Kalistani Major History

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Kalistani Pilots train on new Joint Multirole Fighter
Extensive Flight training in Yingdala produces first corps of Fighter Pilots in Centuries
Tian An, Han Province, Indrala
April 18, 5099


The new prototype Y-10, which Kalistanis call the "Northern Dragon" succeeds in test flights

Nicknamed "The Northern Dragon" to acknowledge contributions from both Kalistan and Indrala, the new multirole Fighter, known by the Indralan Nomenclature Y-10, has undergone months of extensive flight testing. Initial tests were conducted by Indralan Pilots to begin with, and with Kalistani pilots working first on fighter trainers belonging to Indrala, and then finally taking their turn flying the new plane. While Kalistani pilots, who will form the first corps of Kalistani Fighter pilots in more than 200 years, reported generally favorable results, issues with power in climbs, handling in tight turns, and target identification and acquisition will require further work. Some issues can be relatively handled, noted KALMILINCO spokespeople: For example: Handling is merely an issue of recalibrating the Flight Control system to prevent Pilots from overcorrecting, an issue which could prove disastrous in combat, as it would lead to spin outs and possible failure of the aircraft's aerodynamics, but sluggishness in climbs will need to be addressed at the powerplant level in Kalistan, and target acquisition will necessitate further development of the radar system in Indrala.

"We believe, despite the matters we have noted, this aircraft is getting close to its final form," said the incoming Defense Minister Vincent Herrera. "As agreed upon, once we have reached the point where both Kalistan and Indrala have rigorously tested every system, under a number of different scenarios ranging from combat situations to recon to, well, basically everything we can imagine for this vehicle, and have launched and landed it in all the different kinds of weather that it could possibly encounter in both Kalistan and Indrala, and put it through the whole standardized battery of testing, poking prodding and so forth, we will put this plane into production both in the Republic and in Indrala. Kalistan will continue to purchase armaments and electrical systems, as we spin up our own industries to provide Kalistani variants for the Indralan systems. The goal is to ultimately produce an all Kalistani version and an all Indralan version."

Herrerra said that mass production of the aircraft in Kalistan is likely "less than a year away", and noted that Kalistani Pilots will begin to rotate through Indrala in that time to train on the protoypes under training from the Indralan air force, and then back to the Republic to continue training on the two models transferred to Kalistan. "Ultimately, we hope to have more than 300 pilots trained in the use of this aircraft by year's end," said Herrerra, "and then 100 of them will be assigned to a new Flight School we are opening at Fort Harrison in Springfield Odufaray." The Minister said Kalistan will order 150 Y-10s, which the Republic has nicknamed "The Northern Dragon" to be stationed primarily in Ananto and Odufaray.

"As we begin to build the entire planes on our own within the Republic, we will also be creating the infrastructure necessary to begin building additional planes to serve other roles in the regular Air Force as well," said Herrerra. "While the willingness of Indrala to build this aircraft with us is invaluable to the defense of the Republic and the Northern Anantonese Ocean, what is far more important, from a future perspective, is the experience we gain from tooling up and building these jets ourselves." The Minister also noted that he feels that it is pathetic that a modern nation like Kalistan does not have the capacity to build its own defensive materiel, and "I am happy to report that this is now finally changing, on Kalistan's part."