War Thunder’s AW159 Wildcat HMA2 Will Bring 20 Missiles to Britain
The Rank VII helicopter will pair laser beam-riding Martlets with Spike NLOS missiles, radar warning equipment, and countermeasures, although its specifications can still change before release.
War Thunder’s next major update will add the AW159 Wildcat HMA2 to Great Britain’s Rank VII helicopter lineup. This upgraded naval helicopter is built around a flexible missile loadout, with room for up to 20 Martlet missiles or a smaller selection centered on Spike NLOS guided anti-tank weapons.
Gaijin Entertainment detailed the vehicle in a Steam announcement. An earlier Wildcat preview introduced the aircraft while its model was still being completed, and the developer now says its full weapon selection will give the helicopter several jobs in battle. Vehicle specifications can still change before the Wildcat reaches the game.
The Wildcat is built for flanking attacks
The AW159 has a smaller profile than many top-rank helicopters, which suits ambush tactics and attacks from the sides or rear. Its speed and agility should help it reach a firing position, relocate after an attack, and change roles as the battle develops.
Radar warning equipment and countermeasures give the pilot tools for detecting and responding to threats, but the Wildcat is not meant to sit in the open trading fire with heavily armored vehicles. Martlets are aimed at lighter ground and naval targets, as well as SAM and SPAA systems, helicopters, and other air-defense threats. Spike NLOS missiles provide a more deliberate anti-tank option through man-in-the-loop guidance.
20 Martlet missiles lead the loadout
The Wildcat’s standout feature is its ability to carry 20 Martlet missiles in a full configuration. That gives it the highest total missile count of any helicopter in the game, according to the announcement. Martlets use laser beam-riding guidance, similar to the Starstreak and 9K121 Vikhr.
Martlets will not be the natural answer to heavily armored main battle tanks, but their numbers give the Wildcat plenty of ammunition for lighter targets and air-defense vehicles. Pilots can instead select Spike NLOS missiles when the priority is damaging tanks at greater range and with more controlled guidance.
Sea Venom anti-ship missiles are also part of the AW159’s planned arsenal, though they will be added in a future update rather than arriving with the helicopter’s initial implementation. The decision to keep both the high-volume Martlet option and the Spike selection gives the aircraft a broader role than it would have had with a reduced missile package.
From Future Lynx to AW159
The real-world Wildcat began as the Future Lynx project, created to replace Lynx helicopters used by the Army Air Corps and Royal Navy, along with the Army’s Gazelles. Work on the new helicopter began in the mid-2000s after a more extensive upgrade of the existing Lynx family was set aside, and the aircraft was later redesignated as the AW159 Wildcat.
Its equipment includes a glass cockpit, upgraded radar and sensors, radar warning equipment, countermeasures, and LHTEC CTS800-4N turboshaft engines. The design supports several mission types, including anti-submarine warfare, troop transport, anti-surface warfare, and tactical reconnaissance. The Army Air Corps operates the AH1, while the Royal Navy uses the HMA2. South Korea, the Philippines, and Algeria have also adopted or ordered Wildcat helicopters.
War Thunder’s AW159 Wildcat HMA2 will arrive with a mix of speed, defensive systems, and missile volume that rewards careful positioning. Tell us how you plan to use Britain’s new helicopter 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
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