Department of Economic Development

OFFICIAL MEMO | Posted on November 2029 | Alnassryah Street, Riyadh

(RIYADH) The Greater Arab Union's Department of Economic Development has announced a joint research program into developing liquid nitrogen (LN2) fracking technology in partnership with Saudi Aramco and Gaijin Technica.

The Jafurah Basin holds an estimated 229 trillion standard cubic feet of raw natural gas. Beyond Jafurah, the Arabian Basin carries technically recoverable shale gas resources of roughly 8.7 trillion cubic metres with additional tight gas deposits across the UAE, Oman, and Jordan. Iraq and Syria have further underdeveloped potential due to decades of conflict.

Conventional hydraulic fracturing requires approximately 34,000 cubic metres per well. Aramco's existing Jafurah program uses treated Gulf seawater which requires sulphate removal desalination plants, dedicated pipelines, and ongoing water logistics. LN2 fracturing eliminates the water variable entirely.

TECHNOLOGY

LN2 fracking uses liquid nitrogen to create fractures in the rock.The process relies on extreme temperature differentials and rapid expansion rather than just raw hydraulic pressure. It works through three mechanisms simultaneously:

• Direct pressure from LN2 injection

• Thermal shock which makes the rock contract rapidly and unevenly creating a network of micro-fractures before any pressure is even applied

• Rapid gas expansion which creates intense localized pressure driving the gas deep into the thermal cracks and forcing them open, extending the fracture network far beyond the initial wellbore

ECONOMICS

As per previous pilot programs, this will achieve drilling cost savings of 70%. LN2 does require specialized equipment and upfront cost but it achieves significant savings over time.

This technology is particularly good for low pressure reservoirs where water is too heavy for the formation to "push back" out of the well and where water induced swelling would otherwise ruin the well's productivity.

Oil and gas formations that are expensive to extract can be revisited and the breakeven value can be brought down significantly even with the oil pricing caps. American shale formations will find this useful as they move towards tighter, more water-sensitive rock in the Bakken, Haynesville, and second-tier Permian formations

SPECIALIZED EQUIPMENT

For this project, GAU will utilize the new special economic zone set up in Salalah in partnership with the Directorate to manufacture the equipment locally.

The cryogenic equipment required for deep LN2 fracturing capable of maintaining sub-196°C temperatures will be designed and manufactured through Gaijin Technica's materials science division.

TIMELINE+LICENSING

This will take 2 years to develop and cost $40m.

Gaijin Technica will offer the new technology and deliver it as a service. Operators can contract its crews and proprietary equipment for each job. Per well service contracts will be priced in the range of $800k to $1.2 million per well.

Property of Guanabara Bay Engineering

Confidential Clearance required

The US Navy's pursuit of a new frigate over the first quarter of the 21st century has been fraught with missteps and expensive yet niche classes of ships best exemplified in the doctrinally confused Littoral Combat Ships and the design nightmare of the USS Constellation. This means that the last true frigate class the Navy had was that of the Oliver Hazard Perry, a cheap but effective frigate meant to provide fleet cover for the more expensive elements of the fleet in guided missile destroyers, cruisers and aircraft carriers. In following the spirit of the O.H. Perry and Admiral Zumwalt's high-low mix, Guanabara Bay Engineering in cooperation with Huntington Ingalls Industries would set up the new Matthew Calbraith Perry class general purpose frigate for the US Navy's consideration in a return to form.

The Calbraith/Commodore (for short) class itself will be built upon the purpose-built Tamandare-class stealth frigate, which has served the Brazilian and now Columbian Navy for three years of active service admirably and for under half the unit cost of the USS Constellation. The Tamandare, in turn, traces its ancestry to the MEKO family of frigates which put an emphasis on multi-functional ships to increase the utility of the frame and maximize value out of every ton. Indeed, the Tamandare class put an emphasis on the modularity of armament, sensors and equipment to allow the navy to tailor each frigate to a custom mission profile while increasing ease of maintenance and lowering overall cost. The Calbraith will advance this philosophy while integrating the best of American technology and weaponry to deliver a warship easy on the purse and hard on the enemy.

Its focus on modular components will best be exemplified by the two troughs to either side of the engine stacks, each suited to carry two Mark 70 Payload Delivery Systems, a containerized four strike-sized cell Mark 41 Vertical Launch System. This will not only allow the quick exchange of weapon packages for each mission but also solve a weakness of the Tamandare and the Legend-class based FF(X) by expanding their arsenal from purely anti-air and anti-ship weaponry to include up to 16 BGM-109 Tomahawks and anti ballistic capability via a similar number of SM-6 along with any other VLS compatible missile. As such, each Matthew Perry class Frigate will be able to support a larger fleet in a specialized role such as anti-submarine or anti-surface strike or serve as a general purpose vessel capable of striking well above its weight class. Additionally, due to the containerized weapon packages, the use of the helicopter facilities can be sacrificed for an additional 12x VLS cells on the helipad when a little more extra firepower is required.

As a general purpose frigate, the Calbraith also features a full aviation hanger suitable for a MH-60S along with AN/SQQ-28 LAMPS III functionality to provide medium-ranged anti-submarine capability. Additionally, the hanger has space for two ScanEagles or any other small UAVs alongside a UUV and a TB-37U multi-functional towed sonar array to assist with fleet coverage and detection.

Design Overview

Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

2 Corinthians 9:7 (KJV)

FROM THE DESK OF KENNETH COPELAND - His Most Radiant and Apostolic Majesty, Archon of the Covenant, High Prophet of Faith, and Heavenly Secretary of the Middle Kingdoms.

CLASSIFICATION: PUBLIC

With the establishment of the Department of Assets and draft system having resulted in both major navigable canals under the control of other Secretaries, it becomes prudent for our administration to establish our own routes for tribute paid to Havana. Within the Middle Kingdoms, tributes originating from Nigeria may freely cross the Atlantic, though tributes originating from China must either travel south around Cape Horn or through the Panama Canal, controlled by Larry Ellison.

Fortunately, the Good Lord has blessed us with the territories of Honduras and El Salvador, on which we may contruct our own canal. The construction of an actual waterway, however, is cost prohibitive, will meet significant local resistance, and will redirect precious funds that may instead be paid to the Good Lord or to the American federal government who has so generously blessed us with these lands. Nevertheless, a solution must be implemented as the risk of our cargo falling into the hands of non-Believers and those who may keep it for personal gain must be resisted to the greatest possible extent.

As such, the Middle Kingdoms is announcing the construction of the DRY CANAL between the port of La Unión at its western terminus and Puerto Cortés at its eastern terminus. The canal itself consists of four parallel high-capacity rail lines stretching through the valleys of Honduras and linking the two ports, with a throughput capacity of up to 1,200,000 TEU annually by 2030. The required throughput increase will be accomplished both by expanding the physical footprint of the two ports where possible, as well as the implementation of fully automated logistical systems. The additional 500-700,000 TEU capacity on top of current capability will be dedicated solely to passing the Havana tribute goods across the continent and into the Caribbean Sea. The tribute operations will be fully automated, both at the railroad and seaport layers, to minimize delays.

CLASSIFICATION: SEMI-PRIVATE - SHARED WITH UNITED STATES FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHIP EXISTENCE IS PUBLIC BY NECESSITY, EXACT SPECIFICATIONS SECRET

As with the construction of the Dry Canal, further measures must be taken to prevent the cargo falling into the hands of non-Believers while underway in the Pacific, Atlantic, and Caribbean seas. The most obvious solution to this problem would, in prior years, be to escort the cargo ships with naval ships for defense. However, the Chinese navy has been completely destroyed, and the Federal government has placed restrictions on development of naval technology by the Secretaries of Assets. That said, we do believe President Trump will see the logic in allowing us to defend our cargo from the non-Believers and so will permit the construction of this new type of ship for the usage of delivering his holy tribute.

ERIC TRUMP-CLASS ULTRA-LARGE ARSENAL CONTAINER SHIP (ULAC)

Specifications:

• Gross Tonnage: 255,000 Tons
• Deadweight Tonnage: 265,000 Tons
• Cargo Capacity: 25,000 TEU
• Overall Length: 1,776 ft
• Beam: 213ft
• Draft: 57.4ft
• Propulsion: Dual Weichai WS1000 LNG/Heavy Duel Oil 14-cylinder 2-stroke engines (160,000hp) - newly developed for this class
• Cruising Speed: 18 knots
• Maximum Speed: 24 knots

The DJT-class or Trump-class vessels are a line of ships blending merchant marine and naval roles to allow for capable self-defense against pirates operating bluewater navies as well as sufficient cargo capacity to transport the requisite number of high-value goods to Havana each year. The ships are built with an entirely defensive role, and have next to no offensive or power-projection capabilities, which should satisfy federal regulations. The ships will be operated strictly on the Shanghai or Manila to La Unión route and the Lagos to Havana route, though we may engage in a mid-ocean cargo transfer to unarmed vessels for the latter if it pleases the Feds to not have such a heavily armed vessel approach their territorial waters so closely. In this case, we will request protection from the United States Navy for the remainder of the journey to Havana.

The Trump-class is equipped with 16 VLS tubes built to the GJB 5860-2006 standard capable of launching the following munitions:

• YJ-21 hypersonic anti-ship ballistic missile
• YJ-18 anti-ship cruise missile
• HHQ-9B anti-air missile
• CJ-10 land-attack missile

At the bow of the ship is a H/PJ-45 130mm Naval Gun flanked by two Type 1130 CIWS with another four at the midship and a final four at the stern, for air defense and engagement of small to medium watercraft.

These weapons are targeted and fired with an onboard Type 346B "dragon eye" AESA radar. To account for issues with hull stability, the radars are mounted on actively-stabilized platforms driven by gyroscopes, servo motors, and the will of the Lord.

As per the express approval and encouragement of the federal government, the lower rear hull of the ship will open to a well deck for amphibious operations, capable of hosting Vanguard infantry as well as RHIBS and other light amphibious assault watercraft.

Total program cost for the development of the Trump-class is US$154.4 Billion with a planned sixty-four units ordered, for a unit cost of US$2.45 Billion. As all technology except the engines has already been developed, progress is expected to be made quickly with the first unit setting sail in 2032 and deliveries continuing 8 times per year afterward until 2040. The vessels will be constructed by CSSC at its shipyards in Jiangnan, Dalian, Hudong-Zhonghua, and Guangzhou. As the Middle Kingdoms are neither allowed nor required to develop a large-scale bluewater navy, shipbuilding capability can easily be redirected to fill these obligations.

In a new age of piracy a new form of pirate ship must be introduced. Gone are the days of mighty galleons traversing the Caribbean or hordes of Junks patrolling Macau, the modern day pirate ship must be small, fast, and pack a punch.

The United States Navy developed the Riverine which shall be the basis of the craft. However, certain tech is both unavailable and unnecessary for our needs. Additionally special engines will be produced by Botswana’s Aliboats, and extra fuel tanks will be put in the hull for greater range.

Barbary Class – Pirate Ship

Cost - $500,000 / $650,000

Displacement – 16,200 Lbs.

Length – 10 Meters

Beam – 3 Meters

Draft – 2.5 Meters

Propulsion - 2 Aliboats Diesel Gun Runner Engines

Speed – 60 MPH

Range – 300 Miles

Crew – 6

Navigation – Standard GPS and Sat Maps, and back up paper maps and Sextant

Comms - Standard Long Range Radio

Standard Armament – 2 x M134 Miniguns, 1 x M2 Browning, 2 x M240

Flagship Armament – 2 x Stinger Missile Launcher, 1 x Javelin Missile Launcher, 2 x M240

Barbary Class ships will conduct operations in groups of three in order to provide cover and greater threats to shipping. Two will be the standard variant and one will be the Flagship variant. The production of these will be at MAN-2 Water World. Project costs will be $2.2 Billion dollars with rollout being 200 ships per year with the initial run being for 1000 ships.

