NationStates

LOCKBOURNE, ALEXIANDRA - The Alexiandran Defence Directorate today announced a new, 35 billion credit modernisation programme for the National Air Force. At a press conference in Lockbourne, the nation's capital, Defence Consul Lysander Corleone promised 'a wholesale expansion of the valuable role played by our valiant airmen and women'. The announcement comes just days after rebels in the troubled Hamza Strip downed an AH-93 Spirit helicopter gunship with shoulder-launched surface-to-air missiles. Monday's incident cost the lives of four Alexiandran servicemen and prompted retaliatory bombing of militant targets across the region by Alexiandran air assets.

Asked about what forms the new investment would take, Consul Corleone mentioned 'a successor to the Illusion multirole fighter', which was developed in Anemos Major and acquired via purchase in 2012. The successor, he promised, would be 'Alexiandran through and through', and would 'lead the industry in terms of both performance and economics'. This move towards domestically sourced vehicles fits a developing pattern in Alexiandran military procurement, according to experts. In recent years, the National Armed Forces have commissioned a new, domestically produced main battle tank - the MBT-45 Brimstone - and a series of small arms manufactured within the Republic.

In addition to a replacement for the Illusion Multirole Fighter, Consul Corleone promised 'new strategic options' and 'a wealth of innovative technologies in a wide variety of expanding fields'. Experts have interpreted this as a reference to the stealth bomber rumoured to be under development by the Air Force, as well as a hint at a new focus on cyber warfare and satellite technology.

Hauptstadt Königsberg, Ostpreußen - With military reforms now reaching a definitive conclusion within Prussia, the Reichsstatthalter, head of state of the Free-State, issued a state holiday in recognition of its completion, extending invitations to that of the whole of the League of Allied Powers.

Controversy occurred during early this year when Prussian Officers allegedly established the infamous don’t ask, don’t tell policy within its ranks. International news sources alleged the Ministry of State Security in Prussia ordered the mass arrest of high and mid-teir ranking military officials during the final stages of the new doctrine. When asked about the actions, the army suggested they were promoting so called degeneracy within its ranks and had sought to purge it as a final step to its reformed military and doctrine practices. World Assembly civil rights groups associated with the League of Allied Powers openly condemned these clearly totalitarian actions, stating:

Union of Free Peoples and Civil Rights wrote:"The League of Allied Powers is supposed to promote democratic, peaceful values and solutions- it's not supposed to harbor dictatorships that claim to believe these things but truly don't,"

No reply was given by either the Government or the Army.

Academic and political debates continued outside of the Republics borders on the subject of Prussian innovation or improvisations, arguing they (Prussians) are still using mostly Cold-war era small arms with minor modifications, as opposed to replacing them entirely with new weapons systems. The Prussian Officer corps and its Junker backing, had reportedly concentrated much of its military efforts on that of cheap and easy to produce long range strategic ICBM-like weapons systems, instead of continued research and development of large and costly Naval weapons platforms, knowing the nation never adopted a significant naval doctrine or practice.

((OOC: I don't mind being the North Korea here, just be nice.))