Mysterious Type 216X appears on engineering documents, future Isometric replacement?

While work on the Advanced Rome 216A continues, a new ship type has appeared on various DF Engineering documents and lists. This is the Type 216X which has appeared on the list of pending worm drive geometries to be created to allow the ship to safely make a worm jump. According to the details of the geometry it will be similar to the Advanced Rome but longer and have a mission wing like the Repulse 51B.

The second place Type 216X has appeared is on a list of n-Core engines being developed. A second generation engine with around 20% more thrust than the Tachyon PM-01A to be fitted to Advanced Rome is being developed. Analysts say the details of the Type 216X seem to match the planned Isometric family replacement planned for the second half of the 2130s.

The ship, when completed, will probably not be known as Type 216X as UNDF often use designations like this as placeholders. Indeed, it has been rumoured that the Isometric replacement could be the Type 220. As yet we are a long way off. DF's priority is to get Advanced Rome into service by 2130.

K59 enters service

The latest fighter of the Clone Air Force, the K59 has entered service. This is a light fighter version of the K58 COIN aircraft and also has a hybrid ducted fan powerplant. On the K59 the ducted fan has been uprated to boost performance. The K59 is highly agile (it is a development of the K03 Pterodactyl advanced trainer) and has been fitted with the same radar and avionics of the K47, the previous light fighter which the K59 is replacing in production.

The CAF plan to field five hundred K59s at least, these will help complete the replacement of the K40 and older K47s. The K59 has been given the name Flashlight, this was also used by the K43 light fighter the Clones developed during the Clone Wars though was ultimately unsuccessful (the CAF are hoping the K59 will have better luck!)

Dino Army to invest heavily in drone warfare

The Dino Army has spent the last few months looking into the lessons of the Miliaris insurgency and investigating a number of Molab-type drones they acquired. The Dino Army say they are vulnerable to this new form of warfare and have announced a multi-billion zark investment in drone warfare and a re-organisation of front-line units.

The Dinos are to buy 500 T-55ZDM-AD drone warfare tanks. This new version of their standard tank will be equipped with radar guided machine guns and an anti-drone missile system. The tank will also be able to launch a Dino version of the Molab-type drone. The Dinos will also buy around 2,500 soft-skinned launch vehicles for drones.

The three front-line legions will have have Drone Warfare Regiments added to them, the number to be created has not been mentioned. Money has also been invested in a next generation laser defence system and improved combat drones, as well as an interceptor drone designed for anti-drone warfare. The Dino Army is hoping most of these changes will be operational before the end of the decade.

Raegris call for attack on Utrek!

The Raegris has said that the Utrek are still greatly weakened after their catastrophic war with the Mantae but are rebuilding fast. The Raegris report on the Utrek says that in 15 years they estimate the Utrek will have restored their fleet to the pre-war levels (though much more powerful as older types like the Kalahati Tuul no longer exist). Maybe in 10 years the Utrek will be a direct threat.

The Utrek have said that the UNDF, CIN and Clones should join forces (with the Raegris) and attack the Utrek before it is too late. It is unlikely such an attack will occur though the Clones are furious at Utrek alleged involvement in the CSE-E uprising.

n-Core engine will be the Tachyon family

UNDF has chosen the Tachyon family name for it's next generation n-Core engine. The first ship to deploy the new engine is expected to be the Advanced Rome 216A early in the next decade. The engine is listed as the Tachyon PM-01A n-Core though the name may change by the time it enters service.

The Advanced Rome will launch with a Proton RM-01GX2 e-Core engine. This will be an upgraded version of the existing RM-01GX.

Utrek deny supplying Eritran rebel groups

The Utrek Federation has said that they have not been involved in supplying rebel groups in the Clone Star Empire - East. However, they said they could not rule out private groups or other powers using Utrekian ships or agents for their own ends.

UNDF has meanwhile reported on an incident where an alien of unknown identity was able to lure three UNDF officers, including the second officer of the SS Jurassic, to their deaths. The alien was killed though it is thought the alien may have been trying to destroy the Jurassic and harm the blockade. UNDF are considering sending more ships to the area.