The HCSAF have announced a 273 million zark improvement programme for it's transport arm. An improved version of the standard C-440 airlifter, the C-440C, will be developed which will include stronger floors and undercarriage and new engines. The HCSAF are also to investigate the C-460 twin-engine version of the 440 created by CAC for the civilian market to possibly replace the VC-370 VIP airliner (though interestingly the DDS recently ordered the VC-370 not the C-460!). Micom Aviation have also been given a contract to explore refurbishment and improvement options for the fleet of C-485 transports.
The A-84 production line is to cease, making it the 2nd of the "Big 3" aircraft created by the Clones at the height of the Clone Wars to be phased out of service. The F-40 ended production a few years ago though the factory is still operating rebuilding older F-40s to F-40S. Its possible the A-84 factory may revert to rebuilding older A-84s. The last of the Big 3 the A-85 COIN aircraft remains in production and is likely to be so for the foreseeable future.
The HCSAF has ordered 120 of the new ER-72ACR Airborne Communications Relay. This new type is part of the HCS' strategic shift towards survivability in the face of an invasion. The ACR would provide a mobile emergency communications system should ground based networks be destroyed by orbital bombardment. The ACR would be dispersed to rough field airstrips in the event of an emergency. The ACR will also be used to provide communications networks in more remote parts of the empire however. Recently there have been times where HCS units have needed to resort to satellite telephones to relay messages via ships in orbit because of a lack of coverage of a radio and data network.
The HCS Navy have ordered an extra Power class oiler for it's Cloneworld fleet. It's fleet of Triona OPVs will also receive new 20mm cannons this Summer in a minor refit. The new guns have improved rate of fire and are lighter and more compact than the old guns, an important consideration as the Triona has been criticised for being too cluttered and heavy.
The HCS Space Fleet has decided to keep it's Tiamon and Intruder amphibious warfare ship production line open for a while longer with an extra Tiamon and 4 Intruders ordered.
