War Thunder Update 2.57.1.126 Reworks Nuclear Escalation Air Defenses

War Thunder Update 2.57.1.126 puts most of its attention on Nuclear Escalation, adding 2 Battle Rating brackets and revising the defenses that protect its airfields and tactical assembly areas. The patch also fixes an issue that let radarless AI SPAAGs intercept bombs and rockets or missiles. Gaijin Entertainment details the changes in its Steam announcement.

The new brackets cover 8.7 to 9.7 and 10.0 to 11.0. In the higher range, USSR columns replace the BMP-1 with the ZSU-23-4, while tactical assembly areas and airfields receive revised air-defense lineups. Rapier systems are replaced across the mode by FlaRakPz 1 systems equipped with Roland 1 missiles, and ramps for anti-aircraft systems are added to airfields.

Other Nuclear Escalation changes affect the S-75 surface-to-air missile system, nuclear-capable aircraft crews, and battlefield visibility. The S-75 receives adjustments to its flight model, characteristics, and operating logic. Crews on every nuclear-capable aircraft receive maximum skill levels and the Expert qualification, while forest density and roadside vegetation height are reduced.

Recent updates have also focused on Nuclear Escalation. An earlier Update 2.57.1.98 added anti-radiation missile options and another era to the mode. Update 2.57.1.126 instead concentrates on defensive coverage, missile behavior, and a cleaner combat area.

Patch Notes for War Thunder Update 2.57.1.126

The update’s 3 note groups cover aircraft interception behavior, a possible terrain fix for ground vehicles, and a series of Nuclear Escalation changes. The mode adjustments range from missile systems and crew skills to airfield defenses and vegetation.

Aircraft

• An issue where AI SPAAGs without radar (e.g., ZSU-57-2, M42 Duster, Ostwind) would intercept bombs and rockets/missiles has been fixed.

Ground Vehicles

• A potential fix has been implemented for an issue where a significant number of players in a session could simultaneously fall through the terrain. If you encounter this issue, please submit a report via the dedicated website.

Nuclear Escalation

• Two Battle Rating brackets have been included: 8.7–9.7 and 10.0–11.0.
• Ramps for anti-aircraft systems have been added to airfields.
• All Rapier SAM systems have been replaced with FlaRakPz 1 systems equipped with Roland 1 missiles.
• In the 10.0–11.0 Battle Rating range:
  • BMP-1 in USSR columns has been replaced by the ZSU-23-4.
  • The composition of the air defense covering the tactical assembly areas has been modified: one ZSU-57-2 has been replaced by an Osa-AKM with 4 missiles, and one M42 Duster has been replaced by a FlaRakPz 1 with Roland 1 missiles.
  • Air defense at airfields has been strengthened: the Phòng không T-34 and ZSU-57-2 have been removed; the air defense now consists of three ZSU-23-4s and three Osa-AKMs with 4 missiles. The M42 Duster has been removed; protection now consists of three M163 Vulcans and three FlaRakPz 1s equipped with Roland 1 missiles.
• S-75 surface-to-air missile system — the missile’s flight model, characteristics and operational logic has been adjusted.
• The crews of all nuclear-capable aircraft now possess maximum skill levels and the Expert qualification.
• Forest density in the combat area has been reduced.
• The average height of roadside vegetation has been reduced.

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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

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