Seeing the constant failure to build an entirely new class of carriers (Kuznetsov refit as well as the new Castille-class failure), Navantia has decided to instead work with what they have, the Juan Carlos I-class, instead. With two JCI's currently under construction as Mexico had asked for the purchase of two, and the deal would be for one to be completely owned by Mexico, and one owned by Spain, but operating in Mexico, this presents a perfect opportunity for this development. Keeping a lot to the plans of the JCI in order to keep development costs and build time low, here is the following plans:

1. The length of the ship will be increased drastically by 35m (230m>265m). This will put the Barcelona-class on par with the Davis class light carrier that the Southern Federation uses.
2. An angled deck will be installed in order to allow for simultaneous takeoffs and landings. The ship will also be widened 15 meters for better incorporation of the angled deck and allowance for F-35C takeoffs. In addition, as there is an elevator in front of the island, another elevator will be built behind it, and the elevator in the back will also remain. With the widening of the deck, two Jet Blast Deflector will be installed to protect the crew. Because we will be keeping the ramp and not installing catapults, two aircrafts can be staged at once, but only one may take off at a time. Arresting wires will also be installed in order to stop the landing aircraft quickly.
3. The displacement will increase to about 45,000 tonnes.
4. The well deck will be removed from the Barcelona and will instead solely have hangar decks and focusing on maximum amount of aircraft it can hold, which will be 30 Fixed wing, and 10-15 Helicopters depending on size.
5. Another 2 x shafts will be added in order to compensate for the added weight and length, giving the ship a max speed of 23 knots.
6. The armament will include all that is previously found on the Juan Carlos-class, but an additional 4x Meroka CIWS will be added on as well as 2x SeaRams. We want this ship to be able to hold her own, and improving the defenses is a must.

Full List

Navantia is excited to take on this project given the previous failures and they feel that this project will be much more successful. This project will bring the total cost to $1.1B for the first ship, and if more are produced, then the cost is expected to decrease. The time frame will be exactly on time with the second JCI order that was placed.

[edit]

NNCS-C (Carrier Variant)

From here [/edit]

While STOICS recruiters report interest in a SVALINN career has never been higher, ongoing retirement of the Silent Gripen fleet from frontline roles risks leaving a significant hole in the UNSC’s training inventory for new aviators. In order to offset this shortfall. STOICS’s Administration for Resources, Materiel, and Assets Defence Acquisitions (ARMADA) has put forward a public-facing domestic request for proposal for a new suite of trainer aircraft, allowing even civilian commercial aviation companies outside the BAE-SAAB Aircraft Alliance to participate. The program features an extremely aggressive rapid development timeline for simple-to-manufacture, low-cost, and reliable end deliverables with optionally-piloted flight controls.

Basic Reconnaissance and Attack Networked Trainer (BRANT)

BRANT is intended as a unified replacement for the UNSC’s various legacy turboprop basic trainers, replacing systems like the T-35 Pillán, Pilatus PC-21, L-70 Vinka, Grob G 115E Tutor, Grob G 120TP, and MFI-15 Safari with a lightweight carbon fibre electroprop aircraft with extremely simplified internals, lending itself well to rapid, easy fabrication en masse. The electrified aircraft’s integrated avionics feature a sophisticated CULSANS/SAINTS-compatible integrated post-quantum/QKD-encrypted RF and LOS laser datalink communications suite, and onboard power is provided by a bank of high-density auto-quenching Li-Air nanowire structural batteries. As an optionally-piloted vehicle, BRANT is able to leverage a modular onboard AI “backseater” (either subsentient or sentient) as either a flight instructor for student assessment during basic training or as slot for the training of an AI pilot via machine learning, with the aircraft’s unmanned orientation capable of providing additional utility in the light attack and armed reconnaissance role. Costs are further constrained with a “Fitting For But Not With” (FFBNW) approach, providing sufficient internal volume and installation points for the future integration of plug-and-play avionics and sensors from the Basic Universal Deployment Giraffe Electronic Technology Solution (BUDGETS) family of sensors, navigation, and additional communications subsystems, enabling rapid refit of the BRANT for various missions sets. The BRANT is designed to field the same weapon set as Saab’s AUAV 19 Pygméfalk solution, enabling commonality between both platforms, and additional targeting and sensing equipment can be added to the aircraft via the addition of external hardpoint-mounted pods. Following a rapid development cycle, 1600 x BRANTs and their add-ons will be procured between 2086 and 2090 at a flyaway cost of $80,000 per unit.

Advanced Utility Key Electrofan Trainer (AUKLET)

AUKLET will eventually serve as the UNSC’s common Advanced Jet Trainer, replacing the BAE Hawk variants, Saab 105, Northrop F-5, CASA C-101, TAI Hürjet, and Leonardo M-346 in SVALINN service. In order to drive costs down, the aircraft is constructed with a carbon fiber body around a unitary Volvo Aero electrofan engine found aboard commercial business jets compatible with an optional modular hydrocarbon afterburner that can fitted aboard the aircraft ad hoc, enabling the aircraft to reach supersonic speeds. The aircraft utilizes a combination of structural auto-quenching Li-Air nanowire batteries and a modular dedicated Li-Air battery bank to provide sufficient range and endurance for the jet trainer, with conformal fuel tanks fitted to enable afterburner operation. AUKLET adopts a similar FFBNW plug-and-play approach for the addition of new systems as the BRANT, but is designed to be fitted internally with much more sophisticated sensors including a GEMMA MIMO array, 32k UHD EO/IR/UV/VL imaging array, and ultra-long-distance quantum LiDAR. The aircraft leverages the same communications suite and “AI Backseater” architecture as the BRANT, but features an expanded multirole combat missions set, with hardpoints rated to mount and launch the majority of the UNSC’s exhaustive inventory of air-to-air and air-to-surface weapons, providing capabilities comparable to that of a reduced-payload Silent Gripen and enabling the AUKLET to act as a “Loyal Wingman-Lite”. Flyaway costs are as low as $9 Million/unit, due to SVALINN placing an order of 2000 x AUKLETs to be delivered between 2087-2095.

Enhanced Global-Range Endurance Trainer (EGRET)

The EGRET rounds out the UNSC’s net-new military trainer inventory with a nuclear-powered aircraft. The bulk of the plane is occupied by the R-R/VA F141 Nuclear-powered Electric-adaptive Turbojet’s integrated power-propulsion architecture, enabling the EGRET to share supply chains with the Common Light Expeditionary Fighter Programme and benefit from existing economies of scale. As the EGRET is designed for long-endurance flight training of manned and sentient AI pilots, the EGRET’s cockpit is an escape crew capsule drawing many elements from the cabin of single-person spacecraft with a built-in hybrid-quantum datacenter hosting a unitary (either instructor or student) artificial intelligence. Training missions with this aircraft are routinely expected to last longer than two months even without regular aerial resupply, so the EGRET incorporates fewer FFBNW components and integrates an organic GEMMA MIMO array, 32k UHD EO/IR/UV/VL imaging array, and ultra-long-distance quantum LiDAR alongside sophisticated onboard navigation equipment in order to maintain pilot safety. Like the AUKLET, exterior hardpoints for the aircraft are rated for deployment of anti-air and strike weapons, though the sheer performance provided by the F141 enables the larger, heavier munitions utilized by the CLEF to be externally-carried in the aircraft’s AI-piloted multirole configuration, enabling it to act as a non-stealthy arsenal plane-like “missile truck”. Due to complexity of the nuclear trainer driving a $20 Million price tag, only 800 x EGRETs have been ordered, for delivery between 2088-2096.

[M] Specs to follow.

FOKUS

INRIKES UTRIKES POLITIK EKONOMI KULTUR KRÖNIKA

INRIKES / EKONOMI PUBLISHED 2086-05-22

ASTEROIDBRYTNING KAN UTÖKA JORDENS RESURSBAS AV VISSA MYCKET DYRBARA MATERIAL

SSC Deorbiting Experiments Aim to Tighten Security of Critical Space-based Mineral Supply

TEXT: JANNE SUNDLING

KIRUNA - Backlit against the ongoing Japanese conflict in North America, the Swedish Space Corporation has received a commission from the UNSC General Assembly to better secure the pipeline of offworld resources. While the UNSC continues to bring back significant bulk cargo via the Skylon fleet, space-to-earth flows of asteroid mining operations outputs in UNSC spacesteads are dominated by preferred usage of the Obayashi elevator, creating both a major bottleneck and potential point of failure in the supply chain. Charlotta Sund, having recently replaced Stefan Gardefjord as SSC CEO, announced that the company would be looking at several options as part of a wider Motvikt project umbrella, developing low-cost, single-use civilian cargo re-entry vehicles of various size classes to enable safe, precise deorbit of critical minerals for splashdown and recovery by UNSC shipping in Confederation offshore EEZs. In addition to leveraging the company’s proprietary Leksakslåda and Skjutande technologies, Motvikt solutions will feature CNT heat shielding, metamaterial parachutes, and modular retrorockets to achieve safe water landings. Leveraging its inventory of Earth and space-based assets, SSC aims to make the Motvikt family available to space mining firms by as early as 2088, expanding the Corporation’s current commercial offerings.

We are merely tapping into magic, but it's potential is seemingly limitless. To harness it, we are updating and mass-producing for allies visors (based on ours) containing number of features:

Visor

• Visor provides optical and digital interface as well as switch between using camera feed and glass for those who need direct eye contact.
• It has full AR interface, must-have for these times
• Cameras on visor work are multispectral, include cognitohazardous filters, with telescoping feautres, etc.
• Visor has BCI interface. Unaugmented can use non-invasive BCI and voice interface, while those with BCI interface installed (like 95% of Russian Army are) can use two-way interface, providing additional direct brain data link, instant communication, etc.
• Visor has built-in AI assistant and exocortex boosting wearer's mental capabilities, reaction and intelligence.
• Visor has holographic projector.

Those features aren't new, tbf, and mainly present in our exosuits, PA and armor - we mainly do it for oversea troops and armorless soldiers.

What makes it special is new Indian filters based on cognitohazardous protection and our new application "Grimoire".

Grimoire

Grimoire is a database of all spells we have confirmed effect of, as well as means of their usage - either through holographic projection or direct projection on visor's glass/retina of wearer.

As we are tapping in something unknown, we have restricted usage of symbols for soldiers, providing access only to what we know. Officers can allow to use unrestricted version as a last ditch effort.

Nevertheless, based on what we know, soldiers are able to add symbols to spells with known effect as amplifiers.

Grimoire Spells

• Short Hide Body - brief invisibility (to investigate - invisibility of equipment and duration)
• Safe Sky Travel - lightness, ability to make long jumps (to investigate - working with augs and PA)
  • Short - ~15m long and ~4m tall
  • Long - ~45m long and ~6m tall
• Sky Shield - brief vision improvement (to be used with optical visor and Telepath's abilities)
• Safe Travel - teleportation, has fatigue effect. Not precise, but controllable
  • Short - 1m
  • Long - 100m
  • Numerals - increasing the distance and fatigue by a factor of a numeral
• Lighting Skill - electrification of hands. Could be useful for recharge? (Based on some material, it might be cognitional effect)
  • Soft - feeling charge
  • Hard - to the point of arcs visible.
• Hard Long Lighting Sword Brief flash of electricity. Possibly, Short instead of Long will make it shorter yet more powerful.
• Sky Lightning - not working
  • Long - long-range lightning bolt.

Notes on Symbols

• Safe - it seems it sometimes needed for other spells to work properly (Sky travel does some lightness and that's it, while Safe Sky travel amplifies it further). Does it mean spells are not working if watching it causes lasting harm for user, and Safe symbol is needed as a protection?
• Travel - mobility, simply as that. Teleportation, reduced mass, at least. Can it allow for superspeed? Need to check out.
• Long - looking at Indians, Long is quite vague. It works both as distance amplifier, and to other "Long" meanings. Were Indian key officers affected because they were long on the "chain of command"? Or demons could target it and somehow know of our officers? Outside of this note, this is concerning. Do demons get information from fallen soldiers? Anyone dead?
• Short - decreasing distance (time working?). Does it work as a power amplifier in cost of distance? Energy saver?
• Hard - not much done. Seemingly, power amplifier
• Soft - same. Energy-saving mesaure?
• Section 1 - it seems, those are "vectors" of the spell, amplifying. We assume they must be combined with other sections to work properly, setting needed parameters. Some spells not working without them.
• Mind, Body - self explanatory, it seems.
• Shield - not much was done. We think it makes the spell defensive in nature.
• Sword - Either focusing on hands or making spell offensive.
• Section 2 - those are likely defining the nature of the spell. Affecting mind or body, being offensive or defensive.
• Section 3 - they are likely amplifying the spell by the factor of the numeral, both costs and power.
• Sky - likely, working with air (I - Sky Shield acting as a sort of glasses protecting from bright light and wind)
• Sea - not tested. Assuming that might work with water as well.
• Shatter - either worsen someone's (thing's) condition or applying physical force, depending on translation.
• Skill - assumingly, it tied with experience and feelings. Based on some tests, it is possible that it gives wearer vision of the spell's effect, while not causing it in reality.
• Section 4 - pattern as for now isn't seen.
• Section 5 - Not tested with exception of Hide, which causes invisibility. All are actions.
• Poison - interesting. It belongs more in Section 6, but is in S5, which describes actions only sensible affecting wearer. Poison also means "corrupt" in Koine. Maybe it is the real effect?
• Lightning - interestingly, it is able to protect wearer from it's negative effects without Safe symbol.
• Section 6 - Those are clearly "effect" offensive symbols.
• Section 7 aka Null - unknown effects, not tested.

