War Thunder Missiles: Unlocking Air Superiority with Air-to-Air Combat

War Thunder Missiles: Unlocking Air Superiority with Air-to-Air Combat

As a seasoned gamer who’s spent countless hours navigating the skies of War Thunder, I can attest to the heart-stopping thrill that comes with mastering its intricate air combat mechanics. The transition from close-quarters dogfights to the long-range, missile-based battles can be a tough pill to swallow, but it’s a challenge that keeps me coming back for more.


Advancing through the tech branches in War Thunder’s air combat can present a challenging shift, as combat transitions from predominantly relying on machine guns and cannons towards the widespread usage of missiles, especially air-to-air missiles. This change can be frustrating due to the increased distances at which engagements occur. To excel in these new circumstances, one must learn and apply advanced technologies such as radar locking, tracking War Thunder missiles, strategic maneuvers for defense, and countermeasures.

Veteran pilots who are used to the tight, fast-paced aerial combat of World War II need to adjust to a different style of fighting. In this new type of engagement, being aware of your surroundings and having good timing become essential for survival, as the battlefield is now more intricate and unforgiving.

Types of War Thunder Missiles: Infrared and Radar Homing

For individuals new to air combat that involves missile engagements, especially evading enemy missile attacks, the first step towards enhancement lies in recognition. It is essential to identify the type of missiles you’re encountering. In the game War Thunder, there are two main categories of Air-to-Air Missiles (AAMs): infrared-guided missiles and radar-guided missiles.

Infrared Homing Missiles in War Thunder

As you progress and unlock more aircraft in the game, you’ll first encounter infrared-guided missiles. Notable examples are the American AIM-9 Sidewinder and Russian counterparts like the R-3, R-13, and R-60. If your plane is fitted with flares, dodging these types of missiles in War Thunder becomes easier. However, at lower combat ratings (approximately 8.0 to 9.3), you may not have access to countermeasures. In such situations, mastering the art of evading a missile’s trajectory by skillful maneuvering becomes crucial.

War Thunder Missiles: Unlocking Air Superiority with Air-to-Air Combat

In simpler terms during the early Cold War, less advanced Automatic Aircraft Missiles had limited tolerance for high G-forces. This implies that sudden changes in an aircraft’s direction might make the missile useless. In such situations, maneuvers like barrel rolls and steep turns can be beneficial. Additionally, it’s worth noting that heat is a major factor, especially from the sun. You can exploit this to deceive heat-guided missiles in war games like War Thunder.

Radar Homing Missiles

Radar Homing missiles appear later, at a battle rating of around 11.0. Early variants are occasionally present at lower ratings, such as those wielded by the F3H-2. These missiles can be launched from far greater ranges than regular heat-seeking missiles. They typically require some kind of countermeasure to evade. Perhaps the most common radar-homing missile you will encounter is the AIM-7 Sparrow, which is seen on F4 Phantoms. The infamous Fakour 90 is also found on the Persian F-14 Tomcat. Soviet variations include the R-24, found on the MiG-23, and the R-27, which is considered the best Semi-Active radar-homing missile in the game.

War Thunder Missiles: Unlocking Air Superiority with Air-to-Air Combat

As a gamer navigating digital skies, I’ve learned there are two types of defensive moves to dodge radar-guided missiles: chaff and ECM (electronic countermeasures). Chaff works like an aircraft’s decoy, scattering metal particles to confuse the missile’s radar. Unlike flares, which create heat interference, chaff messes with the enemy’s radar systems. In top-tier combat, my digital allies and I often rely on ECM systems that scramble incoming enemy radar signals, making it impossible for them to lock onto us. However, when it comes to radar-guided missiles, flares won’t do you any good. But don’t worry, no matter the missile’s guidance system, evasive maneuvers like barrel rolls and sharp turns will always boost your chances of survival.

Recognizing Incoming Threats

To work these defensive methods successfully, the pilot needs to swiftly recognize the missile’s guidance system as soon as it’s detected approaching. Prompt identification is crucial when a missile is incoming. Generally, an Infrared Homing missile is fired from a nearby distance, comes at you from behind, has visible signs like a smoke trail, and doesn’t activate a radar alert in the cockpit.

Contrastingly, radar-guided missiles are typically launched from far away (beyond approximately 5 kilometers), activating your Radar Warning System. Mastering the skill of swiftly and accurately recognizing these signals requires both practice and some unpleasant encounters. Nevertheless, this ability will empower you to select the appropriate countermeasures and significantly boost your odds of survival.

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2024-11-10 02:30