DDS Fleet Review published

The DDS Fleet Review has been published, a couple of weeks early because of the non-stop leaking from pre-release reports. The findings are generally as expected and Windscorpion has given his immediate endorsement with the proviso that some changes to the fleet (especially in terms of combat forces) will not take place until "after the Utrek threat is over" and there will be a mini-review before beginning to carry out the plans.

The Review aims at "producing a DDS fleet best able to meet the challenges of the next 20 to 30 years" and also tries to cut DDS costs. Rationalisation of types is central to the report (though some of this has been announced and carried out already). So the main points of the Review :

Cruiser / Missile Carrier Fleet

• Pulsar to be withdrawn within 3 years of the ending of the Utrek threat (see above).
• Quasar ILU to include SAS-Q strategic bombing and C3 updates to allow the Quasar to replace the Pulsar in those roles. Existing ILUs will be retro-fitted.
• Missileer to have secondary UCAV carrier role (already announced), it will also be equipped to fire strategic missiles using target data from Quasar.
• Pangaea LCX cancelled, role replaced by Panther-MRV
  

Destroyer Fleet

• Panther order reduced to 10 ships, however these ships will include SAS targeting systems for operation with missile carrying ships (e.g. Missileer)
• 10 multi-role versions of Panther to be built (Panther-MRV), still highly capable but less combat orientated. Replacing the Pangaea cruiser.
• Final 2 Velocity destroyers cancelled leaving a fleet of 5. These will receive an ILU update around 2110.
• Neptune redesignated test ship and moved to the Departmental Fleet.
• Remedian fleet disbanded, all Kalahati Tuul 1s to be withdrawn. Remaining Kalahati Tuul 2s to form Remedian Customs & Police Patrol (RCPP). 4 HCS Kalahati Tuul 2Ns to be purchased to supplement the fleet. Patrols in Remedian space will be carried out by DDS ships but these will have Remedian captains and much of the crew will be Remedian (where possible).
  

Frigate / Patrol Fleet

• Rhombus class disbanded, ships returned to Isometric class but these ships will receive modifications for long-range patrol and will be known as Isometric-R.
• Terran Sea class to number 25 (currently 31 on order).
• New Mars class (Isometric 3) frigate to supplement fleet and replace Remedian patrol units.
  
• Isometric Prototype redesignated test ship and moved to the Departmental Fleet.
• Solaris fleet sold, one example moved to the Departmental Fleet (already announced).
• Rome OPV class increased to 20 examples.

Landing Ships

• Intruder sold back to HCS (in fact sold as part-exchange + cash for the KT 2Ns (see above) once first Lake LHA enters service.
• Lake class LHAs increased to 10 examples.
• DDS to lease HCS Tiamon ship for evaluation purposes.

Departmental Fleet

• Intrepid ship to be given to New Arit (already announced).
• 3 Starsystems to be bought (or given) back to DDS to join Starsystem fleet (already announced).
• Solaris to join Departmental Fleet plus Neptune and Isometric-P.

Transport & Support Fleet

• Provider class to be completed on 20 examples.
• Extender class to be increased to 20 examples.
• Moscow EW class to be withdrawn (possibly sold to Aritans).
• Marconi EW class order reduced to 5.

VIP, Hospital & Shuttle Craft Fleet

• Ambassador class cancelled (already announced).
• Profit Motive withdrawn (already announced).
• Primary Casualty Receiving Ship class to be developed.

The Review is expected to cause a lot of debate in the DDS though the authors say it will produce a leaner and more flexible fleet that will keep the DDS at the cutting edge.