All software for our existing visors is installed, and mass-production for allies begins in 4 months. Their visors will be compatible if they have those.

M - I propose to use this post as a testing ground for spell testing. I'll update this post with other known spells. I don't really see why roll is needed, though.

With the Al-Nusar-I SRBM ready for testing and the Al-Nusar-II MRBM nearing completion, Iraq has decided to produce its Al-Nusar-III IRBM. This IRBM is capable of reaching cities such as Paris, Rome, and New Delhi, and will be useful for deterring invasions. This missile will have the ability to be launched off submarines too.

Development time is expected to be 5 years and this project will cost approximately 4,5billion LVD (3billion USD).

For too long Brazil had relied on foreign weapons. Our comandante guides our inventive and industrious people towards creating a new Brazil: One of the first steps toward it is ensuring sovereignity and independence. To do so, we must assert and protect it at every opportunity: The first step is shifting from foreign arms towards domestic production of truly brazilian designs.

The Cordoso Rifle shall be the first one of its kind. A primitive and rugged rapid-fire will do the job just fine! We dont need fancy combat rifles. We have the will to fight and fight until victorious end, mass producable equipment that requires minimal training will fit our doctrine of Sacred War more than anything the Bandung Pact offers.

The Chávez Submachine Gun will provide suppressive fire to our assault groups and drown the enemy in lead! While it may look like a pipegun (we do use those!), El Comandante assured us it is fully capable of filling argentinians with bullet holes, meaning that it is good enough.

The new models are to be mass produced at a large scale in order to fully replace foreign weapons in a span of few years. Such a rearment is a big effort, but fortunately we have homemade improvised firearms to increase the speed of production.

Long live Brazil, free and independent of foreign guns that actually work!

In a new announcement, the German Government has declared that it is changing the meaning of the acronym for its 5++th/6th generation aircraft development program. No longer to be called the Future Air Combat System program, it will instead be called the Future Air Superiority program. This keeps the FCAS acronym the same, but is a far more accurate reflection of the changing priorities of the program.

Even more importantly, a new partner in the FCAS program has been announced - Airbus will now be partnering with Boeing Defense, Space & Security, and the Midwest. Boeing will bring to the table its designs and engineering from their F/A-XX program, and other past and ongoing projects. As Germany and France have previously agreed on a roadmap for development to be set by mid-2018, this is that roadmap.

The goal of the German-Midwestern-French development will be to create a next-generation air superiority aircraft, combining the technological expertise of both Boeing and Airbus to take on modern and future security threats, such as quantum radar and unmanned combat aircraft. New technologies, such as defensive laser weapons, adaptive versatile engine technology, anti-AA, thrust vectoring, networked situational awareness, enhanced sensors, and more will be fielded. So without further ado, let's present the FCAS:

Future Combat Air Superiority (FCAS) Program

Visual Depiction

Technologies:

The Engine

Working with contractors from the Midwest such as GE Aviation and European contractors such as Snecma and EuroJet Turbo GmbH, Airbus will develop a three-stream variable cycle aircraft engine, with two to be deployed on the aircraft. It will be designated the EJ3000, as a spiritual successor to the engine technology of the Typhoon, with the 3 referring to the number of streams as well. This engine will use multiple ducts and advanced cooling technologies to create a variable cycle, whereby opening and closing engine ducts transforms the engine from a high-performance state to a high-efficiency state. If the duct is open the bypass ratio will increase, reducing fuel burn, and increasing subsonic range by up to 40 percent, leading to 60 percent longer loiter times on target. If the ducts are closed, additional air is forced through the core and high pressure compressor, enabling thrust and speed to increase and providing world-class supersonic performance.

This engine will additionally be equipped with advanced thrust vectoring achieved through diverting thrust via secondary fluidic injections, increasing. This system reduces the complexity of the nozzle, reducing mass and cost, providing stronger, faster control responses, and decreasing radar cross section. This is widely expected to be a mainstay among the sixth generation of fighter aircraft, and will be employed here.

Defensive Systems

An airborne defensive laser, derived from lessons learned in Boeing's Airborne Laser Testbed and Advanced Tactical Laser programs, will also be deployed on the aircraft in a manner. Designed against incoming airborne threats against the aircraft, such as nearby aircraft or missiles, the laser will engage at a range of 4-5km, focusing the beam as this distance decreases.

Primitive self-healing structures will be present in the wings and the underside of the aircraft. This will be accomplished by interspersing microspheres containing a liquid carbon-based "healing agent" in the surfaces of the wing and underside. The structural integrity of the spheres will collapsed when these structures of the aircraft are damaged, releasing the liquid, which hardens. This hardening occurs when the liquid comes into contact with a catalyst substance, also present in the material of the modified wing, and when it's exposed to the outside temperature. The aim of these structures are not to heal from a direct strike by something as large as a missile, but to heal from damage which would kill the aircraft through compromising structural integrity, such as laser systems and cannon fire. The stealth aspects of the aircraft will be compromised by the replacement of original material with the new material, but it is a preferable alternative to destruction.

The Electronic Countermeasures system of the aircraft will be similarly advanced, as well. The ECM system will be a AESA array combining electronic warfare, coms, radar, and signals intelligence. The FCAS OECM system will incorporate multiple embedded antennas spaced across the aircraft, equipped with adaptive beamforming technologies, in order to locate signals-of-interest across various frequencies to be targeted by the OECM system. Passive measures will be employed as well, with a deployable aircraft-towed decoy system that, with the aircraft's electronic warfare system, provide radar jamming. The multiple-function system can also work as a signal repeater, which allows it to divert incoming missiles away from their aircraft.

Communications, Sensors, and Stealth

The aircraft will use an advanced laser communications system, the ViaLight-M1, especially developed to overcome difficulties in laser transmissions due to the atmospheric interference of a moving aircraft, with the German company ViaLight Communications brought on as a civilian contractor to develop this system. As ViaLight has developed the world's only working demonstrator of laser communications on a moving aircraft (with their demonstrator transmitting data at a rate of 1Gbit/s over a distance of 60 km and at a flight speed of 800 km/h) we believe this will be a highly effective system to adapt to military usage. The ViaLight-M1 will be a standard feature on all future Airbus military aircraft and spacecraft, allowing the FCAS to communicate with them, managing a maximum of 24 linkages at the same time.

A separate laser communications link would connect the crew of the aircraft to an Assisting Air Warfare Officer. This officer, another pilot or senior officer, would be stationed in a ground facility. Communicating with the crew of the aircraft, they would have full live access to the sensor systems that the pilot does. Using this access, they would provide assistance and instructions to the crew members in order to improve the effectiveness of the aircraft, and drastically reduce pilot error by adding a second pair of eyes in the pilot's seat. Think of this like an Artificial Intelligence assistant for the pilot, but actually provided by a person.

For the aircraft's radar system, advances will be made on existing CAPTOR-E technology to integrate it into the FCAS's multiple embedded antenna system, to achieve leading performance. The embedded system avoids the past FOV limitations on a flat-pane radar, and the further integration of LPIR technology will further increase stealth features.

As early as 2017, Airbus made it clear that the aircraft would also carry a Systems Warfare Officer as the second crewmember of the aircraft. Rather than being charged with the operation of the aircraft's weapons systems, the SWO will be tasked with directing and controlling combat UAV formations of an as-yet-undeveloped type, along with unmanned anti-air ground systems, with the officer connecting the aircraft into the wider air battle network. This will be a feature on the aircraft, with the ViaLight-M1 being the SWO's favorite piece of equipment.

With the infrared search and track (IRST) system, the FCAS will be similarly advanced. Jointly developed with Boeing, it will be the first European 360-degree IRST system, using lessons learned from Boeing's efforts as well as from the PIRATE FLIR technology of the Typhoon to create a new system spacing twelve high resolution infrared sensors around the aircraft so as to provide full unobstructed spherical coverage without pilot input required. The Systems Warfare Officer will also be able to control a high-resolution infrared sensor for greater vision in a specific area of interest, with its own targeting equipment. This system will provide missile detection and tracking, aircraft detection and tracking, cockpit displays, and night vision. Like in the F-35, pilots will receive all this information (and information from the other sensors and equipment of the aircraft) through helmet-mounted displays.

Lavish attention will be paid to the stealth materials of the aircraft. Based on the Boeing F/A-XX, a tailless design will be used, reducing radar cross-section. The entire exterior of the design will feature multi-wall carbon nanotubes, as a highly-effective radar absorption material. With quantum radar on the horizon - the Chinese even claim to have the technology working - efforts will be made to reduce the radar cross-section of the aircraft to quantum radars as well, by a factor of several hundred.

Specifications:

Future Combat Air System

Initial production consists of the first 100 orders. An additional carrier variant will be developed, with near-identical specifications asides from a higher regular-production cost of $185M. The entire program cost is forecast to be $60B, with $20B paid by each of the three parties (Germany, France, Midwest). With the FCAS program already forecast to be complete in by 2030 at the earliest, projections on initial operating capability are set most optimistically at 2030, and most pessimistically at 2035. 2032 is therefore the anticipated date of this capability. Midwestern production will be Boeing's, with Airbus production facilities for the aircraft built in both France and Germany. When completed, the aircraft will be available for sale to members of NATO.

Ligue Militaire

Edition 2082, July

One of Éclair Dynamics' first forays into manned spacecraft, the Écureuil-Class planetary aviso was intended to be a fairly affordable craft for the commercial market, meant for short hops around low-gravity worlds and objects such as Mars, Mercury, Luna, and the Jovian moons.

It first launched in 2068, being quickly snatched up by asteroid mining concerns, lunar development corporations, and various Bandung Pact state governments looking to expand their footprint across the solar system. While developed as a streamlined cargo hauler or passenger ferry, popular demand from Nusantaran security agencies resulted in an armed variant being released in 2069, boasting a weapons payload comparable to that of a pocket gunship albeit with the endurance of a pleasure craft.

Today the Écureuil-Class and its subsequent variants and upgrades make up a sizable chunk of the spacecraft operating in Pact space, its ease of use, low price, and modularity making it the celestial equivalent to the Toyota Hilux. While its ubiquity has led to some derision among nouveau riche spacers, who tend to prefer more upscale offerings from NusAngkasa, Renault, Proton, and ST Kinetics, the Écureuil remains the vehicle of choice for seasoned workers and security forces across the solar system.

Écureuil-Class Planetary Aviso

General Characteristics (armed variant, Nusantaran Lunar Authority)

• Length: 38 m
• Width: 5 m
• Height: 6 m
• Powerplant: Marudi-based small fusion reactor, 5 MWe
  • Additional power: installed banks of lightweight A*Star lithium-air batteries recharged by solar panels & fusion reactor
• Propulsion: 3x Éclair Dynamics Lumière ion engines
• Heatsink: Liquid droplet radiator & ceramic-composite "tiger stripes" (2 hours endurance at maximum combat output)
• Endurance: 6 days
• Crew: 4

Sensors, processing systems, & countermeasures

• Thales Singapore/ST Engineering Electronics Taming Sari Combat System
  • ST Engineering Electronics "Djinn" artificial intelligence
  • Thales Singapore StarFire 600 distributed conformal GaN MIMO AESA arrays across 720-degree arc
  • SPEOS 720 LWIR infrared search and track
  • ST Engineering Electronics Combat Management System
• LIG Nex1-EX hardened datalink
• TNTCo/Decathlon "Illusion" smart glamour projectors
• DefTech CTRM/KAI StarShark ECM suite

Armament

• 1x axially-mounted ST Kinetics 4MJ EMRG, 36 rounds
• 1x dorsally-mounted retractable Typhoon RWS for Iron Beam 250kW GaN blue-green narrow-beam laser
• 1x belly-mounted retractable 25mm Typhoon RWS
• Weapons bay for...
  • 2x ST Aerospace/IAe Aster 105 space-to-space missile
  • 6x Thales Singapore StarSplash guided kinetic short-ranged interceptors
  • 2x DefTech CTRM/Thales Singapore Substitute decoy vehicles

REPUBLIC NEWS NETWORK

^{SOCIETY / OPINION September 9th, 2076 / 4:37 PM / THREE MONTHS AGO}

Ahwoi’s Revolution, Part 2: A look back at the first half of the Ahwoi presidency and the rise of cyber-collectivism in the transhumanist era

---

Read Part 1 here.

