K47 to be updated

The K47 Freedom light fighter was designed as a cheap, easy to maintain fighter for secondary planets in the Clone Star Empire and reserve units. Although it fulfilled the briefs from the Clone Air Force, the K47 was considered a bit of a disappointment and production has ceased after 360 were built (the original plan was for over a thousand!) The K59 Flashlight has now replaced it in production as a secondary light fighter.

The CAF are intending to keep the K47 in service into the 2140s though the oldest are now over ten years old and CAF is preparing to an upgrade. The K47MEC (Modernised Enhanced Capabilities) will be a rolling programme of upgrades and refurbishments to the fleet. As well as a full overhaul, MEC will include an upgraded tactical computer, improved communications, a higher bandwidth datalink and an infrared seeker. The upgrade will maintain compatibility with the latest and next generation of CAF air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons.

The first MEC is expected to be completed early next year.

Repulse enters service

51-213 Wilnecote, the latest Repulse 51B Medium Combat Ship, has entered service with the UNDF Space Fleet following the successful completion of it's trials. The ship will now join the UNDF patrol pool.

This is the 13th Repulse to be completed, seven more are due to be built by the end of next year. No more after that are expected to be built. The next Medium Combat Ship to enter service will be the Advanced Rome.

Utrek accuse Dinos of violating space, damaging ship

The Utrek are accusing the Dinos of violating Utrek space near to the border with the Remedian Belt. The Dinos are not denying that one of their ships did enter Utrek space, which they said was due to a navigational error and the Dino ship quickly left Utrek space.

However, the Utrek are also saying that the Dinos attacked a Utrek warship causing damage to it, which resulted in a number of serious injuries. The Dinos are denying they attacked the Utrek. They said that they detected some old mines of unknown origin in the area and have suggested that the Utrek hit them.

Clone Navy receive two more Dinomark XT SSNA

Two more ex-Dino Army Dinomark XTs have been delivered to the Clone Navy after a full refurbishment and localisation programme. The XTs are underwater capable and will join the six others already in service. The Dinomark XTs are said to be used for special forces operations and Clone Marine deployments.

The Clone Navy also said that their fourth Walrus ballistic missile submarine has begun trials and is expected to enter service next year.

Anderson denies CAF strategic bomber

Admiral Anderson has turned down a request by the Clone Air Force for initial gate funding for a proposed strategic bomber. The bomber is envisaged as a key part of the Clone "Stand off fight back" doctrine where an enemy has landed forces on Cloneworld or another key planet in the empire. Missiles and stand-off weapons launched by ground and naval based aircraft are intended to strike back against the enemy force.

The CAF say a strategic bomber would have the endurance and payload to make it a highly useful part of this doctrine. However, Anderson says the bomber would not have any other role and would cost a lot of money for an inflexible system. He says that more investment in land based and naval launched Gale ICBMs would be more cost effective.

UNDF begins to deploy Silver Dart anti-drone system

UNDF has begun the deployment of the new Silver Dart micro-SAM system designed to combat mass drone attacks. The missiles are small and can be fired in large numbers to defend against the kind of mass drone attacks that proved so deadly in the Miliaris conflict.

UNDF Terrestrial Forces have deployed sixteen land mobile Silver Dart systems, which carry 250 rounds. A hard sited version with 1000 rounds is also in development.