Your Nation's Fact of the Week

[Zhouran]

Due to the strong importance of environmentalism within Zhouranese culture and society, the country, being the second largest electricity-producing nation in the world, has the world's largest number of nuclear power plants and wind farms. As a result, Zhouran is the world's largest producer of commercial nuclear power as well as the largest producer of commercial wind power.

With an increasing emphasis on dominant nuclear power (including fusion) in order to replace coal, Zhouran sees itself as the world's leading commercial nuclear nation.

Since the early 1980s, Zhouran has been recognized for its nuclear disaster expertise and for the safety of nuclear technology. The nation has also been a top player in the nuclear export markets with the National Nuclear Mechanical Engineering Service, the company that produces Zhouran's nuclear reactors, successfully selling nuclear reactors to other countries. Being the world's second largest producer of electricity as well as the world's largest producer of electricity through nuclear power, Zhouran's massive nuclear power industry allows the nation to not only be the leading country in civilian nuclear power but also the leading country in cost-efficient highly-affordable electricity, experts agree that nuclear power has done well for Zhouran's robust power grid and that it has allowed the nation to continue committing to environmental friendliness and scientific progress. The International Atomic Energy Agency states that the People's Republic of Zhouran is currently the leading nation in civilian nuclear research together with Germany and also adds that Zhouran leads the world in nuclear power due to the highest amount of electricity produced through nuclear power as well as having the most amount of nuclear reactors. In regards to nuclear fusion research the country is known to spend large amounts of money in the field, contributes to various international nuclear fusion research programs and is also a member of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor.

In the realm of wind power, Zhouran is known for being a massive producer and exporter of wind turbines.

[Aikoland]

While constitutionally speaking, the Prime Minister can come from either chamber of Parliament, no Prime Minister has come from the Senate since 1906.

[Creslonia]

All our ministries, commissions, administrations, and other government agencies are located in the same location.

[Subhurbia]

The star on the Suhurbian flag represents the elements of earth, water, air, fire, and spirit, reflecting the 5 primary cultures. The tricolors in the background are all the primary colors (red, blue, and yellow) which has had multiple different interpretations. The most popular interpretation is that it represents the three orientations of Societies that all exist. The red representing the masculine cultures in the nation, the blue representing the feminine cultures in the nation, and the yellow representing the neutral societies in the nation. The reason red is on the top is because it symbolizes the ascending nature of the masculine principle. Hence, the alchemical symbols for fire and air (the masculine elements) are upward pointed triangles. Similarly, the blue is on the bottom symbolizes the descending nature of the feminine principle. The alchemical symbols for earth and water (the feminine elements) are downward pointed triangles. The branches beneath the star represents the federation, that these distinct different societies are all part of one federal nation.

[Bluelight-R006]

There are comic books made by the government on how to have a moral and decent attitude, impressions on other people, and also a funny joke comic book featuring the leader as an animated character.

[New Wolvers]

The LWA, also known as the Liberation Wolves, are employed as street sweepers in time of peace all around New Wolvers, as a form of training to be perfectly in time, and to process heavy load and still serve the citizen.
There are however some divisions and batallions that are not employed as street sweepers during time of peace.
The soldiers who are employed as street sweepers (even as trashmen) do get paid 25% more, but are stripped of their weaponry momentarily.
Of course, some regions do hire private companies for this, but notable example of soldiers being street sweepers can be found in Berta Capital City, Wenceslav, Nuova Milano and Fuego.
The Autonomous Republic of Hale instead relies heavily on private companies, as per the treaties of the Republic.

[Zhouran]

Domestic helpers in Zhouran are foreign women, most of who come from Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America. In the country, domestic helpers are paid under the minimum wage of ZN¥20.45 per hour, while that is considered to be lowly in Zhouranese standards, in foreign standards the pay of domestic helpers in Zhouran would be considered decent. However, since domestic helpers are not citizens, this means they are ineligible to receive universal basic income from the National Universal Income System, thus domestic helpers lack any financial safety net compared to Zhouranese citizens. With their workplaces being the residence of their employer, domestic helpers perform various household tasks such as cooking, serving, cleaning, dishwashing and child care.

Domestic helpers are known to be common victims of workplace discrimination and abuse especially from their employers, with a majority of the abuses coming from ethnic-Zhouranese female employers. As a result, the government has made measures to make sure domestic helpers receive the same workers' rights as any Zhouranese person, however the rate of discrimination and abuses especially from female employers continues to grow, with the condition of domestic workers in the country being increasingly scrutinized by human-rights groups and criticized as tantamount to modern slavery. Documented cases of worker abuse and racial discrimination are increasing in number.

