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Genre: Simulator, Tactical

War Thunder

Monthly Decals for March!


Hello everyone, today we’re back with a fresh set of historical decals! We’ve been very happy to see the positive reception to this event returning, and we appreciate all the feedback and suggestions you’ve left.

Before we get into the decals, we have a couple of points from feedback. As you know, the format is 5 new decals and 5 decals from previous events and we’ve seen a lot of requests to return certain popular decals for unlock again. While we can’t add everything requested in the short term, we’ll aim to return some of the most popular decals we’ve seen comments for in future months.

We’ve also made a small tweak. Previously in each event, only one decal cost 200 Golden Eagles and didn’t have a task, which we realize was a bit arbitrary. Considering now that each decal can be purchased with Golden Eagles, we’ve removed this limitation, meaning every decal can now be unlocked by tasks as well as purchased using Golden Eagles.

The following decals will be available from March 7th (11:00 GMT) until April 7th (09:00 GMT).


All tasks can be completed using vehicles that are rank III or higher.


[table noborder=1 equalcells=1]
[tr]
[td]Tredje divisionen, F 12 Emblem, Sweden[/td]
[td]VIII Corps Emblem, Great Britain[/td]
[td]“Beute Panzer” Inscription, Germany[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Deal 10 tons of base damage while using Swedish Bombers[/td]
[td]Destroy 70 players while using British Tanks[/td]
[td]Earn 20000 score while using German Tanks[/td]
[/tr]



[table noborder=1 equalcells=1]
[tr]
[td]69 Squadron Emblem (Early), Israel[/td]
[td]“Forward to Victory!” Inscription, USSR[/td]
[td]Destroyer Squadron 2 Emblem, USA[/td]
[td]AMD 178 2e GRDI Emblem, France[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Play 20 missions using Israeli Aircraft with at least 60% activity[/td]
[td]Destroy 70 players while using Soviet Tanks[/td]
[td]Score 40000 Damage while using US Bluewater ships[/td]
[td]Scout 30 players while using French Light Tanks[/td]
[/tr]



[table noborder=1 equalcells=1]
[tr]
[td]“Flying Shark” Emblem, China[/td]
[td]CLXIII Gruppo da 90/53 Emblem, Italy[/td]
[td]13th Sensha Daitai, 2nd Chutai Emblem, Japan[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Play 20 missions using Chinese aircraft with at least 60% activity[/td]
[td]Destroy 40 players while using Italian or Hungarian Tank Destroyers[/td]
[td]Finish in position 1-5 five times while using Japanese Tanks[/td]
[/tr]




Monthly markings can be found in a special tab at the bottom of the customization menu, (Monthly Decals) after a month, they’ll be moved to their corresponding category.

You can track the progress of completing tasks for these decals by going to your Player Profile > Decals > Monthly Decals. From here, click the “Track progress” button on each decal to track from the hangar.

All of the emblems will come with a detailed description. This will generally consist of the history of the marking, its design, which vehicles used it, and where it was often placed on vehicles historically if applicable (some emblems are taken from badges, which weren’t always applied). This way you can more easily recreate the original positioning if you’d like.

Thank you for reading, enjoy, keep leaving your suggestions and we’ll see you next month for more!

Decorate Your Vehicle with a New Decal for International Women’s Day!


Happy International Women’s Day! We’ve created a decal and send our best wishes and thanks to all the women around the world on this day.

Get the “Queen of the Armor” decal!


You can get this decal by completing the below task.

When: From March 7th (11:00 GMT) until March 10th (11:00 GMT).
Task: Play 3 battles with vehicles that are rank III or higher to receive “Queen of the Armor” decal

Additional details:


  • Your activity must not be below 70%.
  • You can complete the task in random battles, except for Enduring Confrontation missions, [Assault] mode and Helicopter PVE battles.
  • Track your progress in the hangar by clicking Nickname → Achievements → Holidays → International Women’s Day.
  • You can find the decal in the “Holidays” tab in the customization menu.




“Queen of the Armor” decal

Hornet’s Sting Pre-orders: Type 74 Red Star and Harrier T.10


Two new pre-order packs for the Hornet’s Sting major update have landed on the store, featuring unique bonuses, Premium Account time and Golden Eagles!

