Veteran players of Gaijin Entertainment's free-to-play megahit War Thunder will know well the importance of air superiority on the battlefield. In intense, large-scale battles where ground vehicles, naval forces, and aircraft fight for supremacy, fighter jets equipped with missiles have the power to turn the tide of battle. War Thunder's latest update – the Seek and Destroy update – adds a fleet of ultra-powerful aircraft that will bring some serious firepower to your forces.
FOX-3 missiles
One of the biggest additions in this new update is the introduction of medium-range air-to-air missiles with active radar guidance, also known as FOX-3. FOX-3 is a codeword used by NATO pilots to refer to the highly destructive missiles that don't require the target to be marked by semi-active radar-homing seekers to find their point of impact.
Developed in the 1980s, these revolutionary missiles used an active radar seeker that didn't require target tracking through the missile's flight, making them capable of taking down targets from less vulnerable positions. Using this advanced control method, FOX-3 missiles are capable of hitting a 'fighter-type target' from a distance of 15-20km, which allows the missile to be used at close range with reduced risk to the .
The Gaijin Entertainment development team has revealed the first medium-range missiles that will come to the game: the French MICA, Chinese PL-12, American AIM-120, Russian R-77, Japanese AAM-4, Israeli Derby, and South African R-Darter.
These missiles boast excellent maneuverability and high thrust, and their smaller dimensions means that a large load can be carried even on lighter fighters. There's no doubt that fighter jets capable of launching FOX-3 missiles will be some of the best vehicles for their respective nations. The different nation trees will remain balanced though, as every nation has a new aircraft that carries these deadly missiles.
New jets
As well as this formidable weaponry, fans can also look forward to the following high-powered jets:
- F-15C MSIP II (US)
- F-4F KWS LV (DE)
- Su-27SM (RU)
- J-11A (CN)
- Tornado F.3 Late / Sea Harrier F A 2 (UK)
- F-15J(M) (JP)
- JAS39C (SW)
- Baz Meshupar (IL)
Dutch and Belgian aircraft
In addition to these excellent fighter crafts, players can look forward to a new line of Dutch and Belgian planes coming to the French tree in the latest update.
Helicopter cockpits
The skies continue to become more immersive in War Thunder with the addition of new detailed cockpits for helicopters. Helis including the UH-1 Huey variants, the Italian AH-129D, the Mi-4V, and AH-1Z all sport handsome upgrades in the new update.
Light tanks
Fans of ground vehicles need not feel left out – there are plenty of new tanks on the way too. Here are a few of the highlights:
- XM800T: This small light tank sports a 20mm cannon that is great for blasting away your enemies at long or close range. This tank is remarkable for its speed, with its maneoverability allowing it to comfortably get to the sides of enemy units where the armor is weakest.
- Desert Warrior: Aside from having an extremely cool name, this light vehicle is a huge upgrade from the standard British Warrior. It's equipped with a new turret, a more reliable cannon, a stabilizer, good thermals, and some powerful ATGM missiles to boot.
- VEXTRA 105: This French wheeled light vehicle boasts nifty speed, advanced thermals, and a unique feature for earlier French vehicles – a stabilizer.
- CV9035DK: This modified Swedish CV90 is the first vehicle from Denmark to make its debut in War Thunder. It features strong mobility and a powerful cannon making it an asset to any war effort.
- Namer 30: This IFV sports a futuristic design, a pair of Spike missiles, and a powerful 30mm cannon with thermal imaging to make sure you don't miss a shot. The unmanned turret makes this powerhouse a surefire future fan favorite.
Naval vessels
We'd be remiss not to take a look at some of the fine naval vessels coming to the game with the new update. The German Bernau is an advanced coastal vessel that packs a punch with Strela-M AA missiles. Fans can also look forward to the French VLT-2 the first French coastal ship.
New s
Fans looking for a little more out of this update can look forward to some exciting new s headed to War Thunder:
- Russian T-80UE-1: This variant of one of the best Soviet tanks features near-impenetrable armor, strong mobility, a large selection of ammunition, and an advanced high-resolution thermal imager. Its tough armor and unrestrained firepower make it a formidable force on the battlefield.
- Leopard 2A4M CAN: This Canadian tank was designed for combat in Afghanistan and features composite armor protection, a high-resolution thermal imager, and modifications available for slate armor, and/or a camouflage net.
If you've yet to make a start in War Thunder, there's never been a better time to jump in. the game for free today and wage war in the most comprehensive war game ever created.