Earlier this month, Gaijin Entertainment unleashed the Ninth Wave major update for War Thunder, delivering to the game’s many long-standing fans one of the most content rich patches in recent memory. Whether you prefer roaring across the battlefield in an armored vehicle, dogfighting at supersonic speeds, or commanding naval vessels across open seas, Ninth Wave has something substantial for you.
Ground Forces Get Serious Muscle
The update adds a slate of compelling new ground vehicles across multiple nations. The USA receives the M1296 Dragoon, a nimble light tank with an unmanned 30 mm autocannon turret, built for hit-and-run tactics and ideal for players who like to strike fast and disappear. Germany gets a new researchable Boxer (sWaTrgInf), combining a 30 mm autocannon with Spike-LR II ATGMs for a devastating mix of anti-infantry and anti-armor capability.
The USSR’s Pantsir SM-SV arrives as a major upgrade to Soviet air defense, introducing the long-range 95Ya6M missile alongside smaller TKB-1055 missiles purpose-built for intercepting incoming munitions. Great Britain, meanwhile, benefits from two powerful 155 mm additions: the researchable AS90 self-propelled howitzer and the packaged Vickers GBT 155, perfect for players grinding up the British ground forces tree.
Japan gets a taste of WWII nostalgia with the Ho-Ni II and its massive 105 mm howitzer, while Israel adds the Eitan wheeled IFV to its lineup. China and Sweden round things out with the ZTZ96B pack and T-50 (Finland) premium, respectively.
Aviation: Rank IX Takes Shape
Ninth Wave makes a strong statement about the future of top-tier aviation. The F-16CM PoBIT arrives as the USA’s new Rank IX fighter, armed with cutting-edge AIM-120D ARH missiles and AGM-154A1 JSOW satellite-guided glide bombs, setting a new benchmark for American air power in the game.
Great Britain receives the formidable Australian F/A-18F, bristling with 12 AIM-120D AMRAAMs and a new weapon type for War Thunder: the AGM-84H SLAM-ER cruise missile, guided by both infrared and satellite systems for stand-off precision strike capability.
Hungary makes its debut with four domestic WWII aircraft integrated into the Italian air tree: the Héja I & II and the WM-21 & WM-23, a welcome addition for players interested in lesser-known aviation history. A new wave of Me 210 variants also arrives across the German, Italian, and Japanese trees.
Germany gets the Alpha Jet A (JaboG 41) as a premium pack at Rank VI — fast, nimble, and excellent for grinding multiple research tiers. The USSR gains the MiG-29M (9-15) as a squadron vehicle alongside a standard MiG-29 (9-12), while Sweden unlocks the JAS39D as a new squadron vehicle and the F-16A (Norway) as a researchable addition.
Naval: USS Helm Leads a Strong Fleet Addition
Naval players will want to make a beeline for the USS Helm, available as a premium destroyer. One of the few ships that fought back during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, it carries real historical prestige alongside solid in-game performance. Joining it are Germany’s Z52 and S-61, Japan’s IJN Kagero destroyer and premium IJN Tade, Italy’s RN Vincenzo Gioberti and premium RN Saetta, and France’s Verdun.
Spectacular New Water Effects
Ninth Wave also introduces a technically impressive animated height map water system that procedurally deforms the surface mesh in real time. Bullets cutting through water, torpedo wakes, bomb explosions, and even individual raindrops now physically reshape the water’s surface, creating a tangible sense of depth and realism that represents a meaningful leap forward for naval combat visuals. Check out the image comparison below to get a sense of the visual improvements.
Map Updates: White Rock Fortress Returns
After four years, the beloved White Rock Fortress map is back in the rotation. Gaijin has given it a full visual overhaul while preserving the familiar layout players know well. There are even some thoughtful gameplay tweaks, including better-protected spawn points and additional wall passages to improve flow. Ardennes has also received a comprehensive graphical update, with new building models, richer vegetation, and interactive abandoned vehicles, while keeping its classic layout intact.
Under the Hood: A Mountain of Improvements
Beyond the new content now available in War Thunder, Ninth Wave is packed with refinements. Crew of open-top vehicles now animate dynamically, reacting to acceleration, braking, turning, and uneven terrain. Armor models for the Ariete, T-72A/M1, Leclerc, and several other vehicles have been reworked with more accurate volumetric armor. The Starstreak missile has received a fully physical control model, and the SPYDER SAM system gains the new I-Derby ER missile.
Across aviation, dozens of aircraft receive expanded ordnance options, corrected ammunition counts, and new guided weapon unlocks, including SLAM-ER for the F/A-18C Late, SPICE bombs for Israeli aircraft, and LJDAM-ER glide bombs for the F-15E, F-16C, and F/A-18E.
War Thunder is free to play on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox. Download the Ninth Wave update now on any on these platforms and join the battle with full cross-play and cross-progression.
About the author: Staff writer at Wccftech. Love F1, PC hardware and AI/ML. Covering the hardware and general technology beats with a dribble of software.
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