generally the AVRE (Armoured Vehicle Royal Engineers) concept is not new to the game. Unlike the Centurion AVRE for example, the Churchill AVRE "Petard" first appeared in WWII due to need of specially designed engineering vehicles. The main aspect of this vehicle is its huge 230 mm spigot mortar, designed to demolish defensive fortification lines with a special demolition charge that weighs 18 kg and contains an explosive mass of 8 kg. Thanks to this, a hit with this projectile is almost guaranteed to inflict a huge amount of damage to enemy targets, blasting them to smithereens and back to the hangar!

Interesting: The Churchill AVRE “Petard” was first used on D-Day, 6th June 1944 and was part of Hobart’s Funnies vehicles. These tanks were designed by British engineer Percy Hobart specifically to support troops on D-Day. Some other vehicles in this series include the Crab Sherman, Amphibious Sherman, Bobbin Churchill carpet layer, Churchill Fascine carrier, Churchill Bridge Layer and Churchill Ramp Carrier.

You can get Percy Hobart’s profile icon in June’s Pages of History. Check it out here!

Percy Hobart



While incredibly destructive, the mortar is not only difficult to aim due to its low muzzle velocity, but also has severely limited range as it can only engage targets up to just over 150 meters. Combining this with typical mobility found on the Churchill tanks, you’re limited to close quarter brawls and urban fighting.

On the other hand, the Churchill’s excellent protection will prove as a valuable asset for this type of fighting, allowing you to spearhead an attack and break through the enemy’s lines with good old brute force and sheer determination.



This brilliant and rather entertaining vehicle which many of you have been waiting eagerly for is at last coming to War Thunder as part of the Operation Overlord event. How can you earn this fun vehicle? Play in this event, gain mission points, complete 6 stages and it’s yours!

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE OPERATION OVERLORD EVENT HERE

Today, we’ll be taking a look at the Desert Warrior, a modified export variant of the British Warrior purchased and used by Kuwait to this day. Coming soon in the Seek & Destroy major update!

[h2]Desert Warrior: A Light Tank for Great Britain at Rank VII[/h2]

Features:

• Stabilized 25 mm Bushmaster cannon!
  
• 2 x TOW launchers.
  
• Good ammunition range.
  
• Good mobility.
  
• Light armor.
  

Vehicle History
[expand]
Following the Warrior’s introduction into the British Army, GKN Defence, the designers of the Warrior, were looking to export their vehicle to other countries. To attract potential customers, they opted to modify the Warrior to increase its outreach and interest, naming it the Desert Warrior. This new vehicle featured better internal cooling for the hotter desert climates, optimized areas for the desert sand, as well as a Delco turret featuring a stabilized 25 mm Bushmaster and TOW ATGMs on each side of the turret. In 1992 Kuwait gained interest in this new vehicle and put it up for trials against other similar vehicles. Following trials, Kuwait purchased around 250 Desert Warriors in 1993, where they have been serving in the Kuwait Army since 1995 until present day.
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[h2]Meet the Desert Warrior![/h2]

This is the Desert Warrior, a modified Warrior featuring a Delco turret with a rapid-firing stabilized 25 mm Bushmaster cannon and two TOW launchers. Built for the hot desert climate, the Desert Warrior is going to provide Great Britain with an neat little all-round IFV at the higher ranks when it arrives in the next major update. Let’s dive into the details!



The Desert Warrior came about when UK company GKN Defence were looking to find ways to export the Warrior to other countries. Kuwait were the only ones who purchased this vehicle, which takes the all-so familiar Warrior and looks to improve it further: first up is the firepower! Instead of the regular Warrior turret featuring a slow-firing 30 mm RARDEN, the Desert Warrior features a Delco turret with a 25 mm Bushmaster cannon, TOW launchers, and a 7.62 machine gun. Unlike the Warrior, this turret is fully-stabilized and can fire a range of good ammunition, including the M919 APFSDS round for the gun, found on the M3A3 Bradley.

Interesting: The Kuwait Army gave the Desert Warrior the nickname of “Fahris”, which can be roughly translated into several names such as Knight, Horseman, or Cavalier!



Next up, instead of the MILAN ATGM, there’s two deployable TOW launchers on the side of the turret which can launch TOW-2s, TOW-2Bs and the tandem-charge TOW-2A. These are three excellent ammunition choices to take out a range of enemies, whether they’re a tough nut or are lurking behind ridgelines. Additionally, the gunner’s thermal sight is GEN 2, perfect for homing-in on enemies at distances in all types of weather.