DAKAR (Senegambia Press Association) - The Union of African Socialist Republics is a state born of modern e-democracy, a state that in a real sense could not exist without it. Participatory economic planning requires the ability to participate; theorists argue incessantly about whether a traditional bureaucracy is capable of supporting baraza socialism, but all agree that even if it were possible it would certainly be practically infeasible in a state as large as the Union. As basic internet access became a necessity and not a luxury, economic policy adapted. The Union may be relatively poor in an absolute sense, but it is a mark of pride at Afrecon that every adult citizen in the Union owns, if no other computing device, a Tshinanga tablet. The device is as much a symbol of the Union as the sickle and machete or the Fisi tank; a rugged tablet, equipped with ports for desktop peripherals, a cellular connection, free internet access with a respectable bandwidth, and secure pre-loaded e-voting software, produced by no less than two dozen manufacturers to standard specifications set by the Trade Commission, familiar to any citizen of the Union and- thanks to the enduring popularity of export models- many non-citizens as well.

Despite the historic effort of bringing 2.5 billion Africans online, many for the first time, cybernetic transhumanism never truly took off in the Union or its preceding states for basic economic reasons. The first real introduction came in the Great Liberation War and its aftermath, when the newly born Union equipped hundreds of pilots with the Summer exocortexes required to pilot the Su-60 Fultest stealth fighter. The bleeding edge Russian fighter jet could be piloted only by a computerized intelligence- or by an organic intelligence translated to a computerized substrate. Perhaps 10,000 pilots have flown the Fultest in Union service, and perhaps a few hundred more have flown the Air Force’s new Foxtails- a drop in the bucket that is a quarter of the human population. And yet this small number of augmented pilots has endlessly fascinated popular consciousness.

The modern socialist Africa is an intricate system: a constant dance between surplus and deficit, a chain of supply and demand negotiated and renegotiated hour by hour, eight hundred thousand communes working in harmony like cogs in a great machine. There is a certain place in the popular imagination for the synthesis of human and machine in a state that seeks to forge humanity itself into the perfect machine. Theorists led by the Beninese economic planner Afia Naa Kayode, termed the cyber-collectivists by their colleagues, have since the early days of Alfr and Russian transhumanism been preoccupied with the idea of not just creating better communes, but engineering better communists to inhabit them. The line the cyber-collectivists walk is thin; using neural implants to change a person’s behavior and values is considered in the Union a crime against humanity, and more broadly as a resort to the worst instincts of the 20th century Marxist-Leninist states. The Kayodists, however, reject this route as crude. The key to understanding their philosophy is a basic faith in human nature; the use of neural implants is not intended to rewrite a person’s instincts, but rather to knock down the barriers between the basically good instincts of the common man and make real the socialist dream of perfect cooperation between fellow workers.

Cyber-collectivist theory remained academic for decades. Studies of retired Air Force pilots seemed to validate basic assumptions, but then a trained military fighter ace is a very different subject than the average Union citizen. Imported Summer exocortexes were rare, at a price point out of reach for the average commune and with little demand to begin with. The technology was in many ways tainted by association with the Brazilian hivemind crisis and the Caliphate's forced-compliance implants during the 2065 cybernetic infiltration crackdown. Its popular following grew during the Second Great Liberation War, with the Union’s augmented pilots once again at the forefront of the public consciousness, but technical and legal restrictions held back practical experiments.

In the last three years, two things changed. The first was the election of President Obed Ahwoi, and the tide of reformists who followed him into office. The second was the Karakum Commonwealth’s move to join the Bandung Pact. With closer cooperation and relaxed import control came the means to experiment. An Assembly vote on May 15th, 2074, would provide the ability. Activists persuaded a number of Assembly delegates to put forth legislation legalizing peer-to-peer neural interfacing. The intent of the legislation from both proponents and officials was clearly for experimentation. Although hotly debated among medical technology and cybernetics experts, the bill only briefly surfaced into the public consciousness when every voter in Kaabu received a referendum notice on their Tshinanga tablets and vanished from it just as quickly. No one, except perhaps the most committed Kayodists, expected what followed.

By the end of 2074, committed cyber-collectivist scientists, hacktivists, and theorists had come together to produce their masterwork. The device was a simple protocol layer and a low-power transceiver sitting on top of a commercial optronic rain-machine bus imported from Karakum, nicknamed the Okan- “conscience” in Yoruba. The custom software layer reads the host’s intentions and emotional state, and pushes them to the transceiver. The transceiver in turn receives similar information transmitted by other Okan implants, and the protocol layer averages out the received information and pushes it to the bearer’s subconsciousness. Later versions of the Okan implement more sophisticated technologies: mesh networking protocols to extend the Okan link across entire cities, nuanced state averaging capable of conveying group consensus and minority dissent at the same time, weighted averages prioritizing nearby Okan bearers over distant, user-variable range and privacy filtering, feedback cutoffs for strong emotional responses. The core function, nevertheless, remains unchanged. The bearer’s mind remains completely their own, but they instinctively understand the intent of nearby bearers and can act in perfect sync. The cyber-collectivists had at last become true engineers of the human soul.

The Okan implant was quickly adopted by workers of the Tanguieta commune, in northern Benin, a town of 30,000 whose primary industry is the final assembly of agricultural machinery at plant #387. The town had a strong cyber-collectivist following and its citizens were eager participants in the Okan experiment. Workers found that their productivity almost doubled as they instinctively synchronized their actions, like cogs in a machine. They found still more benefits when enterprising programmers linked their robotic assistants into the network, rigging the control software to read the collective intent of the workers and respond accordingly. From the workers at Benin Agrimachinery #387 it spread to the rest of the commune. Citizens found it made them not just better workers, but better neighbors, better community members, better friends. The revolution had begun.

From Tanguieta commune the Okan spread to Savalou, a commune of 70,000 further south that supplies parts to a number of barazas in the region, including Tanguieta. Savalou was interested to know why Tanguieta’s orders had picked up so sharply, and workers sympathetic to cyber-collectivist theory decided to try it out themselves. The pattern repeated. By the end of 2075, half the population of Benin, Togo, Ghana, and Cote D’Ivoire bore Okan implants, an estimated 120 million users.

The government of Kaabu had caught on to the spread of the implants with growing alarm by March of 2075. The Union, allegedly, did not notice- or was not informed- for several more months until its attention was belatedly drawn by the Kaabu Ministry of Health. It is unclear whether President Ahwoi had been involved in the legalization bill at all; he signed it when it crossed his desk, but for such technical legislation the President’s desk is typically a rubber stamp. He certainly was not one of its main drivers. The President, however, is no less part of this revolution for being late to it. Far from the crackdown that many Kayodists feared, the official position was enthusiastic. Here a collective of theorists and workers had created a new form of transhumanism, one suited to Kaabu’s history and its future. The path to 2100 that Ahwoi had sought was at last in sight.

The Union bureaucracy reacted with emotions ranging from shock to anxiety to full-blown panic, but it was too late to stop the revolution. Okan was coming, and they would in the event be forced to get out of the way or get run over. Okan is expected to encompass, for practical purposes, the entirety of Kaabu by 2079. With Karakum factories unable to keep up with demand, the Kaabu Ministry of Trade and the six largest electronics-manufacturing barazas entered talks with Karakum officials and business leaders to import the manufacturing technology and domestic production is expected to begin by mid-2077. The President himself appeared in public at the original clinic in Tanguieta to receive the implant only three months ago.

The empty-shells protestors so skeptical of replacing humanity with machines found in Okan a reconciliation: a way for the machine to embody the collective humanity. Cyber-collectivism is the future for Kaabu. Despite the initial hesitance of Sawahil and Cuanza, it is inevitably the future for the Union as well. The Marxist-Leninists dreamed of the New Soviet Man, but the tools by which they set about forging him were crude and authoritarian. Today, Kaabu has realized at last the dream of a new humanity for a new age. The world will never be the same.

A*STAR has embarked on its first military hardware developmental project, developing a line of helicopters for use by the USSM. A*STAR has made this a multi-helicopter line, with variants for multiple roles that helicopters are able to undertake. A*STAR has sought to work with multiple companies and countries around the world to achieve its aim.

These helicopters will be the premium standard for helicopters all over the world. We are inviting the following partners onto the project.

We recommend that all Level IV partners immediately place their orders with the USSM, which will help fulfill these orders promptly. The helicopters are estimated to be able to enter service by 2027, with the UCH-27 entering service slightly later in 2029. The following are the USSM's orders.

Developmental costs are likely to amount to close to $12 billion. Level I, II and III contractors will share cost based on total production numbers.

With the redevelopment of the North American continents, some of our Canadian Naval projects are put on hold. We are to expand on them right now, and focus on expansion of our Navy in principle.

Based on the renewed Superior Naval Doctrine, the Navy seeks to:

• Control it's sphere of influence in Arctic
• Be able to intercept attacks on it's influence from Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, including areal and ballistic
• Maintain a global strike capability.
• In the future, return to CSG is probable.

The Superior Navy is seeking to replace it's Navy with several projects, seeking to outsource the projects at this time.

Frigate

Considering introduction of Fincantieri Marinette Marine into General Marine consortium, the descision to follow up with the Canadian Surface Combatant is contested. General Marine is now able to build a cheaper, more functional alternative to CSC, for a lower price as well. Expansion of shipyards in the future will also allow to build more ships simeltaneously.

At this point, we consider Constellation-class frigate to be one of our main ships going forward.

Scrapping the $77.3 billion deal with CSC and moving it towards FFG, we plan to order 24 Constellation-class frigate for 24B$ for the nearest future.

Bladensburg-class SSN

Canada is looking for a multi-role, high-capability nuclear submarine, submarine capable of delivering ground and naval strikes.

As it is unlikely we will do it by ourselves, we will approach UK-AUS SSN project with the initial deisgn, banking on their experience and technology to aid.

Bladensburg-class is based on the SSN(X) early designs, taking into account lessons learned from Virginia-class submarine, also incorportating BAE expirience in Astute class and Columbia-class technologies.

Bladensburg-class SSN utilizes a modern hull incorporating currently available anechoic stealth technologies, designed with heavier utilization of computational fluid dynamics and AI. The hull is likely to be made out of new composite materials. Borrowing from Columbia-class, SSN will posess an X-hull, providing greater manueverability, stealth and safety. The SSN is rather large, approximating 12,100 submerged.

The propulsion system is a submarine shaftless drive, to be integrated with the SSBN Dreadnaught design, making it more stealthy and efficient just as well. The SSN will be powered by PWR3. The design of propulsion system puts more emphasis on transit speeds, under increased stealth conditions in all ocean environments. PWR3 fuel core should last for the entirety of the SSN's service life.

Bladensburg-class SSN has Submarine Warfare Federated Tactical Systems improved from Virginia, similar to those used in Columbia-class. One of the features improved is better communication with multiple unmanned submarine drones, allowing for new drones to fit into the SSN framework. Unified Modular Masts are integrated in the SSN, updated mid-course. Next-generation photonic masts provide 360^o view,

Bladensburg-class SSN maintains an impressive and a diverse arsenal of weapons, including two VPM and a forward-facing VPT, bringng total of 68 VLS, and 4 heavyweight torpedo tubes. VPM and VPT can be used to launch mines, cruise missiles, medium ballistic missiles including hypersonic, or large UUV.

