Most of us had suspected that the next update for IL-2: Battle of Kuban would land sometime next week at the earliest, however, Update 2.008 was released today and it brings with it a series of updates, two new aircraft, and one major modification to another aircraft. It’s a lot to take in!

New aircraft

Update 2.008 brings with it two new aircraft in the form of the FW190A-5 and the He111H-16. Both of these are variants of pre-existing aircraft (the He111H-6 and FW190A-3), however, they bring with them a significant set of changes to their armaments and performance that make them well suited to being a part of the Battle of Kuban scenario.

The FW190A-5 is both fighter and fighter-bomber (a “Jabo”) and it comes with a wider variety of air-to-ground ordinance and gunpods that the A-3 model doesn’t have. It also has a new engine boost option (up to 1.65ATA) for low level fighter-bomber high speed dashes.

FW190A-5/U17 dropping a string of bombs

A FW190A-5 in U17 fighter-bomber configuration

A “stock” FW190A-5

Another view of that MG151/20 gunpodded 190

The FW190A-5 with six forward firing cannons (and two machine guns)

Conventional loadout with optional MG-FF/M cannons in the wings

The He111H-16 is a later modification of the Heinkel bomber series. A bigger payload than the H-6, more powerful engines, and more potent defensive firepower are the highlights of this aircraft.

The He111H-16 looks very similar on the outside

The rear firing MG131 heavy machine gun station

The view out the front

The ventral turret has a MG81Z installation with belt feed

Also “new” is a engine modification for the La-5 Series 8 Collector Plane. The M-82F engine brings with it higher tolerances and was able to run at high boost (at low altitude) for an unlimited amount of time instead of the 5 minute limit of the M-82 engine that we’re familiar with La-5.

This effectively makes the La-5 with M-82F engine a very early La-5F. Visually the aircraft is essentially identical but its low altitude power is enhanced. Some have questioned if this was a historical loadout and the answer is… Yes. Early La-5F models or late La-5 models were retrofitted with the new engine at roughly the same time.

The mark of a boosted M-82F La-5

The La-5 with a M-82F engine

Update highlights

• FW190A-5 and He111H-16 added for Battle of Kuban owners
• La-5 with M-82F and an unlimited engine boost time
• New missions created by community members Juri_JS and Coconut
• Bf110G-2 gun damage bug corrected
• AI updates including taxiing corrections, ground attack updates, and the AI being less likely to fixate on the players aircraft

The full list of updates is available on the IL-2 forums.

EDIT: February 28 at 11:45 pm with new screen shots