War Thunder News

The history of the Israeli Air Force begins literally in the first days of the state's independence. The aviation of the young state of Israel was extremely diverse, and at the very beginning of its history, the Israeli Air Force was based not so much on the technical superiority of aircraft as on rich military experience and high morale of its pilots and mechanics - both Israelis and foreign volunteers. Czechoslovakian Messerschmitts with Jumo engines and domestically assembled Spitfires were the first planes to rise to defend Israel's skies from neighbors' aggression. After the end of the War of Independence, the structure and equipment of the Israeli Air Force continued to strengthen. In the early 1950s, the first jet aircraft appeared - the Meteor fighters received from the UK. A little later, the French Mirage III fighters were put into service - this aircraft design is a landmark for the Israeli Air Force, being a predecessor for the domestic Nesher and Kfir fighters. In 1967, at the beginning of the Six-Day War, Israeli aviation carried out a brilliant operation, during which hundreds of enemy aircraft were destroyed, mainly at airfields. After this triumph, the Israeli Air Force began to receive aircraft from the United States, and also launched a full-scale production of aviation and weapons in the country. At the moment, the Israel Air Force is one of the most combat-ready and technically equipped air armies of the world.

[h2]Testing of the new gaming nation Israel begins in the next major update, which we have named “Winged Lions”.[/h2]

Israeli military equipment as part of a separate research tree begins with aviation. Since the Israeli Air Force was formed after the end of World War II, the study of Israeli aircraft begins not with “reserves,” but immediately from rank IV.

Aviation of Israel mainly consists of imported aircraft, but with a local scent. Here you will meet old friends - American Mustangs and Skyhawks, British Spitfires and Meteors, French Vautours, Mysteres and Mirages, assembled and modernized by Israeli engineers for the needs of the Israeli Air Force. There are also completely unique aircraft and, most interestingly, unique weapons: effective rockets with a shape-charge warhead, new for the game calibers of aircraft bombs, air-to-air missiles and even guided bombs!

All owners of early access packs will be able to take part in the closed testing of the Israeli aviation immediately after the “Winged Lions” update is live. Terms of access for all other players will be published later. After the end of closed testing, to start researching the Israeli Air Force aviation, the player will need at least one purchased aircraft of rank IV (or higher) in any of the following playable nations: USA, Great Britain, France or Israel.

Become the first testers of the new playable nation in War Thunder! Testing will begin for owners of the early access kits with the release of the next Winged Lions update. Good luck to all of us! Mazel tov!

We are always trying to implement vehicles and weapons in the game as faithfully as possible and we also constantly refine and clarify the behavior of objects in the game, whether it is an aircraft or a shell. This time we have finalized the control mechanics of the SACLOS/MCLOS missiles to meet the higher requirements for reliability with the physical model of missile flight.

For missiles of this type we clarified the available load of the missile depending on the flight speed and air density, in addition the missile will lose speed more accurately during maneuvers. These changes will allow us to realize more accurately the damage zone of this type of missile in accordance with those of their real prototypes.

As a consequence to all this there will be a noticeable reduction in the capability of SACLOS SAMs to engage high speed targets with altitude or heading parameters. Since missiles with such control types follow the line of sight throughout the flight trajectory when firing at targets with altitude and heading parameters the missile trajectory curves due to changes in target position and the missile will have to perform a maneuver with an ever increasing overload.
[expand]
The trajectory diagram of a SAM with SACLOS trajectory with significant elevation over the target[/expand]
Such a trajectory leads to a high g-force requirement throughout the flight which combined with the trajectory velocity decrease may cause the target to be missed if there is not enough available g-force. Therefore the higher the target velocity and the higher its heading or altitude, the more difficult it is for the missile to hit the target.

This feature of the flight of SACLOS missiles will become more pronounced after the update of the physical model and pilots will be able to use it to avoid being hit by SAM. To do so we recommend maintaining high speed and a significant altitude or heading parameter.