[Union of Sudanian Islamic Republics]

Sufi Islamic brotherhoods (tariqa) are extremely prominent in the Union of Sudanian Islamic Republics, with the majority of Sudanians (82%) adhering to some sort of form of Islamic mysticism. The practice of syncretization of traditional folk religions and practices are ingrained in the Islamic practice of the Union, many traditional practices finding their way into the mystical character of the form of Islam practiced.

[Gandoor]

From 1950 until 1967, television commercials were only permitted between programming, with a maximum of five minutes of advertisements between shows.

[Camarder]

Camarder's only Christian place of worship at the moment is a ship moored in New Rheinfeld Harbor while construction of an actual church is underway.

[Gran Argreriana]

in the jungles in the southern part of Gran Argrerisna, there is more alligators than people per capita

[Mahrenbach]

- Redacted for reasons of National Security -

[Voxija]

Voxija has the second most libraries per capita in the Southern Hemisphere.

[Zhouran]

Around 87% of tobacco consumption in Zhouran comes in the form of cigars while 13% in the form of cigarettes. With Zhouran being the largest tobacco producer, cigars are more preferred over cigarettes since the latter is seen as "simply uncultured".

[Silver Commonwealth]

Ministry of Education

Fact time!

*SC's Historian takes a cup of ''Victory Gin'' in a vault*

''Situation in SC's Balkans before SC's collapse was pretty heated to say the least - recently, European Federation, and Middle East Commonwealth had went to war over the last remaining natural resources, and those, which SC's Europe managed to grab, quickly ran out both during the war, and afterwards, as unlike in North America, there were major exchanges with missiles, and even some nuclear weapons, as nuclear spears rained upon several cities during the conflict, and while European Federation had enough weapons to make the Middle East Commonwealth collapse, Europe itself was hurt badly by rockets, and bombers as well, along with submarines, and it was soon forced to abandon its occupied territories in Middle East, as resources became too overstretched. Shortly after that, a new state emerged in territory of Western Anatolia - Turkish State, which claimed itself as successor to Middle East Commonwealth, as most of other nations in Middle East Commonwealth's former territory were too small, or tribal societies, after the collapse of various governments there. New region disputes between each other started, and old conflicts re-ignited, as SC's Britain - the leader of SC's Europe, failed to address the all issues of regions. Balkans were a particularly dangerous powderkeg, as each governor blamed other's people for failures in their front sectors during the Resource Wars. Situation was so bad back then, that some divisions had to fight separated from each other, in order to avoid infighting - Croat divisions were dislocated in Anatolia, but Serbian - in Caucasus. Another bloodshed was just a matter of time...''

''After SC's collapse, many states broke free of the Balkan Commonwealth, and sought to develop their own destiny. However, in SC's Serbia, a country, called Nationalist Yugoslavia, was proclaimed by veteran generals of SC's Serbian divisions, and proclaimed ''Yugoslav reunification'' as their main goal, although they only controlled Serbia, Montenegro, Republic Srpska, and other Serbian inhabited parts of Balkans. After some time, Nationalist Yugoslavia declared war to Second Independent State of Croatia, and Slovene State as a first step of the unification. However, during the Yugoslav Wars, Serbian leadership faced many issues - both external, and internal. During the conflict, Nationalist Yugoslavia's leader was afraid, that Hungary could claim parts of northern Serbia, and during the conflict, Bulgaria demanded Serbian parts of Macedonia. As Nationalist Yugoslavia's military didn't want to fight a two front war, territory was given up, but with intent of reclaiming it later on. Before the war, Tom had stocked various energy weapons like Q-35 matter modulators, and Gauss riffles in SC's Balkans, along with vertibirds, and PMT Sherman tanks, so both sides had a wide access to weaponry. However, there was still a deficit of them during the war, so Yugoslavia tried to shift the power of nuclear energy from producing energy for civilian needs to producing nuclear energy for microfusion cells, in order to supply its laser weapons. When it started to run in microfusion cell deficit once again, some of its division used old AK-47 modifications with lead rounds instead. Same applied for tanks - when energy necessary for powering the newer generation tanks and aircrafts ran out, Yugoslavia switched to old Empire's MiG-35, and T-14 Armata tanks. (SC's breakup happened in late 21st/early 22nd century, so those would be outdated by then) Even before the collapse, units like Chetniks were used as a police, as they had been around ever since Balkans were still ruled by Empire, and SC's Serbian army hadn't got enough equipment for all of its units, but during the Yugoslav Wars, they often actively participated in warfare, and covered front sectors, in which situation was the most critical. There were also plenty of ''weekend soldiers'' - civilians, who worked behind the lines during work days, but went to the front in weekends. (Although later on, the amount of them decreased, as Nationalist Yugoslavian army started to conscript them for full time service) It could be said, that army's leadership desperately used any measure to win the war.''