To get to the Gaijin Store through Steam, go to the in-game hangar > Shop > Online Store!






Type 74 Red Star (Japan, Rank V)


Pre-order - Type 74 Red Star Pack


49,99

  • Type 74 Red Star (Rank V, Japan)
  • 2000 Golden Eagles
  • Premium account for 15 days
  • Pre-order bonus: unique "Opposing force" title
  • Pre-order bonus: unique "Manga tank" decal



The premium Type 74 Red Star has a unique look to it! Boxes and rubber screens have been added to the tank’s hull front, a large basket with equipment has been placed on the rear of the turret, and red stars have been added to the sides of the turret, used to imitate Soviet tanks during exercises.









Harrier T.10 (Great Britain, Rank VII)


Pre-order - Harrier T.10 Pack


69.99

  • Harrier T.10 (Rank VII, Great Britain)
  • 2500 Golden Eagles
  • Premium account for 20 days
  • Pre-order bonus: unique "Deeds not Words" title
  • Pre-order bonus: unique "No. 20 Squadron RAF badge" decal



The Harrier T.10 has VTOL capabilities and can carry a large amount of weaponry on 10 hardpoints. This includes the TIALD targeting pod with a thermal imager, Paveway II, III and Mk.13 guided bombs, Maverick AGM-65D, E and G advanced air-to-surface missiles, gun pods, bombs and rockets. For air combat, the Harrier T.10 can carry the all-aspect AIM-9L Sidewinder.




A Decal and Discounts on Finnish Aircraft for Finnish Air Force Day!


Finland declared its independence in December 1917 and shortly after on March 6th 1918, the country’s Air Force was formed. The Finnish Air Force showed itself especially well during the two Soviet-Finnish wars. The number of downed Soviet aircraft was an order of magnitude higher than Finnish air losses. As a result of a peace treaty, Finland significantly reduced its Air Force after the war, however it began to build it up again in 1990. Currently, the Finnish Air Force has 60 multi-role American F/A-18 aircraft and another 64 F-35 Lightning II are to join them.


Discounts on Finnish aircraft for Golden Eagles!


The following Finnish vehicles are available at a 30% discount.



When: From March 6th (11:00 GMT) until March 10th (11:00 GMT).
Where: Sweden > Aviation > Premium vehicles.


[table noborder=1 equalcells=1]
[tr]
[td][/td]
[td][/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Saab J35XS (rank VII) — 6489 Golden Eagles[/td]
[td]Bf 109 G-6 (rank IV) — 3416 Golden Eagles[/td]
[/tr]

[table noborder=1 equalcells=1]
[tr]
[td][/td]
[td][/td]
[td][/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Mörkö-Morane (rank II) —
490 Golden Eagles[/td]
[td]VL Pyörremyrsky (rank III) —
1120 Golden Eagles[/td]
[td]Fokker D.XXI (rank II) —
490 Golden Eagles[/td]
[/tr]


Please note that the Saab J35XS is available for Golden Eagles for the first time. After this mini event ends, it will remain available for purchase for Golden Eagles but without a discount. This fast and maneuverable aircraft can carry six RB24J air-to-air missiles (Swedish AIM-9J)!



You can also purchase all vehicle in a special bundle in the store with a 50% discount:


"Finnish Air Force Day 2025" Bundle




121 65.72
To get to the Gaijin Store through Steam, go to the in-game hangar > Shop > Online Store!
This bundle includes:

  • Draken Pack
  • VL Pyörremyrsky Pack
  • Mörkö-Morane
  • Fokker D.XXI
  • Bf 109 G-6

Please note that the full price of the bundle will depend on whether you have previously purchased some of the included packs separately. In that case, the price of such items will be deducted.

Get the “Emblem of the Lapland Air Command” decal!


By completing the task below you’ll be able to get yourself this decal.


“Emblem of the Lapland Air Command” decal

When: From March 6th (11:00 GMT) until March 10th (11:00 GMT).
Task: Play 3 battles using aircraft in the Swedish tree at rank III or above to receive the “Emblem of the Lapland Air Command” decal! 

