War Thunder News

Golden Bay is a new location for naval and aircraft battles, which is coming in the Drone Age major update!

A narrow strait between a bay and the open ocean becomes a new arena for naval and aircraft clashes! Boats and patrol ships glide in the labyrinth of cargo ships and oil tankers, huddling in the bay after the firefight begins. Meanwhile, big ships are rushing the bay from the sea, leaving a majestic giant suspension bridge behind.

The new location, Golden Bay, was created based on the coastal features of the San-Francisco area with a picturesque view of the bridge over the straits. The land part of the location was inspired by the green hills and rocks to the East of the bay.



The Golden Bay location will be added to the game with the release of the upcoming Drone Age major update!

In the upcoming major update we plan to introduce the tech-tree of Chinese helicopters!

Hey all! The first Chinese helicopter introduced to War Thunder recently, the Premium Z-19E, is finally followed by a researchable tech tree of the Chinese helicopters! The first aircraft will land in the upcoming major update Drone Age.





The history of Chinese combat helicopters started with the adaptation of transport helicopters for combat purposes, as well as from researching foreign helicopters. Z-9WA was the first domestically built strike helicopter, which was created after the French Dauphin. A few projects were initiated soon after, including the light reconnaissance Z-11WA and the fairly successful Z-19. The first ‘heavy’ combat helicopter, the Z-10 was created with the assistance of the Russia-based Kamov design bureau.





Chinese helicopter weapons traveled the same way from reverse engineering and licensed production to the 100% domestically designed and built pieces. Already on the entry-level helicopters War Thunder pilots will have at their disposal the HJ-8C ATGM, with limited range, but equipped with a tandem warhead. Elegant and deadly Z-10 wields laser-guided AKD-9 and AKD-10 anti-tank missiles. Air-to-air TY-90 missiles with all-aspect seeker should also not go umentioned here, since they in fact are the best in the game helicopter weapon of this class to the date.



So, the first Chinese researchable helicopters in War Thunder are light and agile SA.342L Gazelle and Z-11WA, first domestically built strike helicopters Z-9W and Z-9WA, as well as modern advanced strike helicopters Z-19 and Z-10.

The Mirage 2000C-S5 is a further development of the well-known Mirage series of French jet fighters and represents the successor to the popular Mirage III preceding it. Coming to War Thunder as part of the Age of Drones major update, seasoned French pilots may look forward to the arrival of the Mirage 2000C-S5 as the new crowning jewel of the French aviation tree in the game!

Briefly: A later development of the Mirage jet fighter, focused on multirole capabilities and equipped with a wide assortment of advanced weapons.

[h2]Mirage 2000C-S5, jet fighter, France, Rank VII[/h2]

Features:

• Excellent flight characteristics
  
• Advanced suspended weapons
  
• Supersonic
  
• Countermeasures
  

In War Thunder, the Mirage 2000C-S5 will become the new top jet fighter awaiting veteran pilots at rank VII of the French aviation tree after the release of the next major update, Drone Age. Going back to its iconic delta wing design and offering numerous improvements both concerning its flight characteristics as well as firepower, the Mirage 2000C-S5 will be a welcome upgrade for fans of the French original!

Discontinuing the transition over to more conventional swept wings as is the case with the preceding Mirage F1, French engineers took on a more ‘back to the roots’ approach with the Mirage 2000C-S5, resulting in a design more akin to that of the earlier series aircraft and one that’s instantly recognizable by keen-eyed War Thunder pilots. However, underneath the metal skin also lay a few more upgrades to the aircraft. Namely, the Mirage 2000C-S5 is equipped with a substantially more powerful SNECMA Atar M53-P2 turbofan engine, generating up to 9,500 kgf on afterburner and thus resulting in a top speed of 2350 km/h and boosts up a climb rate to 200 m/sec! The more powerful engine, combined with the improved design of the delta wing gives the Mirage 2000C-S5 better handling characteristics, particularly at lower altitudes and shortens the required take-off distance.





In terms of firepower, a pair of 30 mm DEFA cannons with 125 rounds of ammunition per barrel traditionally form the backbone of a Mirage’s arsenal and the Mirage 2000C-S5 is no exception. Fast-firing and hard-hitting, these cannons ensure the Mirage is capable of engaging its enemies, even when the suspended weapons have been used up. But speaking of suspended ordnance, did the Mirage 2000C-S5 get any upgrades in this regard you may ask?





