Oojok warns that Clone Star Empire has no succession plan

Former Emperor of the Clone Star Empire, Oojok who is now living on Dino-Land, has said he has concerns about the CSE. He said that Admiral Anderson is the last clone standing from the generation who came to prominence in the Clone Wars. He warned that Anderson has eliminated most of his potential rivals, which may bring some short-term stability but if Anderson falls then the obvious successor is unknown.

One potential successor is the Clone Wars hero Xerxes, former commander of the 1st Armoured Division and now military commander in the Ailier South sector on Cloneworld. Cicero, the former deputy of Marcus, is now the governor of the CSE-E is another potential future leader. Oojok said that he hoped Anderson would not purge people like Xerxes and Cicero as the CSE might need them in the future.

MBH visits CIN East and Starbot

Emperor MBH has begun an extended visit of the former Free Eritran States, now known as the eastern states (not that directions mean much in space) of the Commonwealth of Interstellar Nations and Starbot. MBH has met the leader of Molab and will also see the leaders of Helinox and Sear N7. He will later chair a meeting of the leaders of the CIN East members on Starbot.

Sear N7 has requested information on the Swordfish patrol ship. Starbot are also said to be interested in it.

Clones launch offensive against Teriatri insurgents

Last month the Clone Defence Forces reinforced Teriatri 7 with two infantry regiments, a Red Lizard brigade and three COIN air regiments. This was possible to the ending of the insurgency in the CSE-E which has relieved a lot of pressure on the CDF.

The Clones have launched what they say will be a month long offensive against Teriatri insurgents including aerial and land assets. A K85 COIN aircraft is reported to have been lost though it is unclear if this was due to being being shot down or another reason.

Swordfish begins final trials before deliveries

The Swordfish, the Dino equivalent to the Pentekonter and Clone Shark, has begun final proving trials. The Swordfish is a multi-role small combatant which will be used by other navies in the Commonwealth of Interstellar Nations (CIN). Representatives from New Arit were on board during an early test run, they will be the first customer to receive ships, eager to replace their life expired Kalahati Tuuls at last!

The Swordfish is based on the Dinomark GL design, which had lost out to the PT in a competition for the Dino medium combat ship role. The design has been fully updated though specifications have not yet been made public. Although the Dinos do not plan, at this stage, to buy the type it has been given the designation Dinomark RA.

Clones may re-open Halogen production line for Navy

Production of the Z26 Halogen, an icon of the Clone Wars, ended a couple of years ago. The replacement, the Future Universal Helicopter (FUHX), is under development though has been delayed due to various problems. The first helicopters are not expected to enter service until the late 2130s, though as the Clone Air Force has over 8,000 Halogens in service, it is not expected to be a problem as they can rotate operational stock and have a large pool of spares.

However, the Clone Naval Air Service does have a problem. They have a much smaller fleet of navalised Halogens, many of which are old. With new carriers and other warships planned they need more helicopters and cannot wait over ten years for FUHX to deliver.

Clone Aircraft Corporation has been asked to look into the feasibility of restarting the Halogen production line ready for an order of 75-100 Halogen Z26ZNX, these will have some avionic improvements over the WNS already in service. CAC did look into the possibility of modifying surplus CAF Halogens but the work involved, including different avionics, engines, corrosion resistance covering and other changes would mean a virtual rebuild and not be much cheaper than building new from scratch. Any new Halogens could be completed by sometime next year if the order is finalised.

Rainbow to be converted into Sparkle

The singleton Rainbow 166A tender ship for the Black Triangle 126A fleet will be converted into a Sparkle 162A elint ship, DF have said. Both classes of ship are based on the Friendship platform, DF say that adding the required equipment and retaining the ability to support Black Triangle is possible, though some degree of modularisation will be required.

The first Sparkle is due to enter service next year, they will replace the Marconi EW fleet. 166-001 Rainbow is to trial some of the equipment intended for Sparkle later this year.

Quasar fleet to be withdrawn by 2130

UNDF have said the Quasar 15A bomber fleet will begin withdrawals in 2128 with the aim of the whole fleet being withdrawn by 2130. The ships, the first "generation 3" ships DDS built are due to reach the end of their fatigue lives by the early 2130s. It had been considered to rebuild them to help them reach the end of the next decade but DF has changed it's plans. DF bought back three ex-Raegris Quasars which only entered service last year! DF say these ships will be the last to be withdrawn.

The Warrior 16A bomber fleet and LRMs will perform the strategic attack role with back-up by ships like the Type 35 which can carry MRMs. DF did consider building some extra Warriors but have also changed their plans here too. The existing fleet is considered adequate.

Although capable ships, the Quasars are more expensive to run than more modern ships, plus their age had seen their availability drop.

