Vanuku

[Kubrick]

'Mega contracts' outline future of Armed Forces

Juhn Prnzsrmko, chairman of defence giant Mirztátpylsko, presents three new armoured vehicles.

1 February 5705, Wiel, Kingdom of Wrnuke
For the last year and a half negotiations have been ongoing with all the major players in Wrnuke's defence industry. The Ministry of Defence outlined several ambitions in over a dozen tenders. Priority was given to local firms, but foreign companies were also allowed to bid. Several firms from the Dual Republic chose to jointly apply with local companies to gain the regional preferential treatment, while big players from Amudim relied on the Yeudi-Jelbic treaties to remain involved in the process. The current expansion and upgrade spree is a part of the government initiative to up its defensive capabilities amongst increasing international threats. In anticipation of this development some companies had already independently developed new hardware with private funding. Mirztátpylsko's chairman Juhn Prnzsrmko held a big event with private investors, government officials and a large delegation from the press to present three projects the company had developed together with Zhtál-Jrl-Stórmsr and Wrntec. Mirztátpylsko is a producer of armoured vehicles, most well-known for producing the current iteration of Wrnuke's main battle tank: the Avlamajolépar 2W7. The original company producing these steel behemoths was absorbed by Mirztátpylsko in a large merger in 5685.

At the event the three companies presented their new concepts for the nation's mechanised force. A new main battle tank called the Birswrs 3W8 (Panther), a design similar to the 2W7 but with enhanced crew survivability, drone protection, an active protection system and programmable munitions. This active protection system will be produced by Amudim's Tzafrir Defence Industries, the only foreign element to the joint project. The programmable munitions are a cooperation between Mirztátpylsko and Wrntec. Furthermore, the tank has been fitted with increased optics by Zhtál-Jrl-Stórmsr, who currently produces market-leading optics. The second behemoth in the line up was the Brnfikrjokonbjek 1W5 (Elephant), currently Wrnuke fields the Brnfikrjokonbjek 1W3 as its main self-propelled howitzer. The massive vehicle features an equally staggering 155 mm cannon with the impressive capability to put five shells on one target within a minute. The newest iteration features a new fire control computer developed by Zhtál-Jrl-Stórmsr and Wrntec, as well as a higher quality barrel by Mirztátpylsko after troops complained about barrel wear. The self-loader has also been fully automated, removing the necessity to manually place the propellant on the loading bay. The third vehicle is mostly a concept which has been dubbed the Bzájamomrthotrmojad (Tortoise). This vehicle uses the same basis as the other two and is intended as a heavy personnel carrier. This idea is based on the increasing prevalence of drones in modern combat, giving a higher priority to troop protection in all scenarios. The Bzájamomrthotrmojad is supposed to carry a full squad and features a modular crewless turret with a 30 mm autocannon, it has the option to be fitted with the same active protection system that is present on the Birswrs 3W8. The event was hosted in agreement with the Ministry of Defence, and Minister Jezbéksrmko ceremonially signed a contract offered to him by chairman Prnzsrmko. In the press conference Féodr Jezbéksrmko stated that the MoD intends to modernise its entire fleet of armoured vehicles, this would mean purchasing as many as 1,000 of the new main battle tanks and at least 500 of the self-propelled artillery. The government was not yet willing to release full numbers, citing the information as classified.

As for other contracts, a contract was signed with Jadjohhydwasfabrk Hafndan, known internationally as Shipyard Hafndan, to refurbish several vessels of the nation's surface fleet. This includes both Kezkai V-class aircraft carriers. The aging vessels were introduced upon the formation of the Jelbic Empire and received a small upgrade on behalf of the Worldburnerist regime of the WJZR. Since then, however, the vessels have not been given upgrades. The contract states that one carrier will be drydocked while the other will continue to serve as the flagship. Once one is finished, the other carrier will be given an upgrade. This upgrade has been cited as more of a rebuild by experts, with extensive changes to the layout of the vessel and a full refurbishment of internal electronics and hydraulics. Ship armaments will also be upgraded significantly to have greater protection against seaborn drones. Other drydocks of Jadjohhydwasfabrk Hafndan will be utilised to modernise the many Snba Knstat-frigates. A separate deal was signed with the Dual Republic's Passschiffe AG to take the fleet of nuclear submarines into maintenance. The naval modernisations are expected to take up to ten years. Another two Dual Republic companies called NarikMissile and Janssen und Koch won a new tender to produce a multiple rocket launch system, or MLRS, that will be named Frjarsh (Firestorm). Currently the nation does not deploy such a system, but reports stated that there is a tactical need for them. The design is expected to be modular, so it can be mounted on both tracked vehicles and trucks. The trucks in question will be produced by Pecnék, the nation's largest automobile manufacturer. The new Pecnék XT5705 is a modular truck design capable of meeting all the requirements for both fitting an MLRS, logistics, troop transport, drone deployment, radar deployment, and so forth.

The air forces were not neglected either, with Darnussian Aeronautics Limited (DAL) receiving one of the largest contracts for a foreign company. In total they received three separate assignments, one jointly with Baotaghe Ort to design and produce affordable drones to introduce the possibility of 'suicide drone hordes' in modern Jelbic warfare. DAL will also upgrade the nation's Z-35 fighters, as well as the WH-64 attack helicopters. A contract was also signed with Apertr Sznz and the Yeudi companies Sato and Black Beisa. This particular contract was kept top secret but all three companies are known to be involved in missile and mass destruction development. Minister Jezbéksrmko of Defence did comment in the past on developing "the means to counter hypersonic threats". Whether that means developing more advanced hypersonic ICBM's or reviving the nuclear deterrent program is unknown. The amount paid for the signed contracts has also been deemed as a state secret, but estimates state that the investments done by the government in the defence sector may tick upwards to 250 billion WM, the largest single investment in the Armed Forces in Wrnuke's history.

Krsyiji Sagmot'l (United Media) is the national news agency of Wrnuke, it is bound by law to give neutral news to the nation.