SDNWorld Redux: Story Thread the Second

[Coiler]

"Commence Operation Customer Complaint" was what went out to the signalled air forces, as they loaded up the most powerful bombs they could and sought out to hammer the Revolutionary Front....

Meanwhile,

Navalopolis Station

"WHO ARE YOU WORKING FOR?" came the sound of Coilerburg Chief Torturer Howard Gull.

The pilot simply said "I work for the cause."

"I NEED TO KNOW MORE! STRAP HIM INTO THE MUSICAL TORTURE DEVICE!"

The prisoner was strapped into the machine, and suddenly his back began to be twisted painfully beyond its comfortable limits. Meanwhile, speakers blared the classic "Come on baby, let's do the twist! Come on baby, let's do the twist!"

After a few minutes of that, the machine shifted from twisting the prisoner to violently shaking him, to the sounds of "Shake it up baby now, shake it up baby, twist and shout!"

The next track was a smooth female voice singing "Upside, down, boy you turn me, inside out, and round and round." Sure enough, the prisoner was swung around the room by his ankles, and by now was screaming to stop. But the routine wasn't finished yet.

"When a problem comes along, you must whip it, before the cream sits out too long, you must whip it...." accompanied automatic lashings administered to the prisoner. That in time gave way to electronic beats and the singing of of "You spin me right round baby, right round like a record baby, right round round round!", where the prisoner was spun uncontrollably like a top.

Finally, after an exposure to bright lights accompanied by "Whoa oh oh, heaven let your light shine down", the machine stopped, and the prisoner emerged visibly shaken. "All right, I'll tell you everything I know...."

Ever since the Coilerburg government had purchased the Musical Torture Device from a Shroomanian company specializing in the-bizarre, to say the least, it had proved its worth many times. Even as the first waves of strike craft took off, President Stone was able to say to his comrades "It was at least a branch of the Revolutionary Front that attacked Coilerburg's warships. We got the confession from the pilot".

[Siege]

Customer Complaint



Camp Murray, just outside of Shipborough, Sabika

“Execute! Execute! Execute!” echoed from speakers across the SDAF airbase. Within minutes the first Super Aardvark was off the ground, the aircraft lighting up the sky as they flew south, toward the Sabikan-CFR border. Operation CUSTOMER COMPLAINT was a go, and the San Doradan pilots, eager to for the first time test the capabilities of the F-111XL in real combat, were going to visit real violence upon the rebels of the Revolutionary Front.

[Karmic Knight]

News From the Vinish Press

Black Barracuda Project Bears First Prototype

The Project, some calling it a waste of money for the Commonwealth to pay Gizmonic that would be better served buying Great War era weapons, has created its first prototype. The Black Barracuda I is the fruit of the BB team’s labour, and it will be launching for its first mission on the eve of an anti-pirate raid. The root taken by the boat on its first voyage, an example of what the project manager called the 'niche of the ship' is that of eliminating piracy as a threat to shipping.


The Black Barracuda I, a major development of the BB Project.

Conference for Economic and Defensive Stability Re-announced, with a set Date

The vague Senate and Sovereign’s rumblings for a Conference to work on Defence have finally become a reality, as the King announced, re-announced really, on CNBC that the Commonwealth would like to host a conference in January to discuss the economy of Frequesue, and the Defence of Frequesue. He said, “Now is the perfect time to consolidate our problems and to work together to fix them, we now has a mostly stable interior, and a regime in former Westchester that is more open to working with us, we need to work to build this continent into a place of safety and stability, now.”

Vinish Proposals Voted On in the ASRF

Of the 312 different proposals by the Commonwealth identifying various measures that could bring the Autonomous Socialist Republic of Frequesue out of the economic slump it was in were finished voting on Monday. Of the proposals only 15 were not voted down by the Committee.

