Kalistani Major History

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Defense Ministry discusses results of Deltarian Wargames in Strait
"We have some work to do," said Defense Minister
Kaliburg, Ananto
July 28, 4776


Defense Minister Honorario Sanchez addresses Republican readiness

Kalistan recently hosted the Deltarian navy's combat readiness exercise in the Ananto Strait codenamed "Ananto Strait Defensive Exercises" or ASDE. This exercise was the first of its kind in the Ananto Straits and featured naval forces from Deltaria, Malivia and Kalistan. To the exercises, Kalistan contributed several surface vessels, including two newly completed destroyers, and multiple frigates and corvettes built in coordination with Lourenne at the National Ship yards. Kalistani submarine forces did not participate in the exercise. Militia Navy also did not participate.

While the coordinated exercises yielded a major simulated kit for the Kalistani navy on a Deltarian carrier, the Defense Minister Honorario Sanchez acknowledged that Kalistan's defensive capabilities in the Strait during the exercise leave much to be desired. "Yes, we have some work to do. Given that Kalistan considers the Strait to be of primary strategic importance to Kalistan, it is incumbent upon our tactical forces to be able to mount a sufficient defense of this area. We were operating at a disadvantage, of course, due to the distance of the exercises from our rather impressive shore defensive capabilities. But this is not to say that a fairly important weakness has once more been highlighted for our naval doctrine: We are building a fortress in our land territories, but remain handicapped when the goal is to stop large forces from approaching the coast. Preventing that will limit the casualties on land and the destruction to national and private property."

The Defense Minister, in his evaluation has signaled a shifting of the submarine forces into the Strait to fill in some of the gaps in Kalistani defenses. "Our air might not be able to effectively counter the quick launch capabilities of an approaching carrier group in the blue water of the Strait, but the advantage of patrolling submarine cannot be denied." The Minister effectively quashed any hint of increasing the size of the navy, with the possible exception of the building of more submarines to take up posts on the Northern and Southern Limits. "We can do a lot with radar now. We have several early warning aircraft which maintain a watch over the Ocean for any threats, and are currently deploying a string of passive sonar buoys on the limits which should provide us with ample early warning, and allow us to deploy forces where they are needed. but building more destroyers is not the answer to the problem. Especially when we have more pressing national concerns: the resources would be wasted in the light of our diplomatic successes abroad."

The Defense Minister concluded his remarks by thanking the Delatrians for the opportunity to test out Kalistan's naval doctrine in the Strait. "We learned a lot. And were happy to meet our counterparts in Port Swedes after the exercise."