Additional details:

  • Your activity must not be below 70%.
  • You can complete the task in random battles, except for Enduring Confrontation missions, [Assault] mode and Helicopter PVE battles.
  • Track your progress in the hangar by clicking Nickname → Achievements → Holidays → Finnish Air Force Day.
  • You can find the decal in the “Holidays” tab in the Customization menu.

Alexander Pokryshkin’s P-39N-0 is Temporarily Available for the Ace’s Birthday!


Alexander Pokryshkin was born on March 6th 1913 in Novo-Nikolaevsk (now Novosibirsk) to a working-class family. He was fascinated by planes from the age of 12 and at the age of 19 he volunteered for the Red Army, where he trained as an aircraft technician. During his vacation and unbeknownst to his superiors, he completed a year-long civilian pilot program in 17 days, allowing him to enroll in military pilot courses. During World War II, he became the most successful Soviet ace flying an American aircraft and preferred the P-39. Pokryshkin continued his military career after the war, rising to the rank of air marshal.

Pokryshkin’s P-39N-0 is temporarily available for Golden Eagles!


His aircraft is available for 1300 Golden Eagles.

When: From March 6th (10:00 GMT) until March 10th (10:00 GMT).
Where: USSR > Aviation > Premium vehicles.





About this aircraft



  • Pokryshkin’s P-39N-0 has less machine guns in the wings, making it faster and more maneuverable, allowing you to utilize the excellent flight characteristics of this aircraft to defeat any enemy! The powerful 37 mm M4 cannon in the nose can take out enemies with a hit, with backup from the two 12.7 mm Browning machine guns in the nose for good measure.

XM246: The American Gepard!


Today we’ll be taking a look at the XM246, an experimental SPAA with a pair of 35 mm Oerlikon KDA cannons on the hull of the M48 Patton tank, coming in the Hornet’s Sting major update.

XM246: An SPAA for the USA at Rank VI


At a glance:

  • Fast-firing 35 mm Oerlikon KDA cannons!
  • Search and tracking radar.
  • Large turret, but with a good rotation speed.

Vehicle History
[expand type=details]
The U.S. Army looked to replace their M163 and MIM-72 anti-aircraft systems through the Advanced Radar-directed Gun Air Defense System (ARGADS) competition. This competition aimed to develop an anti-aircraft system equipped with a radar, mounted on a tank chassis to be able to accompany ground formations. Later, the competition was relaunched under the new name of Division Air Defense (DIVAD), where the M48 tank, that remained in large quantities in army warehouses, was used as the chassis.

Two companies built experimental prototypes: Ford Aerospace with their XM247 and 40 mm Bofors guns (the future M247 Sergeant York), as well as General Dynamics with their XM246 prototype, armed with 35 mm Oerlikon cannons. Despite a convincing advantage in the number of targets hit during test firing, the XM246 did not win the competition and was withdrawn from further testing.




Introducing the XM246!



Meet the XM246, a new anti-aircraft vehicle for the USA that features familiar guns and chassis, positioned at rank VI between the M163 and M247, capable of providing more anti-air firepower for several lineups. Descending into the particulars!




The very concept of the XM246 may seem familiar to many of you — a medium tank chassis with 35 mm Oerlikon cannons, so it must be the Gepard, right? Well they’re both similar in many ways, but there’s still some differences. Firstly, the guns are positioned closer together in the center of the turret rather than spread apart. Next is the large looking tracking radar that’s located at the front left of the turret and the search radar on top of the turret, both enclosed in a dome. Lastly is the ammunition, where the XM246 lacks the APDS belt, however it won’t stop this vehicle from being able to penetrate lightly armored tanks at close range with the other belts!

As for mobility, the XM246 uses the M48 Patton chassis as did its competitor in the ARGADS competition, the M247. This chassis is capable of reaching a max speed of 48 km/h, allowing it to move around on roads fairly quickly and off-road at a decent pace.




Rounding off, the XM246 sits in a good middle ground between the high rate of fire but short range of the M163 and the slower rate of fire but long range of the M247. The radar on the XM246 will tell you the lead point for firing at targets at long range, and the fire rate of 550 RPM per barrel will compensate for any inaccuracy thanks to the high rate of fire down range. As with all other SPAAs, the XM246 will also be quite effective as a support vehicle by taking out enemy tracks, gun barrels and lightly armored targets. Don’t count on your armor protection though, as the armor is pretty thin all-over and will be penetrated by most enemy tanks.



