Latest news with #AV-8BHarrier
Time of India
23-06-2025
- Time of India
War Thunder forums hit again as players leak classified military data in another online mishap
A War Thunder player has once again blurred the boundaries between gaming and military intelligence . The popular combat simulator is dealing with another leak of restricted documents, this time from an AV-8B Harrier manual, for the ninth time. A War Thunder user was banned for posting pages from the restricted AV-8B Harrier flight manual. The leak, labeled " Distribution Statement C ," adds to a growing list of incidents in which classified or export-restricted military documents appeared in forums, forcing developers to remove posts and enforce strict rules, as per a report by UK Defence Journal. Why do these leaks keep happening? Due to its legal limitations, the AV-8B Harrier handbook that was posted on the War Thunder forum is a controversial topic. Gaijin Entertainment created the free-to-play combat simulation game War Thunder, which depicts air, land, and naval combat from several historical periods. A sizable community of military enthusiasts, including active and retired service members, is drawn to the game because of its realism and meticulous attention to technical detail. Live Events ALSO READ: Iran strikes US base in Qatar, Saudi airspace closed — WWE Night of Champions now hanging by a thread Players frequently engage in lengthy discussions about the performance of different military vehicles, which has occasionally prompted some to share actual military documents in an attempt to "correct" the representation of vehicles, as quoted in a report by UK Defence Journal. The community manager for War Thunder verified that the document violated the forum's guidelines and was promptly deleted, as per the report. The use of any export-controlled, classified, or otherwise restricted documentation is strictly prohibited by the developer's policy. The community manager reaffirmed that regardless of the purpose of the post, no such content is allowed on the company's platforms and that these guidelines are strictly enforced. What does 'Distribution Statement C' mean? A portion of a NATOPS handbook for the US Navy and Marine Corps' AV-8B and TAV-8B Harrier was uploaded by a user in the most recent instance. The handbook is designated "Distribution Statement C," indicating that only authorized U.S. government employees and contractors may use it and that it has not been authorized for public release. An anonymous former RAF engineer told the UK Defence Journal, "It's unlikely that this is the largest leak ever. There are online manuals available, particularly the older ones. However, War Thunder and other platforms must take action if it is marked as restricted or controlled. Even if the documents are widely disseminated informally or are accessible online, export control laws still apply. Regardless of how "outdated" the content is, violations of Distribution Statement C, ITAR, and other national security frameworks may lead to legal action. Will Gaijin change its policy? According to Gaijin Entertainment, the creation of in-game vehicles is never influenced by such content. Developers have consistently dissuaded users from submitting or discussing restricted material and only use legally accessible, publicly available sources to modify vehicle performance. War Thunder's rules, which forbid posting restricted or export-controlled content, could result in this being removed and banned. Even if the document is leaked or posted on a file-sharing website, its legal status is unaffected, despite some fans doubting the restriction's gravity. FAQs Why was the Harrier manual removed from the forum? It was labeled "Distribution Statement C," which makes it legally restricted and violates forum rules. Is this the first leak for War Thunder? No, this is at least the ninth instance in which restricted documents were posted by players.
Economic Times
23-06-2025
- Economic Times
War Thunder forums hit again as players leak classified military data in another online mishap
A War Thunder player has once again blurred the boundaries between gaming and military intelligence. The popular combat simulator is dealing with another leak of restricted documents, this time from an AV-8B Harrier manual, for the ninth time.A War Thunder user was banned for posting pages from the restricted AV-8B Harrier flight manual. The leak, labeled "Distribution Statement C," adds to a growing list of incidents in which classified or export-restricted military documents appeared in forums, forcing developers to remove posts and enforce strict rules, as per a report by UK Defence Journal. Due to its legal limitations, the AV-8B Harrier handbook that was posted on the War Thunder forum is a controversial topic. Gaijin Entertainment created the free-to-play combat simulation game War Thunder, which depicts air, land, and naval combat from several historical periods. A sizable community of military enthusiasts, including active and retired service members, is drawn to the game because of its realism and meticulous attention to technical detail. ALSO READ: Iran strikes US base in Qatar, Saudi airspace closed — WWE Night of Champions now hanging by a thread Players frequently engage in lengthy discussions about the performance of different military vehicles, which has occasionally prompted some to share actual military documents in an attempt to "correct" the representation of vehicles, as quoted in a report by UK Defence community manager for War Thunder verified that the document violated the forum's guidelines and was promptly deleted, as per the