''Some of the Western European power armor units stationed in Balkan Commonwealth had been trapped there after SC's collapse, and couldn't return home. Most of them were convinced to join Yugoslavia's side by vague promises of bringing ''peace and unity'' to the region. SC's Britain, along with Tom would normally intervene in such cases, but as European Federation had collapsed at that point, Yugoslavia, and Croatia were mostly left on their own, despite both sides requesting more aid, as situation in Europe had turned into basically ''free for all'' battle mode. So, both sides weren't particularly merciful against each other, fueled by ideological radicalism as well, due of them both being ruled by radical regional branches of the former Party (like Ustaše, for an example), and there were cases of Yugoslavian army using chemical weapons often, along with massacres. Croatian, and Slovenian side also had got leftovers from some of SC's more advanced weapons, like Gatling lasers, and arc welders, so each side had technological parity in a way. Overall, war lasted for about three years, even after Croatia's surrender, as most of the remaining troops in the north refused to lay down their arms, and continued to fight alongside Slovenian troops. Although it managed to seize Istria peninsula, and a few northern parts of Croatia, Slovenian State still got overwhelmed by Serbian troops, and at the end of the week, they had already arrived in Slovenia's territory. After the end of the war, former Serbian region President-Governor proclaimed himself as new ''Voivoda'' of Yugoslavia, meaning, that he would be both a military, and political leader of it. New state would have a focus on militarized economy, and society, along with ''Christian capitalism'', which while rejecting free market capitalism, also opposed communism, and socialism as well, and more represented moralistic corporatism, with state capitalist influences. Like most of SC's successor states after SC's collapse, it was at the very least crypto-fascist.''

''After Yugoslavian Wars had finally ended, Nationalist Yugoslavia had to rebuild its infrastructure, and recover from the war first, as it had taken its toll upon the land, as both sides had lost a lot of people, and during the war, many people also were left homeless, and in poverty. Government announced the first ''three-year plan'', which envisioned the first stages of economical recovery. (Later on, Nationalist Yugoslavia's army had to keep fighting off partisans, though) Despite that, its expansionist leadership couldn't stay in peace forever - it wanted to extend Yugoslavia's borders. Years later, Yugoslav-Albanian war would begin over the dispute of Kosovo, and as Bulgaria, and Greece joined the war too, Albania's chances to win were practically 0%, and despite putting a good fight, and inflicting considerable losses to all three armies, Yugoslavia was still victorious. At peace treaty, Yugoslavia took all of Kosovo, and Northern Albania with Catholic Christian population, while Bulgaria - the Albanian parts of Northern Macedonia, and Greece - southern Albania with Orthodox Christian population. The rest of Albania became a Yugoslavian protectorate, which was absorbed later on. Yugoslavia also launched a war against Bulgaria, and Greece, in order to expand southwards. All of Bulgaria was annexed as a part of ''Greater Yugoslavia'', along with northern parts of Greece such as Thrace (Along with western Constantinople, as it was a part of European Federation before the collapse), Macedonia, and Corfu Island, along with Greek territories taken during invasion in Albania, while the rest of Greece was declared as Yugoslavian protectorate as well. (Unlike Albania, it never got fully annexed, though), and is a concern of other neighbors like Romania, and Hungary too, due of its increasingly jingoist rhetoric.''

Ministry of Education

Fact time!

*SC's Historian takes a cup of lotoko*

''Even after the change of treatment of natives was kicked off in the 80s by SC's Integralists, and after various SC's governors set up ''autonomies'' for the indigenous people (Greater North is also theoretically ran by Canadian, and Greenlandic inuits, albeit companies like POC (Patriotic Oil Company) still have a big say there, and can extract whatever resources necessary, if it is supposed to fuel the Commonwealth's machinery as a whole), neither SC's Canadian central government, or any of the regional governors have apologized to the First Nations about wrongdoings of the past (Including residential school system), or confiscation of the tribal land. When Ex-President-Governor of Canada (Raymond Cousineau, now an Archon of The East) was confronted by the leaders of the ''autonomies'', and President-Governor of the Greater North about that matter, his excuse on the situation was: ''And what would my apology change? Would it help you in the conditions of your ruled lands?'', and it is unlikely, that future governors will change the situation in near future. Situation is similar in SC's Australia as well, where President-Governors have used phrases like ''we must move on, as empty words have little power''. That said, outside the specifically designated ''autonomies'' and regions, indigenous peoples still face discrimination, and disadvantaged social status, and in many cases, The Party's conservative wing
would rather prefer to forcefully move the few remaining indigenous peoples outside the autonomies to the specially designed regions. (With Greater North being the exception, as it is one of the few regions, which has a slight indigenous majority)''

Ministry of Education

Fact time!