That’s it for this one. The XM246 is coming in the Hornet’s Sting major update and will provide good firepower for taking out enemy aircraft in several lineups. Keep an eye on the news for more dev blogs coming your way!

Please note that this vehicle’s characteristics may be changed before it is added to the game.

Fair Play: February 2025


Each month we share information about accounts that have been banned for cheating or for violating the TOS. We thank you for actively reporting players who aren’t playing by the rules: it really helps us! You can use the battle replay function on our website to report players who you suspect have violated the game’s Terms of Service and the License Agreement. Instructions on how to do this can be found here.

Banned accounts


Since our last fair play, we’ve banned 5790 accounts that were found to have violated the rules. Specifically 3.2.3 of the EULA namely in the automation of gameplay (using bots) and cheat software. For complete transparency, we’re publishing the full list of these banned players. This list will be available for two weeks after the publication of this article.

List



Recommendations


We recommend that you set a strong password for your account and enable two-step authentication in your profile security settings. We have the following 2FA options available: email, SMS, TOTP (Gaijin Pass/Google Authenticator), and Telegram bot, which we suggest trying if SMS 2FA messages are not reaching you.

We’d also suggest that you turn on 2FA for the email that is linked to your Gaijin account for additional security, as this will protect your account from fraudsters. And remember, don’t use prohibited client modifications and never share your account information with anyone.

The War Thunder Team

Pre-order: Ariete Certezza


Let’s take a look at the premium version of the C1 Ariete tank with additional armor and a unique look!

Ariete Certezza: A Premium MBT for Italy at Rank VII


At a glance:

  • Good mobility!
  • DM53 APFSDS shell.
  • Additional WAR armor. 

 
Vehicle History
[expand type=details]
In 1984, requirements were formed to create a new tank for the Italian Army. Multiple Italian defense companies became involved in creating this new tank, including FIAT, OTO Melara and IVECO. Developments in tank design during the OF-40 tank program and participation in the development of the Leopard 1 were used in the creation of the C1 Ariete prototype. The first batch of tanks were completed in 1988, and after a long series of tests and financial difficulties, the C1 began production in 1995. The initial plan was for 700 tanks, however only 200 were produced in total. In parallel with the base models, the PSO and WAR armor add-on kits were developed, improving the tank’s armor protection at the front and side. 

To this day, the Italian Army is the only operator of the C1 Ariete tank. 


Pre-order - Ariete Certezza Pack


69.99
To get to the Gaijin Store through Steam, go to the in-game hangar > Shop > Online Store!

  • Ariete Certezza (Rank VII, Italy)
  • 2500 Golden Eagles
  • Premium account for 20 days
  • Pre-order bonus: unique "Iron Heart" title
  • Pre-order bonus: 32nd Tank Regiment coat of arms decal





Introducing the Ariete Certezza!



The Ariete Certezza is essentially a premium version of the C1 Ariete with the WAR armor add-on kit and a unique look. Coming to the game in the Hornet’s Sting major update, the pre-order pack will provide you with special pre-order bonuses, premium account days and Golden Eagles. Diving into the details!



Let’s take a closer look at the WAR armor add-on kit mentioned above. This kit provides additional protection on the turret’s cheeks, helping to resist hits from guided missiles and HEAT based shells. In terms of firepower, the Ariete Certezza features the 120 mm OTO Breda 120/44 cannon with an effective fire control system that includes a laser rangefinder and a high-res thermal imager. As for ammunition, this tank’s main round of choice is the DM53 APFSDS shell, providing excellent penetration values of just over 600 mm at 100 m. 



As for the unique appearance of the Ariete Certezza, we’ve aimed to combine some of the characteristic features of tanks in this series that participated in various exercises and demonstrations. In addition to the markings on the hull and turret, this premium tank is distinguished by unique exhaust pipes that in a way are somewhat reminiscent of the ones from the Tiger tank and concertina razor wire on the lower front plate. To top it off, the Ariete Certezza has a Camouflage net modification that you can turn on or off to your liking! You’ll also be able to remove the WAR add-on armor kit, however the camouflage net will become unavailable when doing this.