DF begin work on Solaris replacement

UNDF has begun design studies on a replacement for the Solaris 37C cruiser which could enter service in the late 2130s. Although construction of the type only ended in 2117, the oldest ships (then known as the Velocity) were built in the early 2100s and will be reaching the end of their fatigue life by 2140.

DF are expected to look into a flexible design which can also be used to replace the Type 35 family which will also begin withdrawals in the 2140s.

Operation Atomic Fist 2126

For the first time in three years, the DF strategic attack exercise Operation Atomic Fist will be held over the next couple of weeks. The exercise will involve a number of mock attacks on targets built on asteroids in the Terran system. The final exercise will involve a live nuclear strike on a moon of Uranus. 

The ships involved will be:

36-105 Minotaur (flag)

16-101 Warrior

16-106 Wolf

16-115 Warp

35-306 Killer

51-201 Repulse

52-102 Nautilus

52-107 Night

71-121 Supplier

73-103 Zenith

Clones developing longer range CSM

The Clones are working on a new version of the Clone Space Missile which could enter service in the next decade. CSM-NG as it is currently known will have many improvements including enhanced stealth and guidance capabilities. It will also have a longer range.

CSM can currently reach most parts of the UNP though other powers such as the Dino Empire are out of reach. CSM-NG could reach Dino-Land and Castarian which could raise political tensions between the Clone Star Empire and the Saurian Alliance.

Further Terrestrial Force cuts announced

UNDF Terrestrial Force Land Divison is to be further cut, saving millions of zarks which can be used elsewhere. X04 Combat Brigade East (Reserve) is to be disbanded within the next few months. Most of the regiments are to be disbanded as well, a couple will be transferred X02 Combat Brigade West (Reserve) which will become the only reserve brigade (and will lose the West part of it's name).

Zeppelin said that there will likely be no further reductions in the size of Terrestrial Force. DF was now looking into improving it's artillery equipment.

Two new patrol ships join the fleet

Two new patrol ships have joined the UNDF fleet. 57-220 Veltheimia is the latest Violet 57B. It has been joined by 56-109 Midge, the latest Mariner 56A. Both are expected to perform their first patrol duties over the next few weeks.

DF have said they will reduce the Okra 86L fleet to just five ships as more capable patrol assets become available. The other five ships will be placed in storage, it is thought they may be converted back into shuttles.

Advanced Rome to be Type 216A

DF has decided that the Advanced Rome is going to be sufficiently different to the Rome 46A to warrant a new type designation. The Advanced Rome will be the first destroyer in the new extended number allocation sequence for the type and be the Type 216. It is thought DF will keep the Advanced Rome name, the ships will be named after cities of the Roman Empire.

Production of the first ship, the prototype, is soon to begin. It is expected that the ship will be completed before the end of the year. It may enter service by the end of 2127 or early 2128. DF have announced that at least twenty will be built.

Black Triangle has first deployment

The four Black Triangle 126A ships and their Rainbow 166A support tender has joined a DF fleet deployment near Saeou. The Black Triangle ships will be used for mock combat training and also for further evaluation of ships of this type. Although DF does not plan to build any more Black Triangle, they are interested in the concept and may revisit it in future.

The deployment is the first to be commanded by the alternate Windscorpion who has taken the position of UNDF Protector.

UNDF Commander Torus said that DF aims to get it's exercise schedule back on track, something else which was lost during the MBO years.

Wizard World turns down chance to join with other ex-CSE-E planets

Wizard World will not join with the other CSE-E planets like Miliaris in forming a loose alliance after they gain independence from the Clone Star Empire. The planet has always been an oddity in the empire, the population is very mixed with nearly 30% being human (slightly more than Eritrans). The planet has also not seen trouble, with hardly any Clone Defence Force assets on the planet. Wizard World is generally known as being a "hippy" planet.

Politicians on Wizard World say they will go their own path and aim to continue to build on the planet's reputation as a safe and friendly destination.

DF introduces TPM-4

UNDF have begun limited use of the next generation attack missile, the TPM-4. This missile is 20% smaller than the TPM-3 though has slightly longer range and similar performance due to a new and highly optimised engine architecture. The smaller size will mean that ships with dedicated TPM-4 launchers will be able to carry larger loads. The TPM-4 can also be used with TPM-3 launchers.

The engine of TPM-4 is also said to have a 270 degree vector thrust for enhanced agility though this may be disabled in initial production rounds due to problems with the vector control system. The guidance package has also been enhanced with improved penetration aids.

DF will use the TPM-4 on a limited basis this year with the aim of entering full production and beginning the phase out of TPM-3 next year. The TPM-4 was initially planned to enter service in 2124 but was delayed due to the chaos of the MBO era.