Squad’s version 10.0 update just fundamentally changed how the 100-player tactical shooter works. Trident Strike launched November 12, 2025, adding the Armed Forces of Ukraine as a fully playable conventional faction with modern equipment, dozens of new weapons and vehicles, and gameplay mechanics that never existed before. The highlight is the Stugna-P, a remote-controlled anti-tank guided missile system that lets you fire from cover using a separate control tablet, completely changing how armor engagements work.
This is Offworld Industries’ most ambitious content drop since Squad launched in 2020. The Armed Forces of Ukraine joins other Blufor factions like the US, Canada, and Britain, bringing distinctive equipment blending Ukrainian engineering with modernized Soviet designs. But beyond the new faction, version 10 includes crucial gameplay balancing that addresses long-standing complaints about overpowered scout drones, unstable vehicle physics, and dozens of bugs that have plagued the game for months.
The Armed Forces of Ukraine Arsenal
The AFU faction brings an arsenal that feels distinctly different from other Blufor forces. The primary rifle is the Malyuk, a Ukrainian bullpup design chambered in multiple calibers including 5.45×39, 7.62×39, and 5.56×45 NATO. This gives the faction versatility across different engagement ranges, though bullpup handling in Squad comes with the characteristic horizontal recoil that makes them challenging to control during sustained fire.
Raider kits can choose between the AK-74 with GP-25 grenade launcher or the Fort-221 pistol for close-quarters work. Auto riflemen get the PKM machine gun, arguably one of the better platforms in Squad with excellent sustained firepower. The UR-10 serves as the designated marksman rifle, bridging the gap between standard infantry weapons and dedicated sniper systems with precision at range.
For anti-tank work, the AFU fields both old and new. Light anti-tank gets the C90CR disposable launcher, while heavy AT can choose between the classic RPG-7 with tandem warheads or the modern NLAW guided missile. That flexibility lets squads adapt loadouts based on whether they’re facing infantry fighting vehicles or main battle tanks.
Commanders receive new toys including precision bomb strikes calling in SU-25 jets to drop FAB-250 bombs, UAV reconnaissance drones, and both static and creeping 152mm artillery barrages. These commander abilities give Ukrainian forces serious firepower projection that can shape entire battlefields.
The Stugna-P Changes Everything
Here’s the game-changer. The Stugna-P ATGM emplacement is the first remote-controlled anti-tank weapon in Squad. Unlike traditional TOW missiles where you sit exposed at the launcher during the entire 20-second flight, the Stugna-P uses a separate control tablet connected by cable to the actual launcher.
You set up the launcher facing the enemy, then retreat to cover with the tablet. When armor appears, you fire from complete safety behind a wall or in a trench while the missile streaks toward the target. You still need to guide it the entire flight, but you’re not sitting in the open waiting to get shot by coaxial machine guns or enemy infantry.
This fundamentally changes anti-tank gameplay. Current TOW systems force defenders to expose themselves during the most vulnerable moments when armor is actively hunting the launcher’s position. The Stugna-P eliminates that weakness, letting skilled ATGM operators dominate armor without the suicidal exposure that balanced previous systems.
The drawback is setup time and the cable limitation. You can’t just pack up and relocate instantly. The launcher needs proper placement with clear sightlines, and you need protected positions within cable distance for the operator. But that tactical puzzle is infinitely better than sitting exposed hoping the tank doesn’t see your TOW launch signature.
Vehicles Built for Combined Arms
The AFU vehicle roster reflects Ukraine’s real-world military makeup, mixing domestic designs with upgraded Soviet equipment. The KrAZ Fiona 6×6 serves as the workhorse logistics truck, delivering supplies and infantry to forward positions. It’s also the chassis for the fearsome BM-21 Grad rocket artillery system, giving the faction devastating indirect fire capabilities.
For protected transport, the Kozak-2 MRAP provides armored mobility for nine troops across two variants. One mounts an NSV 12.7mm heavy machine gun for long-range suppression and anti-materiel work. The other carries an AGS-17 automatic grenade launcher perfect for clearing cover and suppressing dug-in positions. Both give squads safe transport while providing immediate fire support upon arrival.