*SC's Historian takes a cup of lotoko in a reinforced bunker*

'' (An another AU, which takes in a World War Z-like timeline, where SC's experiments created zombies. Shockingly, more likely than SC getting an empire into space.) ZD-X virus (Also called as New Rabies virus) is a bio-weapon created by SC's scientists in 2092, about 32 years after the Scramble for World, and a virus, which was responsible for the War of Human Salvation, where SC, and other survivors had to fight off the zombies. Various SC's hospitals, and military institutions were involved in its development, and they all were connected in a secret network. Its exact planned usage is unknown, although some theorize, that it was planned to be deployed against alien civilizations in future, when chemical suits, which could withstand it, would be created. Although symptoms of ZD-X were similar to rabies in many ways, its incubation period was way shorter, and it was also resistant against normal rabies vaccine, and also had a limited airborne effect, meaning, that if a person was too close, they would get infected. Infected would usually fall in coma, and then wake up after a few hours, but as a zombie instead. They typically travel in packs, and are fairly slow, and while they can even make some weaponry, they can't utilize advanced weapons. Also, they still seem to have hydrophobia, which means, that it makes them difficult to cross oceans, or seas. (That said, they can travel over sea ice, and they can also cross from one ocean to another, if infected end up in ships, or air planes.) ZD-X could also infect other mammals, which made things even harder for SC.''

''The remaining material after testing was allowed to be stored only in level 4 safety labs, in order to prevent any possible contamination of the rest of SC's populace. However, in some regions, there were few security 4 level laboratories, so organisations often had to wait for their time to dispose the virus samples, as they stored other dangerous substances as well, and space often was full. One of those labs was a hard accessible research base in Omaheke deserts, Namibia, guarded by various robots, force fields, and technological wonders - the Big MT of Africa, where scientists from all of Africa came together for research, and worked there for a common goal - betterment of the continent, by developing new technology, or improving the existing one, in order to heal the wounds of disputed zone. However, on the other side of its official image, there were also lots of morally questionable experiments, and it not only stored the samples, but also participated in the research of the weapon. However, its storage rooms always were needed to be reserved, as there always were lots of dangerous materials to dispose, like radioactive waste.''

''Disposal was also even more complicated with all the paperwork, and bureaucratic blot, so some region militaries, and research groups decided to either bury material deep in ground, in geologically stable regions, or deep in either vast jungles, or hard-accessible mountains, in order to prevent as much exposure as possible, with as durable material as possible. That said, in some of those cases, animals found canisters with ZD-X, and it leaked out of small, almost microscopic scratches, spreading in the food chain, and infecting first humans. Due of lack of information, and places with stored canisters being remote, it took a while for Tom to raise alarm bells about virus spread in Congo jungle. Also, due of hard accessible terrain, lack of supplies, and regional units being more poorly trained than SC's elites, SC's troops couldn't contain infection, and zombies very well, and infection rates continued to grow, and first super-pack (As zombie hordes would be named later on) in Congo was already starting to form. In following years, those zombies would frequently ravage parts of central Africa, and Congo Commonwealth's government would be one of the first to fall, due of lack of unity between regional groups, and terrible infrastructure - in many cases, soldiers found themselves to be overrun. (After the World War Z, Tom tried to find a scapegoat for this, but in reality, it was the failure of SC's system as a whole)

Ministry of Education

Fact time!

*SC's Historian takes a cup of lotoko in a space shuttle*

''(I have been trying to deeper develop the AUs of SC, and this one is in the most unlikely timeline, where it manages to get into space, and slowly expand through Solar System, and surrounding local start cluster.) After first SC's colonists arrived on Luna's surface, Tom was afraid, that the space colonization spree would start new conflicts between the regions, which governors wee already hard to keep in place, so he came out with a solution - all of the Moon would be administrated by the Lunar National Republican government, which at the same time would be subjected to every governor on Earth, even the very small ones in terms of influence (New Guinean tribal chiefs, for an example), and while each region would be allowed to send its people to colonies, in order to help to construct them, no region would be allowed to claim a part of colony for itself. ''Luna either belongs to us all, or it belongs to no one.'' Supercomputer Tom said in his speech, where he announced the new rule for SC's regions. The same rule was applied for the next colonies on Mars, and while administrations of both Luna, and Mars theoretically had a hold on all territories, and even had a representation in UCN HQ, in reality, territory outside outposts, and settlements often was basically lawless, and while both Moon, and Mars were mapped well by satellites, colonists still managed to find something new, like resources, or perhaps even traces of primitive lifeforms in microscopic size near the poles.''

