HCS Round-up (29/11/07)

With the Gale IRBM ring around Central Ailier currently receiving the Gale IIB update the HCS have announced a further update and the next generation programme. Gale IIC will continue on the work being carried out with the current update and will further improve silo protection and security and warhead penaids. The Gale III programme has also been announced, this will replace the current missiles around the middle of the next decade and possibly also include a naval version for use on the planned HCSN SSBNs.

The Army is to receive 150 new Tapir IFVs, the TRV-5G4-II features improved radios. Work has been cancelled on the next major Tapir version, the Tapir-H due to the budget cuts however work already done will be deployed on a smaller update, to be known as TRV-5G5 next year.

The Army has also ordered a further 20,000 AR-105 assault rifles, bringing the total in the HCS to 130,000. There is some way to go before the venerable AR-100 is replaced however as the HCS have around 8 million on the books...

A VLF radio station has begun operating in Central Micom, this is to be used to communicate with HCSN submarines (though there is only one old SSK at the moment). Attention is switching to an aerial communication system however due to the vulnerability of a static ground base. A land mobile station is also being looked at.

The 20 oldest Cosmos CC cruisers will receive a MLU next year. Some of these cruisers are now 10 years old and starting to show their age. As well as refurbishment and replacement of fatigued hull structure they will receive updates to tactical systems, shields and cloaking device to bring them up to the Cosmos SR standard.

The 20 surviving Molentic Tuul cruisers will also receive an update though not to GX standard, it is thought they will receive some GX technology but retain their older engines and armament. The update will be known as Molentic Tuul MT-B.

Voting begins in Consul election

Voting has begun in the first round of the Dino Consul election. There are 4 candidates though only Jimmy and M-B-H have any chance of winning and should make it through into the second round next month. Over the last few weeks Jimmy has regained his lead over M-B-H and now has a healthy average opinion poll rating of 61% compared to M-B-H's 19%.

Dinos across the Republic have been voting and the votes will be electronically counted in a couple of days once proxies and random samples have been checked. The second round between the top 2 will then begin with polling a week later.

Panther unveiled to media

The DDS have officially unveiled their latest destroyer D101 Panther to the media. The ship, not yet in operational use, has just returned to port after extensive trials including mock combat. A number of issues arose during the gruelling trials but "no show stoppers" according to a DDS spokeswoman. The ship will spend the rest of the year having these issues addressed and have final fitting out of internal systems.

The ship will then conduct a final trial in early January and should there be no major problems should enter service before the end of the month.

Ferret UCV nears completion

The joint DDS/Dino/Starbot UCV space fighter, the Ferret-E is nearing completion with the latest pre-production milestone about to enter testing. Ferret-X M05 is expected to be the last pre-production prototype and it's configuration is more of less the same as production Ferret-Es are expected to be. Both the Dinos and DDS are building an M05, the Dino example was the first to be completed and will enter extensive trials next week. The DDS example is expected in early December.

Meanwhile the DDS produced M04 has completed it's trials with SS Missileer and it is thought was also used as part of SS Panther's combat trials. Overall the trials were a success though there were some stability and control issues which it is hoped M05 will solve.

Meanwhile the DDS and Dinos have begun feasibility studies on a larger reconnaissance UCV. The superluminal capable drone would be used for ultra-long range reconnaissance and sigint duties.

Trojan Warlord leaves DDS

In a surprise move, considering his lack of career options and talent, the Trojan Warlord has resigned from the DDS said to be a result of his second brutal assault at the hands of the Hoods. Following news of his departure the DDS share price rose 14%. Trojan said he was fed up being treated by disdain by the DDS and wanted a new job where he could be respected and valued for his "unique portfolio of skills".

It is thought he is now working as a male stripper in Hexian City.

Some parts of HCS to face funding cuts to afford Navy

To get the Navy the HCS wants by 2118 (and that was revealed at a media briefing last week to include 4 carriers, 2 helicopter cruisers, nuclear submarines et cetera) the HCS is going to have to stump up some 25 billion zarks over the period. As well as that the HCS are thought to soon authorise a 10 year crash programme to develop SLBMs and SSBNs that will cost another 10 billion zarks.

The Clone economy is doing very well, indeed the HCS has seen a large increase in funding lately but the money pit isn't bottomless. Clone observers estimate the government can stump up around 15 billion extra for the Navy on top of inflation equaling defense budget increases over the next 10 years plus the SLBM programme. The other 10 billion is going to have to be clawed back from the other 3 services.

It is thought major programmes like the AH-26X and Shark space frigate will see procurement slowed down and build spread over a longer period, planned future projects like the next Tapir IFV version will be delayed. As these new weapons are replacing old and wearing out types however it does mean the HCS overall will lose some capability. For example the HCS is still going to get a new armoured division but 9 infantry regiments will in turn be disbanded as part of an estimated 4.2 billion zarks the HCS will have to return over the next decade.