In a recurring security concern, sensitive documents related to the U.S. M2A2 Bradley Armored Infantry Fighting Vehicle surfaced on the War Thunder gaming forums. The detailed technical manual, while not classified, contained information considered sensitive by the military, including specifics on the vehicle's hatch, turret assembly, and spall liner assembly—data meant exclusively for the Department of Defense and its contractors.
The documents, initially shared on Reddit and Discord, were quickly removed from the War Thunder forums, said Anton Yudinstev, founder of the game's developer Gaijin Entertainment. The motivation behind this leak remains a mystery, with speculation rife in the gaming community.
War Thunder, a popular World War 2 MMO, has been no stranger to such incidents. In June 2022, a player, dissatisfied with the game's depiction of ammunition, uploaded a classified image and technical specifications of the DTC10-125 Tungsten Penetrator. This incident was not isolated, with previous leaks divulging classified details on the British Challenger 2 and French Leclerc main battle tanks.
U.S. M2A2 Bradley
These leaks raise questions about the intersection of highly realistic war gaming and actual military secrets, highlighting potential risks in the digital age where information flows freely across platforms with varying degrees of security.
Source: Task & Purpose