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Genre: Simulator, Tactical

War Thunder

CS/SA5: Ground Shield!


Meet the modern CS/SA5 Chinese air defense system coming to War Thunder in the next major update!

CS/SA5: An SPAA (SAM) for China at Rank VIII


At a glance:

  • Rapid-fire 30 mm cannon
  • FB-10A missiles
  • Good top speed
  • Large in size

Vehicle History
The PLB625E is a representative of the latest generation of air defense systems for the People’s Liberation Army of China. First unveiled at the Zhuhai Air Show in 2016, after six years of demonstration tests and numerous assessments with different chassis, it was finally accepted into service in 2022. The turret is highly versatile and can be mounted onto various platforms, including standard 8x8 wheeled armored personnel carriers, specialized 6x6 chassis, as well as the ZBD04 IFV.

In real life, the PLB625E fire control is modular, from the radar to optics to the main armament and missile system — all components can be replaced or configured depending on what is needed in the field. Thanks to a fully-fledged data exchange system, even if the radar is damaged or missing, the PLB625E is able to track and hit targets using information from other systems. The export version of this vehicle is called the CS/SA-5 and is offered on the international market by the Norinco Corporation. It differs from PLA version as it features a different rotary cannon — 30 mm on the export variant compared to the 25 mm gun on the domestic one.



Introducing the CS/SA5!



The next major update is going to please many players with new end of the line SAM vehicles! What better way to introduce them than with the CS/SA5 for China, which is based on a wheeled 8x8 chassis. Read on for the specifics!




The CS/SA5 is the latest air defense system developed by China. On each side of the unmanned turret are four launchers (eight in total) that feature the FB-10A anti-aircraft missile. These are all-aspect, short-range missiles that are resistant to IR countermeasures. That’s not all though, as in addition to air defense missiles, the CS/SA5 is armed with a beefy 30 mm cannon in the middle of the turret, which can be highly effective against planes and helicopters. This cannon can also take out modern MBTs from the side or rear thanks to the available armor-piercing belt!

Right, so we’ve got the weaponry covered, let’s move onto the chassis. The CS/SA5 uses an 8x8 wheeled chassis that can reach a top speed of over 90 km/h on flat roads, making it more than capable of reaching positions in a timely manner. In terms of the internal layout, it’s certainly interesting — at the front is the engine, two crew members are located in the cabin area, and two more are in the fighting compartment closer to the back. This is because the entire space in the middle of the vehicle is occupied by the ammunition stowage for the 30 mm cannon.




The CS/SA5’s armor is light and can counter shrapnel and high-caliber machine guns at longer distances and high impact angles. This vehicle is also large in size and gets even bigger when the radar antenna on the turret roof is working. Make sure to keep this in mind when playing this thing; you’re going to be spotted quite easily by tanks and aircraft.



That’s this one wrapped. The CS/SA5 is set to become China’s new air defense vehicle at rank VIII with the release of the next major update. You’ll be able to play the CS/SA5 as an air defense system to take down aircraft, helping to support your allies. Or you can also play as a quasi support tank thanks to the 30 mm cannon to be a nuisance to enemy tanks. Check out our website for more blogs coming your way!

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

HMS Vanguard: End of an Epoch!


Meet HMS Vanguard, the last battleship built, coming as a historic addition to Great Britain’s Bluewater fleet!

HMS Vanguard: A Battleship for Great Britain at Rank VII


At a glance:

  • 381mm (15”) main guns!
  • Great anti-aircraft battery
  • Decent speed and maneuverability
  • Average armor

Vehicle History
The British admiralty required a stop gap to up the numbers of large British ships to counter projected German and Japanese numbers in the early part of the 1940s. While the Lion class warships were being constructed, Vanguard was to be pushed though to be a single ship of its class using guns and technology from a few other older designs.

As it turned out, HMS Vanguard wasn’t launched until the end of the Second World War due to several redesigns. She slid down the ramp in November 1944 and was finally fitted out in October of 1945 just after the surrender of Japan in August. This ultimately made HMS Vanguard the very last Battleship built as the doctrines for naval combat were changing into the new age.

She was finally commissioned in 1946 and served out her career first as a “Royal Yacht” carrying the King on tour and latterly, as the flagship of the fleet until her decommissioning in 1959. She participated in many exercises including the early joint exercises of the newly formed NATO alliance during the Cold War.



