Ninth Wave update adds 40 military vehicles and tactical event to the War Thunder simulator

Developer Gaijin Entertainment has released the latest content expansion pack for its military combat simulator. The major update, officially named Nona Onda, has been implemented on global servers and can now be accessed by the entire active user base. The data package brings profound structural modifications to the game mechanics, in addition to considerably expanding the arsenal available to the different nations represented in the title.

This first major content delivery of the year focuses on diversifying tactical options on virtual battlefields. Developers have included more than four dozen new or improved war machines, ranging from state-of-the-art jet fighters to armored ground vehicles with modern defense systems.

The update responds to the community’s ongoing demands for greater balance in high-level matches and the inclusion of contemporary weapon technologies. The cross-server architecture ensures that the player base remains unified during the transition to the new software version.

Restructuring of the research and economy tree

The injection of dozens of new vehicles required a meticulous reorganization of the technology trees of all nations present in the simulator. Lower and mid-tier Veículos have had their research requirements adjusted to create a more logical progression flow to the newly added tier VI gear. Essa change directly affects the way players plan the advancement of their accounts, requiring new strategies for allocating experience points and virtual resources accumulated throughout military campaigns, changing the dynamics of long-term progression.

The simulator’s internal economy also underwent specific revisions to accompany the arrival of the new arsenal. Reward multipliers for actions in battle have been rebalanced to ensure repair costs and advanced ammunition acquisition remain sustainable.

The goal of these financial changes is to encourage continued participation in high-level engagements while avoiding draining resources from the most active users.

Strategic reinforcements in military airspace

The military aviation segment received additions that redefine high-altitude confrontations. O principal destaque é a introdução do caça a jato J-15T, integrado à árvore tecnológica chinesa.

This air superiority aircraft arrives equipped with full compatibility for electromagnetic catapult systems, facilitating operations from modern aircraft carriers. The offensive capability of the J-15T is enhanced by the integration of PL-12A long-range missiles.

This armament allows engagements beyond visual range, forcing opposing pilots to adopt complex evasive maneuvers and stealth approach tactics. The presence of this aircraft changes the established meta of higher-level aerial battles.

The Estados Unidos military also received a substantial upgrade to its naval fleet with the F/A-18F Super Hornet. The two-seat configuration reflects the division of tasks between piloting and operating weapon systems, optimizing efficiency in combat scenarios saturated by anti-aircraft defenses.

Expansion of the land arsenal and modern armored vehicles

The land battlefronts underwent a tactical reformulation with the arrival of new support and direct attack vehicles. The US Army now has the M1296 Dragoon, a high mobility variant of the Stryker family, designed to provide rapid support fire with its 30 mm cannon.

At the same time, the British tree was reinforced with the 155 mm AS90 self-propelled howitzer. Trata is a heavy artillery system capable of delivering devastating attacks over long distances, requiring operators to have in-depth knowledge of ballistics and strategic positioning on the map.

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Other nations also received crucial equipment to maintain competitiveness at the upper echelons. The Italian Centauro II emerges as a formidable threat thanks to its 120 mm smoothbore cannon, while the Japanese line gained a historic reinforcement with the 10 cm Canhão Autopropulsado Tipo 1 Ho-Ni II, built on the chassis of the Tanque Médio Tipo 97.

Graphic and physical evolution in the oceanic environment

The Nona Onda update implemented a complete restructuring of the graphics engine responsible for rendering the oceans. The programmers applied a new advanced shading system that calculates in real time the interaction between dynamic light sources, the positioning of the player’s camera and the water surface. One of the most impactful technologies added is subsurface dispersion, which calculates the refraction of light below the waterline, giving a volumetric and realistic appearance to the waves, especially during weather transitions and time variations within naval departures.

Anisotropic reflections have also been recalibrated to accurately respond to multiple viewing angles. Essa technical improvement eliminates old visual distortions and ensures that the sun’s glare on the sea reacts in a physically correct way. At the same time, the new particle system manages explosions and water columns with greater fluidity, increasing visual immersion during direct confrontations between large vessels and air attacks against naval targets.

Interface improvements and visual immersion

The immersion inside the cabins received special attention from the three-dimensional modeling team. Diversos veteran aircraft cockpits have been remade with high-resolution textures and fully functional flight instruments, responding in real-time to maneuvers and engine status.

The user interface in the main menus and during matches has been optimized to reduce visual clutter. Marcadores targets, damage indicators, and the tactical radar now feature a cleaner design, making it easier to quickly read critical information during the most tense moments of combat.

Competitive dynamics in the seasonal sporting event

Alongside the military simulation updates, Gaijin Entertainment opened the 2026 edition of the Tank Soccer event, a temporary competition that transforms the battlefield into a high-octane sports arena. The tournament, which runs until the end of March 2026, replaces ballistic projectiles with a giant ball, requiring players to use specially modified tanks with jump thrusters and rapid acceleration systems to perform acrobatic maneuvers. Matches are organized into specific time windows daily, promoting a highly competitive environment where coordination between team members is essential to scoring goals and recording assists. Individual and collective performance is converted into progression points, which in turn unlock a series of exclusive limited-edition rewards, including commemorative themed decals and three-dimensional decorations that can be permanently applied to land vehicles in the user’s main inventory.

Cross-platform availability and global access

The Nona Onda update is now available for download on all supported platforms, including personal computers and PlayStation family consoles. The installation process occurs automatically through the game’s official clients.

The cross-server architecture ensures that the player base remains unified. Isso allows veterans and newcomers to explore new technological additions and participate in the seasonal sporting event without hardware barriers.

Tactical impact on joint operations

The simultaneous integration of superiority aircraft, high-mobility armor and long-range artillery requires immediate adaptation of squadron tactics, redefining engagement priorities in all realistic simulation modes.