War Thunder News

New mechanics for pilots: ground target search radar, flares and automatic correction for target marker (ballistic calculator).

Modern military vehicles are dependent on many high-tech systems which are designed to improve its efficiency and survival on the battlefield many times over. Implementing such vehicles in War Thunder we can also not forget about this feature and in update 1.97 “Viking Fury” it is time for pilots to get acquainted with the new features.


An effective method of counteracting heat-seeking missiles will be available for aircraft pilots of for example such vehicles as the Phantom F-4E.

Firing flares will allow most air-to-air missiles to be directed in the wrong direction but don’t forget that such a trick will not work with missiles launched from surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems which are guided by laser beam.


Pilots of modern attack helicopters will be able to shift part of the “work” of pointing with the automatic system which displays on your screen with high precision not only the sight of the automatic cannon or unguided rockets but also a specific point where shells or unguided rockets will impact based on current speed and heading!

For aircraft pilots, this fire control system will also calculate the point of impact of a bomb and display it on your screen.


Radar stations are not the sole prerogative of self-propelled anti-aircraft guns and SAM’s - they can also be found on more and more vehicles from aircraft to naval vessels. If you are not familiar with this mechanic it is probably the right time now to discover it as helicopters have learned how to detect ground targets with their radars!

Advanced radars will mark the detected ground vehicles on your radar and clever systems will point the sighting optics in the direction of the selected target at your very first command.


We have also implemented a new radial menu which conveniently groups all the key functionality of such a radar for more user friendly control of the noticeably complex detection and guidance systems.



With all its advantages even such impressive mechanics can not become an absolute weapon. Radars that are implemented in War Thunder are based on honest physical laws and will not allow reflected signals through buildings, massive shelters and even vegetation. Therefore in order to detect the enemy armoured vehicle you will need to take a risk with being spotted on enemy radars.

Check out the full Dev Blog here!

The Radkampfwagen 90 is a German experimental wheeled tank, developed during the 1980’s to equip the Bundeswehr with a highly mobile and well armed combat vehicle. Despite never making it past prototype stage, tankers will soon have the chance to field test the Radkampfwagen 90 on the virtual battlefields of War Thunder in update 1.97 ‘Viking Fury’!

In War Thunder, the Radkampfwagen 90 will be a new wheeled vehicle, making its way to Rank VI of the German ground forces tree with the release of update 1.97 ‘Viking Fury’. Similar in design and purpose to the already familiar Rooikat, Type 16 or Centauro wheeled tanks in the game, the Radkampfwagen 90 gives German tankers access to a highly mobile and very well armed light vehicle, perfectly suited for the dynamic combat conditions found in high rank battles!





The Radkampfwagen 90 will soon become available for research to all tankers as a new German Rank VI light tank, coming to the game as part of the upcoming update 1.97 ‘Viking Fury’. In the meantime, be sure to stay tuned to the news as the release of the update draws ever closer. Until then, tankers!

Check out the full Dev Blog article here!

The Pvrbv 551 is a Swedish anti-tank missile carrier, developed in the early 1980’s on the basis of the outdated Ikv 103 SPG’s. Arriving in War Thunder with update 1.97 ‘Viking Fury’, the Pvrbv 551 will await all eager tankers at the higher ranks of the new Swedish ground forces tree coming to the game very soon!

Thanks to a combination of its deadly TOW ATGMs and low profile, the Pvrbv 551 makes for the perfect tank hunter for high tier battles and a suitable choice for holding down strategic positions and defending objectives.





The Pvrbv 551 is armed with a single TOW launcher as its one and only means of engaging hostile threats. While capable of piercing the armor of most opponents lacking in additional dynamic protection, aspiring commanders of the Pvrbv 551 will need to absolutely make every shot count due to the vehicle’s limited ammunition count! Namely, the Pvrbv 551 can only fire off a total of 8 TOW missiles before commanders need to seriously consider heading down to the nearest blue-colored resupply station.

Check out the full Dev Blog article here

The U-SH 405 is an experimental tank destroyer, developed by the Swedish Landsverk company in cooperation with Daimler-Benz in the late 1950’s. Soon, tankers will have the chance to meet this highly interesting machine on the War Thunder battlefields in update 1.97 ‘Viking Fury’!

In War Thunder, the U-SH 405 will be one of the many new vehicles awaiting tankers in the brand new Swedish ground forces tree, coming to the game as part of the upcoming update 1.97 ‘Viking Fury’! Specifically, the U-SH 405 is a highly interesting Swedish Rank IV tank destroyer, packing a sizable punch for its size!





The U-SH 405 comes to War Thunder as a Rank IV tank destroyer of the brand new Swedish ground forces tree, arriving to the game as part of update 1.97 ‘Viking Fury’. In the meantime, stay sharp and keep a close watch on the news for more information regarding the next major update coming to the game very soon. Until then, happy hunting tankers!

Check out the full Dev Blog article here!

The ZTZ96A is a further development of the Chinese ZTZ96 MBT, which made its first public appearance in the late 2000’s. Also coming as one of many new interesting additions with update 1.97, the ZTZ96A will offer Chinese tank commanders in War Thunder a more advanced version of their existing top tier MBT!

In War Thunder, the ZTZ96A will be a new Rank VI Chinese main battle tank, making its way into the game as part of the upcoming update 1.97. Addressing some of the shortcomings of its predecessor - the ZTZ96, which arrived to the game in one of the previous updates - the more advanced ZTZ96A offers its aspiring commanders improved armor protection and mobility, thanks to the presence of an ERA add-on armor package and a more powerful engine!





The ZTZ96A arrives at the top rank of the Chinese ground forces tree in War Thunder with the release of the upcoming update 1.97. “Viking Fury”! In the meantime, keep a close watch on the news to stay up to date with all the latest developments surrounding the next major update coming to the game very soon. Until then, happy hunting tankers!

Check out the full Dev Blog article here!