update · March 18, 2026
War Thunder Ninth Wave Update Brings Rank IX Jets and Procedural Water
War Thunder's Ninth Wave major update adds Rank IX aircraft, modern armored vehicles like the M1296 Dragoon and Pantsir SM-SV, and procedural water physics.
Gaijin Entertainment has deployed the Ninth Wave major update for War Thunder, expanding top-tier air and ground rosters while overhauling water physics and classic environments.
Ground Vehicles and Artillery
Ground forces receive significant additions, including the American M1296 Dragoon light tank with an unmanned turret and 30mm autocannon. Germany acquires the researchable sWaTrgInf Boxer armed with 30mm guns and Spike-LR II ATGMs. The Soviet tree gains the Pantsir SM-SV with extended-range 95Ya6M missiles, while Great Britain fields the AS90 and GBT 155 self-propelled guns. Japan receives the WWII-era Ho-Ni II with a 105mm howitzer.
Rank IX Jets and Aviation Additions
Rank IX air battles debut with advanced platforms like the American F-16CM PoBIT, equipped with AIM-120D ARH missiles and AGM-154A1 JSOW glide bombs. Great Britain gains the Australian F/A-18F carrying up to twelve AIM-120D AMRAAMs and AGM-84H cruise missiles. Four domestic Hungarian World War II aircraft join the Italian tree, alongside various Me 210 variants distributed across nations.
Map Reworks and White Rock Fortress
White Rock Fortress returns after a four-year absence with a complete visual overhaul, modified roads, and adjusted elevations. The Ardennes map also receives a comprehensive graphical update featuring detailed vegetation and buildings while retaining its original layout. A problematic northern spawn exit line of sight on 38th Parallel has been blocked off at grid G6.
Procedural Water Physics
An animated height map system dynamically alters water surfaces across naval and mixed battles. Water meshes now procedurally deform in real-time when impacted by bullets, torpedo wakes, bomb blasts, and raindrops.
Armor Geometry and Volumetric Conversions
Damage models and armor parameters have been updated across numerous ground vehicles. Hull and turret sections on the T-72A, T-72M1 derivatives, Scimitar, and KV-1 (ZiS-5) have been converted to volumetric armor. Open-top vehicle crews now feature animated reactions to rough terrain and movement.
Why this patch matters
Ninth Wave delivers a massive content expansion, introducing Rank IX aircraft, modern ground units, procedural water deformation, and two major map refreshes.