War Thunder’s Ar 234 B-2 WB 151 Will Arrive With 20 mm Guns
The German Rank V premium bomber is available to preorder in a 49.99 pack with 2,000 Golden Eagles, 15 days of Premium account time, and 2 special bonuses.
War Thunder’s Ar 234 B-2 is about to lose its most frustrating limitation. The upcoming WB 151 variant will add an optional pair of 20 mm cannons to the German Rank V bomber, giving it a way to challenge aircraft instead of relying almost entirely on speed and altitude. Preorders opened on Sept. 3, 2026, ahead of the next major update.
Gaijin Entertainment detailed the aircraft in its Steam announcement, which describes the WB 151 as a premium version of the Ar 234 B-2. The gunpod carries 400 rounds across its 2 cannons and can be left off when a full bomb load is more important.
The WB 151 gunpod gives the Arado a new battle role
With the pod equipped, the Arado can bring offensive firepower into Air Battles while keeping the altitude and speed advantages provided by its bomber spawn. Its handling remains useful at speed, enough to follow climbing aircraft or make limited defensive turns, although it is still not a single-seat fighter. Poor acceleration is the aircraft’s main weakness, so bleeding too much speed can leave it in trouble.
The new weapon comes with a clear tradeoff in combined battles. Because the gunpod uses the central pylon, the aircraft cannot carry its 1,000 kg center bomb at the same time. The remaining load is 2 500 kg bombs, still giving the Arado a useful strike option before it switches to air targets.
A low approach followed by a fast first pass should suit the gunpod configuration. Dropping the bombs early, staying close to the terrain, and preserving speed gives the aircraft a better chance to reposition before enemy fighters arrive. Its cockpit also provides a poor rear view, making awareness and route planning especially important.
Gaijin plans to keep the gunpod exclusive to the special variant
Gaijin said the WB 151 is being introduced as a way to bring the Arado lineup back into focus alongside newer game modes and the updated bomber damage model. In Ground Battles, the aircraft is intended to support lineups featuring King Tigers and late-war self-propelled guns. The developer also said it currently plans to keep the gunpod on this special variant rather than adding it to the regular tech-tree Ar 234 B-2.
The pod is compatible with the regular aircraft, but adding it there would require a Battle Rating change. Gaijin wants the standard Arado to remain a fit for the 6.3 lineup, so the extra armament will stay separate for now.
What comes with the Arado preorder pack
The preorder pack includes the Arado 234 B-2 (WB 151), 15 days of Premium account time, and 2,000 Golden Eagles. Buyers also receive the “Blitzwing” title and “Lightning Arado” decal as preorder bonuses. The listed price is 49.99, and players accessing the Gaijin Store through Steam can find it from the in-game hangar by opening Shop and then Online Store.
Gaijin has not announced a date for the next major update, so the aircraft’s arrival remains scheduled for that update rather than an immediate addition. Its characteristics may also change before it enters the game.
The Ar 234 B-2’s place in aviation history
Arado developed the aircraft from the E.370 design after Germany’s Aviation Ministry requested a high-speed jet reconnaissance aircraft. The V9 prototype first flew on March 12, 1944, and became the basis for the production models.
The B-2 became the main version, serving in both bombing and reconnaissance roles. Production was slowed by material shortages and competition with the Me 262 for engines, but the aircraft entered frontline service in autumn 1944 and saw combat during the Battle of the Bulge that December. Ar 234 operations continued until Germany surrendered on May 8, 1945.
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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
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