Introducing HMS Vanguard!



Truly BIG ships are making their way into War Thunder and will settle into a new rank for Bluewater naval trees: rank VII. Meet HMS Vanguard, the last battleship ever built! Featuring 15 inch guns, decent speed, armor and plenty of anti-aircraft firepower, this ship is modeled on how she appeared just after launching. Let’s take a closer look at the details!




HMS Vanguard sports traditional armoring and the standard British naval 15” (381 mm) guns that those who play Great Britain will already be used to. They are mounted in pairs in four turrets, 2 fore and 2 aft and come with the standard Mark17b APC as the main shell. The eight turreted twin 133 mm guns (16 in total) are able to fire HE, SAP and HE-VT. Overall, a wee bit low on hitting power, but punchy none the less.

She does have fantastic air defenses, air recon radar and a pretty good array of hard hitting guns 10x6 barreled, 1 twin barreled and 11x single 40 mm Bofors! This will give attacking aircraft food for thought and keep the smaller attack boats at distance.



Interesting: Vanguard was the first British warship with Remote Power Control for her many guns, which meant that the aim of the guns could be controlled from within the armored fire control center. For the first time, no one was needed to operate the guns in their turrets. The firing of naval guns had become safer though crew still had to provide manual loading.

Due to an initial Admiralty requirement in design, HMS Vanguard was built flush-decked to allow all forward turrets to fire at a 3-degree depression across all firing arcs. Final design choices addressed the issue of insufficient freeboard at the bows, which caused excessive wetness in rough seas and occasionally hampered the effectiveness of the forward turrets. She can reach speeds of over 31 knots (57 km/h) in a straight line and turns adequately dependent on speed.



Did you know? Vanguard was one of eleven British ships to use the name. From a 31 gun Galleon in 1586 to the latest iteration in the nuclear powered ballistic missile submarine still in use today.

HMS Vanguard will be a nice little all rounder in the game and is capable of acting both alone using her speed to move out of trouble but will be best put to use in a flotilla, providing excellent air defense for her less well protected compatriots whilst jabbing effectively at the enemy attacking force. She is not outstanding in any particular area but is quite capable of providing a viable account of herself, and let’s face it, as historically the last Battleship ever built, is top of the list for any budding Captain.



That’s it for now! HMS Vanguard will be appearing in the game at Rank VII and be available in the researchable British Bluewater tree with the release of the next 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.

Meet the Winner of TITAN 2025: Team AVReS! Get ready for the next WTCS Major!


Last Sunday, the TITAN 5x5 Tournament, the first major WTCS event, came to an end. After qualifying on the first weekend, AVReS showed us a remarkable performance in the play-off phase, going undefeated and beating the team DODEC 3-2 in an intense final on the Sinai map. Team AVReS leads the WTCS overall standings with a total of 127 points!

Congratulations to the AVReS team on their victory in the TITAN 2025 event.

The TITAN Podium





Overall Rankings from this WTCS Major I




Info : All teams in TITAN fought valiantly and showed some of the best action ever in tournaments. We congratulate and thank them for their participation!

Who is the Most Valuable Player (MVP)?



Congratulations to Leozander, one of the leading French players from team ForFeet for being crowned MVP of Titan 2025!

Their dominance in the skies, impeccable teamplay, and brilliant strategic moves left a lasting impression on the jury. This well-deserved recognition as MVP of the first Major of the season marks a powerful start, and we can't wait to see who will the next MVP for Armored Apex!We also want to congratulate Banujek and Tonyolo for their respective 2nd and 3rd place in the jury votes. It’s impossible to forget the amazing air kill Banujek showed to us!



Information on the league's second major event




In the coming weeks, you'll be able to train every weekend and get ready for the WTCS Major II, which will be in a 4x4 tank format - Armored Apex.

Here are the key dates for this tournament:



  • Open Qualifier I : 14th-15th June
  • Open Qualifier II : 21st - 22nd June
  • Playoff: 28th June - 29th June - 5th July
  • FINAL: 6th July



All first matches of the tournament will start at 15:00 GMT and Twitch live streamed at 14:40 GMT.

You can start practicing now! Good luck to you all!

Join the Tournament!

