The Daily Populous Tuesday June 24th, 2025 day edition
Authored by ukdefencejournal.org.uk and submitted by paximperia

A player of the popular online military simulator War Thunder has been banned from the game’s official forums after sharing a page from a restricted AV-8B Harrier flight manual. The incident marks at least the ninth known case in which classified or export-controlled material has been posted by users attempting to influence in-game accuracy.

War Thunder, developed by Gaijin Entertainment, is a free-to-play combat simulation game featuring air, land, and naval warfare from multiple eras. Renowned for its realism and attention to technical detail, the game attracts a large community of military enthusiasts, including current and former service personnel. Players often debate the performance of various military vehicles in great depth, which has occasionally led some to share real-world military documents in an effort to “correct” how vehicles are represented.

In this latest case, a user uploaded a section from a NATOPS manual for the AV-8B and TAV-8B Harrier, used by the United States Navy and Marine Corps. The manual is marked “Distribution Statement C,” which means it is not approved for public release and is restricted to authorised U.S. government personnel and contractors. War Thunder’s community manager confirmed the document breached the forum’s rules and was removed immediately. The user received a temporary ban.

The developer has a strict policy against the use of any classified, export-controlled, or otherwise restricted documentation. The community manager reiterated that no such material is tolerated on the company’s platforms and that these rules are enforced regardless of the intent behind the post.

This is the latest in a growing list of similar incidents. Previous leaks involved documentation for the UK’s Challenger 2 main battle tank, France’s Leclerc, China’s ZTZ-99, the Eurocopter Tiger, and several U.S. aircraft including the F-16, F-15E, F-117, and most recently, the Eurofighter Typhoon. Each case followed a similar pattern: a user attempted to support a technical argument by uploading documents that were either classified or export restricted. Each time, moderators deleted the posts and sanctioned the accounts involved.

A former RAF engineer, speaking to the UK Defence Journal on condition of anonymity, explained:

“This probably isn’t the biggest leak ever, not at all. These kinds of manuals float around online, especially older ones. But that doesn’t change the fact that if it’s marked as controlled or restricted, platforms like War Thunder have no choice but to take action.”

Even if the documents are widely circulated in unofficial circles or available through questionable means online, their legal status under export control regulations remains binding. Distribution Statement C, ITAR rules, and other national security frameworks still apply, and violations can carry legal consequences regardless of how “outdated” the material may appear.

Gaijin Entertainment has made it clear that such material is never used to influence the development of in-game vehicles. Developers rely only on publicly available, legally accessible sources when adjusting vehicle performance, and have repeatedly discouraged users from attempting to submit or discuss restricted material.

While the War Thunder community thrives on technical debate and military accuracy, this latest case once again illustrates the risks of blurring the line between open-source discussion and protected information.

Why are people saying the information is classified?

Some players are claiming the document is classified, while others insist it’s not. The confusion comes from the fact that the AV-8B Harrier manual posted on the War Thunder forum isn’t marked “Classified” in the top-secret or confidential sense, but it is still legally restricted.

The manual carries a label called “Distribution Statement C,” a designation used by the U.S. Department of Defense. This means the document is intended only for use by U.S. government agencies and authorised contractors. It cannot be legally shared with the public. That alone is enough to trigger a removal and ban under War Thunder’s rules, which explicitly prohibit posting any content that is restricted or export-controlled.

Some fans point out that these manuals are already floating around online and question how serious the restriction really is. But the legal status of the document doesn’t change just because it’s been leaked or appears on a file-sharing site. The label “Distribution Statement C” still carries legal weight under U.S. export control laws like ITAR, and platforms like War Thunder are obligated to enforce those restrictions.

So when people say it’s “classified,” what they often mean is that it’s not cleared for public release, even if the actual classification level is technically lower than secret or top secret.