War Thunder’s Heavy Cavalry Update Brings New Tanks, Vehicles, and Map Visual Reworks

Gaijin Entertainment has announced Heavy Cavalry, the next War Thunder update, with a mid-June release window. The update is led by new modern vehicles, including the American M1A2C Abrams, along with dozens of other additions across the military action game.

The M1A2C is a modernized Abrams variant in the M1A2 line, with improved frontal turret protection at medium and long range. According to the official post, players will also be able to research a TUSK package that adds ARAT 2 explosive reactive armor to the hull and turret sides. The U.S. version can also use the XM1147 high-explosive round with a programmable fuse.

Heavy Cavalry will add more than tanks. One of the new aircraft is Russia’s Yak-130, a small twin-engine jet tied to the Italian M-346 family. It won’t carry air-to-air guided missiles, but it can bring ground attack options like unguided rockets, free-fall bombs, and TV-guided bombs.

Airfields are getting a practical change too. Ground airfields will add arresting gear, letting aircraft with arresting hooks catch cables and shorten their landing run on smaller strips. It’s a small detail, but one that should matter for players who spend a lot of time flying naval or carrier-capable aircraft.

The update also includes visual work on several locations. Gaijin says buildings, roads, environment pieces, and other objects have been redesigned for 38th Parallel and Ash River. A new winter version of the Ardennes map is also coming with the update.