DF add new export customer

UNDF have agreed the sale of spaceships and other military equipment to the isolationist planet Julantek J4. Julantek lack much of a space fleet but their proximity to 7 Sa Sao Xeon space and the growing Tarbot threat has helped them decide to invest in their military.

Julantek have ordered three Pentekonter Protect 293J patrol ships, two Depender 777J multi-role ships and five Coril shuttles, two being VIP configured. Julantek have also ordered an undisclosed number of DAR-L1 laser rifles and are looking into SMA built ground vehicles (though none ordered as yet).

The value of the order has not been disclosed but will include UNDF help in upgrading Julantek's orbital facilities, training systems and interstellar communications.

Anderson hails return of shipbuilding to Clone Space Navy

Admiral Anderson has said shipbuilding capability has returned to the Clones after the first new Molentic Tuul MTM2 was completed after several years of frozen production lines and collapsed supply chains. Anderson said two more would be completed by the end of the year. New Sharks would also arrive soon.

In another boost to the Clone Space Navy, which has suffered from a growing lack of ships recently, the first three of six Raegris built Cosmos CSR have also been delivered and are being prepared for an entry into service later this year.

Order confirmed for Dreamscape special forces support ships

While the EW/Elint role of the Marconi 81A ships will be replaced by the forthcoming Sparkle 162As, there is also the secondary and much less discussed role of the Marconis in acting as a support ship for long-range special forces operations which needs to be covered.

UNDF has decided not to add this role to the Sparkle ships and instead have ordered two dedicated special forces support ships to be known as the Dreamscape 163A. These are also Friendship platform based ships. It is not known how the ships will be equipped but it is expected they have expanded docking facilities, a casualty handling station, planning/scenario training rooms and accommodation to support UNDF Space Marines. The ships are expected to be delivered in 2128.

Hospital ships to be replaced, turned into transports

UNDF has placed an order for three new hospital ships to replace the existing fleet of Nightingale 88As. The Nightingales are SUP based ships and considered far too large for the role now that UNDF have scaled back it's amphibious warfare capabilities. An analysis has shown that the maximum occupancy of a Nightingale since they entered service was 19%, and these days seldom in double figures.

The new hospital ships will be Friendship platform based and are expected to enter service in 2127. They will be much smaller, though fully capable and e-Core powered to save costs. The three Nightingales will be fully overhauled and converted into Provider or Extender transports. The ships have been lightly used and converting them will be less involved than the Missileers (though these are likely to be converted too at a later stage).

The new hospital ships are as yet unnamed but will be the Type 168.

Third Revolution enters service

The third Revolution 35Z multi-mode ship has entered service. This has a number of refinements to the aerospace mode including revised flying services, improved flight control systems and uprated turbines. The first two Revolutions are expected to receive this refined standard over the next couple of years.

The production rate of the seven outstanding ships is now expected to be ramped up. The Revolution's ground attack mode is to improved with a series of tactical updates over the next few months.

DF Marines switch to fractal communications as part of major upgrade

The UNDF Marine force has received a major communications upgrade which brings fractal encryption down to the personal level. This brings the Marine force up to speed with the rest of the space force as much of the combat fleet is expected to complete the roll-out of fractal upgrades by the end of the decade.

The Marines have also received new uniforms with a digital camouflage pattern and an update to the DAR-L1 rifle with improved energy management. Zeppelin has also announced that the Marine force will increase in size by 20% by 2135.