Clone Air Force to buy fighter version of K58 Raptor

The K58 Raptor is a light attack version of the K3 Pterodactyl trainer which has a hybrid turbofan / electric ducted fan for fuel economy and sonic stealth. The Clone Air Force is funding a light fighter version of the Raptor to be called the K58AD.

This will be a cheap fighter for secondary theatres, replacing the K47 Freedom in production. Although over 360 have been made the CAF have soured on the K47 which is plagued with poor reliability and has not met the intended performance targets.

If the K58AD project works out then production will begin next year. The CAF have cancelled most of the outstanding K47 order, just planes already in production will be completed. Five hundred K58ADs have been ordered. 

Black Triangle impresses in early tests

The prototype Black Triangle 126A has returned to Solaris to be fitted with a late development build of the Lepton WX-01 multi-core engine which has been specially designed for the new type. Initial tests were made with an MBO sourced engine which only has about 70% of the trust of the WX-01 but even this was enough to enable the Black Triangle to show it's promise.

Sceptical NS officers have been won over after witnessing a series of mock combats between the Black Triangle and a Panther. The Type 35 had great difficulty in locking onto the Black Triangle, something which will be even harder when the ship has full performance enabled.

NS have revealed a surprising new feature of the WX-01, it is the first NS engine to be equipped with "cold fire" technology, this reduces infra-red emissions by up to 80%, in a close quarters combat scenario this could make the Black Triangle almost impossible to target when combined with it's high speed and agility.

As well as the WX-01 engine, the prototype will also be equipped with a development build of the tactical system being developed for the ship. This includes twin Zip-MA cannons coupled to a new multi-aspect sensor array.

Two Mariner patrol ships enter service

Two Mariner 56A Light Patrol Craft have joined the fleet as production of the type has resumed after a long hiatus. 56-105 Mongoose and 56-106 Master are now available to the patrol fleet. NS have also increased the order for the Mariner, twenty will now be built.

However, three Deterrence 53As have been withdrawn. 53-114 Bebington, 53-130 Leasowe and 53-137 Hunts Cross are the ships that have reached the end of the line. Only a handful of Deterrences are now in service and are due to be withdrawn by the end of the summer.

Final two Kinetics join the fleet

The final two Kinetic 35C cruisers have joined the fleet, these will be the last conventional Type 35s with production due to switch to the multi-mode Revolution 35Z class which can operate in atmospheres. NS has announced that five more are on order to join the lead ship.

The two Kinetics are 35-319 Kent and 35-320 Kimberley.

Naval ship was hit by anti-tank missile

The Clone Navy has reported that the patrol boat CNS Bellingham was hit by an AT-5 anti-tank missile which was launched by RP fighters from a shoreline position. The AT-5 was guided via video link. The missile is an obsolete type and doesn't have a large enough warhead to give much damage to a warship though the ship's radar and main communication mast did sustain damage.

The Navy said that the reason the missile was not intercepted by a close in weapons system was due to the small size of the missile and the lack of warning as the missile only took about four seconds from launch to strike. More modern defence systems are fitted on later ships, the Triona class patrol boats have yet to be upgraded. As a precaution the Navy has ordered captains to not get too close to the shoreline unless necessary.

The Bellingham has now returned to report for repair. The two injured crewmen are receiving medical treatment, both should make a full recovery.

Clone Navy patrol boat attacked by missile

A Clone Navy Triona class patrol boat has been struck by an unidentified missile while patrolling the northern coast of Ailier. The missile was fired from the shore and damaged the patrol boat's radar and radio mast. Two crew members received minor injuries. The boat's Z26S helicopter conducted a search for the attackers but as yet nothing has been found though a Clone Navy team is en route to the area.

The patrol boat is returning to port. Admiral Anderson wants to know why the patrol boat was not able to shoot down the missile as it is equipped with SA-N-6A missiles which have a close-in defence role.