Update
'Ninth Wave' update opens Rank IX aviation and overhauls naval water
Update 2.55 pushed the aviation tech trees into a new rank and gave the game's naval battles a major water-physics and visual overhaul.
Update 2.55 "Ninth Wave" went live on 18 March 2026, headlined by the arrival of Rank IX aviation — a new top rank for the air tech trees, bringing advanced modern jets to several nations.
The update also delivered a significant naval overhaul, reworking water physics and visuals, and expanded the ground and air rosters with new vehicles. A Hungarian aircraft sub-tree continued to grow within the Italian line.
"Ninth Wave" was one of War Thunder's larger 2026 updates, continuing Gaijin's cadence of roughly six named major updates a year.