Proposal 1 (Joining FTO, Officially)
Proposal 5 (Joint VInish-ASRF Tunnel)
Proposal 9 (Railway Workup)
Proposal 12 (Not Released)
Proposal 21 (Not Released)
Proposal 32 (Not Released)
Proposal 199 (Not Released)
Proposal 201 (Not Released)
Proposal 213 (Not Released)
Proposal 214 (Not Released)
Proposal 216 (Not Released)
Proposal 217 (Not Released)
Proposal 299 (Not Released)
Proposal 300 (Not Released)
Proposal 301 (With Mirata, A Trans-Interior Railway)

13 Hikers Killed in the Mountains of Valour

Reports are coming in of missing hikers who were hiking along the Commonwealth and Principality border. This was also released with continued confusion over an explosion that happened on the Principality side of the border a week ago, as VEIL reports it was a Terrorist attack, and the Principality has not commented.

Computer Game, ‘Brain’s of Steel’ released.

Puffin Taskforce Relieved


The New Taskforce is headed by the Shroom the 777th

The Puffin taskforce has returned to port in Thadon and has been relieved by a taskforce headed by the Shroom the 777th, it is part of the bit of reshuffling and ‘experience missions’ being ordered by Naval Minister Vincent. Alongside this shuffling, comes the launching of a new round of Grand River anti-Pirate Raids, and raids along the Earlesi coastline.

Operation Customer Complaint – Commonwealth Wing


A Commonwealth Rafale in flight.

Recently decided by the FTO, it was arranged for a large-scale attack on the CFR areas currently controlled by the so-called ‘Revolutionary Front,’ a former Indahopali backed terrorist warlord group. The attack is the largest push since Operation Stabilizer was launched against the Whole of the CFR after the death of Mr. Mortimer, the acting Dictator at the time.

The Commonwealth forces used in the so-called Operation Customer Complaint was the Southern Republic Air Command, and the Overall CFR Dependencies Air Command Units and the Overall CFR Air Superiority Command, constituting 33 MiG-25s, 45 Rafales, and 30 Mirage 2000-5s.


A San Dorado Made Commonwealth Mirage 2000-5, similar to the Gizmonic MRF 2000

Gizmonic Rail given Overland Commonwealth contract

Work has now begun on multiple railways reaching from the Eutopean Coastline to the Southern Republic in the CFR, and Gizmonic Rail has been given the money to build it all. The project will use local labour for the majority of the work, only breaking that with a slight favour to ASRF and CFR Dependency workers when work will begin on the Cross-Line, which will cut across the existing tracks only slightly, as the traffic that the Gizmonic lines are using is would hamper national traffic. They will stay near the existing lines, when possible.

[Ryan Thunder]

Miratian Assault
The Supreme Leader has ordered the deployment of the entire tactical bomber force towards eradicating central Frequesquian rebels.


A Miratian Aerine secures territory following the bombings.

A detachment of Aerines was also deployed to "clean up" once the bombings were completed. Find out more...

[Master_Baerne]

Baernish Ministry of War
Deployment Notification
FROM: Her Excellency Countess Truman, Minister for War
TO: FTO Central Command

The 1st and 2nd Armored Divisions of the BDA, as well as the 101st and 103rd FIghter Squadrons and the air wing of the HGS Isabella, have been deployed to aid in the eradication of the Revolutionary Front and other rebel forces.

[Ryan Thunder]

<removed by poster>

[Coiler]

The time had come for Coilerburg to launch its military action against the Revolutionary Front. Nearly everything the Coilerburg air force could get flying was taking part, dropping as much ordinance as it could on the rebel positions. Stone was not going to skimp on the ground contribution to the war effort either, though he sent in only about 600 men-the 600 best men that Coilerburg possessed.

There was objection to the use of the entire RAT corps in such a fashion. "Special forces aren't meant to be used like that" and "What do you think this is, an action movie? The Revs will just wear 'em down through attrition"

Stone honestly didn't care how many RATs fell in the process. He wanted to use the Revolutionary Front's own tactic of dispersal against them. No one in Frequesue was better at fighting in the wilderness than the RATs, and if the Revolutionary Front thought they would be safe from the FTO's mechanized forces in there-they'd be in for a big lesson.

He also arranged plans with Omago. They would launch an excursion into the CFR to destroy Revolutionary Front holdouts and camps there, aided by Coilerburg's air force.

If he couldn't use nukes, he would compensate by throwing as much firepower at the bastards as he could.

