War Thunder’s Next Major Update Will Add the AW159 Wildcat
Gaijin is still testing the helicopter's armament, including the new Martlet missile and a possible special SPIKE ATGM variant.
Gaijin Entertainment announced on August 17, 2026, that the Agusta Westland AW159 Wildcat will join Great Britain in War Thunder’s next major update. The helicopter is still being built, and the developer shared an early look at its model and planned weaponry in a Steam announcement.
Developed to meet the joint requirements of the British Army and Royal Navy, the AW159 is a multi-role helicopter equipped with advanced avionics, guided weapons, radar, a radar warning receiver (RWR), and countermeasures. Its final in-game role will depend heavily on which weapons make it into the finished vehicle.
The AW159 model is still being built
Gaijin said the helicopter’s general geometry is already in place, but the team is continuing to add finer details. The camouflage has not been completed yet, and the developer plans to show it in a later preview.
A full developer blog will follow once the model, camouflage, and armament are ready. Until then, the vehicle’s visual design and specifications remain subject to revision.
Martlet missiles could define the Wildcat’s Battle Rating
Work on the AW159’s armament is proceeding separately because its loadout will determine the helicopter’s rank and Battle Rating. Gaijin is creating the Martlet, a small guided missile that will be new to War Thunder, specifically for the Wildcat.
The AW159 will be able to carry five, 10, or 20 Martlet missiles at a time. Gaijin expects the weapon to struggle against main battle tanks, but it should be useful against lightly armored vehicles and other helicopters.
The team is also testing pods equipped with a special SPIKE ATGM variant. Those missiles are not confirmed for the final vehicle; preliminary testing will decide whether they are added, since their inclusion would raise the AW159’s Battle Rating.
The AW159 Wildcat will remain a work in progress until the full developer blog arrives. Share your thoughts in the comments, and follow us on X, Bluesky, YouTube, Instagram, Steam, and Telegram.
War Thunder
Developed by Gaijin Entertainment
War Thunder is a free-to-play vehicular combat MMO featuring aircraft, ground vehicles, and naval craft spanning from the early 20th century to the modern era. Players progress through technology trees across multiple nations, unlocking increasingly advanced military vehicles. The game offers three realism tiers for each vehicle type: arcade, realistic, and simulator modes. Originally developed as a flight simulator under the name "World of Planes," the game expanded to include tanks in 2014 and naval forces later, becoming a combined-arms experience. A mobile version was released in 2023.
- Genre Shooter, Simulator, Tactical
- Platforms Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Mac, Xbox One
- Perspective First person, Third person, Virtual Reality
- Modes Single player, Multiplayer, Co-operative, Massively Multiplayer Online (MMO)
- Release January 28, 2013
- Publisher Gaijin Entertainment
-
Age Rating
