Broken Arrow July 2026 Update: Complete Patch Notes Explained, Balance Changes & PTE Merge

Broken Arrow July 2026 Update: Everything You Need to Know

After more than three months of testing in the Private Test Environment (PTE), Steel Balalaika has officially released one of the biggest Broken Arrow updates since launch. The long-awaited July 2026 patch merges the experimental PTE branch with the live version, introducing massive gameplay improvements, balance adjustments, technical optimizations, and quality-of-life features.

Rather than simply replacing one version with another, the developers selected the most successful features from both builds to create a single unified experience for the entire community.

If you've been waiting for the perfect moment to return to Broken Arrow, this is arguably the most significant update the game has received.

Why the PTE Was Finally Merged

Originally expected to last only a few weeks, the Private Test Environment expanded into a three-month balancing project.

During that time, the community became divided between players who preferred the experimental version and those who remained on the stable release.

Steel Balalaika decided maintaining two separate versions was hurting multiplayer activity and making future development more difficult.

The July 2026 update reunifies every player under one version while preserving the best improvements from the PTE.

Major Gameplay Changes

This update focuses on improving nearly every aspect of combat.

Economy

One of the most impactful changes is the reduction of multiplayer upkeep.

Upkeep reduced from 6% to 5%

Larger armies remain active longer

More dynamic battles

Less effectiveness from sacrificial unit spam

Friendly units destroyed intentionally now also count toward destruction score, preventing players from denying points by eliminating their own vehicles.

Aircraft and Air Defense Overhaul

Air combat has been completely redesigned.

The developers wanted to:

Reduce constant airstrike spam

Make fighters more valuable

Improve anti-air reliability

Eliminate frustrating missile overkill

Key improvements include:

Smarter missile interception logic

Improved SAM targeting priorities

Better SHORAD missile interception

Instant air-to-air missile launch

Reduced SAM engagement ranges for balance

Aircraft now carry twice as many flares

Bombers require longer turnaround times

CAS aircraft automatically fire guns and rockets

Overall, aircraft remain powerful but require much better planning than before.

Tank Combat Is Deadlier

Modern tanks become significantly more lethal.

Major gun damage increases include:

Weapon Old Damage New Damage

120mm APFSDS 6 8

125mm APFSDS 6 8

105mm APFSDS 5.5 7

100mm AP 5 6

The result is that many armored vehicles now die in only two direct hits instead of three.

This dramatically changes armored engagements and increases the importance of positioning.

Infantry Improvements

Infantry players will immediately notice reduced micromanagement.

New improvements include:

Machine guns work while moving

Infantry heal inside transports

Armored vehicles slowly resupply nearby troops

Healing costs reduced by 50%

Faster resupply workflow

Better transport command queuing

The stress system has also been redesigned so suppressed infantry become less effective instead of unexpectedly harder to kill.

Helicopter Buffs

Transport helicopters become much more practical.

The biggest change allows infantry to survive certain low-altitude helicopter crashes.

Additional improvements include:

New low-altitude indicator

Faster ATGM aiming

Better helicopter balance

Adjusted Little Bird pricing

These changes encourage more aggressive helicopter deployments throughout an entire match instead of only during the opening minutes.

Artillery Rebalance

Artillery remains deadly but becomes a much more limited resource.

Howitzers, MLRS systems and ballistic missiles now require much longer to reload and return after use.

Instead of lowering their damage, Steel Balalaika reduced how frequently they can be fired.

This rewards careful target selection over constant bombardment.

Russian Faction Buffs

Developer statistics showed Russia underperforming compared to the United States.

To address that, numerous improvements were introduced.

Highlights include:

More T-72 availability

Faster T-14 reload

Better BMP-1 range

Infantry balance improvements

Air defense adjustments

Multiple cost reductions

These buffs aim to improve win rates while preserving each faction's unique playstyle.

Baltic Battalion Receives Major Improvements

The Baltic Battalion specialization also received significant attention.

Important buffs include:

Stronger Leopard 2A8 ammunition

Cheaper Vilkas IFV

Reduced Javelin and Spike team costs

Better CV9035 upgrades

Improved infantry equipment

Multiple quality-of-life fixes

The specialization should now be considerably more competitive without becoming overpowered.

Technical Improvements

Besides gameplay changes, the update introduces major engine optimizations.

Players should experience:

Better multiplayer synchronization

Improved helicopter AI

Faster supply calculations

Lower CPU usage

Reduced memory garbage collection

Multiple crash fixes

Better network validation

Overall performance should be smoother during large multiplayer battles.

Final Verdict

The Broken Arrow July 2026 Update is much more than a balance patch.

It reshapes nearly every major gameplay system, including:

Economy

Aircraft

Air defense

Tanks

Infantry

Helicopters

Artillery

Reconnaissance

Multiplayer stability

Most importantly, it finally reunites the community after months of separate PTE and live builds.

For both veteran commanders and new players, this is the strongest version of Broken Arrow released so far.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Private Test Environment still available?

No. The July 2026 update merges the PTE changes into the main game, creating one unified version for all players.

What is the biggest gameplay change?

The complete overhaul of air combat and air defense, combined with increased tank lethality and reduced artillery spam, has the largest impact on multiplayer matches.

Was Russia buffed?

Yes. Multiple Russian vehicles, tanks, infantry units, and air-defense systems received improvements to close the win-rate gap with the US faction.

Did artillery get nerfed?

Artillery damage remains powerful, but ammunition replenishment and redeployment now take much longer, reducing how often artillery can be used.

Is this a good time to start playing Broken Arrow?

Absolutely. This update introduces major quality-of-life improvements, extensive balance changes, and reunites the player base under a single version, making it one of the best entry points since launch.

Broken Arrow July 2026 Update: Complete Patch Notes Explained, Balance Changes & PTE Merge

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