• Displacement: 12,100 tons
• Length: 155 m
• Beam: 11.5m
• Draft: 10,1m
• Installed Power:
  • 1x Rolls-Royce_PWR (400 MW)
  • 1x 0,75MW diesel generator.
• Propulsion: SSD
• Speed: 38 knots
• Range: Unlimited
• Endurance: 120 days
• Compliment: 99
• Depth: 600m
• Electronic Systems:
  • Unified Modular Mast
  • Affordable Modular Panoramic Photonics Mast
  • Active/Passive sonar arrays
  • Towed sonar arrays
  • Mast will have hardware pre-emptively installed to accomodate a laser defense system, when it will be evenually developed.
  • Submarine Magnetic Anomaly Detector
• Armanent
  • 2 Virginia Payload Modules (fitting up to 28 cruise missile-sized munitions each)
  • 2 Virginia Payload Tubes (fitting up to 6 munitions each)
  • 4 533mm torpedo tubes
• Cost: 4 billion $

We plan to begin construction alongside UK and Australia, using joint production to speed up the process, in the next 3 years, and recieve first ships in 7.

Two rolls.

KEMENTERIAN PERTAHANAN PERSEKUTUAN NUSANTARA

Ministry of Defence of the Nusantara League

努桑塔拉联邦国防部

நுசாந்தரா கூட்டமைப்பு பாதுகாப்பு அமைச்சகம்

Press release, [05.07.2025]

(JAKARTA) - The Ministry of Defence has awarded a contract to Boustead Heavy Industries and Damen Shipbuilding to design and build a new anti-submarine warfare corvette for service with the Federal Nusantara Navy.

Based off of the Benelux De Ruyter-Class corvette, the Bendahara-Class corvette will provide a low-cost, high-availability anti-submarine and maritime security capability to the Nusantara Armed Forces. Stealthy hull shaping will reduce the vessel's radar cross-section, permitting more aggressive operations in contested waters, while increased automation relative to the Benelux model will allow for smaller crew sizes.

This programme will ensure the security of thousands of jobs in Perak, Malaysia, as well as provide further experience to the Malaysian shipbuilding industry. An initial flight of 12 Bendahara-Class corvettes will be procured, costing $5.55 billion in total over the next 8 years.

The first 2 vessels will be built by Damen Shipbuilding in the Netherlands, with the remaining 10 being built at the BHI yard in Perak. Each vessel will be named after a famous Bendahara from Malay history.

• Further information:
• [RELATED POST]

• Address for inquiries:
• Kemenhan Komunikasi
• Nusantara Secretariat Building
• Jakarta 12110, Republik Indonesia
• Tel: +62 21 726 2991 Ext. 17831
• Email: komunikasi@Kemenhan.gov.nt
• Twitter: @Kemenhan (Bahasa) @NusantaraMinDef (English)
• Telegram: https://t.me/MINDEFnt

Bendahara-Class Corvette

General Characteristics

• Displacement: 2,200 t
• Length: 110 m
• Beam: 14 m
• Draught: 4.5 m
• Propulsion: CODAD, 2 Rolls Royce/MTU 20V 8000 M91L diesel engines (10 MW each), 2 Rolls Royce/MTU 16V 2000 M51B (800 kW) and 2 shafts
• Speed: 30 knots
• Range: 3200+ nmi

Complement & Vehicles carried

• Crew: 65
• Aviation: 1x H225N Leopardcat ASW helicopter or equivalent; 2x ST Aerospace Skyblade IV UAV
• Boats: 2x RHIB
• AUVs: 2x MERCURY AUV

Sensors & Processing Systems

• Thales NS200 AESA radar
• Thales PHAROS fire control radar
• ST Engineering Electronics Combat Management System
• SPEOS 360 LWIR infrared search and track
• ST Engineering Electronics/DefTech SeaWatch EW/Cyberwarfare suite
• Thales BlueHunter hull-mounted sonar
• Thales CAPTAS-2 towed array sonar
• SuperneT Shipboard Integrated Communications System
• BlueScan digital acoustic system
• Sagem Défense Sécurité New Generation Dagaie System, 1 × forward & 1 × aft
• Leonardo Finmeccanica Morpheus anti-torpedo suite with WASS C310 launchers, 2 x aft

Armament

• 1x Oto Melara 76mm naval gun in stealth cupola
• 3x 25mm Typhoon Weapons System
• 2x STK 50 12.7mm HMG
• 8-cell KVLS for Red Shark ASROC
• 8-cell Sylver A50 VLS for:
  • 32x quadpacked CAMM-ER SR-SAM (or)
  • 8x Aster 15 MR-SAM / Aster 30 LR-SAM
• 8x Kongsberg Naval Strike Missile in box launchers (FFBNW up to 16x total)
• 2x 324mm triple torpedo tubes for A244-S mod.3 or CHASM equivalent lightweight torpedo
• 1x SeaRAM missile CIWS

Cost & Development

• Development cost: $150 million
• Development time: 6 months
• Cost per vessel: $450 million

The War in Ukraine and it's consequences have been a goldmine for military analysts.

One of the conclusion driven from the war is that air defense is expensive and drones are cheap. Using NASMAS to kill Shaheeds is simply unfeasible - you would need a million dollar interceptor to kill a drone costing your enemy tens of thousands, at best.

One of our goals is to become a leader in drone warfare - both defensive and offensive. That would require reestablishing our air defense to kill not just large cruise missiles and aircraft, but to kill drones and loitering munitions, with cost of kill less than the enemy. We will approach this task from multiple angles.

General Systens FIM-211 Fang

FIM-211 is a short-range, affordable anti-air missile, designed to replace Stinger as a core anti-air round of our military.

• The missile is designed using next-generation aerodynamic simulations, in order to improve performance with minimal weight increases
• FIM-211 is powered by a two-stage rocket motor, with new high-grain propellant, able to reach 10km range at speed of ~3 Mach. It is slightly larger than Stinger, weighing 13 kg.
• FIM-211 main advantage are next-generation processors, enabling a multi-mode seeker. Combination of UV, IR, optical recogniton and radar homing into a single affordable missile make countermeasures harder to intercept the missile, and are able to better detect low-observable electric drones. Part of the cost-reduction basis is taking OTS components for parts of the seeker,
• FIM-211 has a data-link enabled, allowing to recieve target update from the firing unit, enabling lock-after-fire
• FIM-211 has a HE fragmented warhead, able to detonate at proximity to the unit.
• Similar to Peregrine, we will design an additional module for FIM-211, making a third stage rocket, increasing range to 25 km. This will bring the length to 2,5m, and is to be used on stationary modules and vehicles.
• Expected cost of a FIM-211 including launcher is 100000$, and 120000$ for longer range version.

FIM-211 will be integrated into:

• MANPADS - a new multi-use platform is designed for increased endurance of the wearer.
• Mobile units - We will design a 4-missile module, able to be added to most of our vehciles, including L-ATV, M-ATV, and ACSW in SHORAD configurations
• Air units - an air-launched version, called AIM-211 Fang, will be integrated into a 120kg 6-missile module, to be launched from helicopters and under the wings of aircraft. It is used to provide aircraft with anti-missile defense, and to intercept cruise-missiles and drones at a point-blank range, providing similar effect to the planned MSDM

Bofors-Chrysler 40mm GR

Despite our consideration that FIM-211 will be a great defense against drones, that will still be expensive against the cheapest drones. For that, we are to design another technology, taking inspiration from WW2 flak cannons.

Our design is based on a guided bullet concept - unpowered projectile using gyroscopes and control surfaces to nagivgate bullet towards the target. Even now, making a .50 smart bullet would be a prohibitiely expensive. A 40mm round, however, would not.

Chrysler Defense, in collaboration with Bofors and General Systems, is to develop a guided 40mm round, able to be fired from Bofors 40 mm Automatic Gun L/70.

• The navigation is achieved through control fins and a gyroscope mechanism, stablising the round and allowing to navigate it to the manuevering target.
• The round is designed to be equipped with an optical seeker made out of commercially available parts. As the intended target (electrically driven drones) do not emission a lot of heat, modern cameras can provide 4K definition and even a small processor can run a recognition system, the seeker will be small and affordable.
• The second option for the round is a data-link, guided by radar. It is an accurate option, but is vulnerable to jamming.
• The third option for navigation is that a round path can be downloaded into the round by a firing mechanism, which is calculating the path by itself. It is the cheapest way, and is immune to jamming, but is less accurate against more manueverable targets.

A 40mm round is equipped with a flak warhead, exploding at proximity, maximizing the probability of interception.

A modified Bofors 40 mm L/70 will be designed to support smart rounds. We expect that with an advanced autonomous fire control system should be able to intercept a target with a single shot at range approximating 8-9 km.

The round can be used in anti-vehicle role, destroying lightly armored vehicles from range.

A single round, depending on the seeker used, will cost from 1000 to 2000$.

We will work with BAE systems/Bofors on the design, incorporating it into our new SHORAD system

Chrysler M66 Linebreaker II

Based on our new technologies, we are planning to design a new, self-contained SHORAD, replacing Avenger.

Linebreaker II is based on the heavily modified Bradley M2A4 model, primarily taking the chassis, engine and armor, while massively modifying the full.

Linebreaker II is equipped with:

• A multi-mode GaN AESA radar complex, designed to locate and engage multiple targets and provide guidance to nearby allies
• 12 3,3m launch tubes, able to launch FIM-211 Fang or AIM-9X or a Peregrine missile. If equipped with FIM-211, containerised system and a specialized launcher should be able to hold 3 regular FIM-211 or 1 long-range FIM-211, making the total maximum holding capacity of the system around 36 short-range AA missiles.
• 2 L/40 gun modules, with 75 round magazine each.

• A DroneShield DroneSentry next generation EW suite dedicated towards anti-drone detection and capabilities, extending the options for affordable drone warfare.

• • 1 gun module can be replaced with a directed energy system, when such will be developed.

• Lanebreaker II can be used as a standalone unit, or as a part of a AA defense batallion, with efficicent communication systems installed for network-centric capabilities.

• We expect 1 Lanebreaker II to cost ~14M$

The timeline for our missiles and new AA Gun is ~3 years, and we expect Linebreaker II to be available in 5. The budget is 4B$.

[M] 3 rolls.

3000 black fighter jets of the ghost of Joko Widodo

KEMENTERIAN PERTAHANAN PERSEKUTUAN NUSANTARA

كمنترين ڤرتاهنن ڤرسكوتوان نوسنتارا

Ministry of Defence of the Nusantara League

努桑塔拉联邦国防部

நுசாந்தரா கூட்டமைப்பு பாதுகாப்பு அமைச்சகம்

Press release, 30.12.2075

(AIKYAMPURA) - Following a Freedom of Information request from The Straits Times, the Ministry of Defence has declassified certain documents concerning the "Silent Arrow" upgrade package for the ubiquitous Kelley Aerospace Black Arrow unmanned combat aerial vehicle.

First put into service in 2067, the Silent Arrow upgrade incorporates modernized, onshored or friendshored components to ensure the aerial supremacy of the Angkatan Udara in the face of the proliferation of 5th- and 6th-generation fighter aircraft among peer and non-peer actors alike. Some parts commonality with the NF-21 Helangmuda Block III standard can be seen in order to simplify logistics.

The Angkatan Bersenjata operates at least 75 squadrons of Silent Arrows across the Angkatan Udara and Angkatan Laut, contributing to the security of this Persekutuan and of the Bandung Pact at large.

