Anderson hails return of Clone space ship building as two new Sharks join the fleet

Admiral Anderson has said the arrival of two new Shark SKB frigates to the Clone Space Navy means that Clone space ship building has finally been restored after several years of chaos when barely a ship could be completed due to a skills shortage and a supply chain collapse.

Anderson said that more Sharks and also new Cosmos CM cruisers would be joining the fleet later this year and also in subsequent years. New ships are badly needed due to the looming withdrawal of the Kalahati Tuul S fleet and also the retirement of end-of-life Cosmos CA over the next few years.

Anderson also said the fleet would be further strengthened by three more Mekit MK4Y cruisers bought fron the Rectoids. Analysts say this purchase indicates that heavy combatant production may not resume for a while yet.

Clones unveil anti-drone Tapir

The Clone Army has unveiled a new version of the evergreen Tapir IFV. The J7HMA Defender Tapir will be new-build machines based on the latest version of the Tapir (HD), though it is possible older Tapirs could be retrofitted if necessary. The Defender Tapir is equipped with a 400 cell DART system with integrated radar. The DART is a new kinetic warhead missile dedicated to fighting mass produced drones.

DARTs are very small, almost pencil sized and are very short range. However, they can be built and fielded in the huge numbers required to protect against mass produced drones and other attack projectiles. The Clones are hopeful that mass deployment of DART will negate the growing threat of Molab type drones.

The Defender Tapir is also equipped with a radar guided machine gun as a back-up. The Clone Army has ordered 500 of them, with the first regiment already equipped and in training.

Anderson says operators of "terror drones" will be executed

Admiral Anderson has condemned the drone attack on Central Air Force Base a few days ago. He said the Clone Defence Forces would no longer tolerate "criminal, terrorist and treasonous" actions on Cloneworld and elsewhere in the Clone Star Empire. He said that operating, possession and building of drones would be punishable by death. Even possessing the plans for drones would be heavily punished.

The Clone Army has moved more anti-aircraft assets to key strategic positions on Cloneworld. A new version of the Tapir IFV dedicated to anti-drone warfare is said to be ready to enter service.

n-Core engine prepares for "nightmare" test

UNDF Engineering are reporting that static bench testing of the latest build of the n-Core engine, which will one day be powering the Advanced Rome, is going very well. However, the engine now has to face the Sustained Stress Test, said to be a "nightmare" for any new design. The test includes a full power run for several days followed by a series of maximum deceleration and acceleration events and then another multi-day run at maximum power. If there are any flaws in the engine design then this test will find them out!

If the test goes well, the n-Core engine will begin field tests next year. UNDF Engineering are currently working on a new engine build which will fit in the Advanced Rome design. Work has begun on the second ship which will be used to text the n-Core engine. The prototype will run initially with the e-Core engine used in the Classic Rome 46A.

Fleet news

Two Repulse 51B Medium Combat Ships have joined the fleet. The ships are 51-209 Caldecote and 51-210 Woodcote and have joined the DF fleet.

Half of the Repulse 51B has now been completed. DF say there will be no differences in the second half of the fleet.

Advanced Rome will be official name, Rome also renamed

UNDF has confirmed that the Advanced Rome 216A will be the official name of the next generation Light Combat Ship. They also said that the Rome 46A will be renamed the Classic Rome 46A.

DF also provided some more details of the Advanced Rome. The first few examples will use the same engine as the Classic Rome. The Advanced Rome will have a brand new tactical databus, this will be trialed on a Classic Rome later in the year.