Also if the physical model of the SACLOS/MCLOS is updated, the missile’s angle of attack due to gravity compensation by the missile guiding system, will become more noticeable. The angle of attack in the updated physical model will vary depending on the missile’s velocity. The angle of attack during the flight would slightly change the armour engagement angle for these weapons.

[h3]Glossary:[/h3]
[expand]
SACLOS — semiautomatic command to line of sight.

MCLOS — manual command to line of sight.

Target heading parameter — the shortest distance (perpendicular) from the point (origin of coordinates, location of instrument, cannon, launcher) relative to which it is determined, to the projection of the target's course on the horizontal plane.

Target heading parameter[/expand]

The new top-tier French Leclerc SXXI MBT features improved turret armor and a new panoramic commander sight.
[h2]Leclerc SXXI, Main Battle Tank, France, Rank VII[/h2]
Features:

• Improved turret protection
  
• Commander panoramic sight with thermal imager
  
• Expansion of the top-tier tank setup in the French tech tree to three MBTs
  

[h3]History[/h3]
[expand]Leclerc S2 main battle tanks were produced in France from 1997 to 2003. The vehicles in the second series were distinguished by improved armor in the hull and turret, new air conditioning and anti-nuclear protection systems, a modified transmission, and updated electronic and optical systems. The Leclerc SXXI is the third production series of the modern main battle tank that was produced from 2003 to 2006. The main features of the series was improved turret protection at frontal angles, as well as a new panoramic HL 120 sight for the commander with a thermal imaging channel and a laser rangefinder. All tanks in the SXXI series were later upgraded by the ICONE tactical control system under the 2007 program.[/expand]

The Leclerc S2 tanks, that appeared in one of the recent updates to War Thunder, are known for the decent defense in the turret, the automatic loader, which is rare for western tank designs, a large capacity of the first-order ammo rack, as well as the devastating OFL 120 F1 APFSDS round that, even at distances of more than 1,000 meters is able to slice through the protection of most enemy tanks. Yes, the tank has the traditional weak spots of tanks in the western block with her weak hull armor, but in general the Leclerc S2 is definitely worth researching.

The new version of the tank, the Leclerc SXXI, that will appear in the next major update of War Thunder, will become the third modern MBT for high rank battles. It differs from the S2 version by the new combined panoramic sight of the commander, with a thermal imager in addition to the nimble laser rangefinder. The geometry of the turret of the SXXI was redesigned, resulting in slightly increased overall protection of the turret against hits at the frontal angles.

The Leclerc SXXI is a good addition to the French top tier tank setup and will appear in War Thunder with the release of the upcoming major update. Follow our news, we have many interesting things to tell you about!

Flusi 1 is a prototype German anti-aircraft vessel, originally ordered by the Luftwaffe as a means to cover landing troops during the planned Invasion of Great Britain. Arriving as part of the next major update, captains in War Thunder will have the chance to add this heavily armed experimental German AA boat to their coastal fleet lineup!

Briefly: An experimental German anti-aircraft boat, featuring a high number of automatic weapons as well as a powerful 88 mm FlaK cannon.

[h2]Flusi 1 (Krischan der Große), motor gun boat, Germany, rank IV[/h2]
Features:

• Powerful weapons arsenal
  
• Average mobility
  
• Very light protection
  

[h3]History[/h3]
[expand]As part of the ongoing planning efforts for Operation Sea Lion - the German invasion of Great Britain - the Reich Air Ministry ordered the construction of a prototype anti-aircraft boat in 1940. Envisioned as a compact and simple vessel, the design was to provide cover for landing troops during the invasion as well as protect the coastal areas of the Netherlands and France from low flying aircraft. Hastily developed, the vessel was laid down in Autumn 1940 in Rotterdam, receiving the name “Flusi 1” and subsequently entering service in November 1942.

Soon after commissioning however, the drawbacks of its poorly thought out design became apparent. Namely, the vessel’s anti-air weapons weren’t fit for use in rough waters due to a lack of stabilization and its aircraft petrol engines were unable to moor at low speeds. As a result, the design was generally disliked and no mass-production order was issued, despite original plans for constructing around 100 units.

