War Thunder’s Space Program Event Brings a Delta-Wing F-16XL to Rank VIII
The U.S. Rank VIII event fighter focuses on ground attack while pairing 13 hardpoints with AMRAAM and all-aspect infrared missiles.
War Thunder’s Space Program event began on September 3, 2026, with the experimental F-16XL serving as its headline vehicle reward. The American jet is a Rank VIII event fighter with a delta wing, an elongated fuselage, high top speed, and a weapons loadout built for both air combat and ground attack.
Gaijin Entertainment introduced the aircraft in its Steam announcement. Players can earn the F-16XL by completing event stages, with the Space Program event details covering the requirements.
The F-16XL is built for mixed attack missions
Unlike the standard F-16 layout, the XL variant puts extra emphasis on strike missions without giving up the Fighting Falcon family’s flexibility. It can carry radar-guided and all-aspect infrared air-to-air missiles, air-to-ground missiles, and as much as 4 tons of free-fall bombs.
Its 13 hardpoints support several combinations, including a pair of Sidewinders and up to four medium-range AIM-120A missiles. Large fuel tanks help the aircraft stay in the fight, while the high maximum speed gives it a useful way to reach targets or disengage when a turning battle starts going badly.
The delta wing changes how the F-16XL turns
The new wing also changes the aircraft’s handling. The F-16XL is heavier, its airframe is longer, and it uses the same engine design as the earliest F-16 models, which reduces acceleration compared with other aircraft in the series.
In exchange, the delta wing gives the F-16XL sharp maneuvering in extreme turns, a strong bank angle, and better stall stability. Pilots will need to manage their speed carefully because maneuvering quickly bleeds energy, and a sustained turn takes longer than it does in other Fighting Falcons. The aircraft can also pitch up sharply to evade a missile while releasing flares, a defensive option that sets it apart from the other F-16 variants.
The developers chose to make the F-16XL an event vehicle rather than place it in the American aviation research tree because its flight pattern differs so much from the other F-16s. It also gives players who have not yet researched another AMRAAM-equipped aircraft a way to practice beyond-visual-range combat. Three liveries are planned for the aircraft, including its testing camouflage, a gray military scheme, and a NASA paint scheme.
The real aircraft never reached supersonic cruise
General Dynamics revealed the redesigned fighter concept in February 1980 under the name SCAMP, short for Supersonic Cruise and Maneuvering Prototype. The design was later renamed the F-16XL, and its wing area was twice that of a standard F-16. The project aimed to achieve supersonic cruise without using afterburners.
General Dynamics and the U.S. Air Force agreed to joint testing in late 1980, while the first prototype made its initial flight on July 3, 1982. The F-16XL had also been submitted for a March 1981 competition to replace the F-111, but McDonnell Douglas’ F-15E won the selection. Both F-16XL prototypes were then placed in storage after completing 437 and 361 test flights. Supersonic cruise was never achieved.
NASA later used the aircraft to study laminar flow at supersonic speeds. The F-16XL made its final flight in 1999, and both aircraft were decommissioned in 2009. They are currently stored at Edwards Air Force Base.
Gaijin cautioned that the F-16XL’s characteristics may change before the aircraft is added to War Thunder. Tell us what you think of this event reward 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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