use of any export-controlled, classified, or otherwise restricted documentation is strictly prohibited by the developer's policy. The community manager reaffirmed that regardless of the purpose of the post, no such content is allowed on the company's platforms and that these guidelines are strictly enforced.A portion of a NATOPS handbook for the US Navy and Marine Corps' AV-8B and TAV-8B Harrier was uploaded by a user in the most recent instance. The handbook is designated "Distribution Statement C," indicating that only authorized U.S. government employees and contractors may use it and that it has not been authorized for public release. An anonymous former RAF engineer told the UK Defence Journal, "It's unlikely that this is the largest leak ever. There are online manuals available, particularly the older ones. However, War Thunder and other platforms must take action if it is marked as restricted or if the documents are widely disseminated informally or are accessible online, export control laws still apply. Regardless of how "outdated" the content is, violations of Distribution Statement C, ITAR, and other national security frameworks may lead to legal to Gaijin Entertainment, the creation of in-game vehicles is never influenced by such content. Developers have consistently dissuaded users from submitting or discussing restricted material and only use legally accessible, publicly available sources to modify vehicle Thunder's rules, which forbid posting restricted or export-controlled content, could result in this being removed and banned. Even if the document is leaked or posted on a file-sharing website, its legal status is unaffected, despite some fans doubting the restriction's gravity. Why was the Harrier manual removed from the forum?It was labeled "Distribution Statement C," which makes it legally restricted and violates forum rules. Is this the first leak for War Thunder? No, this is at least the ninth instance in which restricted documents were posted by players.
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
The Marine Corps' oldest flying squadron flew its last Harrier jump jet flight as the unit's pilots ready to fly new F-35 stealth fighters
The Marines will rebrand a squadron as pilots switch to the F-35B Lightning II. The transition from the AV-8B Harrier to the F-35B is part of modernization. The change is part of service-wide plans to enhance capabilities for modern Pacific warfare. The Marine Corps will soon rebrand a storied aviation squadron as its pilots switch to a new jet designed for next-level warfare. Amid ongoing changes to the Corps, the North Carolina-based Marine Attack Squadron 231 will be renamed "Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 231." The squadron, identified as the service's oldest flying squadron, was formed just after World War I, and it adopted the Harrier jump jet in the mid-1980s. With VMA-231's rebranding, the unit's pilots will no longer fly the AV-8B Harrier, an aircraft known for its short and vertical take-off and landing capabilities. The Corps is doing away with the plane, preferring the new fifth-generation F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters. Marines fly the stealth jet's B variant built for short runways and big-deck amphibious assault ships. VMA-231, known as the "Ace of Spades," will be deactivated later this year and then reactivated as VMFA-231 in the next fiscal year. The aviation unit completed its last Harrier flight last Thursday at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, according to a news release out Monday. "Everybody knows that VMA-231 is transitioning to F-35s," said the unit's commanding officer, Lt. Col. Paul Truog, stressing that the final Harrier flight was not a "sad day" and asserting that "the Wing, the [Marine Aircraft Group], and the squadron are going to be more capable of responding to any crisis." The Corps has already phased out training for the aviation mechanics responsible for Harrier engine maintenance and for Harrier pilots amid the push to field fifth-generation fighters. In previous discussions with BI, Marine pilots have characterized the newer F-35 as a game-changing capability. The changes come as the Corps remains deep in its transformation, a process to move from fielding a force built to fight counterinsurgencies to one made for modern warfare in the Pacific. It's a shift made all the more difficult by major logistical hurdles in the region and fast changing battlefields being radically shaped by AI and drone technology. Along with the Harrier, the Corps has put F/A-18 Hornets on the chopping block to make way for the F-35. The Hornet made up over half of the Corps' tactical air capabilities in 2022, according to and has been a go-to aircraft for the Marines and the Navy for both offensive and defensive needs. But there's a growing recognition that future fights could demand next-generation capabilities. In its statement on changes to VMA-231, the Marine Corps said "the squadron's transition from the legacy AV-8B Harrier II to the F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter is representative of 2nd MAW's ongoing modernization efforts to meet the needs of the future fight," referring to the 2nd Marine Air Wing. The Corps' "Force Design" plans, announced in 2020 amid much controversy, has already seen the service scrap its scout sniper program and tanks in an all-out effort to shed any capability deemed less urgent for the Pacific, and it has also rolled out new units in Hawaii and Japan specially formed for fighting along the Pacific's formidable island chains. Read the original article on Business Insider