[CmdrWilkens]

Ministry of Defense releases FY11 final progress report on "New Horizons"
Ministry of Defense releases FY11 report on "Far Horizons"


New Horizons programs
Alleigance-class STAR Cruiser
Program will transfer to standard aquisition sources at end of FY11. Program dollars have been spent to order all long-lead components for initial hull plan. Further dollars will be received from annual allocation budget. This program will receive no further updates in the annual report summary after this.


Imperator-class STAR Destroyer
Program will transfer to standard aquisition sources at end of FY11. Program dollars have been spent to order all long-lead components for initial hull plan. Further dollars will be received from annual allocation budget. This program will receive no further updates in the annual report summary after this.


SM-4 family
RIM-168 (SM-4A) Anti Ballistic Missile has compeleted trials and been accepted into service with all SPY-3 capable craft. Units cost is listed as $7.8mil, initial procurement for New Horizons program vessels included within existing project budget, re-equipping costs on existing vessels is currently based on FY10 Defense Spending Bill. Initial Operating Capacity is expected for end of FY-12. Sea trials schedueld for Q2 2012 and final integration trials with STAR scheduled for Q3 2012.


RIM/MIM-169 (SM-4) Surface to Air Missile has compelted trials and been accepted into service with all AEGIS and STAR capable craft. Unit cost is currently $450k and all vessels will be re-equipped with FY10/FY11 budgets providing for complete re-armament NLT end of FY12. New Horizons program dollars already cover initial procurement for new vessels. Program will transfer to standard aquisition sources at end of FY11. Further dollars will be received from annual allocation budget. This program will receive no further updates in the annual report summary after this.


RIM/MIM-170 (SM-4 Block II) Inital program testing has been initiated. Program represents incremental improvements in tracking and terminal guidance specifically with design goal to engage supersonic wave skimming cruise missiles. Basic integration has been scheduled for Q1 2012. LRIP is likely to beign sometime during FY12 for further range testing and shipborne/airborne testing.


RIM/MIM-170 Block II (SM-4 Block III) Program transfered from "Far Horizons." design spec sheet has not been finalized, program and concept goals set to be finalzed by end of FY12. Initial testing not planned prior to FY15.


KIM-171 (SM-4C) Kinetic Energy Intereptor is in design certification and field testing at Centennial Weapons Range. LRIP is not anticipated to occur prior to end of FY12 or begining of FY13. This includes program for fixed, naval, airmobile, and mobile launch systems. Seperate program dollars for RIM-168 and RIM-172 allocation are included in the Homeland Budget for FY12. Those dollars are not allocated under "New Horizons" funding.


RIM-172 (SM-4B) Anti Satellite Missile is currently in Low Rate Initial Procurement and final evaluation trials at sea on HIS WHORE Maryse Ouellet, an Alleigance-class STAR Cruiser. Trials are expected to be finalized NLT end of FY12 with no planned adoption for vessels not equipped with the full STAR suite. Unit cost is now predicted to be $15mil with flight ceiling of 400km.


SPY-XX
SPY-3A system architecture is now finalized as Block 10/15 for inclusion with Alleigance-class and Imperator-class vessels, work has already begun for SPY-3B for FFG(X). Initial system requirements for Block 20/25 have already been laid out and overall program directives call for all ships launched after 2015 to carry the Block 20/25 upgrade. Contract bidding has opened for reconfiguring the SPY-3A system into the ASPY-3A for use in the next generation AWACS, procurement target being first operational flight in FY15. SPY-3(blank) retroffiting is now 40% complete on all cruisers and destroyers slated to be retired in the 2015-2020 timeframe.

Block 10/15 SPY-3(blank) is now certified for limited foreign military sales agreements under advisement of the Foreign Ministry. No STAR integration suite or -3A enhancements are currently configured within the Block 10/15 SPY-3 architecture. Block 20/25 architecture will not be available for review by the Foreign Military Sales Board until 2017.


Ground Radar
Program will transfer to Homeland Security Budget at end of FY11. Program dollars have been spent to order all long-lead components. This program will receive no further updates in the annual report summary after this.