In terms of mobility, there’s not much difference between the Desert Warrior and Warrior. Infact, they both use the same Perkins V-8 engine, outputting up to 550 HP, plus a max speed of 75 km/h forward. In addition to this, this vehicle can also reverse at the same speed as it can drive forwards, which is perfect for map traversal and getting to good areas to hunker down and launch attacks from unsuspecting positions. This, combined with a relatively low mass, means driving on rougher surfaces such as mud, sand and snow will be a smooth experience overall. We must also not forget about the Desert Warrior’s ability to scout targets and launch a Scout UAV that overall, combined with all of the above can help you and your team win battles!



An IFV typically means thinner protection, and the Desert Warrior is no exception. This vehicle features light aluminum alloy armor, which is enough to protect against smaller caliber guns, but won’t stop larger caliber weapons and fragmentation from explosions that will cause maximum damage to internal components. Bare this in mind when driving around the map!

In your matches by magazine2, Community Manager: “Use your speed to your advantage, flank enemies and utilize your TOW missiles and great firepower well. Once researched, be sure to take the TOW-2B to use against enemies that you can’t hit if they’re hiding, they can be useful for sure, and the TOW-2A for anything else. Enjoy!”

The Desert Warrior will be sure to provide excellent firepower and overall utility to the British ground forces tree in several lineups. Flank, shoot & scoot and have a fun in this new light tank. That’s it for this one, keep an eye out for other dev blogs that we’re currently preparing. Until then, have fun!

Pre-orders for the new T-80U-E1 Soviet premium that features a high-resolution thermal imager, are starting today!

[h2]T-80U-E1: A Premium MBT for the USSR at Rank VII[/h2]

Features:

• Very good frontal protection.
  
• Great mobility.
  
• GEN 2 thermal imager!
  
• Anti-tank guided missiles.
  

Vehicle History
[expand]
The Object 219AS-1 project appeared due to needs to improve T-80BV tanks. It involved improving the tank’s chassis to the level of the T-80U modification, as well as using the T-80UD modification’s fighting compartment with an improved sighting system, a Belarusian-made thermal imaging sight and a French Thales camera. The Object 219AS-1 successfully passed tests in 2003 and received the name T-80U-E1. The overhaul of early variants of the T-80 to the T-80U-E1 standard was carried out by Omsk Transport Engineering Plant.
[/expand]



Pre-order - T-80U-E1 Pack
69.99

• T-80U-E1 (Rank 7, USSR)
  
• 2500 Golden Eagles
  
• Premium account for 20 days
  
• Pre-order bonus: unique "Honour and glory" title
  
• Pre-order bonus: unique “Flying tank” decal
  

[h2]Meet the T-80U-E1![/h2]

Today, we’re starting pre-orders for the T-80U-E1 — a premium variant of one of the best Soviet top-tier tanks, which features excellent armor, good mobility, a large selection of ammunition, and is also equipped with an advanced high-resolution thermal imager. Let’s take a look!

What type of T-80 variant is this? The T-80U-E1 derived from a program that aimed to modernize T-80BV tanks to the level of the T-80U series. An important difference of this particular modification was the GEN 2 “Plisa” thermal imaging sight with a French thermal camera. Thanks to this, the gunner has excellent visibility in any weather and at any time of the day, plus the ability to clearly distinguish enemy heat signatures over long distances!

The combined armor of the T-80U-E1 is further strengthened by Kontakt-5 ERA blocks integrated into it. This means that it not only can resist hits from HEAT shells and ATGMs, but can also resists hits from kinetic shells too. In fact from the front, the T-80U-E1 can only be penetrated by the most advanced armor-piercing shells into weakened areas such as the driver’s view port and around the gun mantlet.



Like all later T-80s, the T-80U-E1 combines the best driving characteristics of all Soviet and Russian tanks in the game. The improved gas turbine engine provides high power density, meaning this tank can accelerate quickly and maintains high speed, even on surfaces such as mud, sand and snow. The reverse speed, although better than the T-72 series, is clearly insufficient for reversing back quickly behind obstacles. Keep this drawback to Soviet tanks into account when playing, especially if you usually play tanks at this tier that have better reverse speeds.

Interesting: The T-80U-E1, like some other later modifications of the T-80, received the nickname “flying tank” in the press due to its spectacular ski jumps during displays and tank shows.



As with all T-80s, the main armament of the T-80U-E1 is the 125 mm cannon, which can fire one of the best high-tier rounds in the game, the 3BM46 APFSDS. This gun can also fire ATGMs from the barrel, specifically the 9M119M1 that has a tandem warhead, useful against moving targets at long distances, as well as against helicopters at a distance of up to 5 km. Lastly, the option to use HE rounds with a good explosive charge is available to use against lightly armored vehicles if needed!

That’s this blog done! Be sure to pre-order the T-80U-E1 to receive this tank as well as special pre-order bonuses. This tank will be available with the release of the next major update, coming soon. Until then, happy hunting!