War Thunder’s SEAD Event Runs Through October 19
Attackers get F-4E Phantom II aircraft and AH-1F helicopters, while defenders protect S-75 sites with MiG-21bis and Shilka support.
War Thunder’s SEAD: Asymmetrical Battle Returns event is underway, pitting attackers trying to destroy Soviet S-75 surface-to-air missile sites against a team tasked with defending them. Gaijin’s Steam event announcement gives the run window as October 16 at 11:00 GMT through October 19 at 11:00 GMT. Players can enter from the hangar through Events & Tournaments → Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses.
The event’s historical framing points to a strike against SAM positions during Operation Iron Hand on October 17, 1965, during the Vietnam War. The announcement describes it as the first operation to suppress missile air defenses. Operation Iron Hand continued until 1973 and involved many separate SEAD missions.
Defenders must protect AI-controlled S-75 systems, backed by AI-controlled ZSU-23-4 “Shilka” anti-air vehicles. Players on that side fly MiG-21bis fighters armed with air-to-air missiles. Attackers get F-4E Phantom II aircraft with rockets and bombs for ground targets, plus air-to-air missiles for enemy aircraft. They can also fly AH-1F helicopters armed with ATGMs and rockets to strike the missile positions.
Enemy markers are disabled, so players must locate opponents using their aircraft systems and piloting. The exception is an enemy circling directly above a spawn point, which becomes visible on the map. Each player gets 3 respawns, and the attacking team can coordinate aircraft and helicopter strikes.
Participation requires an aircraft of rank V or higher in the hangar. Event vehicles are assigned automatically, so players do not need to buy them. Each vehicle has a spawn cost in Silver Lions, refunded if the aircraft survives until the mission ends or exits through a safe zone. The refund depends on its condition. Safe exits become available after the required weapons have been used. Air-to-ground weapons must be expended for those loadouts, while air-to-air missiles do not count unless the aircraft carries only air-to-air missiles, in which case those must all be fired. Players can earn research points and Silver Lions by taking part.
Anti-radiation missiles are unavailable in the event. Gaijin says its internal testing found them too effective for attackers, preventing defenders from repelling strikes successfully. They remain available in Nuclear Escalation. The specialized vehicles and weapons, along with the difficulty posed by S-75 systems and large numbers of Shilkas, are also why the mode is kept out of Random Battles, where a player’s chosen lineup might not suit the mission.
Which role would you take on in this matchup? For more on War Thunder’s event modes and their aircraft matchups, 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
-
Age Rating
