DDSAF announce big cuts

The DDSAF has outlined how it will save nearly 200 million zarks this year and 650 million zarks over the next 5 years as part of DDS cost cutting. Deputy Commander Shiner said the cuts were due to the large debts of the DDS incurred during the war and also because of the smaller army now needed and hence less air power needed to support it.

• 8 F-10S have been cut from the order meaning that the eventual fleet will number 100. The ground attack SEP-B is safe but will be an upgrade of part of the fleet not new build.
• The F-10A fleet will be reduced to 35 with 15 aircraft put in reserve. The AEA upgrade has been cancelled.
• LLAD has been cut by half, though this had already been announced.
• The MQ-16C Attack Osprey order has been cut by 10. 
• The Black Magic project for a supersonic stealth attack drone has been cancelled though had been at a very early stage.
• A-85, NDAA, K-18D and Ferret numbers and orders are unchanged.
• The HH-30 helicopter order has been cancelled and the ongoing A/C-26 Halogen order cut by 33 meaning the DDS will eventually have a fleet of 120.
• The C-485 transport order has been cut by 5, the DDS will eventually have 20.

As well as these equipment cuts 4 squadrons will be disbanded and an air base closed. Funding for a cruise missile is understood to have been transferred to the New DDS Army.