Tracked APCs include the classic MTLB reskinned for AFU service, along with BTR variants providing mobile firepower. These vehicles let AFU forces execute mechanized warfare doctrine, moving infantry rapidly while supporting them with vehicle weapons.
The faction feels distinctly Ukrainian rather than being a reskin of existing Blufor forces. The combination of modern domestic designs like the Kozak alongside upgraded Soviet equipment creates unique battlefield identity and tactical options.
Scout Drone Nerfs Everyone Wanted
Beyond the new faction, Trident Strike addresses one of Squad’s most controversial features: overpowered scout drones. These little reconnaissance UAVs could fly indefinitely at extreme altitudes with powerful zoom cameras, giving teams godlike vision of enemy movements with minimal counterplay.
Version 10 nerfs drones hard. Reduced maximum flight ceiling means you can’t hover at 500 meters where nobody can see or hear you. Reduced max speed limits how quickly you can scout across the map. Reduced battery life forces more frequent returns to base for recharging. And reduced camera magnification prevents pinpoint identification of enemy positions from safety.
The update also fixed the hilarious exploit where drones could flip or destroy vehicles by deliberately crashing into them. Collision changes ensure drones don’t survive impacts with vehicles or helicopters, preventing kamikaze attacks on armor.
These changes won’t eliminate drone utility, they remain valuable reconnaissance tools, but they prevent the oppressive information dominance that made coordinated drone use feel unfair. Teams will need to use drones tactically rather than just permanently parking them over objectives.
Vehicle Physics Finally Improved
Anyone who’s played Squad knows vehicles have been hilariously unstable. Hitting small bumps at moderate speed could send trucks flipping end over end. Technical vehicles died constantly from normal terrain navigation. The CPV and various technicals especially suffered from hair-trigger physics that made driving them actively dangerous.
Trident Strike improves vehicle tuning across the board. All vehicles received better brake and handbrake physics. The CPV and technicals specifically got reduced flip chance during normal maneuvering. These changes won’t eliminate vehicle deaths from reckless driving, but they should prevent the frustrating flips that happened despite careful play.
The update also fixes various vehicle-specific issues like overly bright viewports, broken collision detection, and inconsistent handling. Driving still requires skill and caution, but vehicles should feel more predictable and less prone to random catastrophic failures.
Quality of Life and Menu Overhaul
The new Armory replaces Squad’s old customization menu with a significantly improved system. You can now preview and inspect weapons from any faction with better UI and enhanced visuals. The store page received similar cleanup making cosmetic purchases and navigation clearer.
Training menus got updated layouts that help new players learn Squad’s complex systems more easily. For a game notorious for brutal learning curves where new players get yelled at constantly, anything improving tutorials and education helps retain newcomers.
New emotes and gestures add personality during downtime. Shadow boxing, brick breaker, coin flip, throw and catch, and mug salute give players ways to express themselves between engagements. These small touches don’t affect gameplay but add character to moments waiting for action.
The Bug Fix Mountain
Version 10 includes dozens of fixes addressing everything from crashes to exploits to audio issues. Crashes when returning to main menu are gone. Fall damage exploits fixed. Smoke disappearing randomly eliminated. Scope tint issues, reticle brightness problems, and stretched rally point icons all corrected.
One interesting fix changes team switching behavior. Previously, if you spawned and then team-switched when teams were unbalanced, you died immediately. Version 10 removes that death penalty, treating unbalanced team switches more forgivingly. This improves player experience by not punishing people trying to balance teams with harsh respawn timers.
Multiple rifles including the AK-74U, C7, C8, and AK-12 received updated firing sounds. The BRDM-2 scout car now has a fully modeled interior. Improved impact audio for 30mm HE rounds makes explosions more satisfying. Updated faction voice lines and dozens of sound, texture, and physics corrections polish the overall experience.
New Maps and Layers
Trident Strike adds two new invasion layers, one for Black Coast and another for Gorodok. These layers provide fresh tactical scenarios on existing maps, giving veterans new challenges without requiring entirely new terrain.