Systems Integration
STAR terminal installation is now finalized at all Cat(A) and Cat(B)-1 thru Cat(B)-4 sites. Full system outfit testing is currently underway before deployment to any remaining stations aside from as-built integration with current generation CGN and DDGN launches. Software suite is currently operating on a 3 week rolling revision cycle for critical component updates. General outfitting is expected to be complete NLT end of FY12 prior to evalution of Initial Operational Capability.


FFG(X)
Due to program restructuring requiring addition of the SPY-3B system this has been brough under the heading of the New Horizons working program. Final design work had been approved however critical design requirement changes have forced a re-bid of all initial contracts. Long lead components are already under order and stockpiling is expected. Foreign Military Sales have already been aproved for initial unit production. First hulls have been laid for remaining contract shipyards and program dollars have been allocated for initial hull plan neccessitating an additional $217Bn over original lifespan costs.


Total program dollars spent FY11: $876Bn
Total program rolling dollars through FY15: $2.16Tn
Additional aquisition costs not covered under program but anticipated: $284Bn
Percent of Aquisition Budget: 71.2% for FY11, 67.2% for FY12, 68.4% for FY13



Far Horizons programs

-Basic Reasearch-
Under this program heading approxmiately $1.8Bn has been distributed to multiple Wilkonian universities and for-profit laboratories for fundamental and applied research on general program targets.


-5th Generation Carrier-
Under this program heading $642mil has been disbursed for initial program outlines and concept work. Initial specificaitons plan is under review by Naval Architecture Committe. Pre-test and service need evaluation will be directed by the committe pursuant to findings of the Ministry related to total program scope. All planning documentation is expected to be finalized before end of FY14.


-Electroinc Warfare Department-
Approximately $620mil has been disbursed under "ULTRA" classification, only the budget line is classified low enough for release.


-5th Generation Carrier Interceptor-
-5th Generation Carrier Tactical Bomber-
Both program groupings have come out form underneath the "ULTRA" designation and are no included on program targets. Initial Specificaiton List has been finalized and the program will transfer to "New Horizons" during FY12 as preliminary deisgn and contract bidding will be authoirzed.


-Land Based Tactical Aircraft Replacement-
Program dollars have been allocated, approx $117Mil for initial preparatory documents and threat analysis planning to develop a replacement for all current generation tactical aircraft.

-Other-
All other items are considered "ULTRA Secret" and only total program dollars are available for review at $4.7Bn.

[Fingolfin_Noldor]

Byzantine Military Journal

New MiG-31T upgrade program

While the MiG-31T is a fairly new plane, Byzantine Aeronautics and its CSR counterparts have produced a new upgrade program to upgrade all existing PESA radars to AESA radars, as well as introduce new electronics such as a new 6 point IRST system comparable to that on the F-35, and better air-to-ground abilities. The AESA radar promises performance better than the previous PESA radar and is said to be comparable if not better than the F/A-22 radar. The Air Force has contracted Byzantine Aeronautics to commence the upgrade program for all MiG-31T and MiG-31BMs next year.

Upgrade program outlined for the existing An-22P Gunships

Byzantine Aeronautics has outlined a new An-22P Gunship upgrade program. Existing An-22P gunships come equipped with a 100-mm autocannon + two 6-barrel 30mm GSH-6-30 autocannons. The new upgrade will fit a 155mm lightweight howitzer that already equips the Airbourne Comitatenses, as well as replacing existing 30mm autocannons with 40mm ones.

New IADS announcement to be made soon

The long awaited S-500 IADS is said to be almost ready to begin operational testing. The S-500, an intra-SNC development, is said to be a heavily modernised S-400 system with the latest electronics and AESA radar systems, and a whole new suite of missiles. There is a navalised version that is also under development as well. The S-500 promises better anti-missile defence, as well as Anti-Ballistic Missile defence. A heavy anti-ballistic missile missile is also under development, to replace existing ABM missiles.

[Siege]

Straight from the Radio Tower this is WorldWide One: Global news and entertainment from the heart of San Dorado!

