Summary
This is a suggestion to allow “buddy lasing” in War Thunder – that is, enabling a player’s aircraft to designate a ground target with a laser designator, while a second allied aircraft releases a laser-guided bomb (LGB) that follows the external laser. Currently, LGBs in War Thunder only lock onto a laser when it is being emitted by the same aircraft that releases the bomb.
Why this is needed – Context and balance
Recent updates have significantly increased the effectiveness of SAM systems (e.g. Pantsir-S1, TOR-M1, HQ-9), creating “No Air Zones” over large areas. In such conditions, aircraft attempting to deliver guided bombs must enter lethal ranges, often resulting in instant destruction.
Buddy lasing would allow players to:
– Designate from outside danger zones (e.g. from high altitude, long range, or behind cover)
– Let another player (e.g. in a faster or lighter aircraft) perform the actual strike
– Reduce exposure time of strike aircraft, improving survival and rewarding coordination
Benefits for gameplay
– Encourages teamplay and tactical coordination, rather than solo strikes
– Adds depth to squadron and event gameplay
– Enables aircraft with no remaining munitions to still support teammates
– Creates a natural counterbalance to current overpowered SPAA without breaking realism
Realism and technical feasibility
– Buddy lasing is standard in real-life operations (e.g. JTAC teams, drone designators, dual aircraft cooperation)
– The game engine already supports laser-seeking weapons and laser emitters
– It could be limited to certain tiers or game modes (e.g. SIM or Enduring Confrontation)
Concerns and limitations
– To avoid abuse, buddy lasing could be restricted to:
• Same squad players only
• Within a limited laser range
• One active laser per team at a time
– Friendly lasers should be marked on HUDs (as in DCS-style LST systems)
Conclusion
Implementing buddy lasing would allow for smarter, more tactical gameplay and offer pilots a meaningful way to support each other in increasingly hostile airspace. It would not only restore air-ground viability in high-tier battles, but also bring War Thunder closer to modern combined-arms realism.
Thank you for considering this suggestion.