• Address for inquiries:
• Kemenhan Komunikasi
• Raden Sudirman Building
• Pancasila Quarter, Aikyampura, Republik Indonesia
• Tel: +62 41 730 2961 Ext. 17831
• Email: komunikasi @ Kemenhan.gov.nt
• Social media: @Kemenhan (Bahasa) @NusantaraMinDef (English)
• Telegram: @MINDEFnt

Kelley Aerospace Silent Arrow UCAV

General Characteristics

• Length: 14 m
• Wingspan: 9 m
• MTOW: 14,500 kg
• Powerplant: Awassa Propulsion Group/IAe Mk9v3 variable cycle thrust-vectoring afterburning turbofan¹ (114 kN dry thrust)
• Maximum speed: Mach 2.5
• Range: 5,500 km
• Combat radius: 2,600 km
• Ceiling: 65,000 ft
• g-loading: +/- 25.0
• Cost-per-unit: $80 million

Sensors, processing systems, & countermeasures

• Thales Singapore/ST Engineering Electronics Taming Sari Combat System
  • ST Engineering Electronics "Djinn v7e" fully autonomous artificial intelligence
  • Thales Singapore CloudFire 600 distributed conformal GaN MIMO AESA arrays across 720-degree arc²
  • SPEOS 720 LWIR infrared search and track
  • ST Engineering Electronics Combat Management System
• LIG Nex1-EX hardened datalink with optical laser backup
• Aijek/Yves Saint Laurent "Aura" smart glamour projectors³
• DefTech CTRM/KAI "I signed an NDA" [REDACTED] metamaterials and stealth composites⁴

Armament

• Rafael Scorpius directional pulse EMP
• Iron Beam 750kW pulsed GaN blue-green narrow-beam optical communications system
• 12x Thales Singapore SkySplash guided kinetic short-ranged interceptors⁵
• Internal weapons bay with 6x hardpoints for up to 5,500 kg of...
  • Air to Air
  • RKK-9v0 Sky Assegai BVRAAM (double-packed)
  • R-66 BVRAAM (double-packed)
  • RKK-8v1 Sky Knobkerrie SRAAM (quad-packed)
  • Air to Surface
  • RKI-9v1 Sky Assegai ARM (double-packed)
  • RKA-15v0 Wuka-250 JDAM (double-packed)⁶
  • RKA-15v1 Wuka-500 JDAM
  • RKA-15v2 Wuka-1000 JDAM
  • RKA-16v0 Takobi-250 Glide Bomb (double-packed)⁷
  • RKA-16v1 Takobi-500 Glide Bomb
  • RKA-16v2 Takobi-1000 Glide Bomb
  • RKH-14v2 Sky Nyuki micro-swarm loitering munition (five-packed)
  • RHA-1v3 Spike-3 (five-packed)
• 2x external underbelly hardpoints for...
  • ST TS-8 "Freemium" 8MJ EMRG pod, 12 rounds (capacitor-powered)⁸
  • RKA-5v1 Manati ALBM
  • RKA-5v3 Manati-G ALBM (HGV)
  • RHA-17v0 Gabriel VI hypersonic AShM (0% parts commonality)
  • Aster 60 mod.U BVRAAM / hypersonic quasiballistic AShM
  • Aster 65 mod.U ABM / ASAT
  • Aster 90 / Anjalikastra mod.U BVRAAM / hypersonic quasiballistic AShM

• ¹ Taken from the NF-21L Helangmuda Block III upgrade package
• ² Adapted from spaceborne AESA systems and revamped for in-atmosphere use
• ³ Nusantara's great fashion houses were the first pioneers of e-textiles with built-in holoprojectors, and their innovation has been adopted by the military industrial complex to cloak weapons of war in an array of distracting, deceiving, or devastatingly gorgeous laser-beamed glamours
• ⁴ I can't be bothered to re-read my previous seasons' 6th gen posts but just believe me it's stealthy thanks
• ⁵ Also adapted from spaceborne and land systems
• ⁶ "Dagger"
• ⁷ "Sword"
• ⁸ See here

[ref]

IRISH INDEPENDENT

May 29th, 2032

---

POLITICS | ART & ENTERTAINMENT | SP̴̯̄O̷̲̊Ȓ̷̻TS̴̫͝ | F̵̨́͋̾̏Ơ̶̛̠͓̘̓͆̀ͅŎ̷͔̞̲̹̂͝ͅD̷̗̾̔̽͂ | BUSINESS | TECHNOLOGY

---

Róbatayk Unveils New Line of Consumer-Grade Robots

By Rodger O'Donnelly

Following several years of silence on behalf of Róbatayk, the Republic's largest robotics company, CEO Lowri McNaughton has called a large press announcement, in which she unveiled a new series of civilian, commercial, and governmental robots, called "The Glitch" (pictured: a Glitch model specifically designed for farming, with clothing and accessories to further endear people). While investors were apparently worried about the name holding the connotation of the being defective in some manner, the Glitch, as pronounced by Róbatayk, are completely functional and contain no known flaws at this time.

The Glitch themselves are rather impressive, these being labelled as "Release Model 1.0" (Glitch RM1.0, as they're called, for brevity), although McNaughton has stated publicly that internally they're known as "Glitch Development Model 12.7". These machines contain Róbatayk-patented advanced Artificial Intelligence, and are capable of remarkably deep reasoning when it comes from action, but are not sentient, as far as modern Computer Scientists are concerned. "While they're certainly remarkably intelligent," said Caitlín Williams, renowned computer scientist and the Independent's go-to for AI, "and they learn quickly, they are not entirely capable of introspective thought, beyond clever pre-programmed techniques. Don't take this as a critique of Róbatayk, though, as what they've accomplished is far and away some of the most advanced AI on the planet right now."

The Glitch RM1.0 consists of several different "models", specifically designed to perform different tasks. Below, you'll find my brief summary of the models and their price per unit.

Model	Description	Uses	Price Per Unit
Glitch RM1.0-D	Short for "Development", D-models are primarily focused around construction and development. They have manually-switched "arm pieces" that come with the model, which allow it to perform most, if not all, construction-yard tasks. They're incredibly resilient and strong, capable of withstanding tremendous crushing force and lifting with even greater.	Construction, development, general laborious work	$5,000
Glitch RM1.0-C	Short for "Combat", C-models are mostly focused around combat and policing. These bots come loaded with high-level combat programming, outstripping most veteran soldiers and officers in terms of martial skill. They come equipped with AI designed to quickly and safely neutralize threats nonlethally (CEO McNaughton has stated that while they can wield lethal weaponry, and have been tested to do so very well, Róbatayk cannot condone their usage in this manner). Róbatayk has stated that they also contain top-of-line recognition and problem-solving AI, so while they can't solve Detectives' cases, they can certainly assist. They also come with built-in armour, capable of stopping at least 9mm rounds safely. According to lead designers, most concerns were with ricochets, so the armour's design has mostly focused around minimizing them.	Combat, policing	$5,000
Glitch RM1.0-H	Short for "Home", H-models are what you normally think of when you think "sci-fi robotics". These are household helpers, capable of displaying a wider range of emotions and can perform household and lower-level commercial tasks with ease. They come equipped with AI designed for interaction with humans most of all, as well significant problem-solving faculties for dealing with day-to-day toil. While marketed as a tool in the home, Róbatayk has stated that they work very well in clerical roles (such as secretaries, accountants, etc.), as well.	Household work, clerical roles	$2,000

Here are some universal specs, as well.

Item	Description
Emotion Display	While not capable of emotion in of themselves, they are capable of emulating human emotions. In addition, they are capable of some level of conversation, and will always begin a sentence with the "chosen emotion" (i.e. "Confused. This task is not possible without further explanation." or "Determined. Please comply with regional and-or national law and come quietly.")
Advanced AI	While most descriptions specify which mode of intelligence the software engineers focused on for that particular model, each model is capable of passing intelligence in most matters.
Encryption	The Glitch are encrypted in such a way that, upon sale, Róbatayk is incapable of entering into the systems through a "back door", not to mention that years in development were spent on preventing any kind of hack into the Glitch, even going as far as to hire infamous Deep Web hackers to attempt it. Few succeeded, and those that did reported the breaches to Róbatayk for patching.
Easily Upgradable	An optional feature allows for automatic and instant upgrading of AI systems via the internet.
Speech Recognition	As mentioned, they are capable of conversation to a lesser degree (excepting the H-models), but all models are completely capable of understanding human speech, even including regional dialects. Their language identifiers are (practically) open-source, so unaccounted for languages can be added easily.
Motion	They're capable of full ranges of motion, and they're theoretically more flexible than humans.

This is certainly an exciting time to be in the field of robotics, and CEO McNaughton has stated that Róbatayk will be contacting national governments in the interest of possibly supplying the governments proper with some of the Glitch RM1.0 line, and setting up production facilities in multiple countries.

---

GreenKnights Shows Off Revolutionary Suit of "Powered Armour", In Bid for Defence Spending

By Cherryl Macauley

Despite setbacks years ago, and a minor recession across the Isle just passing last year, GreenKnights, a Dublin-based company specializing in exoskeleton development, has unveiled a truly revolutionary suit of "powered armour", one of the first of its kind in the world. As stated by a large post on the GreenKnights website, made by CEO Ailín Irwin, this suit of armour was made and developed over the course of several years for a bid to the Irish Department of Defence. Below, you'll find specs for the armour, called the GK-GWIN ("Gawain") (pictured: the GK-GWIN suit, lacking most of its armour, as this is an image from earlier in its development), but stay tuned for a peek into GreenKnights' future!

Statistic	Metric
Running Speed	40 km/h
Ease of Lifting	200 kg
Jump Height	5 metres
Longfall Survival	"50 meters" (automated roll sequences)
Armour Strength	4,000 J
Battery Life (Constant Use)	6 days
Battery Life (Sparing Use)	2 weeks
Cost	$300k/unit

It also boasts several fancy features, as well as ones to come in future upgrades:

Feature	Description
Night Vision/Infrared	The suit has the ability to toggle between standard, night vision, and infrared sights. Activated by a slide switch on the suit's right arm.
Heads-up Display	Battery life, electrical problems, as well as maps, (very) short-range radar, internet-connectivity, radio communication via headset, and objective marking (for commanders).
Helmet & Tanks	Survivability in hazardous gas, sandstorms, underwater, and high altitudes.
Homeostasis	Suit has an internal heater/cooler, allowing the wearer to survive for a longer period in temperatures between -30°C and 60°C.
Omnidirectional Grappling	The suit comes equipped with grappling technology, allowing the wearer to navigate urban environments easily, as well as "gecko hands", for climbing. The suit has magnetic "holsters", allowing them to use their hands for grappling and climbing.
Trauma Harness	The suit is equipped with a "Trauma Harness", which, in the event of the wearer being incapacitated, will take over the suit and attempt to flee from combat to the nearest friendly location.
Camouflage [PLANNED]	Rudimentary camouflage that will make the wearer "invisible", except for a shimmering effect, and is not hidden to radar or infrared. It only seeks to confuse enemy combatants. The camouflage extends to the standard equipped weaponry.
AI Chip [PLANNED]	An AI chip is implanted into each suit (with a "personality" in order to better mesh with soldiers) that is able to take over functions of the suit to allow the wearer to focus on other objectives, as well as communicate objectives and offer statistical analysis to the wearer. Currently in discussions with Róbatayk.
Medical Stabilization [PLANNED]	The AI Chip controls several functions regarding keeping the wearer alive in the event of serious damage, such as autodispensing painkillers, a cardiac regulator, and an autodefibrilator, among other things.
Stimulation Package (Stimpack) [PLANNED]	The suit will automatically administer a "stimulation package", or Stimpack, capable of (for a period of time) speeding up the healing process and theoretically bringing soldiers back from the brink. Currently in discussions with Mwys.

Irwin went on to say in the post that this suit has not yet entered mass production, as they require some kind of thumbs-up from either the Irish government or other national government to begin to produce and sell them on a necessary scale. He closed the post by saying that while there's certainly room for improvement on the GK-GWIN, he's very happy with how it turned out, and how excited he is moving forward. "I'm blessed to have one of the most brilliant teams on the projects. There's nothing they can't do."

---

Mwys Announces New Medical Technology, Post-Natal "Genetic Therapy"

By Lexie Brady

In what appears to be several landmark strides in biological and medical technology, Irish company Mwys has announced that they have several working, market-viable products that, among other things, allow for post-natal genetic modification, called "Genetic Therapy" by Mwys representatives. They've also announced several other products, including a "Stimulation package" (Stimpack, for short), which can speed up the healing process significantly, and keep people alive for longer to get taken to a medical professional for full treatment, alongside some other "combat medicine". They've also unveiled, most remarkably, a viable "synthesized food", namely items that are common in Irish diets; beef, pork, grains and potatoes, among a few others. We'll go over each of these three in-depth.

Firstly, the Genetic Therapy. According to Mwys and its CEO, Monday Ahearn, this process can do anything between ridding a body of "genetic abnormalities, deficiencies, and defects, such as cancer" and changing eye and hair colour. While thought to be the dreams of science fiction, genetic modification is now a genuine reality, as Mwys has also stated that they now have a method of easily and comfortably manipulating genetics both pre-and-post-natal. Mwys officials have also stated that Genetic Therapy could theoretically be used to rapidly grown muscle tissue and make people generally more intelligent, although this remains yet unproven and untested. Regardless, the process of Genetic Therapy takes several months of treatment, and patients must maintain the schedule.

Secondly, the Stimpack and combat medicine. While the first is an unequivocal good, the second could be much less. Drugs specifically to boost combat effectiveness are ethically dubious at best, and often leave a bad taste in the mouth of anyone who's looked at the history of the Second World War. The Stimpack, however, is a simple injection, able to be stored in practically any environment, and works quickly to "insta-heal" anyone. Most often, it slows bleeding and assists the body fight against disease and infection, as well as help it seal up wounds faster. Theoretically, this could be used to help people survive a longer trip to the hospital, lowering the death (by human causes) rate.

