War Thunder is giving players an early look at the Australian CA-27, a work-in-progress jet fighter planned for the game’s next major update. Gaijin Entertainment shared the preview in its official Steam announcement on July 17, 2026.
The CA-27 began life as an Australian take on the American F-86 Sabre, but it is far more than a simple copy. The aircraft uses a Rolls-Royce Avon engine, replaces the Sabre’s machine guns with 30 mm ADEN autocannons, and carries ordnance that has not previously appeared on the F-86 series.
That engine change also required major alterations to the airframe. The intake and rear fuselage were redesigned, while the wings were modified to hold additional fuel alongside a full external weapons load. Gaijin’s artists are building the in-game model from scratch and are still adding details based on aircraft documentation and photographs.
The CA-27 will enter the British research tree, where it will occupy a place among the early jet fighters. Gaijin describes it as a nimble dogfighter with handling that should feel familiar to Hunter pilots, paired with the lighter, agile Sabre-style airframe.
The aircraft is still being developed, and both its specifications and visuals can change before it reaches War Thunder. Gaijin plans to show more of the CA-27 closer to the next major update’s release.
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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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