Lodamun

[imperialpearl]

As part of a shift in its offensive posture, particularly as it relates to the deployment of airborne maritime patrol assets with a specific emphasis towards enhancing its reach/operations into new patrol areas and reinforcing existing patrol zones, the Lodamese Navy announced a slew of maritime patrol deployments. Ranging from the Artanian Sea and the South Ocean to the Schismatic and portions of Temania, Lodamese Navy maritime patrol aircraft (i.e. drones and jets) have been ordered to step up their efforts in providing round-the-clock situational awareness in numerous bodies of water both within Seleya and beyond. The announcement comes at the latter end of the Lodamese Armed Forces’ decision to withdraw forces from Mordusia alongside the conclusion of the Istalian-Kafuri-Pontesian War. The former came amidst a reassessment of the importance of staging assets in Mordusia towards the Lodamese Armed Forces’ broader regional and international efforts, while the latter came amidst the negotiated peace settlement between the three states.

 Prior to its departure from Mordusia, the Lodamese Navy had operated maritime patrol drones from the nation, via a shared airbase alongside the Royal Mordusian Air Force, however, amidst the withdrawal of Lodamese assets and personnel from the nation and their subsequent transfer to facilities in both Aldegar and Saridan, the LN believes that there is merit towards establishing permanent patrols from these new arrangements. Speaking at a press conference held at the Department of Defence building in Kensington, Secretary of Defence Walter Kent confirmed that the new directive would ultimately see maritime patrol aircraft being deployed to all Lodamese naval air stations throughout the globe, with the intent of establishing and/or augmenting pre-existing nautical maritime patrols. “At the very heart of this shift is a clear understanding of the importance of information. We [Lodamun] have long underscored the importance of establishing and maintaining superiority of information and our operations - the deployment of maritime patrol assets throughout various theatres - is evidence of that,” Secretary Kent explained.

Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft and Azuron maritime patrol drones are reportedly being dispatched to Naval Air Stations Crockett (in Malivia), Amsted (in Aldegar) and Bentasur (in Gaduridos). Notwithstanding the recent diplomatic debacle surrounding Beiteynu and Lodamun related to the latter’s withdrawal from the Neset diplomatic treaty, Kent pointed to Lodamun’s ratification of the Migrant’s Accord as a basis for maritime patrol aircraft being sent to NAS Crockett. “Lodamun is an observer of that agreement and will abide by its articles, particularly those related to observers. We will coordinate with the 3rd Federation and its structures towards sharing military intelligence from our patrols in the area and will coordinate said patrols with the broader framework including Beiteynu and Narikaton & Darnussia,” Kent clarified. Chief of Naval Operations Admiral James Murray and Commander of Majatran Command (MAJCOM) General Thomas Elder noted that the Lodamese Navy’s presence in Malivia remains limited to aviation assets (maritime patrol aircraft and drones), noting that the deployment of maritime surface assets (although not necessary now) would likely be coordinated and discussed with the relevant bodies namely 3F and Narikaton & Darnussia. 

Kent noted that as part of the deployment of aircraft and drones to Naval/Air Station Amsted, such a deployment would likely augment the existing efforts of the Lodamese Coast Guard under Operation Barracuda. Barracuda remains the Lodamese Coast Guard’s foremost patrol operation and covers the Mad Dog Ocean, Artanian Sea and South Ocean. Kent has noted that the deployment of Beiteynuese maritime assets in the Artanian Sea as a result of the ongoing situation in Kundrati continues to be monitored by the Lodamese Armed Forces but stated that there was no connection between the deployment of assets to Amsted and the arrival of Beiteynuese forces in the area. “These deployments are ultimately aimed at plugging clear gaps in our patrol zones as the Poseidons and Azurons will fly missions, particularly into the South Ocean and the Sea of Lost Souls. Although we continue to monitor the movements of the Beiteynuese Navy via OTH radar, nations are free to navigate global waters as we have done,” Kent explained.

The deployment of maritime patrol aircraft in Gaduridos represents a major leap in the Lodamese-Gaduri relationship, largely facilitated through the AE. By deploying said assets from Marligantos, the Lodamese Navy would ultimately possess greater access to the Schismatic Sea as well as Southern Seleya and Southern Dovani as a whole. According to the Commander of Seleyan Command (SELCOM), Admiral Linus Toule, such a positioning/deployment of assets is aimed at augmenting the efforts of the Lodamese Coast Guard under Operation Bobcat. Similar to Barracuda, Bobcat primarily relates to the LCG’s patrols along the western coast of Dovani and the eastern coast of Seleya. With the Coast Guard managing the patrol zones from a similarly important joint naval base in Marligantos, some analysts noted the deployment of maritime patrol aircraft (jets and drones) was inevitable. “I wouldn’t call this the Lodamese Navy flexing its muscles but taking advantage of numerous vacuums in geostrategy. What we are seeing here is another round of forward deployments as Lodamun begins to make use of its overseas basing agreements,” Frederick Watts, an analyst with the Centre for Geostrategic Policy and Research said. AWACS aircraft are reportedly set to accompany the deployments at Naval/Air Station Crockett in Malivia alongside Bentasur in Gaduridos, as speculation swirls regarding the forward deployment of aerospace forces throughout Lodamese overseas bases.