''However, during the 23th century, some of the regions started to create their own colonies illegally. One of the first ones was the Balkan Commonwealth, and its capital region - Romania. Using its status, it managed to get a few space shuttles from Mars National Republican government, and Iron Guard colonists landed near Hellas planitia in Southern Mars. However, the President-Governor (Or Conducător) of Balkans didn't even want to hear about giving it up to Mars government - instead, first settlements were started to be built, and the most important of them - New Iași, would soon become the headquarters of New Romania - a colony on Mars. Later on, colonists would even build an orthodox church there, and armory for local soldiers, and weapons. That said, colonists weren't able to keep it a secret forever - when SC's satellites discovered it in their check-up, Tom, and Head of Mars National Republican government ordered Balkan Commonwealth to cede its colony to the Mars administration, but Conducător of Balkans decided to take the matter to UCN international court instead. During the trial, many regional governors voiced support for the Balkan Commonwealth, and also asked to dismantle both Lunar, and Mars governments, with following arguments - that ''they are institutions, which blatantly ignore regional sovereignty, when it comes to space colonization for SC, and most of their personnel is located on Earth anyways.''. The vote afterwards showed, how powerless Tom actually was, as it resulted in dismantling of Lunar, and Mars administrations - now both the planet, and moon were open for colonization from other regions, and just as Tom predicted, international competition only grew higher, along with tensions.''

''Still, as millennias passed, inhabitants on all of Solar System's rock planets, and Gas Giant moons (Gas giants were scheduled to be terraformed in ''far future'', when better technologies would arrive but the remaining asteroid belt was combined with Ceres mass, in order to try to ''perfect'' the ''imperfect'' Solar System) had started to develop distinguishing characteristics, first in order to adapt to the different gravitation, and vision on planets, for an example. (Gravitation on Mars is lower than on Earth, and Sun is about 2 times smaller in skies) Later on, they started to develop their own cultural characteristics, which distinguished themselves from inhabitants of Earth - Earth itself had mined most of its non-renewable resources by then, and now mostly served as an administration center, and capital of the Pax Solaris, or ''Solar Peace'' in English (SC, but in space), which sought to expand in space, and fight off the aliens. Eventually, a new movement, called Spartakist Liberation Front, grew in size on Mars, and it aimed for an independent, stratocratic Martian State, and Pan-Martian nationalism. During the Spartakist revolution, New Romania was seized by revolutionaries as well, and the ''Republic of Hellas'' was proclaimed instead, which was annexed by Martian State after the end of Spartakist Revolution. Supercomputer Tom embargoed the Martian State, which 20 years later was on verge on collapse, so it was forced to rejoin Pax Solaris, but it operated under the same system, as old SC did on planet Earth. (During Spartakist Revolution, all of Earth had finally transformed into an unitary government) Albeit terraforming Mars is deemed as "important", it is still not likely to happen for a few millennias.''

[Bluelight-R006]

The leader of the nation has a talk show on which he appears on twice a week live, where people can ask him questions from a personal to an international level. He showcases the good in people, and interviews many random people on a personal level. It’s like watching the daily late night talk shows.

[Apiary One]

All drugs are legal--if you're a Party member or tourist, that is. Any Apian worker caught "buzzing" is severely punished.

[Nyelu]

Every nation that has attempted to conquer Nyelu has failed miserably. Explorers that go to the landmass never end up returning.

[Forlania]

Nudity is fully legal within Forlania for any Citzen, although many business still have their own personal rules regarding whether it’s acceptable.
An interesting result of the right to nudity has been the addition of disposable seat covers at all bike rental stations, due to the number of patrons who prefer to “rawdog” it.

[Republica Federal de Catalunya]

From 1970 to 2007 the Airforce operated 106 Dassault's Mirage 5. They were from 3 versions: 63 5AC ground attack single pilot, 16 5DC trainer double seater and 27 5RC or Reece version. They reemplaced supersonic SACSA 450, the last F86Fs and Canadair Sabre Mk6 and allowed relocate 3r Grup (3rd Group) F104Gs to interceptor squadrons to reduce the F104G's fleet high attriction.
Catalan company SACSA obtained Dassault's production License and SCMA-CS motors obtained SCEMA ATAR 9K50 production license. The main diference with Dassault made examples was that they used US avionics as the Belgian ones.
The Airforce decided to get the Mirage 5 instead of ordering more CF-5A/Bs and adquiring F-104S though the were already in CAF use. A7 Corsair II and SAAB J-35 were also evaluated.

They equipped five attack squadrons of the 3r Grup Based in Santa Oliva AF and Reus AF: 18, 19, 112 air reece, 311 i 312 and the 310 OCU. They didn't act regularly as interceptor as they lacked RADAR many pilots prefered the Delta to the F104G and it's interminable list of pejorative nicknames.