War Thunder - Thunder Tactiks Pack




  • Unique decal: "Thunder Tactiks"

  • Unique camouflage: Bf 109 F-4 "Thunder Tactics"

  • Unique camouflage: Sd.Kfz.234/2 "Thunder Tactics"

  • 300 Golden Eagles


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

Fair Play: May 2025


The fight against cheaters continues tirelessly, and today we’re ready to provide you with a list of rule breakers who have been banned over the past month. Thank you very much for your active participation in identifying rule breakers and submitting reports! 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 4,781 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.


557 more accounts have been banned for a week or more for intentional teamkills.



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

Weizman’s Spitfire Returns on the Anniversary of the last Empire Air Day!


From 1934 to 1939, the United Kingdom hosted annual air shows and open days at air bases. This event was called “Empire Air Day” and its intention was to show the general public the work of the Royal Air Force. The last air show in this event took place on May 20th 1939, where many aircraft took part, including the Supermarine Spitfire, which amazed the audience with its speed.

Weizman’s Spitfire LF Mk.IXe is now available for Golden Eagles and is here to stay!


This Spitfire is back for good and is available for 4,880 Golden Eagles.

When: From May 20th (11:00 GMT).
Where: Israel > Aviation > Premium vehicles.





About the Spitfire



  • Spitfires were widely used both in the Second World War and after it. In 1948 during the Israeli War of Independence, they were used by both sides of the conflict. This Spitfire LF Mk.IXe was flown by Ezer Weizman, the future commander of the Air Force and later the President of Israel. Featuring an excellent rate of climb, this Spitfire is very maneuverable and is great at low altitudes. It’s armed with two 20 mm Hispano Mk.II cannons and two 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine guns. For use against ground targets, it can carry two 250 lb bombs and 16 8-cm Flz.-Rakete Oerlikon rockets. Just make sure to hit the target!

Update 2.45.1.96


Aircraft



  • Tu-14T — a bug that caused the gear to not be fully deployed in the hangar has been fixed.

Naval Vessels



  • A bug that caused the range to be adjusted and not measured when restarting the test sail and selecting the same target that was selected before the restart has been fixed.

Interface



  • The values in the stat cards and X-ray of premium vehicles that have not yet been purchased are now displayed as a vehicle with all modifications.

Graphics



  • A bug that caused the camera and the vehicle to not be in their expected positions when returning from some Events back to the hangar has been fixed.
  • A bug that caused high-resolution contact shadows to render in at lower distances on some locations has been fixed.
  • A bug that caused the afterburner effect to be misaligned with the engine nozzle and change its position with head movements in VR mode has been fixed. (Report).

Patch notes reflect only key changes, meaning they may not include a complete list of all improvements made. Additionally, War Thunder is constantly being updated and some changes may not require an update. Changes reflected in patch notes are formed by taking reactions and requests of the community from the bug reporting service, forums and other official platforms into account. Bug fixes and changes are implemented in order of importance, for example a game-breaking bug will be worked on and implemented sooner.

Badger IFV: A Beast Yet To Come


Meet the Badger IFV, a South African light tank featuring a 30 mm gun on the Patria chassis, still yet to be delivered to the South African Army.

Badger IFV: A Light Tank for Great Britain at Rank VI


At a glance:

  • Fast-firing 30 mm automatic cannon with APFSDS rounds
  • Patria chassis with a top speed of 100 km/h
  • Stabilized turret with thermals
  • 3 crew and light armor

Vehicle History
With the ageing Ratel IFV still in service, South Africa looked to develop a new, modern IFV to replace it through five variants: Command, Missile, Section, Fire Support, and Mortar. A new initiative named Project Hoefyster (horseshoe) was launched in 2007, with the aim to produce a new vehicle by 2012. The Finnish Patria AMV was selected as the chassis, being modified to fit the SA landscape, and the main contractor, Denel Land Systems was selected to make the turret, gun and build the first vehicles. Following this, 22 pre-production vehicles were built in Finland and shipped over to South Africa. In 2018, the first vehicles with the 30 mm gun were tested at General de Wet training ground.

Originally, 264 vehicles were ordered, however as a result of delays and financial issues, Denel have not provided the South African Army with any production Badger vehicles so far. The South African Government have suggested to cancel the project entirely, and as of 2025 Project Hoefyster has been postponed indefinitely. The Badger IFV for the South African Army still remains in question.



