Gaijin Entertainment has officially announced a comprehensive update to the Directional Infrared Countermeasure (DIRCM) systems within War Thunder. Scheduled for the upcoming major update, these changes will affect how players manage defensive countermeasures on several high-tier aircraft and helicopters. The update aims to increase the mechanical complexity of defensive systems by moving away from wide-sector emission models toward a more precise, turret-based jamming approach.

New Operational Requirements and Mechanics

The most significant change involves the integration of the missile launch warning system. Moving forward, DIRCM systems will no longer operate autonomously in a wide field; instead, they will require active cueing from the missile launch warning system to engage incoming threats. This shift means that players must be more aware of their defensive status, as the system is now limited to engaging only one threat at a time. Consequently, multiple simultaneous missile launches can now overwhelm a vehicle's defensive capabilities, forcing pilots to prioritize threats more effectively.

Visual and Technical Enhancements

To assist with these new operational constraints, the developers are introducing several visual indicators to the cockpit interface. Players will notice new RWR scope indicators that provide feedback on active jamming targets. Additionally, the jammers themselves will feature new animations, physically moving and stowing based on their current activation status. These changes apply to a specific list of lamp-based and laser-based DIRCM systems currently in the game.

  • DIRCM systems will transition from wide-sector emission to directional turret-based jamming.
  • DIRCM systems now require cueing from the missile launch warning system to engage.
  • DIRCM systems are limited to engaging one threat at a time.
  • Visual updates include animated jammers and RWR scope indicators.
  • The update applies to specific lamp-based and laser-based DIRCM systems including the Ka-52, Puma, Mi-28NM, AH-64E, Z-10ME, and Mi-8AMTSh-VN.

The update will be available across all platforms, including PC, PlayStation, and Xbox. Players should prepare for these adjustments by familiarizing themselves with the new RWR scope cues, as the reliance on the missile launch warning system will be critical for survival in high-intensity combat scenarios. By requiring manual cueing and limiting engagement to single targets, the update introduces a higher skill ceiling for defensive maneuvers in aerial engagements.