Aviation
As early as the beginning of the 1940s, aircraft designers understood that the future belonged to jet propulsion. In practice, though, that potential took time to unlock. Early engines were temperamental and unreliable, and their thrust was barely enough to compete with the best piston powerplants of the day. Even so, leadership kept pushing this new kind of aviation forward.
The Fokker D.XXI was a single-seat fighter aircraft designed and manufactured by the Dutch aviation company Fokker. It served primarily with the Netherlands’ Luchtvaartafdeeling (LVA) (Aviation Department) during the late 1930s, the Finnish Air Force in the Winter War and played a notable role during the opening phase of the Second World War. Although already obsolescent by the standards of 1940, the D.XXI demonstrated surprising effectiveness in combat, particularly in Dutch and Finnish service, where skilled pilots exploited its strengths to compensate for its technical shortcomings. This article focuses chiefly on the Dutch and Finnish variants and their operational history, while also addressing foreign use, like Danish variants.
As World War II reached its final stages, Japan faced increasing challenges in maintaining air superiority. The introduction of the Type 5 Fighter (Ki-100) marked an important attempt by the Imperial Japanese Army to adapt to wartime conditions by replacing unreliable liquid-cooled engines with more dependable air-cooled alternatives. Developed from the Type 3 Fighter (Ki-61 Hien), the Type 5 Fighter proved to be one of the most effective Japanese interceptors of the war.
The Kfir C.10 (Block 60) is a modernized variant of the Israeli Kfir multirole combat aircraft, which is in turn a derivative of the French Dassault Mirage 5. With the addition of four DERBY active radar-homing missiles and a top-of-the-line avionics suite, combined with the excellent airframe of the Kfir C.7, the Kfir C.10 is a force to be reckoned with in air battles, and it excels in medium to close range engagements. However, a small missile payload limits the Kfir C.10's ability to engage multiple targets simultaneously.
Sleek, powerful, and fast, the 'Sparviero' ('Sparrowhawk') was one of the deadliest warbirds above the Mediterranean when it first entered service in the mid-'30s. However, as the Second World War started to go badly for Italy, the SM.79's shortcomings were quickly exposed by a new generation of fighters, which this aircraft’s designers had not prepared for.
The Su-33 is a carrier-based air superiority fighter developed from the Su-27 to meet the needs of the Soviet Navy. It features reinforced landing gear, folding wings, an arrestor hook, and canards to improve low-speed handling during carrier operations. Designed for operations aboard the Admiral Kuznetsov, the Su-33 is optimized for long-range interception and high-maneuverability combat. Despite its increased weight, the Su-33 maintains decent maneuverability and is capable of employing a wide range of air-to-air missiles, making it one of the most capable carrier-based fighters of its era.
The Ruhrstahl X-4 missile was a World War 2, German-designed air-to-air missile, the first air-to-air missile of its kind to be produced. It is the earliest air-to-air missile that is available in War Thunder, and is available on the tech tree Fw 190 F-8. Let us dive into the interesting history of the missile, and later talk about how to use this unique missile!
The Supermarine Spitfire is one of the most famous propeller aircraft ever made, and easily one of the best of its time. Initially a high performance, short range interceptor, the Spitfire could be found fighting in every theatre of the World War II. In War Thunder, its high speeds, unparalleled maneuverability, and heavy armament make it a pleasure to fly and a force to be reckoned with. In this article, I will be talking about the two main types of Spitfires, their strengths and weaknesses, as well as tactics, how to fight common enemies, and how to use this plane in battles.
During the Cold War, countries with limited means usually relied on allied suppliers for defense. At times, though, circumstances pushed such states to join forces and develop their own equipment. A prime example was the joint Romanian-Yugoslav project that produced the IAR-93 Vultur and the J-22 Orao.