During the 80s as EPAF F16s were entering in service Mirage 5s were used mainly in attack role.

Project: Mirage 5 Capabilities Enhancement Programme.

In the mid 80s SACSA received the Government proposal to propose a an Upgrade Package for the Mirage 5, as compatible as possible with the EPAF's F16A/B as possible. As the 5 replacement was called off due the 2nd oil crisis and Future European Fighter Aircraft programme was still in embrionary process, the MoD considered the need of a Mid Life Upgrade, as the MoD feared than when the FEFA get into production the 5s would have exceeded their operaional lives. 18th squadron converted to F16 block 15 OCU during the mid 80s. So their M5 were put into storage to deliver to other squadrons if necessary.

SACSA looked for partnered with Datalogic and French company SAGEM.

This program included :

General overhaul and refurbishment.

Structural modifications:

Modification of the windshield with a single glass piece instead of 3 panels. For improved frontal visibility.
Wing ribs redesigned and reworked.
Canard wings giving substantial improvement in instantaneous turn rate performance for air to air offensive and defensive capabilities.
More stability in flight, reducing around 40% of structural fatigue.
Reducing the take-off and landing distances. Approach speed around 10 knots lower (Always high and critical for a Delta plane)
Electrical generating and distribution system redesigned. New wiring.

Communication equipement UHF, VHF, IFF, TACAN alligned on the F-16.
HSI and ADI also identical to the GD F16 fighting falcon.
strobe lights new models.
Oxygen : New liquid oxygen system similar to the F-16 for more interoperability and safety.
Fuel System : Pressure refuelling replacing the previous gravity system. This one managed by the CDU will ensure a refuelling in 5 minutes instead of the 22 minutes needed with the gravity system.


Mission upgrades (WDNRS):

RADAR: Plana Fabrega PF-1032 with a 75km range and 42º envelope and 57 kms look down. It was latter dropped because of cost reasons.
CDU (Cockpit Display unit) from Marconi-Catalonia with full back up function of the Nav / Attack computer.
HUD (head up display) GEC-Marconi wide-FOV with front up control panel. equipped with a colour Olympus camera.
HDD (head down display) from GEC-Ferranti including stored tactical data, navigation data and real time reconnaissance video data presentation.

Avionics :
Sagem MAESTRO (Modular Avionics Enhancement System Targeted for Retrofit Operations)
INS (Inertial Navigation System) platform from SINGER-KEARFOTT (similar as the one onboard the F-16)
Nav/Attack system Sagem-UNA 92.
Nav/Attack UTR 90 computer
Radar altimeter (Honeywell) forTercor (terrain correlation) functions.
HOTAS cockpit based on the F-16 concept including the same symbols, redesigned throttle grip and F16 stick.
FLIR (Forward Infra Red Looking) Sagem Iris.

Laser designator : Olympus Defense DSOL- 336 laser range finder.
ECR Active/passive Electronical Counter Measures (RWR and chaff/flare dispensers).

Datalogic also was awarded for designing the air simulators.

Flight safety:
New Martin-Backer Mk10 zero/zero ejection seat.
Anti collision lights RECCE compatible similar to the F-16 system
New fire detection system like the one of the F-16.
Electronic components of the auto-pilot and servo's flight controls replaced by solid state miniaturized racks.
Redundancy of the critical functions.


The MoD and the Air Force were satisfied with the project results and ordered the preproduction of 18 examples and the upgrade of other 72 surviving examples.

In 1986 The FAPV was looking for an stopgap mesure for complementing their own Mirage IIIPVE fleet untill the Mirage 2000C arrival. Both the Government and SACSA agreed as they expected it would be a push for the export market for the 5-CEP upgrade pack. The FAPV adquired the 18 Preproduction Mirage V MEPs (9A, 4D and 5R) for 108 million US$. The Air Force didn't like the idea but got some more F16s Block 15 OCU to reequip the 18é Esquadró de Caça/ 18th Fighter Squadron.
CAE would later be the major contractor in the FAPV F5E/F Upgrade. in 1995 CAE the SACSA successor would sign the upgrade for the upgrade of the 17 mirage 5N/5DN/5RN to CEP.

Due the end of Cold War and the cost of the 1992 olimpics and the early 90s finantial crisis and fleet attrition the number of examples to be upgraded was reduced to 63 and the upgrade was "austerized " PF-1032 was not fitted, nor the single piece windshield. As 3r Grup was merged with 1r and 2nd grup as defense cuts in the 90s and a focus on peacekeeping operations it was decided to put the mirage 5s in Reserve and as agressors for disimilar training.
During the 90s the number was further reduced when some unupgraded stored aircrafts along exFAPV aircrafts were delivered as military aid after being upgraded to CEP upgrade to Naxera to cover it's losses during it's war for Gònava.

