1CGS Unveils Extended Support for Il-2 Sturmovik as Korea Hits Steam

All callsigns on this frequency, standby for Il-2 news. As spring rolls over and the snow starts to melt, 1CGS has unveiled its roadmap for 2026, and it is good news for Il-2 Sturmovik owners.

The year is naturally dominated by the upcoming release of Il-2 Korea, scheduled for Q2 2026, but the roadmap makes it clear that the World War 2 flight sim, Il-2 Sturmovik, still has plenty of room to grow over a decade after its release.

From 1941 to 1945

According to the 1CGS roadmap, the year should have at least three new aircraft and the full release of the Siege and Liberation package.

Released into early access last year, Siege of Liberation covers World War 2 in Odessa and Leningrad (modern-day St. Petersburg). Pilot careers are an integral part of this, as with previous expansions, and this year promises to consolidate that.

This year should see the expansion of the early war campaigns for both maps and the addition of an all-new late war career for the Leningrad map. The new career periods are as follows:

• Defense of Odessa: June 22nd to October 16th, 1941
• Leningrad Blockade: September 6th, 1941, to April 30th, 1942
• Odessa 1944: April 5th to August 24th, 1944
• Leningrad 1944 (all-new): January 14th to September 4th, 1944

The initial deployment of the extended campaigns should come in Q2, with the final release planned for Q3.

On top of that, there are three new aircraft releases planned as DLC.

P-39Q Airacobra

Arguably, the most historically important addition for the latest Il-2 Sturmovik expansion is the P-39Q. This is the definitive version of the Airacobra fighter, which earned a stellar reputation in Soviet hands despite an abortive start with American and British air forces.

The P-39Q came to replace most earlier models in frontline Soviet service in 1944, and featured prominently in both the Leningrad and Odessa fronts in 1944. This variant replaced the four .30 machine guns with two podded .50 machine guns, for a total of four. These were frequently removed in Soviet service to reduce drag.

P-47M Thunderbolt

For the late war on the Western Front, the USAAF will gain access to the P-47M. This was the last variant of the Jug to make its debut in Europe, with deliveries starting in late 1944.

Albeit externally similar to late P-47D models, the P-47M stands out for being the only Allied aircraft that could reliably keep up with the German Me-262 jet fighter. The combination of an upgraded version of the R-2800 engine, a new wide-blade prop, and an improved supercharger, the P-47M could hit 500 mph in level flight.

B-26 Marauder

For those who like to take it slow, the roadmap mentions new flyable bombers, but it falls short of calling them by name. The photos don't lie, however: we are talking about the B-26 Marauder.

While the much larger B-17 and B-24 got all the glory, the B-26 was the most accurate bomber in the US inventory at the time. The Marauder banked on its speed and survivability to strike from medium altitudes, meaning a much smaller force could match or even surpass the effects on target obtained by your usual massed strategic raid.

Exploring The 38th Parallel

As history taught us, after World War 2 comes Korea. The first simulator in decades to be set in the Forgotten War is scheduled to release in Q2 2026.

The simulator's Steam page has finally gone live, though pre-orders are still only available on the site.

1CGS has also teased an expansion for Korea, though the full details will be disclosed around the game's early access launch.

According to producer Daniil Tuseev, the first DLC is scheduled to hit early access in Q3 2026, reaching full release by the year's end. The DLC will be available for purchase separately or as part of the Founders Edition, and is set to contain five additional aircraft, plus undisclosed gameplay features.

If I were a betting man, I'd say this sounds like carrier aircraft are on the way, considering how big a role naval aviation played in the Korean War. While we wait for clarification, this is your friendly reminder to go watch The Bridges at Toko-Ri for some gorgeous aviation footage.