USSR Air Tree Order: What to Research First in War Thunder

The USSR aviation tree is the dogfighter’s tree — nimble Yaks and Lavochkins, the legendary Il-2 attacker, and a jet line that runs straight into the MiG-15. Its identity is maneuverability and raw firepower, and it rewards players who fight close. This guide gives the actual lines worth rushing and how each plane flies.

Soviet props ask you to fight low and turn hard, the opposite of a boom-and-zoom tree. The air first lineup guide covers the general progression; the nation pick guide explains what you give up by choosing this style.

The starter that teaches the style

Your first real trainer is the Yak-1 (Rank I–II). It is balanced, climbs acceptably, and turns well enough to teach the Soviet close-fight. Avoid sinking early RP into the LaGG-3 — it is a heavy, wooden airframe with poor performance that only makes sense later. The I-16 monoplane before it turns tightly at low speed but is fragile and outclassed quickly; fly it for fun, don’t build around it.

The lines worth rushing (with the planes in them)

• Yak line (Yak-1 → Yak-3 → Yak-9) — the nimble, well-rounded dogfighters. The Yak-3 is an excellent low-altitude turner; the Yak-9 balances turn and firepower. Natural first line and a great teacher of close fighting.
• La line (La-5 → La-7) — harder-hitting and faster than the Yaks, slightly less turn. If you want punch with your maneuverability, this is your branch.
• Il-2 attacker — the iconic armoured ground-attack plane. If you want CAS, the Il-2 line is a must and a tree of its own. Its rear armour lets it survive passes other attackers would not.
• MiG line (MiG-3 prop → MiG-15 jet) — the MiG-3 is a high-altitude interceptor that plays differently (climb and boom); the MiG-15 culminates the jet branch with heavy 23 mm and 37 mm cannon and is a formidable energy fighter.

Research priority order

1. Yak-1, then Yak-3 — your trainer and your dogfight teacher.
2. Next mark in that line — USSR’s successive fighters are genuine improvements.
3. Il-2 if you want CAS — a separate but valuable branch for ground-pounding.
4. A premium at your target BR — shortens the entire climb. See how the economy works.
5. The MiG-15 once props are solid — your first jet.

Traps

• USSR planes turn well but are often fragile — don’t trade blows you would win in a heavier tree. The Germany tree trades turn for ruggedness if that suits you. The trade-offs between nations are laid out in the nation choice guide.
• Don’t neglect a balanced lineup — a lone fighter with no second spawn support is a quick death. Watch your battle rating spread.

The authoritative sequence lives in the in-game tech tree; patches reshuffle it. The point is: ride the Yak or La line, add the Il-2 for CAS if you want it, and finish at the MiG-15 — not to memorise a list.