Luthori

[Ligbruderkrieg]

Labour Government announces development of new aircraft carrier-class, replacing Empress Elizabeth-class.
November 5639



Fort William - The Secretary of State for Defence, Cooper Simpson today announced on the radio that Luthori would be developing a new class of aircraft carriers, with the aim of replacing the current-ageing Empress Elizabeth-class of aircraft carriers that is currently used by the Imperial Luthorian Navy. In one of the last great acts of the sitting Labour Government, the Imperial Defence Committee came to the conclusion that a new class of aircraft carriers was needed to equip the Navy, as the currently-used Empress Elizabeth-class of aircraft carriers is slowly becoming more obsolete compared to other nations' aircraft carriers' capabilities.

While the Imperial Luthorian Navy remains one of the world's largest and finest fleets currently operating in the World, it is safe to say that it's impact on both Luthorian policy and international politics has been minimal, with the ILN remaining in their bases or exercising in either the Sea of Lost Souls or the Artanian Sea, with next to zero projection capabilities in the rest of the World, except in the South Ocean. The Luthorian Government's concern about the state of its military seems to have only increased with the outbreak of the Second Kundrati War in 5636, where the Cabinet, siding with the conservative elements of the military, announced a large mobilisation effort that would put the economy into a recession, as the Fort William Stock Exchange (FWSE) fell into a downturn spiral.

Secretary of Defence Simpson confirmed that Luthori would undertake a years-long process to replace the current two aircraft carriers of the Imperial Luthorian Navy, the HMS Indomptable and HMS Empress Audrey, with two brand new aircraft carriers that would be deployed in the already used installations of the Navy's aircraft carriers, in the Home Territory and in Mordusia. The Secretary, by this announcement, seems to confirm the statement from Senior Advisor to the Prime Minister, Ethan Benowitz-Harrington, who bluntly announced during a podcast on international relations focused on the Empire's foreign policy, that Luthori would be "deploying" an aircraft carrier battle group in Mordusia. Although, Luthori maintained a permanent presence in Mordusia through its Southern Carrier Battle Group, in Western Mordusia. The Secretary of State for Defence reaffirmed that the Empire's committment to its allies' security was "paramount", when justifying the decision to the press.

When asked about Istalian communications with the Foreign Office, the Defence Secretary redirected questions towards the Department of Foreign Affairs, while being confident that Istalian and Luthorian diplomats were in communication about Luthori's naval deployments. Stating that "misinformation" about the Imperial Government's policy isn't the aimed objective here, as communication is paramount to a successful defence.

The Government announced that the two incoming aircraft carriers' name are going to be known after the completion of their construction, expected to happen between a timeframe of five to ten years. It is likely that the current Emperor's name be used for one of the carriers, as a sort of "tribute" to the imperial institution and a continuation of standard Luthorian policy when it comes to naming naval vessels (naming them after monarchs). The Opposition, headed by the Earl of Windbury criticised the Government's short-sighted decision, with the Earl criticising the Government on its usage of aircraft carriers and the necessity of the program amid times of economic turmoil and recovery. The Tories, while opposing the program in public, supported wholeheartdly the motion brought before them by the Senate Majority Leader (Leader of the Second Chamber) by whooping margins.

Pacifist organisations and Radio Free Terra criticised the Government's decision, with Radio Free Terra calling it the "most short-sighted decision" in modern Luthorian history, doomed to cause "more trouble" than it resolves, increased global tension caused by this announcement in this already volatile situation may prove to be a total miscalculation from the Mordusians and Luthorians.