War Thunder’s Space Program event puts the experimental F-16XL up for grabs

War Thunder is preparing to send pilots back into its mission-point grind with Space Program, an aviation event built around one of the most distinctive aircraft ever developed from the F-16 platform. Running from September 3 at 11:00 GMT until September 21 at 11:00 GMT, the event offers the American F-16XL as its principal reward, accompanied by a NASA-inspired camouflage, decals, a dedicated loading screen and several smaller prizes.

The F-16XL will arrive as a Rank VIII event jet for the United States. Unlocking the aircraft requires completing eight of the event’s nine stages, while finishing the complete reward track adds the exclusive “Ship No. 1” camouflage and four random modifications for the jet.

Each stage requires 45,000 mission points earned in eligible Air Battles. Consequently, pilots need 360,000 points across the first eight stages to claim the F-16XL and 405,000 points to complete the entire event.

The F-16 that followed a radically different path

The F-16XL was far more than a conventional Fighting Falcon fitted with a different wing. Its stretched fuselage and enormous cranked-arrow delta transformed the aircraft’s appearance, internal capacity and aerodynamic behaviour. The larger wing provided additional space for fuel and weapons while creating considerably more lifting surface than the standard F-16 configuration.

Only two examples were built. The aircraft originated as an experimental development of the F-16 before entering the United States Air Force’s Enhanced Tactical Fighter competition against a strike-oriented version of the F-15.

There is a small historical distinction worth making in relation to Gaijin’s description. Although the event announcement associates the F-16XL’s defeat with 1981, the competition continued into the following years. The United States Air Force formally announced its selection of the F-15E’s predecessor on February 24, 1984. The resulting production aircraft became the F-15E Strike Eagle.

That decision did not make the F-16XL irrelevant. The two prototypes were eventually transferred to NASA, where their unusual wings made them valuable research platforms. NASA used the aircraft to study whether extensive laminar airflow could be maintained at sustained supersonic speeds—research intended to reduce aerodynamic drag and improve the efficiency of future high-speed aircraft.

The two-seat F-16XL-2 completed 45 research missions during one phase of the program, accumulating approximately 90 flight hours. Much of that work took place at speeds approaching Mach 2 and altitudes as high as 55,000 feet. A specially manufactured titanium wing glove used suction through millions of microscopic, laser-drilled holes to control the airflow over a substantial portion of the wing.

That history gives Space Program a stronger thematic foundation than the name alone might suggest. The reward is not simply an exotic combat prototype painted in NASA colours; it is an aircraft that genuinely spent part of its operational life supporting American aeronautical research.

A heavier Falcon with a larger combat toolbox

Gaijin describes the in-game F-16XL as heavier and less energetic under acceleration than the production F-16s already present in War Thunder. Its enlarged wing should, however, give it better performance in tight turns.

That distinction will be important. Players accustomed to the acceleration, energy retention and comparatively compact profile of other F-16 variants should not assume that the XL will behave like a normal Fighting Falcon with additional weapon stations. Its larger airframe and substantially different wing geometry are intended to give it a separate flight profile.

The announced air-to-air armament consists of two AIM-9L infrared-guided missiles and four AIM-120 radar-guided missiles. Six medium-range weapons provide a credible baseline for Beyond Visual Range combat, although the relatively small allocation of Sidewinders may become noticeable once engagements collapse into short-range fights.

Its strike options are considerably broader. The aircraft can carry as many as six AGM-65B Maverick air-to-ground missiles alongside a selection of conventional bombs. The expanded number of hardpoints—one of the defining advantages of the real F-16XL—should allow players to create heavier multirole configurations than those normally associated with the F-16 family.

The combination points towards an aircraft capable of moving between air interception and precision ground attack, although its final effectiveness cannot be judged from the weapon list alone. Battle Rating, stock configuration, available countermeasures, radar implementation and flight-model tuning will all influence how competitive it proves in actual matches.

It is also important to distinguish an event vehicle from a Premium aircraft. Gaijin identifies the F-16XL as an event vehicle, not as a Premium jet. Players should therefore avoid assuming that it will automatically include Premium research and Silver Lion bonuses.

Eight stages unlock the aircraft, but nine finish the set

Space Program is divided into nine two-day stages. Every stage demands 45,000 mission points and resets at 11:00 GMT on September 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17 and 19.

The reward progression is structured as follows:

• One completed stage: a random reward trophy
• Two stages: one event decal
• Three stages: a Military Survival Kit silver chest
• Four stages: the second event decal
• Five stages: another random reward trophy
• Six stages: the F-16XL loading screen
• Seven stages: a second Military Survival Kit silver chest
• Eight stages: a non-tradable coupon for the F-16XL
• Nine stages: the “Ship No. 1” camouflage and four random F-16XL modifications

The two decals are themed around the aircraft and the wider space program, while the final camouflage reproduces the clean white-and-blue appearance associated with the first F-16XL prototype during its NASA career.