Of course it did! In simple terms, the Mirage 2000C-S5 effectively combines the weapons arsenal of the earlier Mirage IIIE, Mirage 5F as well as the Mirage F1 into one platform. As a result, the Mirage 2000C-S5 has access to an exhaustive selection of suspended ordnance, giving the aircraft the ability to effectively strike both ground targets but also excel in dogfights. For the former, pilots will have access to a range of conventional bombs and rocket pods as well as guided weapons such as the AS-30 Nord missile. For aerial dogfights however, the Mirage 2000C-S5 has access to both the short-range Magic missiles and the powerful long-range Matra Super 530, including the Super 530F with extended range!



The Mirage 2000C-S5 is on final approach and is expected to arrive in player hangars as part of the next Drone Age update. In the meantime, make sure to keep a close watch on the news as we continue releasing more information about what other exciting new additions and features await you in the upcoming Age of Drones update. Until then, clear skies and happy hunting pilots!

• A bug has been fixed where the rocket's sight was displayed in the aircraft gunner’s camera.
  
• UH-1B, UH-1C XM-30, UH-1C — a bug has been fixed which prevented gun pod ammo from displaying.
  

The current provided update notes reflect the major changes within the game as part of this Update. Some updates and fixes may be not listed in the provided notes. War Thunder is constantly improving all the time and certain fixes may be implemented without the client being updated.

The T129 ATAK is a license-produced variant of the Italian A129 Mangusta attack helicopter, domestically modified and produced by Turkey for its own air force. Soon, this highly capable exotic will reinforce the Italian helicopter tree as it makes its may to War Thunder as part of the next major update Drone Age!

[h2]T129 ATAK, attack helicopter, Italy, Rank VI. Store Premium.[/h2]

Features:

• Excellent agility
  
• Exclusive weapons
  
• Small silhouette
  
• Countermeasures
  
• Thermal imager
  

In War Thunder, the T129 ATAK will be a brand new Premium attack helicopter awaiting pilots at the top ranks of the Italian helicopter tree with the release of the next major update “Drone Age”. Sharing many similarities with its close Italian relative, this Turkish modification of the familiar Mangusta helicopter possesses an expanded selection of deadly anti-tank missiles, thus raising the capabilities of the Italian helicopter tree to better match that of other nations’. Interested to find out more? Then join us as we get into more details below!

Being a Turkish derivative of the AgustaWestland A129 already familiar to some pilots in War Thunder, it should come to no surprise that the T129 ATAK has much in common with the original Italian version. As a result, the T129 inherits the airframe’s excellent handling characteristics and small silhouette, making it an extremely elusive and difficult target to engage. Yet, despite receiving a pair of uprated engines, the T129 ATAK actually possesses a slower maximum speed, going up to only 281 km/h.





Compensating for the losses in speed however, Turkish engineers made sure to equip the T129 ATAK with a vast assortment of deadly weaponry. As a result, the T129 comes equipped as standard with the familiar three-barrelled 20mm rotary cannon. T129 ATAK also has access to Turkish L-UMTAS and CIRIT laser-guided missiles, which are unique to the game. L-UMTAS are laser-guided missiles possessing a tandem-charge warhead and launch distance of 8 km, allowing pilots to defeat reactive armor commonly found on high-tier vehicles. CIRIT are basically the Hydra rockets equipped with laser seeker. It has a 10 km launch distance, but the lock-on range is shorter and the missile lacks autopilot. You will be able to fire these little rockets as unguided, and then point a laser beam to the target in order to acquisite it for the seeker. Mind the minimal launch distance for the laser guidance of 1,500 meters. Experiment and have fun! Furthermore, the helicopter can also be equipped with FZ49 HEAT unguided rockets and ATAS (AIM-92) air-to-air missiles, thus boosting the T129’s ability to hunt down other helicopters or defend itself against aircraft above the battlefield.





The T129 ATAK will become the most advanced vehicle to join the Italian helicopter tree in the next major update and will provide pilots with a vastly more capable machine to support their tracked allies on the ground with. The special pre-order pack will allow you to be the first pilot of the deadly T129 in the game, as well as to obtain special bonuses!

[h3]This vehicle is available on our Gaijin Store.[/h3]