San Dorado To Attend Frequesuan Conference
San Dorado will send representatives to the conference of Frequesuan economy and defense, called by HRH King Brandon of the Commonwealth of the Vineyards. “We will most certainly be present” DEPICOR executive director Helena Skye was quoted as saying. “There is much to discuss.”

CFR: Bombings Continue
The FTO bombing campaign against rebel positions in the Central Frequesuan Republic continues unabated. Air elements from San Dorado, Coilerburg, Baerne and the Vineyards have attacked units and supply lines of the Revolutionary Front guerilla movement in a massive coordinated campaign code-named ‘CUSTOMER COMPLAINT’. According to the alliance, the Front is the single greatest roadblock on the way to peace in the CFR today. The bombings are expected to be followed by a push of ground forces.

SDAF To Purchase Spectres
The SDAF is set to purchase five advanced Spectre strategic high-Mach interceptor aircraft in FY12. According to the aerial warfare branch the Spectre will serve a dual use as interceptor and testbed for future technologies, and “more craft may be procured if they are deemed a satisfactory addition to the SDAF arsenal”. Originally a Miratian design, the company manufacturing the Spectre was recently bought up by Ralson Aerospace, and is currently developing a dedicated bomber variant.

[Coiler]

Coilerburg Central Command

"We have good news and bad news, Mr. Stone. The good news is that the Revolutionary Front has been not just hurt by the airstrikes, but crushed. We have reports of over 3,000 of them dead and who knows how many deserters."

"What's the bad news?"

"The remnants have adopted a different strategy. They haven't gone into the wilderness like they normally do. Instead, they've hidden inside cities loyal to them. This is a dilemma we're having-should we reduce our image among the CFR and reduce those cities to rubble, or should we go in and take them? Worse, we fear that some of the apparent deserters may actually be moving to conduct a guerrilla war inside FTO countries themselves."

[CmdrWilkens]

BIOCOM Announces First Round of Inspections
After more than a year and a half in formation the fledgling and still new international agency dedicated to monitoring Biological Weapons is finally prepared to begin exercising its primary purpose. While not even having a permanent home, as negotations on a permanent location have been stalled for months, the agency has been working out of temporary quarters in Veracruz County, Wilkonia with rented equipment, a slowly growing staff and a great deal of unvertainty about their future. While several nations were incredibly swift to ratify the treaty an extended dilemna with the Old Dominion put the Agency's future in to question.

Last week after it was announced that Lord Fairfax, as Commander in Cheif, would dismantle all but the Old Dominion's defensive weapons program in compliance with the treaty despite lack of ratification Agency members breathed a sigh of releif. Now in a move designed to prove to the world at large that it is going to do more than compile lists and data from the signatory nations the first round of on-site inspections is set to begin.

Spokesmen for BIOCOM indicated that they have 3 full field teams comprising at least three scientists with backgrounds in molecular biolgoy, at least one doctor specializing in infectious diseases, at least two engineers preferably with backgrounds in mechanical and electrical engineering as well as four forensic accountants. None of the teams have been able to examine any actual facilities other than the limtied defensive research suite maintained by the Wilkonian Army Institute of Infectious Diseases but sources insist that they are ready. One agency member speaking on the condition of anonymity indicated that the Old Dominion would be on the first round of inspections along with at least one member of the SNC and one member of the FTO.


Results: Now that Lonestar is dropping his weapons program, admitteldy without force of law, BIOCOM is finally getting out to make sure that nobody is hiding any pesky bio-weapons...oh and with a large staff forensic acconting group they should be able to trace the money pretty well if its hiding .

[Shinn Langley Soryu]

Ashford Times Headlines in Brief

Langley Navy Expeditionary Fleet Withdrawn from Astaria
Search for survivors "ultimately fruitless," expedition leader says

End of Year Marks Massive Military Expenditures
Aircraft purchased from various MESS nations to replace ex-Shepistani war materiel

WOULD YOU LIKE TO KNOW MORE? Y / N

[PeZook]

PeZookia willing to provide facilities for BIOCOM

During a press conference today, King Paul announced that PeZookia is willing to provide facilities and equipment for BIOCOM as part of the country's bioweapons treaty commitments.

