Luthori

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The Times | Times Media Group

Imperial Luthorian Army to undertake "modernization" efforts for 40 years; amids recent developments.

October 5559

Fort William - Amids the recent creation and deployment of the Mordusian Task Force to Mordusia and the current debates in Parliament about the Government Budget of 5560, where it is likely that the Imperial Luthorian Army, Imperial Luthorian Navy and Imperial Luthorian Air Force’s budgets are likely going to be cutted and these excedent funds would be redirected towards the healthcare and education budgets, the Citadel announced, alongside the Department of Defence in the Malvin Headquarters that a “lengthy” process of “modernization of the capabilities” of the Imperial Luthorian Army, Navy and Air Force.

Of course, this doesn’t come as a “standalone” announcement, as the Luthorian military states that an “optimistic” outcome would be to have the Imperial Luthorian Armed Forces to be fully modernized at the beginning of the 57th Century, this came to be known as “Operation 5600”, during which the military would see an increase in investments, those either coming from the Government or the private military sector. “Operation 5600” also seems to hint towards a “total revamp” of the Luthorian military sector, towards one where “cutting-edge” military equipment is produced. Defence Secretary, Mr. Leonard Howard stated the government’s “willingness” to go along with the proposed plan for a complete modernization and reorganization of the military, stating that:

“...worrying developments in the world may signify the beginning of a Luthorian remilitarization process…”

Although, while saying that, his government was currently undermining that same modernization process by announcing cuts to the military budgets of the three parts of the Armed Forces. Regardless of this, the Chief of the Defence Staff (CoDS), Arthur Pinkman stated the following in regards to the military modernization process which is going to be undertaken by the Luthorian Armed Forces.

“By allowing ourselves to check our current capabilities and increase them when needed, it is, without a doubt, a process which is going to be a useful process for the Armed Forces. While it is totally understandable that this sort of procedure shouldn’t be undertaken and even discussed lightly, the Citadel reported numerous issues that needed to be fixed within either the Imperial Luthorian Army, Navy or Air Force. One of these issues being the lack of intra-service collaboration within the military, this also comes down to the issue of separate officer courses which all fuel a rivalry between the Navy and the Army Cadets. This “rivalry” so to speak is a high factor in military effectiveness and we’re worried about the fact that could potentially lead to our effectiveness in missions being handicapped by this.

I’ve already spoken with the Head of the Military Education Corps, Colonel Arthur Philips, about the possibility of creating reform in the education of our future officers, in hopes of greatly reducing the current issues plaguing our officer corps.

Other than these issues, there are only issues in terms of readiness, equipment and expertise that need to be handled. On the last subject, it is highly likely that a program of regular exercises in the Artanian Sea or in the Luthorian Homeland, or in other territories in our allies’ territory. Where a hope may be to create some experiences to our soldiers and officers by regularly exercising their abilities in front of a situation during a war, battle in a chosen theater of operations. This will be developed soon. As codenames and situations are still being debated and decided upon currently. Although, we must say that regular decade operations of military exercises will be held by the Imperial Luthorian Armed Forces, alongside regular small-scale exercises, involving only a few units, every 2 years. Exceptional military exercises may be planned 6 months in advance, as always.”

The Defence Secretary, for his part, stated that the Government had a project of “nationalizing” the military industry. Although, he confirmed that due to a likely Parliamentary Opposition from the National Labour Party’s Right Wing, the concept would be slimmed down to the creation of an Office responsible for Governmental scrutiny in military exportations and an “increased” government oversight on military production. For now, the only news that we received from the military industry is the renaming and sale of the Reynolds Maritime Company to “DeepBlue Instruments”, although, it is stated that the company would continue its work on military equipment, by collaborating with other companies for software and resources. 

A trend which is more likely to be the case, as the costs of producing everything alone far outweighs those of producing it in collaboration with other companies which are specialized in a specific part of the military equipment. Regardless, the Challenger III, produced for now, entirely by the SV Defence Group, is going to be produced in collaboration with other companies at the beginning of next year, time to begin the transition period.

Apart from that, the Defence Office also hinted out to the creation of "new" Army subdivisions, adding more components to the Imperial Luthorian Armed Forces, alongside the current modernization of the current military capabilities and equipments of that same military. Elements such as a "Civil Guard", tasked with homeland defence and national security amids a current government-backed proposal to abolish mandatory military service for young Luthorians, the Government stating that this move would lead to "greater focus on the upper education of young adults".

@TheTimes