F-45K unveiled

Milestone 3 of the F-45C/K project, now the largest current procurement project in the HCS, has been reached with the unveiling of a modified prototype. It still does not have the mission adaptive wing as the final plane is supposed to have though bench tests are proceeding well according to HCS sources. M3 does have a fuller set of avionics and some aerodynamic changes to bring it closer to the final specification. The F-45C Milestone 4 is due next year with an entry into service planned for 2114.

More interestingly the first prototype of the carrier version of the fighter, the F-45K, has been rolled out as part of M3. This will be the primary equipment of the HCSNAS carrier wing from 2115 onwards (and not a moment too soon considering the small number of old F-40Ns currently filling that role). F-45K M3 is due to make its first flight "before Summer" though a carrier landing will not be made until later in the year.

• Extender 73A and Provider 71A production will be switching to the SUP-C platform following its successful employment on the Missileer 21B. SUP-C will allow a speed increase up to 700c thanks to a stronger structure, refined hyperspace field and an uprated HS-740-100A engine. The backlog of older SUPs has now been used up and the next completed examples of each ship will be to this new standard.
• The Onion, the Head of DDS Security, has been put on indefinite medical leave after sustaining serious injuries. How he was injured has not been disclosed but it is rumoured to be the lower part of his anatomy. Redjec has taken up his duties for the meantime.
• A HCS Kelsan KS bomber was intercepted by a Helinox Pentekonter-E patrol ship near to the planet's outer solar system. It is thought the Kelsan was on a spying mission as it was observed with a large dorsal pod attached which analysts later said was likely to be a Sigint module.
• The Freighter TYA is set to remain in production for at least 30 years (its currently in it's 21st year of continuous production). An extra 20 have been ordered to replace older ships which will come to the end of their lives over the next 5 years and more ships are likely to be ordered after that. From 2115 production is likely to switch to the Mark 8. The status of the DDS project to rebuild and upgrade some 25 Mark 3 and 4 TYAs is unknown. Any work on the project was delayed by the war and it now seems the HCS may prefer to simply buy new ships. The specialised Type H weapons transport is understood to have been cancelled. It may be the Mark 8 will include some specialised handling equipment for hazardous materials.