War Thunder News

We hope all of you had a very wonderful Valentine's Day with your dearest beloved! Your screenshots of French, Italian and Japanese vehicles were excellent. Hopefully everyone enjoyed spending some time with these nations' vehicles! The three most popular and three selected by us will get 300 GE. See the winners down below!

[h2]Let’s begin the 55th edition of our competition![/h2]

Create a stunning screenshot and submit it on the War Thunder Steam Community Hub with the tag #WTscreen55. You have time until 24.02.2023 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.

[h2]Important addition: Screenshot theme - Clear Skies![/h2]

[h3]Terms:[/h3]

This week, we are looking for clear skies! The rest is up to your artistic creativity!
At least one player vehicle must be included in the screenshot.
You must add the #WTscreen55 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 54th edition - Loving the Unloved![/h2]

[h3]Winners selected via community votes:[/h3]
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2932130544
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2931970713
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2933208124

[h3]Winners selected by our judges:[/h3]
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2932044114
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2932774778
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2932079222

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

The premium version of the menacing Japanese tank destroyer comes with a brutal outfit and unique pre-order bonuses!

[h2]Pre-order: Type 16 (FPS) Pack[/h2]

• Type 16 (FPS) (Rank VI, Japan)
  
• 2,000 Golden Eagles
  
• 15 days Premium
  
• Pre-order bonus: Demon Camber title
  
• Pre-order bonus: Wanyūdō decal
  

The modern Japanese Type 16 (FPS) wheeled tank destroyer was developed in the early 2000s to increase the operational mobility of the Japan Self-Defense Forces. Since 2016, the Type 16 (FPS) has been put into service. Type 16 (FPS) is capable of reaching a maximum speed of up to 100 km/h. It is armed with a 105 mm gun with a coaxial 7.62 mm machine gun, and it is also equipped with a 12.7 mm AA machine gun. The ammunition is represented by the HEATFS, HESH, smoke shells and APFSDS with an up to 350 mm armor penetration. Additionally, the Type 16 (FPS) is equipped with smoke grenade launchers, a night vision device for the driver and a thermal imager for the gunner and the commander.

The premium Type 16 (FPS) with a camo net over the hull and brutal wheel chains will be added to the game in the upcoming War Thunder update. Buy now, and get special pre-order bonuses: the “Wanyūdō” decal, an evil spirit described as a fierce man’s head inside a burning wheel; and “Demon Camber” title, named after an extreme Japanese car tuning culture ‘oni-kyan’ (鬼キャン).

"Wanyūdō" decal

The Type 16 (FPS) can be pre-ordered from the Gaijin Store.

Heat seekers on missiles are now able to react to the heat signatures of jet aircraft engines in various run modes.

Hey guys! We’d like to unveil details of the recent improvement in the mechanics of acquiring the thermal signatures of jet engines by missile seekers. The fact is that the picture of the intensity and distribution of heat from an aircraft jet engine directly depends on its operational mode. So, in non-afterburning modes, the intensity of the plumes of hot gasses in the forward hemisphere of an aircraft is low and comparable to the intensity of the glow of a heated fuselage skin. At the same time, the expanding flame of burning fuel in afterburner modes has a significant luminosity not only in the rear, but also in the front hemispheres of the aircraft.

The lock-on range of infrared homing heads in the forward hemisphere for non-afterburning targets is determined mostly by the heating of the fuselage. The presence of such an intense source of infrared radiation as an afterburner plume significantly increases the possibility of target detection at long distances.


Target acquisition limits of the AIM-9L missile for max and afterburner operational modes


Target acquisition limits for the R-24T missile for targets at various engine modes

We have discriminated the afterburner plume into a separate thermal signature for a more correct calculation for target detection range in afterburner mode. In addition to the increasing of the lock-on range in the forward hemisphere of all-aspect missiles, like AIM-9L and R-24T, with a cooled sensor made of indium antimonide, this allowed us to recreate the limited front aspect capability of the AIM-9D type missiles with a cooled sensor made of lead sulfide, which at short distances allows the detection and killing of afterburning targets on a head-on directions.

Thus, missile IR seekers now more correctly process thermal signatures of different engine modes at different distances and at different angles. In addition, it has become possible to significantly expand the tactics of missiles already familiar to you. Happy air hunting, pilots!

First work-in-progress images of the new location from the upcoming War Thunder update!

[h2]“Pyrenees”[/h2]
The new location for air battles “Pyrenees” invites you to the mountainous area of the Principality of Andorra. Small villages with farm fields are spread upon valleys, ancient castles and medieval abbeys compete for the most picturesque view of the surroundings, and the clear water of the mountain lakes sparkle bright in the green hued highlands. Visit the "Pyrenees" in your combat aircraft, it's so beautiful here!



[h2]Winter “Seversk-13”[/h2]
The winter version of one of the most mysterious locations in War Thunder. Russian winter has come to the abandoned town, but the air raid warning is still heard, disturbing news about the missing people can still be heard on the police wave and military convoys still block the town.



[h2]Snowy “Ardennes”[/h2]
Another winter version of a location beloved by the players, “Ardennes”. Fields covered with snow, white caps appeared on the straw stacks and roofs of the unfortunate town that turned out to be on the path of a desperate German counteroffensive.



[h2]“Maginot Line” in winter[/h2]
The fields of the Maginot Line also welcome winter. The green grassy hills, concrete pillboxes and idyllic hamlets of northwest France are now covered with early fluffy snow. Paint your tanks white, and be ready to battle!

On February 16th, 1967 the Bo 105 multi-purpose helicopter, created by Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm, took to the air for the first time. The Bo 105 pioneered a hingeless rotor system, received over 20 modifications and is still widely used in many countries across the globe.

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To celebrate this date, the Bo 105 will be available for purchase with Golden Eagles in the German tech tree from February 16 (11:00 GMT) until February 20 (11:00 GMT).