"In order to help make sure biological weapons do not proliferate and threaten the world again, BIOCOM needs proper facilities to work out of. Operating on rented equipment is not only unprofessional, it also threatens to compromise the agency's security. Thus,the PeZookian Government is ready to provide, free of charge, office spaces and proper equipment to aid BIOCOM in performance of its stated mission."

PeZookian bio-research facilities open to inspections

The Ministry of Infrastructure and Ministry of Defence have released to BIOCOM information about PeZookia's government-owned bioresearch facilities, and will co-operate fully in facilitating inspections.

The list includes several Secret Military Areas, including numbers 4 and 11, in which offensive bioweapons research is rumored to have been conducted at some time in the past.

[Steve]

Seattle Post-Intelligencer


Cascadian Government to offer permanent headquarters for BIOCOM, says President's Office

ADAMS, CAPITOL DISTRICT - With the Wilkonian-backed international team to enforce the Bio-Weapons Treaty beginning active operations, the Garrett Administration has contacted BIOCOM officials offering them permanent facilities. Spokeswoman Rachel Galvariz spoke in a press release on behalf of the President, who is finishing Christmas vacation with his family at Camp Quincy in the Upper Cascades and not in the Capital, stating that "the goal of ensuring that the horrors of the Pathogen War will never be repeated is the greatest thing that could be accomplished by this government and administration. Cascadia would be proud and honored to host the BIOCOM agency and provide its history of international neutrality to reinforcing the goals of the organization and how they transcend the national interests of the world's powers and alliance blocs."


MacKenzie to run in '13?

PORTLAND, OREGON - Liberal Senate Whip Rachel MacKenzie hinted at plans to run for President as Liberal Party candidate in 2013 at a fundraising function in the province capital last night. In a short speech, Mrs. MacKenzie, former Secretary of State under Matthew Hogan before her election in the mid-terms of 2004, remarked that while many of President Garrett's intiatives have been well-thought out and performed, his defense policies and expansion into Veleria are "dangerous and ill-conceive". MacKenzie believes that the establishment of the bases at Welles Island and Van Halstoff pose an unnecessary risk of entanglement in hostilities with Japanistan and the expansion of the Cascadian defense budget to accomodate those positions risks extending the government debt in a time when the world economy is struggling to recover from the near cessation of oceanic shipping during the Pathogen War.

MacKenzie also criticized President Garrett's decision last year to cut the Army in response to the need to reduce the defense budget, instead of removing "more expensive, less necessary" Air Force and Navy projects. "Unlike the Air Force and Navy, which are instruments of expanding and maintaining costly power overseas, the Army has been and always will be a purely defensive service for the Republic. Cutting its size to maintain the expanded size of the other two services, or to expand them, is a sign of a government that is getting ambitious on the world stage, ambitions that are fundamentally at odds with the character of the average Cascadian. I opposed these acts in the Senate and I will do anything to see them undone."


Cascadian Navy and Air Force to get improved equipment by 2020.

ADAMS, CAPITOL DISTRICT - The Cascadian Navy and Air Force are expected to be at their most potent by the end of the decade, with two new aircraft carriers planned to be commissioned by 2020 and the Air Force fielding a larger force of high capability "5th Generation" jet fighters.

The Cascadian Defense Department confirmed that the President has approved the Long Term Strategic Defense Plan, which calls for two 65,000 ton nuclear aircraft carriers to be constructed and commissioned by the end of the decade in time for the first of the "attack carriers" of the 90s to be decommissioned with an option for two more to be in service by 2025 when the last of the conventional attack carriers is to be readied for decommissioned. The report cites the reduction in cost for nuclear propulsion as justification for the larger carrier force and its nuclear power supply. The first of the "CVA-04s", confirmed as CRS Reprisal, is to be laid in the coming year and commissioned sometime in late 2015 or in 2016.

The Air Force is accepting a second batch of the new SF-10D strike fighters which will be serving for the next twenty years. In addition this year is when the new ASF-18 fighters are meant to come into service to start phasing out the ASF-9s developed in the 1970s, with ASF-20s to be introduced in three years to eventually replace the ASF-10s.