That’s it for this dev blog! The Ariete Certezza can be pre-ordered starting from today and will be available with the release of the Hornet’s Sting major update. Keep an eye out for more dev blogs coming your way! 

Please note that this vehicle’s characteristics may be changed before it is added to the game.

Su-30SM: In Thrust We Trust


Let’s take a look at the Su-30SM, a modern Russian multi-role two-seat fighter jet coming to the Hornet’s Sting major update!

Su-30SM: A Jet Fighter for the USSR at Rank VIII


At a glance:

  • Up to 12 weapon hardpoints.
  • Huge arsenal of available weapons!
  • New R-77-1 ARH air-to-air missile.
  • Thrust vectoring control.

Vehicle History
[expand type=details]
During the further development of the Su-27 series of fighters, the introduction of a second crew member became necessary. This was to be the pilot-operator who could take control of weapons and navigation systems and if needed, have the ability to replace the main pilot on long-distance flights. For the development of a two-seater variant, the Su-27UB was picked to be modified. It received a new pilot-operator seat and numerous improvements to on-board avionics and weapon control systems.

In 1988, the aircraft entered testing under the designation of Su-30. Due to the difficult economic situation, it was decided to offer the new fighter to foreign customers, the first being India. Based on one of the fighter upgrades for the needs of India, a modification for the Russian Air Force was developed in the early 2010s. This was the new Su-30SM model that entered testing in September 2012 and by the end of the same year began to enter active units.

The Su-30SM is currently in active service with the Aerospace Forces and Naval Aviation of the Russian Navy and is also in service with Kazakhstan, Belarus, Armenia and Myanmar.




Introducing the Su-30SM!



One of the modern representatives of the Su-27 family is the two-seat variant of the Su-30SM, an advanced twin-engine fighter that’s currently in service with the Russian Aerospace Forces! This rather heavy and large-in-size multi-role fighter features a large payload and can accelerate to a maximum speed of about Mach 2, all while maintaining amazing maneuverability for its size. The Su-30SM also has the most advanced weapons among all USSR/Russian aircraft in the game. Let’s take a closer look!




The Su-30SM may feel familiar as it continues on from the Su-27SM, but will offer some interesting new features both in terms of piloting and weapons. Let’s start with its flight characteristics. Equipped with the AL-31F engine that provides speed and climb rates that are comparable to the Su-27, these engines have rotating nozzles, opening up new possibilities in full control modes. They can change the direction of thrust — known as thrust vectoring — along all axes during maneuvers, improving controllability at extreme angles. When you use this aircraft in the Hornet’s Sting major update, you’ll be able to temporarily disable the limitation on going beyond critical angles of attack and enable control of angular speeds while in battle — but do it at your own risk! In simplified modes, the moving nozzles help a little during takeoff and vertical maneuvers, and slightly increase the sharpness of turns.

Interesting: The famous “Russian Knights” aerobatic team uses the Su-30SM for training and aerobatic demonstration performances.



Moving on from flight performance, what about weaponry? The Su-30SM’s secondary weapons menu looks almost like a candy store for a sweet tooth: up to 12 hardpoints, a huge payload weight and countless combinations! Let’s start with weapons for air combat. The air-to-air missiles are mostly inherited from the Su-27SM, including the R-73, R-27ET and R-27ER with SARH homing head and inertial guidance system. Additionally there’s a new ARH homing missile, the R-77-1, featuring improved energy and an increased launch range.

In terms of weapons for use against ground targets, the available amount has become noticeably more diverse. Up first is the Kh-29L, Kh-29TD, Kh-38ML and Kh-38MT guided missile family from Sukhoi attack aircraft and bombers. Next, the KAB-1500Kr guided bombs have been supplemented by the small KAB-500Kr and the LG family bombs with a laser, satellite and inertial guidance KAB-250LG, KAB-500LG and KAB-1500LG, satellite-guided UPAB-500 and UPAB-1500 and the long-range Grom-2. To control these guided weapons, the Su-30SM features the new T220 targeting pod, the first targeting pod in the USSR aviation tree with wide viewing angles.



