Before I show you something, I want to stress that I fully understand the promises and plans made more than a decade ago are no longer applicable. Naturally, plans had changed. Still, these are the planned tech trees for each nation from around 2012 to 2014, and it saddens me to see how many of the vehicles originally envisioned back then still have not been added to the game.
Source: [Development] American release tree announced - News - War Thunder
Source: Future of the American aviation in War Thunder - News - War Thunder
Source: [News] Upcoming US armoured vehicles - News - War Thunder
Vehicles still missing to this day:
- Fighters:
- P-40B/D/K/N Kittyhawks, P-39D/K Airacobras, P-38F/H Lightnings, P-70 Nighthawk, P-51A (non-TL)/B/K Mustangs, P-61B/C Black Widows, P-80B Shooting Star, F-82B Twin Mustang, F-84C Thunderjet, F3F-1, F2A-2 Buffalo, F6F-3 Hellcat, F4U-4E/-4N/-4C (No idea what is F4U-4C, could be a typo) Corsair, F7F-2/-4 Tigercat, F8F-2 Bearcat
- Attackers:
- A-20A/B/C/J/K Havocs, A-24 Banshee, A-25 Shrike, A-28/-29 Hudsons, PBJ-1C/D Mitchell, AJ-1 Savage
- Bombers:
- B-37, B-25B/C/D/G/H Mitchells, B-17F Flying Fortress, B-24H/J/L/M Liberators, SBC Helldiver, SBD-1/-2/-4/-5/-6 Dautnlesses, TBF-1 (Initial) Avenger, and SB2C-2/-3/-5 Helldivers.
- Premiums:
- CW-21, P-60, XP-56 Black Bullet, F-82G Twin Mustang, and X-4 Bantam (tbh I don’t think Bantam can come to the game; this thing was unarmed).
- Ground:
- M3A1, M3 (M3 75mm)
Source: [Development] German Aircraft Release Tree - News - War Thunder
Source: Future of the German aviation in War Thunder - News - War Thunder
Source: War Thunder Tanks Tech Trees - News - War Thunder
Vehicles still missing to this day:
- Fighters:
- Bf 109D, Bf 109 G-4, Fw 190 A-2/A-3/A-6/A-7/A-9, Fw 190 D-11, Bf 109 K-14, Bv 215 (Very unlikely; never built), Ta 183 (Very unlikely; never built), Bf 110 C-1/C-2/C-3/C-4/C-5, Bf 110 D-1/D-2/D-3, Bf 110E-1, Bf 110 F-1, Me 210 A-1, Me 262 HG-I/HG-II/HG-III (HG-III is very unlikely for implementation)
- Attackers:
- Do 17 Z-10, Do 215 B-5, Ju 88G, Me 262 B-1a\U1, Me 210 A-2, Ju 88 P-1/P-2/P-3/P-4, Fw 190 F-2/F-3, Fw 190 G-3
- Bombers:
- Ju 86, Ju 87 A/B-1/R-1/D-1, Do 17 M, Do 17 Z-1, Do 215 B-4, He 111 P-1/P-2/P-4, He 111 H-1/H-2/H-4/H-11/H-20, Ju 188 E-1, Fw 200 C-3/C-4, Ju 287
- Premiums (All captured):
- Hurricane I, LaGG-3, Spitfire Mk I, MiG-3, P-39Q, Mustang Mk IA, P-51D, Blenheim IV, Pe-2, IL-4, B-17E, B-24D
- Ground:
- Stug III C, Stug III G (Late Config, without side skirts), Stug IV (sad!)
Source: [Development] Soviet Aircraft Release Tree - News - War Thunder
Source: Future of the Soviet aviation in War Thunder - News - War Thunder
Source: War Thunder Tanks Tech Trees - News - War Thunder
Vehicles still missing to this day:
- Fighters:
- Yak-7A, Yak-9D, Yak-9DD, I-153 (M-25), I-16 type 5/29
- Attackers:
- R-5Sh, Il-10M
- Bombers:
- SB-2M-100
- Premiums:
- Spitfire Mk Vb, A-20B/C Havoc
- Ground:
- Su-76 (Initial), T-40
Source: [Development] RAF release tree - News - War Thunder
Source: Future of the British aviation in War Thunder - News - War Thunder
Source: [Development][Development] The British ground vehicle tree - News - War Thunder
Vehicles still missing to this day:
- Fighters:
- Hurricane Mk IIa/IIc/IID, Spitfire Mk VII, Tempest Mk VI, Spitfire Mk 21, Vampire FB.6/FB.9, Fulmar Mk II, Sea Hurricane Mk IIC, Seafire Mk IB/IIB/IIC/Mk 45, Barracuda Mk II, Sea Fury Mk 10, Sea Hawk F.1, Welkin Mk I
- Attackers:
- Beaufighter Mk IF/IVF
- Bombers:
- Whitley B Mk V, Blenheim V, Beaufort Mk I, Mosquito B Mk IV, Manchester Mk I, Lancaster Mk II
- Premiums:
- P-400, Hellcat Mk I, Corsair Mk I, Mustang Mk I/II/III/IV/IVa, Boston Mk III, Mitchell Mk II/III, Fortress Mk IIA/III
- Ground:
*
Source: [Development] Japanese planes of War Thunder - News - War Thunder
Source: Future of the Japanese aviation in War Thunder - News - War Thunder
Source: [Development] Armoured vehicles of Japan - Initial Research Tree - News - War Thunder
Vehicles still missing to this day:
- Fighters:
- Ki-27 Ko, Ki-44-II Ko, Ki-44-III, Ki-61-II Ko, Ki-100-I Otsu, A5M1, A5M2 Ko/Otsu, A6M8, J2M3 Ko, N1K1-J Otsu/Hei, A7M3-J, J7W2, J1N1-C Kai, J1N1-S/Sa, Ki-102 Ko
- Attackers:
- Ki-51, A6M7
- Bombers:
- Ki-21-I Otsu, Ki-21-II Ko/Otsu, Ki-48-I Ko/Otsu/Hei, Ki-48-II Ko/Otsu (Standard production)/Hei, B5M1, B5N1, B7A1, D3A2, D4Y2 Ko/Kai/Kai-Ko, D4Y3, G4M2, G4M3, H6K2, H6K5, H8K1, G3M2
- Premiums:
* - Ground:
*
Again, these old tech trees should never be treated as ‘Gaijin promised us these,’ but rather as a snapshot of how their plans and ambitions evolved during the early years of development.
Even so, there are some notable absences that remain puzzling, such as:
- AJ-1
- Me 262 HG series
- Ki-51
- G3M
- Welkin
- Manchester
- Fulmar
- Ju 287
Obviously, the US in particular is missing many variants that barely add anything over the versions in the game; however, some variants like P-51B stand out as worthwhile additions because of their distinct characteristics. The P-51B, for example, carries less fuel and offers better flight performance than the P-51C. There are similar cases exist for Germany, Britain, and Japan. While the differences are subtle, those variants would still meaningfully expand the WWII lineup or variety of gameplay. Folders exist for that purpose to fold multiple variants of a single vehicle in one place.
