Vanuku Announces Major Upgrades to Fully Modernise Its Armed Forces Land, Sea and Air Contingents to Benefit From Huge Investment Programme Over Next 10 YearsThe deadly Cheetah Mark IV battle tank which will be upgraded as part of the massive armed forces spending programme.June 4537 -The government has announced its commitment to introduce significant improvements and carry out substantial upgrades to all branches of its armed forces.
A multi-billion VAN decade-long investment has been unveiled which the Ministry of Defence says will ensure Vanuku continues as the pre-eminent military in the southern hemisphere and one of Terra's greatest powers for many decades to come.
As well as personnel training and the development of improved tactical and strategic doctrines based on recent conflicts, vast amounts are to be spent on improving current hardware.
From the army point of view this includes - reassessment of engine, armour and weaponry on the Cheetah Mark IV main battle tank and the Salient Infantry Fighting Vehicle. Redevelopment of the infantry's secondary and light small arms weaponry in line with the Majatran Assault Rifle technology developed with Istalia earlier this century.
On the naval side it includes - upgrading of ASW, AA and detection capabilities on all escort craft including
Wiel-class destroyers,
Tekmak-class cruisers and
Banstill-class frigates Improvements to the defence capabilities of Vanuku's fleet of Támnr-class nuclear super carriers, including the installation of new anti-ship cruise missiles and surface to air and surface to surface missile systems.
From the airforce perspective the investment includes modifications to the S-44A, S-44B and S-10 Tanhri stealth fighter family, including a new four-barrel cannon as well as modifications to external missile and bomb hardpoints and internal weapons bays on all craft.
The MoD has also announced its intention to launch and commission a new carrier strike group - based around a brand new Támnr-class carrier within the next decade. It will be the sixth fleet of its kind in the Vanukean navy and will be expected to perform both domestic and international peacekeeping and security duties.
Vanuku's existing task forces are positioned around the waters of Terra: the Fourth fleet is based at the Bozo River facility in Kalistan, the bulk of the Third Fleet remains concentrated in Keymonite coastal waters and the Fifth Fleet is carrying out patrols in the southern Anantonese Ocean. The two remaining CSGs patrol domestic waters in both the Majatran Sea and Verranderlijke (Red Bass) Ocean. The sixth fleet will work with these on a rotational basis providing more flexibility in the naval network.
Prefect Herlkai Vrhelmszo said: "For the last 20 years our economy has been largely orientated towards consumer production and ensuring huge infrastructure projects such as our nuclear energy programme have bedded in. But we have never forgotten our military traditions and our commitment to Majatran and Terran security. That is why I am announcing this 10-year plan to ensure we remain in an unrivalled position for many decades to come.
"While our emphasis on this occasion is on modernisation and upgrading, the government will continue to work with our biggest defence firms such as Vanutech, Royal Krmj and Shipyard Havendam to research and develop new military hardware in all areas and the fruits of these labours will be regularly rolled out over the coming years."