The Squadrons that were part of 3rd Grup were gradually reactivated with the arrival of the firsts Eurofighter Typhoons the Mirage 5AC ended it's service in 2004 and the Mirage 5DC and 5RC in 2007 after more than 250000 hours flown. Most were scrapped, some were send as spares to naxera, others were sent to museums or as gate guards in Air Bases or airports. As, Reus Airport.

[Zhouran]

The Zhouranese People's Army Air Force technically follows a high-low mix of high-performance fighter jets (heavy air-superiority fighters such as the Jian-19-0-1 and Jian-21-0) and low-performance fighter jets (light/medium fighters such as the Jian-21-0-1 and Jian-22-3-0), however since the mid-to-late 1980s, greater emphasis has been placed on heavy fighters over cheaper light/medium fighters and even dedicated CAS aircraft. As a result, by the early-to-mid 1990s, high-performance 4th-gen. fighters such as the Jian-17-1-0 and Jian-22-0 became the main standard frontline fighters of the ZPAAF with low-performance 4th-gen. fighters such as the Jian-17-0-3 and Jian-25 being mainly relegated to rearline reserve while 3rd-gen. fighters such as the Jian-13 and Jian-18 are placed in storage reserve due to their old age.

A heavily-armed ZPAN Type 114-400 carrier-borne fighter jet conducting non-aligned neutral air-policing near the Gulf of Sirte/Sidra on May 23, 1990

Since the mid-to-late 2000s, the ZPA Air Force along with the ZPA Naval Aviation recognized that they will be emphasizing more on operating in permissive airspace fighting against poorly-armed insurgents in low-intensity conflicts for the foreseeable future rather than against hi-tech well-armed conventional enemy forces in high-intensity conflicts as thought back in the 1990s following the end of the Cold War. The ZPAAF seems to recognize that high-performance 4th-gen. fighters are not the most-suitable weapons against irregular insurgent groups, and as a result, ZPAAF continues to follow a high-low mix by operating dedicated low-cost strike platforms such as the Qiang-28 and Qiang-31 together with low-performance 4th-gen. fighters in order to conduct low-tempo counter-insurgency operations against low-end threats in low-intensity engagements at a more cost-effective manner while high-performance 4th-gen. fighters together with bombers are tasked with conducting high-intensity high-tempo heavy strikes against high-end threats. Thanks to this high-low mix, the lower-end combat aircraft of the ZPAAF can take the burden off the higher-end combat aircraft and avoid having the higher-end combat aircraft and their crews from being increasingly worn-out from combat.

Despite the advantages, the high-low mix is being challenged by a controversial close-knit group known as the Boys in Blue (Putonghua: 蓝衣人), consisting of military officers from the ZPA Air Force and ZPA Naval Aviation along with civilian defense analysts and military researchers. Originating from the early-to-mid 1980s, the group advocates for the total retirement of light fighters and dedicated CAS aircraft in exchange for more heavy multirole fighter jets. Strongly believing in the concepts of adaptability and flexibility, the group's rationale is that a) dedicated CAS aircraft are single-purpose specialized aircraft that are not survivable in a future battlefield and b) heavy fighters have greater range and ordnance payload than light fighters, therefore heavy fighters are "perfect for national-defense and expeditionary-warfare" while light fighters should be decommissioned from service. Strongly challenging the conventional thinking of high-low mix, the Boys in Blue asserts that multirole heavy fighters featuring both high-maneuverability and powerful heavy long-range radars are far more-superior than light fighters in beyond-visual-range combat and dedicated CAS aircraft in ground-attack combat. The group's assertion is that a) mutlirole heavy fighters are fully-capable of both long-range air-defense and long-range air-interdiction operations while fully fueled and carrying a heavy weapons load, b) multirole heavy fighters are much more versatile than dedicated single-role "one-trick ponies" that only feature a single "niche" capability for a single dedicated role, and c) a heavy fighter can fly higher, faster and longer while carrying more weapons and fuel than a light fighter thus making it a superior fighter and strike platform.

