The Su-30MK2 AMV is an export variant of the Su-30, a twin-seat multirole combat aircraft capable of performing both air superiority missions and close air support. Based on the Su-30MK2 produced by the KnAAPO plant, this variant does not feature canards or thrust-vectoring engines. To avoid confusion with the Su-30MK2 operated by Vietnam, the Venezuelan version was designated Su-30MK2 AMV, standing for Aviación Militar Venezolana (Venezuelan Air Force). In War Thunder, the Su-30MK2 AMV is a strong option thanks to its wide selection of air-to-air and air-to-ground weaponry. Although heavier than the Su-27, the aircraft retains respectable maneuverability and benefits from excellent missile payload capacity, allowing it to remain effective throughout extended engagements.
Sweden’s anti-aircraft lineup is full of unconventional vehicles. In the early ranks, you’ll find APCs and trucks packing powerful autocannons. Later on, things get really interesting with IFV-based AA variants, articulated self-propelled guns, and even a vehicle based on the Leopard 2! Today, we’re breaking down how to master Swedish SPAA vehicles and turn them into a genuine threat on the battlefield.
Yakolev and Lavochkin fighters were considered the Soviet Union’s main aerial hunters during World War 2. They were fast, agile, and dangerous, but only at low and medium altitudes. The MiG-3 was destined for a different role: it truly came into its own above 6 km, yet there were simply too few missions where that mattered. Only toward the end of the war did an experimental high-altitude fighter by Mikoyan and Gurevich take to the skies — the I-225.
The Vautour IIN is a twin-seater interceptor variant of the French Vautour multirole bomber aircraft, manufactured by Sud Aviation during the Cold War. While it is largely overlooked by many due to the much more commonly encountered IL-28 and Canberra family of bombers, the Vautour IIN can pose a notable threat to enemy fighters due to its high top speed, Shafrir air-to-air missiles, and powerful search radar. However, the Vautour IIN is thoroughly outclassed by more modern aircraft that it commonly faces, such as the F-106, Hunter F.58, MiG-19PT, and the F-104 Starfighter. The Vautour's poor control authority and sluggish roll rate in particular make dogfighting in it a struggle, although skilled pilots may still find ways to outsmart their enemies.
Lockheed is known for making unusual aircraft. The company's legendary creations include the F-104, the U-2, and the SR-71. Another well known plane is the F-117, the first stealth aircraft with its distinctive shape. But why and how was it designed this way? Read more in our infographic.
The P-26 Peashooter is a family of American monoplane fighters developed by Boeing during the interwar period. In War Thunder, it serves as an introduction to the USA’s aviation tech tree, where it stands out for being a monoplane fighter, rather than a biplane, contrary to what other nations have at its tier. That being said, its flight performance and armament is not too dissimilar from those biplanes, albeit with some minor differences.
Despite how common this element is, its purpose remains little known. This component is called the Leitkreuz, which translates from German as guide cross. It carries no symbolic weight and is purely a technical device, despite its resemblance to the Balkenkreuz. So, what does it actually do? Read on in the article.
The Cold War forced the USSR to pour colossal resources into air defense. Drawing on combat experience and intelligence assessments, the country built a flexible, layered system that combined assets of different ranges and roles: from long-range missiles to classic gun-based air defense. A vast fleet of anti-aircraft guns didn’t simply stand guard; it was constantly refined to meet the challenges of a new era.
In our game, there are tanks with a great balance of stats: solid armor, good speed, decent firepower. Sounds like a universal recipe for success. But the excitement from that kind of vehicle fades fast. And then you start looking toward the “dark side”: machines whose personality is built on extremes — one stat cranked to the max, and everything else seemingly designed to make sure you never get too comfortable. With the Chinese light tank ZTS63, boredom is not on the menu.
From the first operational jet fighter, to bombers intended to be able to fly to America in one trip, Germany’s Luftwaffe pushed the boundaries of military aviation to its fullest extent during the Second World War. However, from the war’s beginning, the Luftwaffe's leader, Hermann Göring, had avidly believed in the power of a certain aircraft type for ridding the skies of enemy fighter opposition: the 'Zerstörer' ('Destroyer'). But what actually was this design, and how successful was it in combat?
