War Thunder is getting another sizeable content drop this month, with Gaijin Entertainment confirming that the Sky Odyssey major update will arrive in mid-September, bringing Greek military vehicles to the game alongside a new Falkland Islands map, modern aircraft systems, and another hefty batch of vehicles.
The headline addition is Greece, which joins War Thunder through new aviation and ground vehicle sub-trees sitting within the existing Israeli tech tree.
On the aviation side, the new Greek line covers a considerable chunk of military history, beginning with aircraft such as the SB2C-5 Helldiver delivered to Greece in 1949 and eventually working its way up to the modern Rafale EG (AESA).
In between sits some particularly interesting hardware. The A-7H and A-7E Corsair II attack aircraft were developed specifically for Greek service and come with a considerable collection of weaponry. As well as their anti-tank capabilities, they can carry Shrike anti-radiation missiles for dealing with enemy air defences while retaining Sidewinders for those awkward moments when another fighter decides to get involved.
Sitting at the top of the Greek aviation line will be the Rafale EG, combining modern avionics and an AESA radar with the sort of performance and weaponry you would expect from one of the Hellenic Air Force’s most advanced aircraft.
Greek ground forces are getting plenty to play with as well. The line includes Soviet-built Osa-AKM and Tor-M1 surface-to-air missile systems alongside the Leopard 2A6 HEL, a Greek Army version of the German main battle tank featuring additional protection around the upper glacis.
Combining the Greek and Israeli vehicle selections should also considerably expand the range of tactical options available to players progressing through that tech tree.
War Thunder heads to the FalklandsSky Odyssey will also introduce a new ground battle map based around Darwin Hill in the Falkland Islands.
The location takes inspiration from the area surrounding the settlement of Darwin, where British and Argentine forces fought during the Falklands War. It’s a very different-looking environment from many of War Thunder’s existing locations, with open treeless terrain, rocky coastline, patches of yellow gorse, low buildings, greenhouses, and fenced farmland.
The Falklands are skirting the news once more with both former combatants posturing once more – nothing is likely to happen, but you can at least see what some of the fuss about inn the update.
That open ground could make positioning particularly important, especially when there aren’t many convenient forests or urban areas to disappear into once somebody has spotted you.
There are plenty of individual vehicles arriving outside the new Greek trees, too. One of the most interesting for British players is the AW159 Wildcat HMA2.
A modern evolution of the Lynx, the Wildcat is a multi-role naval helicopter that combines speed and agility with an extensive selection of air-launched weapons. Its loadout should allow pilots to change jobs depending on what is happening on the battlefield rather than committing entirely to a single role.
Spike NLOS missiles are intended for taking out tanks, while Martlet missiles can be used against SAM and SPAA systems, helicopters, and lighter vehicles. Clearing enemy air defences late in a match could make the Wildcat especially useful when trying to create space for friendly aircraft.
Other confirmed Sky Odyssey vehicles include the Arjun Mk 1, India’s first domestically designed and built main battle tank, and the Royal Navy’s HMS Duke of York battleship.
Gaijin is also using the update to make changes beyond simply adding more machinery. Bomber damage models are being improved, while modern aircraft will receive new multi-function displays and helmet-mounted displays.
For a game already stuffed with an almost ridiculous amount of military hardware, Sky Odyssey looks like another substantial War Thunder update. The addition of Greece alone brings some fascinating aircraft and ground vehicles into the mix, while the Falklands-inspired Darwin Hill map should offer a significantly different battlefield from the game’s more built-up environments.
War Thunder: Sky Odyssey is scheduled to launch in mid-September. More information and individual vehicle previews are available through the official War Thunder website.
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