A ZPAAF Jian-18-3-0 fighter jet flying above RoAF 71st Air Base in Câmpia Turzii, Romania on October 24, 2005

Since their formation, the Boys in Blue have received various criticism from military officers and civilian researchers. The group has been strongly criticized for their strong bias towards heavy fighter jets and their belief that a large fleet consisting solely of heavy fighters is far superior than a large high-low fleet of heavy fighters, light fighters and dedicated CAS aircraft. Within the ZPAAF, many officers are strongly frustrated by the insistence of the group that heavy fighters should take a primary position in combat air-operations planning and military-aviation funding. Critics argue that criticism of light fighters and dedicated CAS aircraft from the Boys in Blue is unfounded and that the high-low mix is a more cost-effective measure than the group's more-expensive high-performance-only mindset. Meanwhile, supporters of the Boys in Blue agree with the notion that heavy fighters should replace all light fighters and dedicated CAS aircraft, pointing to the highly-excellent track records of Zhouran's various heavy fighters in different conflicts with extremely lopsided kill ratios favoring Zhouranese heavy fighters against both aerial and surface threats. Supporters also argue that light fighters and dedicated CAS aircraft will fare poorly in a "high-threat" environment against enemy fighters and air-defense systems because heavy fighters have superior flight performances and can engage both aerial and surface targets by carrying a mix of air-to-air and air-to-surface weapons in a single sortie.

Within the ZPA Air Force and ZPA Naval Aviation, there are fighter pilots who support the Boys in Blue and are part of the group themselves, as well as fighter pilots who oppose the Boys in Blue. Despite the strong presence of critics and opponents from both within and outside the military, members of the group along with their acolytes have occupied various upper command positions within the ZPA Air Force and ZPA Naval Aviation since the mid-to-late 1980s, however by the early 2000s and further accelerated since the early 2010s, the group continues to face strong opposition from both military officers and civilian researchers.

A ZPAAF Jian-24-3-0 fighter jet flying at low-altitude at low speed, just off the southeastern coast of San Lorenzo Island near Callao, Peru on August 13, 2015

[Ayeinc]

A fun fact about Ayeinc is that we exist!

[Lillorainen]

The City of Pontrath is not only the largest city in Lillorainen, but has also been the fastest growing one in the 19th and 20th century, the reason for it being numerous cities, villages, and hamlets merged into one big city, Greater Pontrath.
Incorporations since 1850:

1851: Kelk, Rickes, Tetz, Büsenich, Greves, Horn (Ndrt.), Hehle.
1873: Almelen, Dronningen, Reumagen-Priess, Koldenich, Kanthoven, Hayn-Thorand.
1892: Sassenwerth, Damme-Uhlheim, Reedt, Köbenscheid, Mechuln, Dünrath.
1905: Jörzenich, Hanlo, Malmshoven, Freyweiler, Wiedscheid.
1926: Lumme, Oppenwerth, Grönnard, Estringen, Bornau (Ndrt.), Hinz.
1931: Frierscheid.
1939: Madenich, Wittard, Gymirsheim.
1952: Lademünd, Lünnich, Harringen, Lorchenich, Epperfeld, Sande.
1966: Moorpesch, Roidepesch, Reischenich.
1991: Rüdersvorst.
1997: Neupütz.

[HIreland]

It is a crime for politicians to be sober on the job.

[Zhouran]

Being the world's leading producer of nuclear energy, the People's Republic of Zhouran is known for its highly-impressive nuclear safety record. Every since Zhouran adopted grid-connected nuclear power for peaceful electricity purposes in 1975, the country has never experienced any major nuclear accidents thanks to highly-stringent meticulous practices and safety standards strongly enforced by the National Nuclear Energy Agency, which is subordinate to the Ministry of National Electricity. Even the most minor innocuous incidents are essentially non-existent in the numerous nuclear power plants across the country. No Zhouranese nuclear power plant has suffered from any nuclear meltdown thanks to the high-grade manufacturing and rigorous safety-level of Zhouranese nuclear reactors.

A view of the Anjing Nuclear Power Plant during an ordinary summer morning on August 22, 1989

Meanwhile, in regards to maritime nuclear power, the ZPA Navy has a long history of operating maritime nuclear vessels, starting off with the early nuclear submarine classes of the mid-to-late 1960s such as the Type 1155 class of SSNs and Type 1156 of SSNs. The 1970s finally saw the birth of Zhouran's nuclear navy, resulting in more maritime nuclear vessels such as the Type 1971 Shenlun-class SSN and Type 1976 Xinshi-class CVN. Throughout its history of using nuclear-powered vessels, the ZPA Navy has never suffered from any major nuclear accident, not to mention that no Zhouranese nuclear vessel has ever experienced a nuclear reactor failure thanks to the high quality of Zhouranese nuclear reactors. In early 1980, the ZPA Navy introduced the highly-rigorous Maritime Submarine Safety Program, and as a result even the tiniest innocuous incidents onboard nuclear vessels have become extremely-rare and even non-existent thanks to the MSSP.

A Type 1968 Hongjing-class SSN steaming along the surface of the Pacific during a naval exercise off the southwestern coast of Tanghan District on May 16, 1997