Introducing the Badger IFV!



A brand-new top-tier light tank is arriving for Great Britain in the next major update! Meet the Badger IFV, a South African vehicle intended to replace the Ratel in the real world, however its future is still uncertain. Featuring a 30 mm automatic cannon and the Patria chassis, the Badger IFV will be potent in the light tank role. Let’s take a look at what this furry animal is all about!




The Badger IFV has been built and tested through Project Hoefyster, but the South African Army still awaits production vehicles to be delivered after years of delays. Let’s first dive into the Badger IFV’s turret and gun. This turret was designed by Denel and features a 30 mm GI-30 automatic cannon that is capable of firing sabot, APFSDS and HEI rounds. This is all backed up by a laser rangefinder and thermal imagers, making precision shots at longer ranges easier.

Through Project Hoefyster, the Finnish Patria AMV 8x8 was selected as the chassis of choice thanks to its modular design allowing for a range of different turrets to fit with it. This is an excellent chassis that weighs 26 tons and is capable of reaching 100 km/h on roads and rough ground, allowing you to reach strong positions fast. Despite all this however, the Patria chassis is tall and large and may struggle in tight areas, making this vehicle an easy target. Be sure to pick your fights and choose your positions wisely!




Not only is this vehicle large in size, its armor is fairly weak all over. Featuring just 10 mm of armor across the main areas, the Badger IFV can be penetrated by almost anything and won’t survive long under sustained fire due to its crew of 3. Be sure to support your team with this vehicle or hit the flanks hard!



That’s it for this one! Coming in the next major update, the Badger IFV tops off Great Britain’s light tank line and is going to be a devastating vehicle to come up against in the right environment. Check out our website for other dev blogs that we’re cooking!

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

Screenshot Competition – Steel Giants!


Welcome to the 172nd War Thunder Steam Screenshot Competition!



Your collection of screenshots submitted last week looked fantastic! As designs improved through history, many planes, tanks and ships became bigger and more capable than their previous generations. This week, capture a heavy tank, bomber, or a ship from the bluewater fleet! The three most popular and three selected by us will get 300 GE. See the winners down below!

Let’s begin the 172nd edition of our competition!



Create a stunning screenshot and submit it on the War Thunder Steam Community Hub with the tag #WTscreen172. You have time until the 23rd of May to submit your screenshot.

After that date, 6 winners will be selected (3 of which will be the highest rated by the community and 3 selected by our judges), each of which receive a reward of 300GE.

How to Participate!



Terms:



  • Your screenshot must include a heavy tank, bomber, or bluewater fleet vehicle.
  • You must add the #WTscreen172 tag (title cannot have any other text in it).
  • Artists may only win by popular vote once per four screenshot competitions.

  • Screenshots need to be compliant with the War Thunder rules.
  • You need to be the author of the screenshot.
  • Screenshot needs to be new. You cannot use those which have previously been published or used in other competitions.
  • We will only accept raw screenshots from the game. You cannot use any editing software nor any other visual enhancements (like Nvidia Ansel filters).
  • You can use filters and settings built into War Thunder.
  • You can use the replay functionality built into War Thunder.
  • Rewards will be delivered to the author's account within 14 working days.


And now, time for the winners of the competition’s 171st edition – Echoes of History!



Winners selected via community votes:


https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3479416181
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3479017220
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3479204204

Winners selected by our judges:


https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3478949628
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3479181776
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3480117103

Each winner will get 300GE! Congratulations and see you next week!

Get the HF-24 in the Spirit of the Tempest Event!


Today we’re announcing the aircraft event, dedicated to an Indian aviation classic. In this event, you can get themed decals, a player profile icon and the very first domestically produced Indian combat aircraft — the HF-24, which was in service from 1967 until the late 80s.

From May 22nd (11:00 GMT) until June 5th (11:00 GMT), earn mission points in Air Battles, unlock stages and receive rewards!



HF-24 — An Event Vehicle Jet Fighter for Great Britain at Rank V


The HAL HF-24 Marut (Hindu for “Spirit of the Tempest”), designed by German aircraft engineer Kurt Tank, was India’s first domestically produced combat aircraft. This jet fighter can accelerate to almost the speed of sound, is armed with four 30 mm ADEN cannons and can carry up to 4,000 lb of bombs and rockets.