These ambitious projects have been attacked by many who believe that the Air Force and Navy are being permitted to dominate military policy in the Garrett Administration, which has reduced or canceled many desired Army projects. It is believe this opposition could come back to haunt the Whigs in next year's election cycle, with the failure of pro-Army elements of the opposition parties to prevent a slight Whig increase in House seats in the 2010 elections being attributed to the panic of the Pathogen War and a successful Whig campaign against sentiments of "rocking the boat" during the panic.

[Siege]

San Dorado Board of Directors – Appropriations Committee

FY12 – FY16 Preliminary Military Acquisition Table

San Dorado Air Force

Rafale F5 Midlife Upgrade Program
MUP will run from FY12 to FY16, overhauling all Rafale aircraft in SDAF service. Program covers the introduction of APG-80 AESA radar on the Rafale, the replacement of the F88 turbofans with F120 thrust vectoring turbofan engines, the introduction next-generation avionics, and the expansion of the strike role to make the aircraft suitable for nuclear missions

Spectre Acquisition
An initial batch of five Spectre high-Mach interceptors will be acquired in FY12, with an option on five more in FY13. The aircraft will form the 602nd Special Strategic Squadron, and be used for experimental studies as well as foreign aircraft interceptions.

Air Defence Grid Expansion
Field tests of the Universal Missile-1 are scheduled for FY12 and FY13. This weapon, based on the Standard Missile-2 and 3, is expected to be introduced in service in FY15.

PROJECT: Silver Star
This program is classified.


San Dorado Rocket Forces

Lucrelance II Upgrades
The Lucrelance family of booster rockets is expected to be expanded with the IIB, IIC, IID and III series rockets, developed in conjunction with FASTA. These rockets will feature enhanced maneuverability, extra thrust and a payload capacity to LEO of up to 22 tons. The III-series will enter service in FY15.

Silver Streak Introduction
The first Silver Streak military orbiters will enter service in FY12. They will operate out of hardened underground silos as part of the MAJOR TOM project. Several more orbiters are reserved for civilian use, and will be stationed at Camp Kittyhawk. Fifteen military orbiters are expected to be in service by FY16.

AKS Introduction
The first Artificial Killer Satellite is projected to be ready for testing in FY16. This series of satellites will eventually provide full-range (boost, midcourse and terminal phase) missile interception, as well as defense against satellites and maneuvering spaceborne targets.


Combined North Frequesuan Navy

Slam Dunk Expansion
The Slam Dunk supersonic medium-range anti-ship missile will be present on all VLS-carrying CNFN ships by FY13.

San Dorado Army

No major acquisitions for the SDA are planned in the near future.

[PeZook]

FASTA bulletin

Mercury program closes

Not a month after Svetlana Savitskaya was pulled out of her capsule aboard the CSR destroyer Vladimir Leninsky, a solemn ceremony marked closing of the Mercury program. Held at the Comona Island spaceflight center, the ceremony was attended by many notable officials from FASTA member countries, as well as all Mercury program astronauts.

"We have ended an era - the pioneering series of manned flights which gave us the knowledge needed to continue the greatest endeavour Man has even undertaken. Many countries have since gotten humans to orbit, and we are proud to have participate in this incredible adventure.", said Damian Kaklamanis during his speech.

Mercury program facilities will be converted for use in the Soyuz program.

Soyuz program launch schedule

After a long period of delays and modifications, the first official, numbered (if unmanned) flight of the Soyuz program is ready to launch. Below, Bulletin readers will find a list of flight crews and mission goals for all planned flights:

CP = Command Pilot
FE = Flight Engineer

Soyuz 1:
Goals: First "true" spaceflight test of the Soyuz-A capsule. Training of JSC ground crews. Test of new communication and tracking systems. Test of orientation systems. Test of retros.
Duration: Three days
Crew: None
Launch vehicle: 11K59 Soyuz Booster

Soyuz 2:
Goals: Unmanned orbital test incorporating orbital module. Deployment tests, orientation tests, life support tests.
Duration: Four days
Crew: Biological payload (single adult dog)
Launch vehicle: 11K59 Soyuz Booster

