update · December 16, 2025
War Thunder Line of Contact Update: New High-Tier Jets, SAMs, and Hangar Overhaul
War Thunder's Line of Contact winter update brings AESA-equipped Typhoons, modern light tanks, heavy battleships, and a complete visual overhaul to the game's hangars and winter Poland map.
War Thunder's winter major update, Line of Contact, brings a massive injection of high-tier hardware across air, land, and sea. Alongside upcoming closed beta tests for a new infantry mode, the patch introduces advanced AESA radar jets, modern air defense systems, and comprehensive visual overhauls.
New Ground Armor and SAM Systems
Ground forces receive formidable new additions, led by the researchable Terminator and premium BMPT-72 pack vehicles armed with twin 30mm cannons and ATGM launchers. Britain gets the Ajax light tank with a 40mm cannon, the US adds the 105mm M10 Booker, and high-tier air defense expands significantly with the introduction of the Type 03 Chū-SAM for Japan, NASAMS 3 for Sweden and the USA, and the HQ11 for China.
AESA Radar Jets and Aircraft Expansion
Air battles shift into a new technological tier with the arrival of AESA-equipped aircraft. Germany, Great Britain, and Italy receive Typhoon variants sporting CAPTOR-E AESA radars and eight AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles. The US picks up the F/A-18E Super Hornet with 12 ARH missiles, Sweden gets the JAS39E, and the USSR adds the Su-30SM2. Classic aviation fans also get unusual historical picks like the twin-engine FR-1 Fireball and the eccentric DB-LK bomber.
Naval Fleet Additions and Severe Damage
Naval combat expands with heavyweight capital ships, including the Soviet battleship Stalingrad, the British HMS Prince of Wales, and the US USS South Dakota. Furthermore, the Severe Damage mechanic has been officially introduced to naval battles. Triggered when a ship loses 50% of its crew survivability, this mechanic grants rewarding payouts equal to half of a full vessel destruction.
Hangar Overhaul and Map Refinements
Your home base gets a major presentation upgrade. Hangars now feature dedicated weapon stands displaying missiles and ammunition, interactive mechanical animations when customizing vehicles, and fully equipped maintenance environments for premium vehicles. On the map side, the winter version of Poland receives a complete visual graphics overhaul with updated structures and foliage while keeping its classic layout intact.
Lineup Extensions and Vehicle Balancing
Ground lineups at Battle Rating 9.3 and above now feature an extra vehicle slot in Arcade Battles and two additional slots in Realistic Battles. Scores of vehicle models have also been tweaked: the Wiesel family sees increased reverse speeds up to 38 km/h, barrel thicknesses for high-tier Soviet and Chinese autocannons have been structurally corrected, and double pylons now allow eligible jets to field up to eight AIM-120 missiles.
Why this patch matters
Line of Contact is a sprawling seasonal update that modernizes War Thunder's high-end aerial capabilities and anti-air options while delivering meaningful quality-of-life adjustments to hangars and naval scoring.