[table noborder=1 equalcells=1]
[tr]
[td]“Emblem of the 10th Squadron” decal[/td]
[td]“Emblem of the 220th Squadron” decal[/td]
[td]“Indian Pilot” profile icon[/td]
[/tr]


Among the rewards in the event is also this chest. When opened, there is a chance to receive one of the following items:

  • 50,000 - 100,000 Silver Lions
  • Silver Lion and Research Point boosters
  • Random Wagers and Orders
  • Universal Backups (1 - 3)
  • A random camouflage for a vehicle you own
  • 1 day of Premium Account


How to get all rewards


Each stage is unlocked for 35,000 mission points and brings a new reward.

Please note: Once the stage is unlocked, you will need to claim your reward manually. To do this, click on your profile, select the Spirit of the Tempest category, and click Claim Prize.



You’re able to earn mission points in Air Battles at Rank III or above in Arcade, Realistic and Simulator Battles. The number of mission points to complete a stage depends on the game mode and the maximum Rank of the vehicle that you use in battle. There’s a multiplier for earning mission points, which is shown in the task description in-game.

You can also earn mission points by using event vehicles that are Rank I and II. Event vehicles that can be used have the name of the event that they were obtainable in on their stat card.

Stages change every two days at 11:00 GMT: May 24th, 26th, 28th, 30th, June 1st and 3rd.



Rewards are given when you complete a specific number of stages



  • For 1 Stage: trophy with a random reward
  • For 2 Stages: one of the decal rewards
  • For 3 Stages: trophy with a random reward
  • For 4 Stages: one of the decal rewards
  • For 5 Stages: trophy with a random reward
  • For 6 Stages: “Indian Pilot” profile icon
  • For 7 Stages: a non-tradable coupon for the HF-24


Discounts on purchasing stages using Golden Eagles


Incomplete stages can be purchased for Golden Eagles, but if you’re significantly close to completing a stage, its price will now be significantly reduced.

Let’s say you have earned 85% of the required mission points to complete a stage, then the price of purchasing this stage will be halved. If you’re near the finish line for a stage and are at 95% progress, then the price will be reduced by five times. For example, if you’ve earned 30,000 mission points, then the price for unlocking this stage will be 499 Golden Eagles. If you’ve earned 33,500 mission points, then you’ll only need to pay 199 Golden Eagles. Remember to keep this in mind if you cannot complete a stage on time!

The Upgrade for coupon


When you complete 7 stages, you’ll receive a non-tradable coupon for the HF-24 where using it will immediately activate the vehicle onto your account. If you don’t want the vehicle and would like to sell the coupon on the Market, you’ll need the “Upgrade for coupon” item.

The “Upgrade for coupon” item can be earned in parallel with the stages throughout the event from May 22nd (11:00 GMT ) until June 5th (11:00 GMT) for 600,000 mission points.



After receiving the “Upgrade for coupon” item, you can convert a non-tradable coupon for the vehicle into a tradable one and sell it on the Market. The tradable coupon can be sold after 5 days from the moment it’s created.

The “Upgrade for coupon” item is valid until June 8th (11:00 GMT). Until this time, you can use it or exchange it for War Bonds. Afterwards, it’ll disappear from your inventory.

To make a tradable coupon, select the “Coupon HF-24 (Great Britain)” in your inventory and click the “Modify” button.



You can track the progress of completing stages and receiving the “Upgrade for coupon” by clicking on your Nickname > Achievements > Spirit of the Tempest. If you don’t manage to complete a stage on time or would like to purchase a stage, until June 9th from the Achievements window, you can purchase each stage with Golden Eagles which will give you the corresponding rewards.

Celebrate US Armed Forces Day With A New Decal!


The third Sunday in May marks US Armed Forces Day, a day where people pay tribute to all US personnel. The US accounts for a third of global military spending, and in 2026, the US military budget is expected to reach a trillion dollars.

Get the “US National Armed Forces Day 2025” decal!


You can get this new decal for this day!


“US National Armed Forces Day 2025” decal

When: From May 16th (11:00 GMT) until May 19th (11:00 GMT).
Task: Play 3 battles using US vehicles at rank III or higher to receive the “US National Armed Forces Day 2025” 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 → US Armed Forces Day.
  • You can find the decal in the holidays tab in the customization menu

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