Clone Air Force ditch "human style" designations

In a surprise move the Clone Air Force has abandoned its type designation system for aircraft and instead will use a series of numbers based on the Clonese words for aircraft "keinonaw" K, drones "quasta keinonaw" QK and helicopter "zoki keinonaw" ZK. Most aircraft designations will change simply by changing the type prefix (F, A et cetera) to K. So the F-45A Falcon for example is now the K45A Falcon. Specialist function prefixes are now added as suffixes, this can make some variant designations a bit unwieldily for example the latest naval version of the Halogen helicopter has changed from SH-26WNG to ZK26SWNG!

Transports with 3 figure numbers however have been truncated to two numbers so the C-440 is now the K44 for example. A full list of the new designations can be seen on the CAF fleet page. The old designations will likely be kept for export.

The reason for the change has not been given, one CDF insider said it could cloud the purpose of an aircraft type in a bit of mystery though as the new designations have been openly published this is unlikely to be a factor. Another insider said it is simply because the old system was a legacy of the human influence of the early HCS Air Force and that the more nationalist Clone Defence Forces wants to move away from "alien influences". The Clone Navy have also adopted the designations.

• In other Clone aviation news the first K45K fighter (which is better known as the F-45K) has been completed and will be delivered to the Clone Navy next month. The Clone Naval Air Service hope to begin carrier tests with their new fighter before the end of the year and achieve a limited level of operational status early next year. The first K45Cs for the Clone Air Force will be built next year.