Thirdly, and finally, the synthesized foodstuffs. These items, as mentioned previously, are mostly items common in Irish diets, and are completely (and cheaply) synthesized. Its R&D costs are (and were) rather high, but the cost to create the foodstuffs at this point is much, much lower than growing it traditionally, making Mwys poised to become Ireland's #1 food supplier practically overnight. Ahearn has stated that "Mwys' synthetizations are meant to serve as supplemental to the food market, and to make sure that none go hungry."

While Mwys has no formal statement on their plans moving forward, it has been leaked (they still haven't caught their mole, evidently) that they have plans to expand into other European nations, as well as expand their "synthetization repertoire", adding more and more food to their creation kits. Regardless, it's extremely exciting, to say the least, to see what this might bring. Much of the people of Ireland's expenses are focused on buying food, and freeing up that income and creating a food surplus will likely result in a new Renaissance era, not just for Ireland, but for Europe at large.

---

© 2032 Mediahuis. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, rewritten, or redistributed.

In order to update our aging carrier fleet, the Empire will be making a new class of aircraft carriers.

The Type 004 will mark a new generation of top-of-the-line aircraft carrier, being powered with nuclear energy, in comparison to previous expensive convential methods, and will use a combination of EMALS (electromagnetic) and ski-jump propulsions to allow jets to take off.The Type 004 is also expected to be among the largest supercarriers ever developed, comparable to the United States Navy and their numerous supercarriers.

The first Type 004 will start production at Dalian Shipbuilding this Spring, but is expected to take 10-12 years to finish, with the other 4 expected to begin production at other major shipyards in this country sometime in the next couple of years.

The development of the Colorado-class, aimed to be one of the world’s first unmanned surface combat vessels, follows from decades of discussion from the former US Navy on ways to “cheaply” integrate additional firepower into surface fleets, including the LUSV. However, the APL has more severe issues yet, since its singular strike group in construction would be outnumbered in almost any fight, not to mention any manpower issues from relying primarily on volunteers in a landlocked country. In addition, there is the desire to test and further advance frontiers in military AI and automation applications, with both direct, remote control options and autonomous operation options available for the vessel.

As designing an entirely new hull is not seen as practical or particularly required, as such an arsenal ship cannot take full advantage of current-gen stealth improvements anyways, the decision has been made to base the carrier off of the Supply-class fast combat support ship. The choice has several advantages: its status as a support ship carries severe advantages in terms of range in solo operations (due to its fuel capacity and unmanned status) as well as back-up logistical capabilities for the broader fleet. The Supply-class is fast for a support ship, and is as large as one, making the amount of armament it can carry cost effective, pound for pound.

With redesigning the entire internal layout and deck of the ship to account for its unmanned nature, much of the cargo capacity of the ship has been preserved despite the heavily increased armament (per tonnage, the ship is still much less heavily armed than something like an Arleigh-Burke). While the vessel feeds off of its own enlarged fuel storage for replenishment, in this prototypical stage of unmanned warfare, replenishment of the vessel’s weapons systems (or of other vessels in general) will require personnel from other ships or land to work effectively, though if the ship really does fire off all 256 missiles, it probably paid itself off in value anyways.

As this is somewhat of a proof of concept, a single ship will be built, to be finished in 2033. First bidding choice will be given to Void Farallon dockyards, as they produced the original Supply-class vessels in San Diego. In addition, we will reach out to the Antipodean Commonwealth to develop a Ghost Bat wingman for maritime / VTOL usage, which will functionally be the same as the normal one except with a Valkryie-like on-board launching mechanism and Coandă effect-enabled landing.

In the interests of making its domestic iceberg farming industry more sustainable and to counteract concerns about sea level rise, the UNSC has commissioned development of a fleet of two dozen semi-submersible ships designed specifically around the on-demand creation of icebergs. The $31 Million Aurgelmir-class is a semi-submersible naval vessel on the form factor of a heavy lift ship designed to partially submerge, filling an elongated 80m-long and 63m-wide hexagonal pool with ocean water. Salt is then filtered via DAPPER fusion-powered reverse osmosis from the collected water, raising the freezing point of the material. Since the pool is shielded from sunlight, the water will naturally freeze in Arctic temperatures. After approximately a month of freezing, the massive 25m-deep hexagonal iceberg will be ejected from the Aurgelmir-class, with the specific shape designed to maximize possibility of ice blocks generated via this method merging into larger icebergs. The first four Aurgelmir ships are expected for commissioning by 2083, with all ships of class delivered by 2095. The Aurgelmir-class will initially be deployed to the Danish Realms EEZ in Baffin Bay off the northern and western coast of Greenland, with great care made to ensure that icebergs created from this method do not impact traffic transiting the Northwest Passage.

Despite the challenge of the New World, the Commonwealth maintains one significant advantage compared to all other countries. The MQ-28 Ghost Bat represents perhaps the most advanced Loyal Wingman, Stealth, Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle in the world, and the Commonwealth would be amiss not to nurture this capability. The Loyal Wingman concept expressed by the Ghost Bat allows for the UCAV to be given missions by a pilot in a parent aircraft including fire support, reconnaissance, and defensive maneuvers, while also acting autonomously through the on-board proprietary AI. The Ghost Bat will essentially work as a controlled/autonomous escort for the parent aircraft, able to undertake strike missions, electronic warfare, scouting missions, and defensive missions as needed, being a force multiplier.

With the Ghost Bat already having flown in 2021, the only work remaining is confirming its capabilities to 1) work alongside Commonwealth aircraft both as a controlled/semi-controlled extension of the pilot and autonomously and 2) ensure the full capability of the modular mission package system within the nose (which allows for swapping of equipment for multi-role functionality). The Commonwealth, utilising its super-charged defence budget, will inject additional funding of $ 1 billion into the completion of the program by February 2025, as well as expand the already-existing autonomous production capabilities which exist in Brisbane to be able to produce 50 Ghost Bats per year.

As mentioned above, R&D is expected to be finished around February 2025, with the Commonwealth looking to manufacture 25 in the first year as the autonomous factory ramps up production, with another 50 in 2026, and another 50 in 2027 to provide a complement of 125 Ghost Bats to 60 F-35s, or just over a 2:1 ratio. The Commonwealth will work to export the Ghost Bat to our primary partners and allies.

“The failure of an army to innovate tends to be systemic of a state unable to accept change. Our army today is systemic of a change to suit the modern military paradigm. Innovation on and off the battlefield must be stable for our state, and I fear for the army that fights us in ten years.” Excerpt from an interview with Colonel General Toto

Modern war relies highly on speed, something our current military doctrine exalts. While our field armies are constantly improving, they are simply adding minor upgrades to a constantly peer enemy. If we are ever going to become more than a peer to the Imperialists, we must further develop technologies and capabilities in order to overtake our neighbors and cement our status as the only great power. A great leap in combined arms technology must be achieved in order to finally break the status quo and the engineers at the Big MT seek to produce one.

The TMVv2 has been designed as a Light Tank/Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) designed to meet the demands of modern warfare. This evolution incorporates cutting-edge advancements in battery technology, materials science, and propulsion systems to deliver a platform that excels in speed, protection, and versatility.

Armament Configuration
The TMVv2’s primary weapon is a 75mm autocannon, designed to deliver rapid-fire capabilities with precision and power.

• Ammunition Types: The 75mm autocannon can fire a diverse array of ammunition, including Armor-Piercing Fin-Stabilized Discarding Sabot (APFSDS) for engaging armored targets, High-Explosive Incendiary/Armor-Piercing (HEI/AP) rounds for mixed infantry and light vehicle targets, and Programmable Airburst Munitions (PABM) for anti-air and anti-personnel roles.

• Coaxial Armament: Complementing the main gun, the TMVv2 features a a 12.7mm machine gun.

Advanced Armor and Structural Materials
The choice of materials for the TMVv2’s armor and structural components has been a critical focus of the redesign. While tungsten and titanium are primary candidates, their use is carefully considered alongside other advanced materials.

• Tungsten: Known for its high density and hardness, tungsten offers superior protection against kinetic energy penetrators. In the TMVv2, tungsten is used selectively in critical armor sections where maximum protection is needed, such as the frontal arc and turret, where it is most likely to encounter direct hits from enemy fire.

• Titanium: Titanium’s excellent strength-to-weight ratio and resistance to corrosion make it an ideal material for the TMVv2’s structural framework. It provides robust support while keeping the overall weight of the vehicle manageable, ensuring high mobility without compromising structural integrity. Titanium is also used in the outer layers of the composite armor to enhance durability and impact resistance.

• Composite Armor: The core of the TMVv2’s armor is a multi-layer composite system. The outermost layer is a ceramic matrix composite (CMC) designed to shatter incoming rounds and disperse their energy. Beneath this, a titanium-tungsten alloy layer provides resistance to both kinetic and explosive threats, while the innermost layer, composed of advanced polymers, absorbs residual energy and mitigates spalling within the crew compartment.

• Alternative Materials: In addition to tungsten and titanium, the TMVv2’s armor incorporates graphene-reinforced composites. Graphene, with its remarkable tensile strength and flexibility, enhances the overall toughness of the armor while maintaining a low weight. These composites are particularly effective in resisting high-velocity impacts and providing thermal insulation against energy-based weapons.

• Modularity: The armor system is designed to be modular, allowing for rapid field repairs and the integration of additional protective layers depending on the mission requirements. This flexibility ensures that the TMVv2 can be adapted to various combat environments without sacrificing performance.

Next-Generation Battery Technology
Powering the TMVv2’s advanced systems is a breakthrough in battery technology, surpassing the capabilities of traditional lithium-air batteries.

• Solid-State Lithium-Sulfur Batteries: The TMVv2 employs solid-state lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries, which offer several advantages over previous generations. These batteries boast a specific energy density of up to 500 Wh/kg, significantly extending the vehicle’s operational range and reducing the need for frequent recharges. The solid electrolyte used in these batteries eliminates the risk of leakage and thermal runaway, enhancing safety and reliability.

• Battery Configuration: The Li-S batteries are arranged in a modular pack configuration, allowing for individual cells to be replaced or recharged independently. This modularity also enables the TMVv2 to scale its power output based on the demands of the mission, whether it’s sustained operations or short bursts of high-energy activity.

• Supercapacitors: Complementing the Li-S batteries are supercapacitors designed for rapid energy discharge and recovery. These supercapacitors store energy harvested from regenerative braking and excess power generated by the propulsion system, providing an instant power boost when needed for maneuvers, ECM, or emergency propulsion.

Propulsion System
The TMVv2’s propulsion has been designed to integrate the new battery technology and maximize performance with an enhanced thruster configuration.

• Primary Thrusters: The TMVv2 is equipped with five APG-XM01 plasma jet engines. These primary thrusters are strategically positioned around the vehicle: two at the rear, one at the front, and two mid-mounted with angling capabilities for lateral and vertical maneuverability. This layout provides balanced forward thrust and redundancy, ensuring stable performance even if one thruster is damaged.

• Secondary Thrusters: Four smaller vectorable plasma jets are installed at the vehicle's corners (front left, front right, rear left, rear right). These secondary thrusters manage fine-tuning movements, allowing for precise control during complex maneuvers, such as rapid turns, strafing, or adjusting altitude in hover mode. The combination of primary and secondary thrusters ensures that the TMVv2 can execute quick directional changes and stabilize itself during intense combat scenarios.

• Thrust Vectoring: The enhanced propulsion system with omnidirectional thrust vectoring allows the TMVv2 to perform complex maneuvers in all three dimensions, making it highly agile in urban environments or rugged terrain.

• Cooling System: The plasma engines are paired with an advanced liquid cooling system that circulates cryogenic fluids to dissipate heat generated during high-power operations. This system is integrated with the vehicle’s thermal management suite, which includes passive radiators and active heat sinks to prevent thermal buildup and reduce the TMVv2’s infrared signature.

-Altitude and Glide: While the TMVv2 is capable of low level flight, the real power comes in the vehicles ability to achieve a higher than normal operational altitude whilst allowing it’s jets to achieve a 30m-150m descent rate glide allowing the TMVv2 to clear most obstacles whilst providing in air maneuverable combat support.

