The Kyushu J7W1 Shinden (meaning "Magnificent Lightning") was the only canard-configured aircraft ordered for mass production during World War II, and it was one of the most unique aircraft designs to come out of Japan. The concept for this distinctive configuration originated with Captain Masaoki Tsuruno of the Japanese Navy's Technical Staff. Captain Tsuruno envisioned replacing the rear-mounted radial engine driving a six-blade propeller with a turbojet engine.
The Panther, or Sd.Kfz.171, was a technical masterpiece of World War II, combining firepower, armor, and mobility in a way that surpassed many of its contemporaries. Designed as a response to the Soviet T-34, the Panther aimed to blend the maneuverability of a medium tank with the combat power of a heavy tank. At least 6,000 units were built from 1942 until the end of the war.
The Bandkanon was a Self-Propelled Artillery Gun developed by Bofors from 1960 to 1965. It was part of a longer Swedish Army project to develop a modern autoloaded SPAG for its forces. The Bkan was based on the S-tank chassis and initially used the powerpack of the A version, which was severely underpowered to drive this 50-ton tank. Because of this, all Bkans were later upgraded to the powerpack of the Strv 103C, giving it the 1C designation.
The Soviet Union has always had inferior carrier-based aircraft compared to the West. While the United States used all the might of its aircraft carriers in World War 2 and Vietnam and the United Kingdom showcased theirs during the Falklands War, the Soviet Union was still busy rebuilding its fleet to fit its new doctrines.
In 1943, the Japanese recognized an imminent threat on the horizon: the Boeing B-29 Superfortress. Development of this powerful bomber had begun in 1939, and the Japanese were certain it would eventually be deployed against their homeland. However, they faced a significant challenge—they lacked an effective way to counter the B-29 and feared they wouldn’t have a solution ready in time. The answer to this problem came in the form of one of the most innovative interceptors ever to see operational use.
The Storm Warning update brings the roar of jet turbines, and with them, several new high-rank aircraft! And a special role among them is reserved for a couple of multirole European fighters that look a lot like twins. Please welcome the multinational Eurofighter Typhoon, a fighter that made its maiden flight in 1994 and is still in production. In War Thunder, this plane is the new top for the aircraft tech trees of Germany, Italy, and Great Britain!
The 1950s were a groundbreaking period in aviation history. By the late 1940s, pilots had transitioned from propeller-driven aircraft to jets, and the sound barrier had just been broken. Yet engineers were already working on a new generation of aircraft that would make even the most recent designs look obsolete.