The update also returns greenery to Yehorivka, addressing complaints that the map felt visually dated compared to Squad’s evolved graphics. Environmental improvements across multiple maps ensure visual consistency matches modern standards.
Community Reception and Criticism
Reddit reactions reveal mixed feelings about Trident Strike. The most upvoted comment on the patch notes thread says people skipped straight past the new faction details to the bugs and fixes section, highlighting that technical improvements matter more to many players than content additions.
One highly rated comment requests just five more FPS, enhanced vehicle dynamics, and upgraded lighting, suggesting performance optimization remains the community’s top priority. Another notes memory utilization improvements on heavily forested maps might provide marginal framerate gains.
The scout drone nerfs received positive reception, though questions remain whether the rebalancing goes far enough to prevent coordinated teams from dominating through reconnaissance. And players continue requesting fixes for Insurgency mode, which hasn’t received significant attention in recent updates.
Overall, Trident Strike represents exactly what Squad needed: substantial new content paired with critical technical fixes addressing long-standing complaints. Whether the improvements satisfy players long-term depends on continued support and iteration based on community feedback.
FAQs
When did Squad 10.0 Trident Strike release?
Squad version 10.0 Trident Strike launched November 12, 2025, for PC via Steam. The update is free for all existing Squad owners.
What is the Armed Forces of Ukraine faction?
The AFU is Squad’s newest conventional Blufor faction featuring Ukrainian military equipment including the Malyuk bullpup rifle, PKM machine gun, UR-10 marksman rifle, NLAW and RPG-7 anti-tank weapons, and unique vehicles like the Kozak-2 MRAP and KrAZ Fiona logistics trucks.
How does the Stugna-P ATGM work?
The Stugna-P is Squad’s first remote-controlled anti-tank missile. You place the launcher, then retreat to cover with a separate control tablet connected by cable. You fire and guide missiles from safety rather than sitting exposed at the launcher during flight.
What changed with scout drones in version 10?
Scout drones received significant nerfs including reduced flight ceiling, reduced maximum speed, reduced battery life, and reduced camera magnification. Collision exploits letting drones flip vehicles were also fixed.
Did vehicle physics improve?
Yes, all vehicles received improved brake and handbrake tuning. CPV and technical vehicles specifically got reduced flip chance during normal maneuvering, addressing the unstable physics that caused frequent rollover deaths.
Is Squad 10.0 a free update?
Yes, Trident Strike is completely free for all Squad owners. The update includes the new faction, vehicles, weapons, maps, and all bug fixes at no additional cost.
Can the AFU fight against other factions?
Yes, as a conventional Blufor faction, the AFU can fight alongside or against other forces depending on server configuration and game mode. They work with NATO factions against OPFOR forces in most scenarios.
Conclusion
Squad 10.0 Trident Strike delivers exactly what the tactical shooter community needed: meaningful new content paired with crucial technical improvements addressing long-standing frustrations. The Armed Forces of Ukraine faction brings distinctive equipment and unique battlefield identity beyond simple reskins. The Stugna-P remote ATGM introduces genuinely innovative gameplay that changes anti-armor tactics. And the massive list of bug fixes, physics improvements, and balance changes polish Squad into a more refined experience.
Whether you’re a veteran returning after months away or a new player intimidated by Squad’s notorious learning curve, version 10 represents a fresh starting point. The improved training menus help newcomers learn complex systems. The drone nerfs reduce frustration from oppressive reconnaissance. The vehicle physics fixes make logistics and transport less randomly catastrophic. And the new faction provides fresh tactical challenges for players who’ve mastered existing forces.
Offworld Industries clearly listened to community feedback about what Squad needed most. Rather than just adding content for the sake of content, Trident Strike addresses fundamental issues while expanding the game’s scope. That balance between new features and technical refinement is what separates good updates from great ones.
For anyone on the fence about jumping into Squad or returning after a break, November 12 marks an excellent entry point. The game has never been more polished, the player base is active and engaged with new content, and the Ukrainian faction offers compelling reasons to learn or relearn Squad’s demanding but rewarding tactical gameplay. Just remember: the Stugna-P might let you fire from cover, but you still need to guide that missile for 20 seconds without panicking. Some things never change.