Molab have unveiled a mass producible space drone for orbital defence or swarm attacks. The drone is designed to be buildable from the sort of common "space junk" available anywhere in the galaxy including spent oxygen tanks. The displayed prototype was literally based on a bin!
The drone has a solid rocket motor, which can be fuelled by a variety of different chemicals. As with the air drone, it has a very flexible design. Molab have placed their designs into the public domain.
The Dinos have said that the Clones are planning to invade the independent mining colony of Lem 619 in unaligned space. The planet was settled by humans some years ago and is said to have a population of around 7 million, including half a million Clones. Lem 619 has rich mineral deposits though these have yet to be fully exploited.
Lem 619 has little in the way of a military. Janes' Fighting Spaceships list two Coril type shuttles and a civilian transport owned by the government, none of them armed. A land defence force of around 6,000 men are maintained, though have little in the way of heavy weapons. They have been investigating Molab type drones however.
UNDF think the military build-up and reconstruction work taking place in the Taragargi sector of the Clone Star Empire is due to plans for a Clone attack, however they do not think the UNDF will be attacked. The alert status is being kept at it's current elevated level and UNDF will continue to deploy extra assets to UNDF South as a precaution.
Four Molentic Tuul cruisers are reported to have arrived at Taragargi. Six transports are also en route to the planet from Cloneworld, it is rumoured they are carrying men and equipment from the 4th Armoured Division of the Clone Army.
The Clone Defence Forces have finally revealed details of it's long delayed Z26 Halogen replacement, the Future Universal Helicopter (FUHX). The Z26 is a Clone War icon which has been built in the thousands, but it's replacement will be quite different.
The Z35 Courier is intended to replace the Halogen in the transport, multi-mission and reconnaissance roles. The attack role is already being taken by the Z50 Dragonfly. The Z35 is a simpler aircraft compared to the Z26, it does not have turbofans to augment performance (which has proven to be only useful in the attack role). The Z35 will have twin contra-rotating rotors instead of the ducted fan used in most Clone helicopter designs. Compared to the Z26, the Z35 will have 30% greater cargo capacity and a longer range.
The Clones say they plan to fly the prototype by 2130 with an entry into service by 2133.
The Dino interstellar strategic missile, the Dino Space Missile or DSM, has been declared operational. Six mobile launchers are now active, as part of the 1st SS Strategic Attack Regiment, part of SS Strategic Weapons. MBH placing Dino strategic weapons under SS control is still controversial, the Dino Army has managed to gain access to the weapons following a review.
When the regiment is fully operational it will consist of twenty four mobile launchers and six more in reserve. DSM will not be nuclear armed by default, however nuclear warheads are being built and will be stored at a secure location. They can be fitted to DSMs fairly quickly if needed.
The Clone Army has unveiled the latest version of it's T-55Z tank, which is likely to become the sole tank in service after the army downsizes following the withdrawal from CSE-E. The T-55Z8 is the first new version for some time that is not based on a Dino funded upgrade, the last version being the T-55Z7 which was based on the Dino ZDM.
The T-55Z8 has improved sensors and a reduced infrared heat signature. It also has a laser point defence system for combatting drones. Other changes include an LED searchlight, better encrypted datalinking and compatibility with a new missile (identity currently secret).
The first T-55Z8s are expected to enter service early next year.