Luthori

[Ligbruderkrieg]

Luthorian military spending has seen a worrying increase in the 5690s, at least according to international specialists. Even in Luthori, this rapid increase in military spending has been controversial, with the National Labour Party first opposing the move, but considering rising tensions worldwide – with Luthori entering MATO earlier that year, Holian-Keaty's Labour Party moved towards tacit acceptance of the status quo. 

In 5701 – Luthori's Defence Department announced the nation’s wish of acquiring ICBM and IRBM technology for "defence purposes” this move was observed as a continuation of Luthori’s defence rearmament program, although it did represent a significant escalation of Luthori’s rearmament endeavours.

With the nation’s newfound focus on offensive weapons – Luthorian officials addressed the need for foreign and domestic collaboration on the development of Intercontinental ballistic missiles and of interregional ballistic missiles weaponry – leading to the entry into a lucrative partnership between Sato and the Luthorian government. 

As of now, Prime Minister Huffington’s government agreed to the “current policy” set by its predecessor on the matter – tacitly accepting the status quo relating to missile technology development. The Ministry of Defence furthermore stated its “interest” at “expanding” the current project’s scope by introducing projects for submarine-lanuched ballistic missile (SLBMs), specifically targeting potential replacement of current Matthew V missiles. 

Already, the projected cost of the ongoing ICBM and IRBM program is expected at tallying at around £102.43 billion, according to recent projections from the Imperial Office of Economic Statistics (IOES) - compared to provisions in 5701, constitutes a rise of 113,8% in projected expenditures. A rising cost that, following 7 years of continued research and development, is likely to continue rising, as the government hasn’t yet even yet launched the bidding process yet. 

Luthorian government officials have said that, in relations with the military projects currently ongoing, that the Luthorian government was “considering” increasing funding into the long-forgotten Luthorian Space Agency (LSA). The LSA’s main difficulties throughout the years were the lack of a launching point close to the equator and the lack of interests from political leaders. 

Luthori’s interest into acquiring ICBM and IRBM technologies has been confronted to a roadblock – the fact that satellites were required to successfully master these technologies. Due to this fact, Luthorian defence officials have been silently, yet firmly pushing the Huffington government to act – by increasing the funding granted to the Luthorian Space Agency. 

Scientific voices, long frustrated by Luthori’s seeming uninterest at its own space program have echoed the call from military officials, calling on the government to increase funding to the space agency as well. Currently, Luthori’s space budget reaches £1.74 billion – a funding deemed “sufficient” by leading voices within the Cabinet, due to Luthori’s limited focus into space exploration – but one also criticised for being “far too little for a country such as Luthori” by others. 

Besides, Luthori’s issues with a base of operations have been resolved, at least temporaily with the entry of the nation into MATO, granting it access to Amudim’s Amshimov space launching post. Discussion on that matter have been ongoing, according to the Foreign Office with Yeudi authorities about potential authorisation to use the base for launching. 

Nonetheless, Prime Minister and Innovation Secretary, Scott Hogg have both expressed willingness at raising the budget of the Luthorian Space Agency by either doubling it, as per Mr. Hogg’s wishes of a budget standing at £3.48 billion or by a “respectable 50 to 75 percent increase”, according to the Prime Minister. 

Such funding would likely go to kickstart Luthori’s own satellite program – aimed at completing Luthori’s long-sought defence objectives. Besides, Luthori could at least think about the ways that the space agency could be exploited.