War Thunder’s first major update of 2024 is packed with new features and vehicles

War Thunder’s first major update of the year packs some serious punch. The Alpha Strike update ushers in a whole bunch of new and improved features and vehicles, and checks off more of those all-important roadmap goals. For fans who log in daily, all the way through to fresh-faced newcomers, this update has something for everyone to enjoy. Alpha Strike adds in new planes, ground vehicles, and battleships alongside a highly detailed new map and numerous quality-of-life updates. Let’s take a look at what’s about to land.New groundExpanding upon one of War Thunder’s most popular ground forces maps, Eastern Europe, Alpha Strike rewards fans with an all-new North Holland map for 2024. A shallow canal slices through this map, set in the Zaandam region, allowing you to maneuver your land vehicles creatively. The atmosphere is thoroughly modern, with recognizable malls, houses, and cars. Demolish buildings, battle during day or night, and experience the contrast between cramped streets and wide open fields in this familiar yet challenging map. Aside from the new location, there are plenty of new features and quality-of-life fixes. Perhaps chief among them is the introduction of Sensor View, a new way to experience your battles after the fact. Sensor View is essentially an enhanced form of instant replay, allowing you to check the finer points of your game, analyzing your strategy’s effectiveness, as well as its flaws and weaknesses. Hungry for Hungary?The Italian aircraft tree is getting an exciting expansion in the form of the Hungarian line, building significantly on the number of Hungarian vehicles available from WWII and the Cold War. These include a number of Soviet classics, such as the iconic Yak-9P and IL-10, as well as the Tu-2 bomber aircraft. Several powerful post-war aircraft have also been added: the MiG-15bis, MiG-17PF, IL-28, MiG-21MF, MiG-21bis-SAU, MiG-23MF, Su-22M3 and the MiG-29 9-12B. Many of these complement existing Hungarian tanks and boast excellent speed and air-to-missile capabilities. The crowning glory of the new Hungarian aircraft line is the JAS39C, a fast and flexible flagship jet that does it all. Flying highSomething a little different to delight War Thunder fans, the Thai F-5E Tiger II fighter jet will be added to the Japanese tree once Alpha Strike lands. There to beef up the Japanese ranks, this squadron vehicle handles like a dream. Compact, lightning-fast, and flexible enough to perform at any altitude, there isn’t much the F-5E Tiger II can’t do. Helicopter loyalists, you’ve not been forgotten either – the AH-1W Super Cobra attack helicopter for the USA and China trees is a thrill to fly. With two engines giving it an impressive top speed, and the ability to mount a selection of powerful weaponry, getting behind the cockpit of this airborne beast is a must. Two versions of the Alpha Jet will be added, one German (A variant) and one French (E variant). These iconic planes make for incredible training aircraft, swift and uncomplicated to handle. Perfectly suited to ground force lineups due to their devastating ballistic-computer-aided accuracy, but also valuable in air battles, the Alpha Jet’s maneuverability and powerful cannon make it a cut above many lighter aircraft. The Bf 109 C-1 is a rarer addition to the German tree, but one that shouldn’t be overlooked. Incredibly, the C variant only had around 50 examples produced, but that hasn’t stopped the War Thunder team from giving it some love in Alpha Strike. These hidden gems boast four 7.92 mm machine guns and decent agility, making them a reliable yet unusual addition to the game’s air forces. Ground controlBritain’s ground forces tree gets a significant boost with the unusual FV721 Fox. The Fox is as light and nippy as a tank gets, able to zip around and create distractions, inconveniencing enemies who like to take their time lining up shots. The light tank features an automatic 30mm L21A1 cannon, firing armor-penetrating shells, and providing a solid backup to heavier tanks in a ground-based lineup.An experimental yet deadly ground force vehicle, the Zerstörer 45, also arrives with Alpha Strike for the German tree. This unusual vehicle is capable of launching devastating strikes with its quadruple 30mm turret, and can double up as a reliable anti-aircraft or formidable ground force opponent. What’s even more fascinating about the Zerstörer 45 is that no photos of the final version exist, meaning the test version has been given the main stage. Who wouldn’t be won over by the M60 120S, a frankentank combining features of the M1A1 and the M60A1? Fitted with a 120mm M256 smoothbore cannon, capable of firing HEAT-FS and M829A1 APFSDS rounds, and a laser rangefinder/Gen 1 thermal sights combo, this is a budget tank that gives great value for money. Plain sailingThose preferring to battle it out at sea have been treated with an incredible addition – the IJN Mutsu. This Nagato-class Japanese battleship features a huge 410mm main battery and eight 410mm guns, alongside thick armor and impressive mobility for its size. The IJN Mutsu sets a new standard, and as one of the most advanced battleships crafted before the outbreak of WWII, you’ll see a marked difference between this powerful design and those slightly older. A powerful preorderOne of the Premium Kits available with the latest update is the F-20A Tigershark, an American jet fighter at Rank VIII. It’s fast, it’s powerful, and it handles beautifully. If you’re a fan of the F-5, the Tigershark offers a souped-up version that is improved in almost every way. With excellent air dueling control coupled with a choice of guided and unguided weaponry, it’s hard to beat the Tigershark. Expect speeds of up to 2200 km/h from the General Electric F404-GE-100 turbofan engine.Roadmap additionsMany new features have also been added, including the much-anticipated aircraft fuel slider, which allows you to freely adjust fuel levels, and minimap detection zones that give you an idea of enemies lurking around your spawn points and ‘safe’ zones. Improvements have been made to several existing features, too, including better object destruction and more options in the Battle interface to streamline your experience.The list of new features and vehicles will continue to grow, as War Thunder updates come thick and fast throughout the year. Download War Thunder today and experience one of the most realistic warfare simulators of all time.



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