This decision stems from a deep dive into the tank's physical structure, specifically a new weld seam and weight budget analysis. While some players were hoping for a massive jump in kinetic protection, the developers noted that strict weight and space limitations on the existing hull make a total overhaul unlikely. Instead, the upcoming buff will be more modest, focusing primarily on improving resistance against shaped charge (HEAT) threats to align with documented survivability upgrades.
Perhaps more importantly for the high-tier meta, Gaijin is currently working on converting the entire Abrams family to the volumetric armor model. This isn't just a SEP V3 change; it's a fundamental shift in how War Thunder calculates hits across the hull and turret of all M1 variants. Volumetric armor removes many of the "pixel-hunting" weak spots found in older simplified models, potentially providing a universal survivability buff to the American top-tier lineup.
While we don't have a specific patch date for these armor values to go live, the confirmation that the SEP V3's protection is being actively addressed should be a relief for tankers feeling the sting of high-penetration rounds. The transition to volumetric modeling is a complex task, but it signals a commitment to more consistent and realistic damage modeling for one of the game's most iconic MBT families.
Soren