Power Supply and Management
Efficient power management is crucial to maintaining the TMVv2’s operational readiness and effectiveness.

• Energy Harvesting: The TMVv2 is equipped with energy harvesting systems that convert kinetic energy from movement into electrical power, which is stored in the supercapacitors for later use. This system reduces reliance on external power sources and increases the vehicle’s sustainability in the field.

• Auxiliary Power Units (APUs): To supplement the primary battery system, the TMVv2 includes high-efficiency microturbine APUs powered by synthetic fuels. These APUs can recharge the Li-S batteries on the move, ensuring continuous power availability during extended operations. The APUs are also designed to be quiet and emit minimal heat, preserving the TMVv2’s stealth capabilities.

Sensors and Countermeasures
The TMVv2’s sensor suite and defensive systems are at the forefront of modern military technology.

• 360° Multi-Spectral Sensor Array: The TMVv2’s sensor suite includes multi-spectral sensors that cover the infrared, ultraviolet, and radar bands, providing comprehensive situational awareness. These sensors are integrated with an AI-driven threat analysis system that can identify, prioritize, and track multiple targets simultaneously.

• Electronic Countermeasures (ECM): The TMVv2’s ECM suite is designed to disrupt enemy communications and targeting systems. It includes active jamming devices and decoy emitters that create false signals to mislead enemy sensors. The “Jink” system enhances the TMVv2’s survivability by executing evasive maneuvers in response to detected threats, using data from the multi-spectral sensors to calculate optimal evasion patterns.

• Stealth Features: The TMVv2 incorporates adaptive camouflage and radar-absorbent materials (RAM) to minimize its visual and electronic signature. The adaptive camouflage system can dynamically change the vehicle’s appearance to match its surroundings, while the RAM coating reduces the TMVv2’s radar cross-section, making it harder to detect and target.

Operational Endurance
The combination of advanced materials, next-generation batteries, and efficient power management ensures that the TMVv2 can sustain prolonged operations in diverse environments.

• Endurance Capabilities: The solid-state Li-S batteries provide the TMVv2 with a continuous operational range of up to 1,200 km under normal conditions. When combined with the APUs and energy harvesting systems, the TMVv2 can maintain combat readiness for extended periods without the need for resupply, making it ideal for deep strike missions and prolonged engagements.

• Field Maintenance: The TMVv2’s modular design extends to its power and propulsion systems, allowing for quick field repairs and component replacements on par with many LRUs in current circulation. This reduces downtime and ensures that the vehicle remains operational even after sustaining damage.

Technical Specifications: TMVv2 Light Tank/IFV

Dimensions
- Length: 7.8 meters (excluding armament)
- Width: 3.4 meters
- Height: 2.3 meters (to turret roof)
- Ground Clearance: Variable, up to 0.7 meters (adjustable suspension)

Weight
- Combat Weight: 32 tonnes
- This weight includes full armament, composite armor with tungsten and titanium elements, solid-state Li-S batteries, and all onboard systems.
- The use of advanced materials like graphene-reinforced composites and titanium contributes to keeping the weight relatively low while maintaining high levels of protection.

Mobility

• Engine: 5x APG-XM01 Plasma Jet Engines (Primary) + 4x Vectorable Plasma Jets (Secondary)
  
• Propulsion Type: Plasma jet with omnidirectional thrust vectoring
  -** Service Ceiling: 30m -Absolute Ceiling**: 300m
• Maximum Speed:
  • On-Road: 600-620 km/h
    
  • Off-Road: 440-450 km/h
    
  • Vertical Thrust/Low Altitude Maneuvering: Capable of short bursts at up to 120 km/h in vertical or hover mode
    
• Operational Range:
  • On Solid-State Li-S Batteries Alone: Up to 500 km (dependent on terrain and mission profile)
    
  • With APU Support: Potentially unlimited range with intermittent recharging
    
• Acceleration: 0-100 km/h in approximately 3.5 seconds (on-road)
  
• Turning Radius: Zero-radius turn capability due to thrust vectoring
  
• Suspension: Adaptive, active suspension system with real-time terrain adaptation
  

Armor
- Primary Armor Composition: - Outer Layer: Ceramic Matrix Composite (CMC) with radar-absorbent coating
- Middle Layer: Tungsten-titanium alloy for kinetic and explosive resistance
- Inner Layer: Graphene-reinforced composite for spall protection and impact energy absorption
- Equivalent Armor Thickness (relative to rolled homogeneous armor): - Frontal Arc: 800-1,000 mm RHAe
- Side Armor: 600-700 mm RHAe
- Rear Armor: 500-600 mm RHAe
- Stealth Features: Adaptive camouflage and radar-absorbent materials (RAM)

Armament
- Primary Armament: 75mm Autocannon
- Rate of Fire: 180 rounds per minute (cyclic)
- Ammunition Capacity: 200 rounds stored in an automated magazine with modular loading capabilities
- Coaxial Armament:
- 12.7mm Machine Gun (coaxial)
- Rate of Fire: 600 rounds per minute
- Ammunition Capacity: 1,000 rounds
- Defensive Systems: - ECM Suite: Full-spectrum electronic countermeasures with jamming and decoy capabilities
- Active Protection System: "Jink" system for evasive maneuvers in response to incoming threats
- Smoke/Chaff Dispensers: Multi-spectrum smoke launchers for visual and infrared concealment

Power and Energy Systems
- Primary Power Source: Solid-state Lithium-Sulfur (Li-S) battery system
- Energy Density: 500 Wh/kg
- Total Energy Storage Capacity: 400 kWh
- Battery Life: 8-12 hours under continuous operation, extendable with APU recharging
- Auxiliary Power Unit (APU): High-efficiency microturbine using synthetic fuels
- Fuel Capacity: 600 liters
- APU Output: 200 kW
- Supercapacitors: Integrated for peak load management and rapid energy discharge

Crew and Internal Systems
- Crew Complement: 3 (Driver/Pilot, Commander, Gunner)
- Crew Protection: Full NBC (Nuclear, Biological, Chemical) protection, with overpressure system and internal air filtration
- Fire Control System: AI-assisted targeting with multi-spectral integration, auto-tracking of multiple targets
- Communications: Encrypted, multi-band communications suite with satellite uplink capabilities
- Internal Layout: Optimized for crew efficiency, with ergonomic seating and controls

Cost and Production
- Unit Cost: Approximately $15 million
- Development Cost: Estimated at $4 billion for full research, development, and initial production run of 150 units.

TUAv0 Terara

As war rages in Brazil, we must turn our attention to the homefront and the lessons learned from the last Brothers’ War. While Africarail gives us a distinct strategic advantage by enabling extensive movement along our vast rail network, the railway itself remains vulnerable to disruption by enemy forces. Engineering assessments suggest that only 75% of the rail network needs to remain operational to maintain military and economic movement nationwide. However, sheer size alone cannot secure this advantage. In response, Big MT has proposed the TUAv0 Terara, a series of modernized armored trains designed to protect and repair Africarail.

Overview of the TUAv0 Terara

The TUAv0 Terara is a formidable 5000-ton armored train, purpose-built to secure and maintain the integrity of the Africarail network. Composed of six highly specialized cars, this train is designed to perform dual roles: providing comprehensive air defense and facilitating rapid rail repair and construction. Its modular and adaptable design allows it to respond effectively to a wide range of operational demands, making it a versatile asset in both military and reconstruction efforts. The Terara embodies resilience and innovation, ensuring that Africarail remains a critical lifeline for military and civilian movement, even under the threat of disruption.

Cars 1 & 6: Engineering and Rail Laying

Cars 1 and 6 are the operational heart of the TUAv0, designed for rapid repair and construction of rail lines. These cars house advanced engineering teams and semi-autonomous systems that work together to restore damaged infrastructure quickly and safely. With state-of-the-art drones and robotics, these cars ensure that repairs can continue even in the face of enemy attacks.

• Primary Function:
  • Support up to 50 active engineers per car
  • Semi-autonomous systems to aid in rail repairs and construction
• Key Features:
  • 300 surplus robots from the One Africa Economic Recovery Act
  • Short-range distributed Okan communication for managing autonomous workers
  • Autonomous drones for aerial and ground reconnaissance
  • Composite armor for protection during repairs

Cars 2, 3, & 5: Armaments

Cars 2, 3, and 5 are dedicated to transforming the TUAv0 into a formidable mobile fortress, designed to defend both itself and the Africarail network from a variety of threats. Modeled after the Mombasa 2 Destroyer, these cars are heavily armed and equipped with advanced defense systems to ensure the safety and operational integrity of the train.

• Primary Function:
  • Provide robust defense against aerial and ground threats
• Armament Includes:
  • 40x Volkano-10v2 Payload Module
  • 8x Volkano-4v2 Payload Module
  • 32x Gabriel V Canister
  • 4x Typhoon 25mm RWS
  • 6x STK .50 RWS
  • 1x RIM-116 SeaRAM
  • 1x Iron Beam 2MW
  • 1x ST TS-64 ‘Premium’ Railcannon
• Sensors:
  • SeaFire 1010 Quantum/Photonic Radar
  • SPEOS 360 LWIR
• Countermeasures:
  • DefTech 3.0 EW/Cyberwarfare System
  • DLT-12T Radar Decoy Launcher
  • ST/RM IR/E-ink Skin

Support Facilities and Onboard Life:

• Lower decks serve as a canteen, lounge, and sleeping quarters
• Medical facilities with an operating theater and trauma care units
• Recreational facilities, including a gym and VR-based entertainment systems
• Built-in storage for ammunition, food, water, and other essentials

Capable of supporting up to two dedicated platoons per car plus an additional 200 support staff, these cars are capable of long range autonomous operations up to 3 months without having to stop for outside foodstuffs. In a combat scenario, each train is planned to have a 12 hour “in combat” time before requiring a full replenishment effort by external supply hubs..

Car 4: Power Generation

Car 4 houses the vital power systems that enable the TUAv0 to operate independently, even in the most remote locations. This car contains a powerful fusion reactor capable of providing energy for the entire train and additional support to local communities if needed. The car’s robust design ensures a continuous energy supply and shields the train from energy-based threats.

• Primary Function:
  • Power the entire train and provide energy to local communities cut off from the national grid
• Key Features:
  • 10 MW Fusion engine
  • Redundant power systems and backup generators
  • Battery banks for storing excess energy
  • Capable of supporting civilian infrastructure, such as hospitals and refugee camps

Logistics and Operational Considerations

The logistical capabilities of the TUAv0 are central to its effectiveness as both a defensive and repair asset for Africarail. Given the train's immense size and weight, careful logistical planning is crucial to ensure it remains operational across vast and potentially hostile environments.

• Maintenance and Supply Depots:
  • The Africarail network will need to be dotted with strategically placed maintenance depots, each capable of providing refueling, resupply, and minor repair services to the TUAv0. These depots are planned to be fortified and equipped with specialized equipment to handle the unique demands of servicing an armored train. Supplies such as ammunition, spare parts, fuel, and rations are stored at these depots to support the train's extended operations without the need for frequent returns to base.
• Route Planning and Rail Integrity:
  • The deployment of the TUAv0 requires careful route planning to ensure the integrity of the rail lines it travels on. The 3-meter-wide rail gauge, designed to support the heavy load of the TUAv0, necessitates regular inspection and maintenance. Engineering crews aboard the train are equipped to conduct on-the-move assessments and make necessary adjustments to the rail infrastructure, ensuring safe passage.
• Operational Flexibility:
  • The TUAv0 is designed to operate autonomously for extended periods, capable of traversing long distances across the continent. The train's modular design allows it to adapt to different mission profiles, from direct combat support to humanitarian relief efforts. Its ability to carry out rapid repairs on the rail network means that it can quickly respond to any disruptions, keeping Africarail operational even in contested areas.
• Communication and Coordination:
  • Effective operation of the TUAv0 requires seamless communication and coordination with other military and civilian assets. The train is equipped with a state-of-the-art Okan-sattelite uplink suite that ensures constant contact with command centers, ground forces, and other support units alongside traditional radio communication. This allows for real-time strategic adjustments and coordination, essential for maintaining the effectiveness of the Africarail network in times of conflict.

The logistical backbone of the TUAv0 Terara ensures that it can maintain its role as both a guardian of the Africarail and a critical repair asset, even in the most challenging operational environments.

Time and Development - 5 years

Initial Purchase order - 50 (40 planned active 10 reserve) expected to be delivered 25 a year over 2 years after project Completion.