Badara

[Drax]

AIR FORCE DECISIONS
 
MANARA ALBRAYD SRIA AL-MUSAMI
(If it’s in the Monsoon, it’s got to be true)
 
Defense Command Center, August 16, 5652:  The Monsoon has learned of a meeting today between the Defense Minister, the Chief of the Ministry’s Legislative Liaison Division, the Chief of Defense Command and the Chief of Staff for each armed service.
 
The focus was on organizing knowing the budget would be limited and leave little room for expansion.  Three measures were agreed on and ordered. First, the naval forces will be divided into three task forces as follows:
 
Northwest Task Force stationed at Dar as-Salam
Northeast Task Force stationed at Ras El-Haram
Southern Task Force stationed at Ras al’Ulima
 
Second, Air Force squadrons and wings will be assigned to either:
 
Mu’Tassim Air Command
Nashwa Air Command
 
Third, although on paper seven divisions were anticipated, it was fair to say three existed. For the time being, helicopters and armor will be treated as  divisional assets. These three divisions are motorized infantry divisions which will be headquartered as follows:
 
1st Division at Ras al-Ulima on Nashwa
2nd Division at Al’ Buqiyaa on Nashwa
5th Division at Dar as Salam on Mu’Tassim
 
Defense Minister Hakim al-Afdal wanted to address the issues around the Air Force first and then deal with naval and ground force issues..
 
As Defense Command Staff saw it there were five. First, 600 or so planes were more or  less authorized while 272 were extant.  What fixed wing air craft purchases should be initiated next?
 
Second, should military air transport assets and command be transferred to the Air Force or continue with the Army.
 
Third, did we need aerial early warning aircraft, antisubmarine warfare aircraft, long range patrol aircraft, command and control air craft or airborne electronic warfare aircraft, and if so can our existing suppliers provide something or do we need to look abroad?

Fourth, drones are needed but should one service or more than one operate them?
 
These questions will be returned to but the fifth was resolved; should surface to air missile batteries be transferred from the Army to the Air Force. The Monsoon has learned the decision was yes – all surface to air missile system (SAMS) batteries swill be transferred and integrated into our missile defenses and coordinated with our radar sites.  But batteries should be ordered from our supplier to replace those transferred so that our divisions also have SAMS as divisional assets.  It was anticipated the Air Force would need more as well.