If for some reason you prefer old school or the mission objectives require attacking ground vehicles or destroying bases, then regular bombs come to the rescue! In addition to the above, there’s regular 100 to 1500 kg bombs, 500 kg parachute retarded bombs, 500 kg incendiary bombs, plus rockets including the large S-25. The icing on the cake is a modern radar with a passive phased array (PESA radar), providing fast target coordinate updates in TWS mode, an RWR and a modern cockpit with multiple multi-function displays (MFD).



That’s it for today! The Su-30SM is ready to become the USSR’s new hero at the top aviation battles in War Thunder — make sure to give it a try when it’s released in the Hornet’s Sting major update!

Please note that this vehicle’s characteristics may be changed before it is added to the game.

Tracked Rapier: Aerial Pest Control


Today we’ll be taking a look at the Tracked Rapier, featuring the new Rapier missile installed onto the back of a M548 cargo-carrier that was in service with the British Army!

RCM 748 Tracked Rapier: An SPAA for Great Britain at Rank VII


At a glance:

  • The brand-new Rapier missile — Mk.1E and Mk.2!
  • 8 missiles ready to fire.
  • 61 km/h max vehicle speed.
  • Lightly armored.

Vehicle History
[expand type=details]
The Rapier surface-to-air missile was developed for the British Army in the 1960s with the intention of replacing outdated and traditional anti-aircraft guns at RAF bases. This missile entered service with the British Army in 1971 as a static missile system.

An additional requirement by Iran was made to mount this missile system onto a tracked and mobile vehicle to help protect their Chieftain tanks. The Guided Weapons Division of BAC selected the American M548 as the vehicle and modified it to fit the Rapier missiles and a radar, which was first shown as the “Tracked Rapier” at the Paris Air Show in 1977. However, by the time Iran could receive orders, their government collapsed and had canceled defense contracts. Shortly after the British Army became interested and purchased several of these vehicles, first entering service in 1983 with the Royal Artillery.

The Tracked Rapier saw use in the Gulf War with the 12th and 16th Air Defence Regiments of the British Army. In the mid to late 1990s, it was phased out from service by the Stormer HVM vehicle. The RAF Cosford Museum has one Tracked Rapier on display.




Introducing the Tracked Rapier!



In the Hornet’s Sting major update, Great Britain is receiving a rather awesome SAM platform in the form of the Tracked Rapier! This new vehicle features a brand-new piece of weaponry, the British Rapier missile that’s capable of taking out planes and helicopters. Let’s take a further look!




Introducing the surface-to-air Rapier missile, brand-new to the game! This missile is SACLOS guided — lock onto your target through the radar and let the missile follow and hit. The Rapier Mk.1E missile can fire at a range of 7 km and the Mk.2 at 8 km! These missiles are proximity based as well, meaning you just need to fire near your target and wait for it to explode, much like the Roland 2 missile.

Did you know? “Rapier” is a type of thin-bladed sword, mainly used by Spain and Italy in the 16th century. Quite a good name for the Rapier missile, describing its appearance rather aptly!



Since the Rapier missile system was originally intended and used in static positions to protect high value assets, Iran requested that it be mounted onto a mobile chassis, leading the British Aircraft Corporation to look for solutions. They selected the American M548 cargo-carrier as the vehicle of choice, which was heavily modified to fit these missiles and featured some more armor at the front. Regardless of this, the Tracked Rapier still lightly protected and can be taken out by most enemy fire, especially with only 3 crew members, so keep this in mind while driving around!



8 Rapier missiles (with no stowed spares) are mounted onto the back of the M548 and can rotate 360 degrees in place and have good elevation angles. Much like the Imp.Chaparral already in the game — which is also a modified M548 — the Tracked Rapier can reach a top speed of 61 km/h and weighs 14 tons. This platform can maneuver around decently but is not as good as many other contemporary vehicles regarding overall mobility. To top it off, there are smoke grenade launchers at the front and back of the vehicle, good for concealing against enemy fire.



That’s it for this dev blog! The Tracked Rapier is going to provide Great Britain with some awesome domestic SAM coverage when it arrives in the Hornet’s Sting major update. See you in a few!

Please note that this vehicle’s characteristics may be changed before it is added to the game.
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