Completing eight stages means maintaining a pace of 45,000 points every two days for the first 16 days of the event. Reaching the ninth reward extends that pace through the complete September 3–21 schedule. Points cannot simply be accumulated in one unrestricted total for the normal stage rewards: every individual two-day stage has its own requirement.

The four random modifications awarded at the ninth stage should shorten part of the aircraft’s initial module grind. Their value will depend on which modifications are selected, however, so the reward should be regarded as a useful head start rather than a guaranteed solution to the stock experience.

Air Battles are the only route to mission progress

Mission points can be earned in Arcade, Realistic and Simulator Air Battles using aircraft of Rank III or higher. Rank I and II event vehicles may also qualify when their stat card identifies the event from which they were originally obtained.

The final score is adjusted through multipliers based on the game mode and the highest-ranked aircraft used in battle. This allows Gaijin to account for differences between modes and encourages participation at higher ranks without making ownership of the newest aircraft an absolute requirement.

Ground and Naval Battles do not contribute to Space Program’s mission-point objectives. Players planning to unlock the F-16XL will need to spend the relevant event windows specifically in aviation modes.

Progress is only credited after a battle has finished. Leaving a match early does not necessarily mean that the points have disappeared, but they may not appear on the event counter until the session concludes on the server.

Progress can be checked through the profile menu under Achievements and Space Program. Rewards must also be claimed manually from the event interface. Players who complete an objective should therefore verify that they have collected its reward instead of assuming that every item will be deposited automatically.

The tradable coupon requires a much larger commitment

Completing eight stages awards a non-tradable F-16XL coupon. Activating that coupon permanently adds the aircraft to the player’s American aviation tree.

Players interested in selling the aircraft on the Gaijin Market face a separate target. An “Upgrade for coupon” task runs simultaneously with the normal event and requires 750,000 mission points before Space Program concludes. Applying that upgrade converts the standard coupon into a tradable version, which can be sold six days after its creation.

The 750,000-point requirement is not added on top of the standard progression; points earned while completing stages also count towards it. Nevertheless, the difference remains substantial. The aircraft itself requires eight successful 45,000-point stages, equivalent to 360,000 points. Making its coupon tradable demands more than twice that total and an average of approximately 41,667 points per day across the complete 18-day event.

For most players, the meaningful decision will therefore be straightforward: complete eight stages and activate the jet for personal use. The market route is aimed at participants prepared to maintain a far heavier schedule or those who are deliberately treating the event reward as a future tradable asset.

Golden Eagles provide a catch-up option

Individual stages that have not been completed can be purchased with Golden Eagles. Gaijin is also applying dynamic discounts based on the amount of progress already earned during a stage.

Reaching 85% completion halves the purchase price, while reaching 95% reduces it by a factor of five. Gaijin’s examples show that a player with 39,000 mission points can finish the stage for 499 Golden Eagles, while someone with 43,000 points can complete it for 199 Golden Eagles.

This creates a comparatively forgiving fallback for players who narrowly miss a deadline, but it does not change the fundamental structure: maintaining regular progress remains the cheapest route to the aircraft. Stage purchases will remain available through the Achievements menu until September 25, several days after normal point accumulation ends.

The supporting rewards mix presentation items with random supplies

Space Program’s smaller trophies are tied to the previously introduced Military Survival Kit theme. Possible contents include between 50,000 and 100,000 Silver Lions, research or Silver Lion boosters, wagers, orders, universal backups, a camouflage for an already-owned vehicle or one day of Premium Account time.

These rewards offer some additional value during the grind, but their random nature means they should not be treated as a predictable part of the event’s economy. The principal guaranteed rewards remain the F-16XL, its historical camouflage, the two decals and the dedicated loading screen.

The choice to place the camouflage at nine stages rather than bundling it directly with the aircraft is also significant. Players stopping immediately after earning the jet will still receive a usable F-16XL, but completing the final stage is necessary to reproduce its most recognisable NASA appearance.

An unusual aircraft attached to a demanding event

As an event reward, the F-16XL stands out for reasons beyond rarity. It represents a genuinely different branch of the F-16’s development, combining a larger payload capacity with an unconventional aerodynamic configuration and a notable post-competition career at NASA.

Its announced weapons should make it useful in both air and ground-focused roles, but it may not replace the more agile or better-armed F-16 variants already available at the top of the American tree. The reduced acceleration mentioned by Gaijin, limited number of short-range missiles and still-unconfirmed matchmaking position leave several important questions unanswered.

The event structure is equally clear about its intended audience. A two-day requirement of 45,000 aviation points is manageable for regular high-tier pilots but potentially demanding for players with limited time or those who primarily play tanks and ships. The 750,000-point market upgrade belongs to an even more intensive category.

For players interested in experimental aviation, however, the reward has a compelling identity. The F-16XL connects a failed fighter competition, a radical redesign of a familiar airframe and a successful NASA research career. Space Program turns that history into one of War Thunder’s most distinctive aviation prizes of 2026. More information here.