Gaijin Entertainment announced the M10 Booker as a new US light tank coming to War Thunder in the Line of Contact major update, slotting into the ground forces tree at Rank VII and packing a 105 mm XM35 main gun. The addition mattered because the Booker brings a high-penetration M900 APFSDS round to high-rank matches, plus modern fire control gear, which changes how a fast, lightly armored vehicle can threaten heavier targets while still filling reconnaissance and support roles.
Gaijin described the Booker as a light vehicle designed for infantry support, noting its XM35 105 mm gun, stock M833 APFSDS and HEAT options, and the M900 APFSDS with a stated penetration of over 500 mm. The vehicle’s FCS was listed with a panoramic sight, laser rangefinder and thermal imager.
The announcement echoed the real vehicle’s mixed history. The M10 Booker grew from the US Army Mobile Protected Firepower program initiated in the 2010s. GDLS submitted the Griffin II prototype, and in June 2022 the design was accepted, with a contract initially set for 96 vehicles and purchase plans up to 504 units. The first 26 vehicles were delivered in February 2024, but the Army canceled the program in May 2025, citing the vehicle’s 42-ton weight and transport and bridge limitations, as of November 2025 the fate of the delivered machines remained unclear.
In-game performance details from the announcement emphasized mobility and firepower. The Booker used a front-mounted engine and transmission, reached a top forward speed of 72 km/h and a reverse speed just over 40 km/h, and carried armor rated as solid for a light vehicle but vulnerable to MBT cannons. Gaijin warned that penetrating hits, especially into the turret, had a high chance of detonating the main ammunition rack.
The developers recommended using the Booker for reconnaissance, long-range sniping or second-line support, noting its ability to punch through common weak points on heavier tanks such as lower plates, breech areas and turret rings when armed with the M900 APFSDS. Readers looking for other recent ground additions can find CPG’s coverage of the R400 wheeled combat vehicle and the Fast and Dangerous event in this recent report. Please note that the vehicle’s in-game characteristics may change before it is added.
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