NS are currently drawing up the next ship building plan for 2119/2120. As expected it will be dominated by the Protector 57A which is entering mass production to replace the rapidly ageing fleet of legacy light patrol assets. It is thought eight will be built in the plan, though as three are still pending with the current plan that might be a tough act.
The light patrol fleet is on a knife edge even with the introduction of emergency Okra 86L patrol ships based on Coril shuttles. So many legacy ships are out of service or limited in what they can do (some ships are limited to orbital operations as they are now too fragile for superluminal travel) that two Isometrics and a Corkscrew have been drafted in to cover patrol circuits in recent weeks. A Provider transport will be used next week as there is little remaining slack in the fleet.
VP Ops Torus said that by later in the year enough Protectors should be available to begin easing the strain though things will be tight until 2121.