Despite continuing service throughout the war, Flusi 1 never took part in any active combat operations. The vessel was later on sunk during an Allied air raid west of Amsterdam in February 1944, ending its brief service career.[/expand]

In War Thunder, Flusi 1 will be a new motor gun boat awaiting seasoned captains at rank IV of the German coastal fleet tree in the next major update, coming soon to the game. Packing a serious arsenal of high-caliber and fully automatic weapons, Flusi 1 will soon become another force to be reckoned with in War Thunder naval battles!

Flusi 1 is equipped with a powerful weapons arsenal, originally intended for effective anti-air use, but due to its versatility will be no less effective when employed against surface targets. Namely, Flusi 1 comes fitted with a single 8.8cm FlaK 18, a 3.7cm FlaK 36 as well as two 2cm Flakvierling 38 quadruple turrets to round off the vessel’s arsenal. Thanks to its combination of both a high-caliber cannon as well as numerous smaller automatic weapons, Flusi 1 is capable of taking on a wide spectrum of enemies.

Smaller craft should approach Flusi 1 carefully as the vessel’s numerous automatic cannons can make short work of any gun boat which dares come too close. This also applies to audacious pilots as the automatic guns are equally good at downing aircraft as they are at sinking boats! Therefore, unless pilots seek an untimely demise in a hail of cannon fire, it’s best to keep your distance or launch an attack run on Flusi 1 while the vessel is preoccupied with other threats.

Flusi 1 is powered by three BMW aircraft petrol engines, generating a total power output of 2,000 horsepower and driving three propeller shafts. As a result, the vessel can typically reach a top speed of around 19 kts (35 km/h), giving it a level of mobility comparable to that of other German vessels of the same type. However, as Flusi 1 doesn’t possess much in the way of protection and can’t evade enemy fire as easily as more nimble craft, aspiring captains of this vessel shouldn’t necessarily engage in close-quarter brawling and especially not without allied support.

Flusi 1 will soon arrive in the higher ranks of the German coastal fleet tree as part of the next major War Thunder update. Make sure to keep your binoculars focused to the news horizon in order to stay updated on all the exciting new additions and features awaiting you in the upcoming update. Until then, calm seas and happy hunting captains!

In this digest we would like to tell you about our continuing work on improvements and fixes in the game. You can find information about all updates that have been released in War Thunder on the website special section.
[h2]Optimizing respawn zones[/h2]

You have asked about this improvement in the comments to one of the previous digests when you reported more frequent collisions in the respawns. Embrace the improved respawn mechanics in tank battles!
Now allies who joined a little later or were delayed in selecting a vehicle will appear slightly behind those who clicked the “Battle” button in the respawn window earlier. In this way players will be less in the way of each other.
[h2]Rested and that's enough[/h2]

The earth isn't a place where an aircraft can rest in the middle of the battle. Now players whose aircraft are not in the air will not be counted as active and sessions with such players will end with their defeat by timer (which previously meant the loss of all vehicles by the team).
At the same time the waiting time to return to the battle has been increased in the aircraft RB and SB as well as in helicopter AB.
[h2]Fixed the reloading on some ATGM’s[/h2]

We are talking about the issue where even with no ammunition the turret of such vehicles like the M901, FlaRakPz 1, FlaRakRad and the Roland 1 spontaneously rotated to reload the launchers. Even when there was nothing to reload.
The bug has been fixed. But it is still recommended to take more ammo into battle and not forget to reload at captured points.
[h2]Bonus for the Xbox Live Gold subscription[/h2]
Every month Xbox players with an activated Gold subscription will receive a special set: +40% RP booster for 10 battles, +75% SL booster for 10 battles and also 5 backup vehicles.
We wish you victory!
[h2]More improvements[/h2]
For this digest we have prepared a large set of useful fixes and game improvements. Be sure to read the full list which we have prepared in the separate changelog - there are many interesting things.

Originally posted by author

OPEN THE FULL CHANGELOG