Soyuz 3:
Goals: Manned test flight
Duration: Three orbits, about five hours
Crew: CP Maciej Zakoscielny (PeZookia) ; FE Lev Titov (CSR)
Crew Backup: CP Alan Shroompard (Shroomania) ; FE Miranda Moonbeam (Shroomania)
Launch vehicle: 11K59 Soyuz Booster

Soyuz 4:
Goals: First tethered EVA
Duration: Four days
Crew: CP Alan Shroompard (Shroomania) ; FE Miranda Moonbeam (Shroomania)
Crew Backup: CP Gus Grissom (San Dorado) ; FE Georgi Uslov (USSR)
Launch vehicle: 11K59 Soyuz Booster

Soyuz 5:
Goals: Evaluation of rendezvous instruments. First week-long flight.
Duration: Seven days
Crew: CP Gus Grissom (San Dorado) ; FE Georgi Uslov (USSR)
Crew Backup: CP Svetlana Savitskaya (CSR), FE Carter Blake (Vineyards)
Launch vehicle: 11K59 Soyuz Booster

Soyuz 6:
Goals: Orbital rendezvous ; 14-day duration flight
Duration: 14 days
Crew: CP Svetlana Savitskaya (CSR), FE Carter Blake (Vineyards)
Crew Backup: CP Iko Kaneda (Zoria), FE Dale Gardner (San Dorado)
Launch vehicle: Lucrelance II

Soyuz 7:
Goals: Orbital docking
Duration: four days
Crew: CP Iko Kaneda (Zoria), FE Dale Gardner (San Dorado)
Crew Backup: CP Konstantin Gorbatko (CSR), FE Istvan Zendri (USSR)
Launch vehicle: Lucrelance II

Soyuz 8:
Goals: Orbital docking. First maneuvering using another spacecraft's propulsion system in tandem (testing for LEM stack handling). Further EVA tests.
Duration: two days
Crew: CP Konstantin Gorbatko (CSR), FE Istvan Zendri (USSR)
Crew Backup: CP Reinhold Ewald (Shroomania), FE Atos Odemanis (Byzantium)
Launch vehicle: Lucrelance II

Soyuz 9:
Goals: High altitude flight with use of Target Vehicle engines. EVA.
Duration: three days
Crew: CP Reinhold Ewald (Shroomania), FE Atos Odemanis (Byzantium)
Crew Backup: CP Maciej Zakoscielny (PeZookia) ; FE Lev Titov (CSR)
Launch vehicle: Lucrelance III

Soyuz 10:
Goals: Final flight planned. Additional tests for previously unsolved problems.
Duration: N/A
Crew: Not set at this time
Launch vehicle: Most likely Lucrelance III or Saturn

Lunar Reconeissance Orbiter probe rolled out to launch pad

The Canissian-sponsored Lunar probe and its launch vehicle have been placed at JSC Atlas-Sputnik Launch Pad C. The probe's mission will be to provide high-quality photographs of the Moon's surface, take radiation measurements and analyze the Moon's gravitic field over four weeks.

The launch date has been set for New Year's Eve.

Lucrelance Launch pads construction begins

Scheduled to take eight months, the project will provide Jerusalem Space Center with facilities necessary to launch heavy rocket such as the Lucrelance III and the Saturn series. Two launch pads are planned for this expansion tranche, with two more and an additional VAB building planned for later.

[Lonestar]

Virginia Register

Wilkonian Marine Ace John Meadow becomes second MSA Astronaut
Major John Meadow, a Wilkonian Marine who gained Ace status during the One Week War, became the second MSA Astronaut after a successful launch of the X-20...[More]

Fitting out begins for Ronaldus Magnus
The new ODN CGN, the Ronaldus Magnus has left drydock to begin fitting out. The 23,000+ is a derivative of the Wilkonian "Allegiance" class CGNs, with some significant differences. The Ronaldus Magnus has two 155mm AGS systems(one fore and aft) rather than a single 8in gun. In addition a 57mmgun will be used for close in anti-ship work...[More]


Engines test for Mach 3 Freighter/airliner commence
The Combat Optics-led Mach-3 Airlifter Alliance announced that engine tests are underway at McCrag ODAAFB...[More].

[Mr Bean]

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