Once again, the War Thunder forums find themselves at the center of controversy due to leaks of sensitive information regarding a vital European military asset. This isn’t the first time details about advanced weaponry have surfaced on these forums, leaving many to wonder if such leaks pose any real threat to the countries employing this technology in military operations. Gaijin Entertainment, the publisher, has consistently pleaded with forum members to refrain from disseminating military secrets.
The leaked subject, the Eurofighter Typhoon, carries a hefty price tag of $124 million and is utilized by several NATO countries, including the UK, Germany, Italy, and Spain. Since its service debut in 2003, this versatile aircraft has demonstrated its prowess in targeting both aerial and ground threats. The U.S. Air Force often compares its capabilities to those of the F/A-22 Raptor. A heated debate over its radar system led one fan to take drastic measures, sharing classified details—a decision that swiftly earned them a ban.
This marks at least the fourth occasion where confidential Typhoon details have appeared on the War Thunder forums. Past leaks even reportedly included its extensive 750-page manual. “Please do not, under any circumstances, try to post, use, or share any sources unless you are 100% certain they are legally declassified and publicly safe for use,” urged a community manager. “Using classified material only hampers potential future changes. Don’t do it. It doesn’t benefit you or the vehicle you’re discussing.”
Back in June, the same community manager issued a comprehensive warning to potential posters, underscoring that secret, confidential, or classified documents have no place on the forums of Gaijin’s free-to-play vehicular combat game, developed by the team once based in Moscow.
As mentioned earlier, these incidents are not rare for War Thunder. A post on Steam recounts numerous similar leaks, including a breach involving Chinese secrets in 2022. So, how threatening are these leaks to military establishments? Opinions are divided. Sandboxx, a popular military-focused website, argues in an extensive feature that Western media exaggerates the implications of these leaks.
Conversely, the UK Defense Journal highlights that such leaks can have “real-world consequences,” potentially jeopardizing the security of weapon systems and affecting pilot safety and operational efficiency.
