Imperial Magican Armed Forces Rolls Out New Modernization Program
Artist's render of the new ATV-M 'Scorpion', to be used by Imperial special forces on reconnaissance missions. This unique motorbike is all-terrain and, uniquely, armed with four anti-tank rocket mounts.
AQUIS, EMPIRE OF MAGICA - Today, officials from the Imperial Air Force, Imperial Army, and Imperial Navy announced in a rare joint press conference a ten-year plan to modernize the Imperial Armed Forces at large. Over the next five to ten years, every aspect of the current system will be reorganized; the long-standing division of the Imperial Army will be eliminated as a unit in favor of brigades which, according to General-Marshal Rousseau representing the Imperial Army, will result in a more lightweight Imperial Army fit for the envisioned expeditionary battles of tomorrow. As part of the Army Restructuring Plan, more of a focus on battlefield logistics and quick deployment will be made through further investment in the Army's organic air-transport capability and its motor pool, as well as the tactical, strategic, and unit training necessary to utilize these new capabilities. This doesn't come without a price: the Army's vaunted main battle tanks are slated to be struck from its inventory, while existing armor capabilities are to be audited for cost-efficiency and practicality in a post-Reunification environment.
However, this does not signal the 'end of an era' for the tank in the Magican Imperial Army - Model 90/120 and Model 90/120 'Ghosts', light tanks with main battle tank armament and, in the case of the 'Ghost', IR detection countermeasures are slated to be acquired in bulk to offset the loss of so many heavy tanks: over 260 of both types have been delivered with 720 more on the way. To supplement this new tank force based on maneuver, shock, and operational capability in rough environs, the concept of the 'tank destroyer' has been revitalized - Model 1 'Hailfire' NLOS-AT platforms, also known as 'missile tanks' based on the Model 90 chassis are capable of firing a whopping salvo of six Hellfire missiles from either direct fire or an indirect fire position up to 11km away, guided to their quarries by either laser rangefinding from front-line infantry or in cooperation with reconnaissance drones.
In addition, for the average infantryman, the Army will finally phase out the venerable AR-10 as the standard infantry rifle, though it will remain in use within the Territorial Army, replacing it with the bullpup AR-3 'Hellion' chambered in 6.8×51mm Magican caliber alongside the AR-11 'Terminator' specialist weapon. Existing artillery platforms such as the Model 6 Rhino will likely be upgunned with cannon and fire control upgrades allowing gunfire to reach a whopping 67km away with the usage of Very Long Range special artillery shells, while precision guided rounds - at a much lesser range of 38km - are expected to make up the mainstay of ready ammunition stores in two years' time.
The Naval General Staff also revealed its final iteration of the long-rumored 9th Naval Decree - likely the last such example before parliamentary control is slated to take effect in 2025 - outlining not only a modernization of the Navy, but an expansion: the four Emotive-class battleships will likely be replaced with five Predator-class Arsenal Ships, projected to weigh in heavier than the Emotives by a mere 4,000 tons: 76,000 tons fully equipped while boasting 512 missile launch cells of all shapes and sizes, as well as several dozen light gun, close-in weapons system, and rolling airframe missile emplacements.
The Assault-class fleet carriers, Boucanier, Grenadier, and Mousquetaire will be reportedly kept, while the two Armory-class fleet carriers are slated to be moved to the Reserve Fleet and replaced in an active role by five Raptor-class supercarriers, two of which, the Aigle and Crecerelle are already operational, while a third, the Faucon, will enter into service this year. The aging Commodore Paris class of guided missile frigates - all 47 of the ships - will be gradually replaced by 54 new and modular Littoral Combatant Vessels capable of taking on nearly any mission anywhere while having stealth as a centric feature in their design. The Imperial Navy's cruisers are slated to also be scrapped in their entirety, with the cruiser and destroyer force to be replaced by the Next-Generation Guided Missile Destroyer; 21 destroyers and 8 cruisers will be replaced by an order of 28 of these unclassed destroyers, the design of which is still reportedly ongoing; sources indicate these ships are directly meant to be peers to the existent advanced Lider-class design utilized by Vichnaya which, by all accounts shocked the Naval General Staff through its blatant superiority to existent Magican and allied designs.
The Air Force, too, will also undergo a radical change, but not quite as drastic as that of the Navy: the F-4 2000, a mainstay of the Air Force's ground wings, will be universally replaced by the F-23 Black Widow. The A-10 will be further supported in its close-air support role by the new Orca light-jet VTOL aircraft - by all accounts a highly maneuverable craft that is superior to, in all respects save for armor, the Super Tucano which it will replace in service. The AH-66 Firelance will also enter into service, filling a vital need for stealth-capable attack helicopters, augmenting the existing fleet of AH-64 Longbows.
All in all, these concerted procurement and modernization programs represent a stark turn from the age of pre-Unification mass combat and an increasing focus on aggressive maneuverability and expeditionary deployment with small units. Political interest groups have criticized the increased spending on the military in addition to the continued active role of the Territorial Army, which remains partially mobilized on occupation duty. Niall Jacques, spokesman for the newly-constituted Party of Constitutional Principle, was quoted as saying:
"Every bullet and every shell manufactured and paid for by the Imperial coffers represents, in all practical sense, a theft from the job we've to do in the task of rebuilding our Archipelago, which I might remind everyone - not that it needs to be - still remains in a state of mass destruction. That this questionable legislation was passed, in effect stealing from future generations through tens billions of florin of debt incurred, or by direct specie, also in effect stealing from the rebuilding effort, is offense upon injury. Although I will always sing the praises of His Majesty for giving freedom back to the people, no man is beyond criticism: this militarization is a massive mistake on his and the Government's part."
On the other hand, the Union of National Interest, representing the firmly xenophobic conservative and religious right, had this to say, as its leader, Artoria Jimena directly commented: "His Majesty, by getting this bill passed and assented to, will be lauded for generations to come. Our Archipelago, as evidenced by prior events, is in open sights. If Vichnaya had invaded, we would be their umpteenth oblast and our Emperor reduced to some figurehead in their system of government as they've done with other noble lines in their country. Imagine it: our Cathar churches burned down, replaced by... what, profane devilry in the form of worship of the Stars? Ludicrous. We cannot depend solely on our 'allies', either. By the time they got here in the Second War of Unification, Red bastards were already at the gates of Aquis. We are strong when we make ourselves strong - not by relying on others to save us."
It is expected, too, that surplus last-generation equipment such as the M60A6-2000, Panther II/105 main battle tanks, the F-4 2000, AH-1 Cobras, Agitator III/155 tank destroyers, T-80-II heavy tanks, M110 siege cannons and even some naval ships struck from the Fleet lists will be lend-leased and delivered to the government of Riomler; negotiations are ongoing.
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