The Valruzian Economist || Economic News From ValruziaSURGE ON VALRUZIAN DEFENSE MARKET AS GOVERNMENT UNVIEILS INTENTIONS TO MODERNIZE THE ARMED FORCESNowogard,
November 4338Logo of the Valruzian Armaments Group
NOWOGARD - It has certainly been an interesting and intensive week in the Valruzian defense sector, especially after the announcement of the Valruzian Government in which plans for further reformation and modernization of Valruzian National Defense Forces have been unveiled. After the success of the Programme "Orca" which successfully started the process of modernization of the Defense Navy of Valruzia and equipping it with cutting-edge technology including two aircraft carriers which will put Valruzia next to only a few states in Seleya to operate this type of vessel, and eight new submarines from Istalian-based Leonardi Industrial Group, Nowogard intends to repeat that success with Programmes called "Eagle" - for the Air Defense Forces, "Rhino" - for Land Forces, and "Crow" - for the Special Forces of Valruzia. If the plans of Government in Nowogard will succeed and will gain enough support in the Sejm, the Ministry of National Defense (MOND) will get an unprecedented surge of funds, as the net increase in the budget for national defense will amount 26 billion Valruzian Pesos. If succeeded, MOND will have 80 billion Pesos annually to spent of National Defense which will with ease allow for the realization of all four plans, including the already ongoing "Orca" Programme.
Valruzia's state-owned, but commercially-managed holding, Valruzian Armaments Group (WGZ) which is the largest provider of arms for the National Forces of Defense has just unveiled its newest products which, as the management of the WGZ will attract the attention of MOND and will be considered in the upcoming tender processes. WGZ unveiled three new vehicles as an alternative to the currently used by the Land Forces and Special Forces of Valruzia.
1. WCP-01 - Main Battle TankWCP-01 project is already finished and ready to be put into production. Producer, North Valruzian Works
(
Północowalruzyjskie Zakłady Produkcyjne,
PZP) declares that the annual production capacity is up to 250 tanks.
(OOC Note: Based on the PT-16 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PT-91_Twardy#PT-16)One of the most important announcements of the WGZ was the new WCP-01 main battle tank. It is the WGZ's alternative to the senescent W-16 main battle tank which was developed over 50 years ago. The new tank is supposedly called WCP-01, but it is not clear if this will be the final name. It is mainly meant for domestic use, as the company intends to convince the legislators and MOND that possible purchase of the tanks will generate thousands of workplaces in Valruzia. The new WCP-01 tank is somewhat related to the W-16, because it utilizes an upgraded version of the W-16 hull.
However, according to the producer the North Valruzian Works (PZP), it will feature a new welded turret, which is armed with a 120 mm smoothbore gun manufactured by Brzansk Arms (BAR). The gun is capable of firing Brzansk Arms' latest 120 mm APF120 and APD120HE rounds. The new turret has to include a new autoloader to load the longer 120 x 570 mm unitary cartridges for Brzansk Arms' smoothbore gun design. The tank is protected by new modular composite armor. The turret armor is extremely thick and is reminiscent of the AMAP composite armor from the Dorvish company Theil-Hassel Technologies GmbH as utilized on the Leopard 2 Evolution. IBD Deisenroth has supplied the armor package for the Rosomak-M variant and will deliver the armor for the new Leopard 2. North Valruzian Works denounces any possibility of cooperation with Dorvish company and indicates that the resemblance is a coincidence. The hull front seems to be fitted with applique armor modules, but retains a number of classical W-16 features; the integrated hull armor might still be identical to that of the W-16. The tank is fitted with a 1.900 BHP engine specially designed by BÖNNING Car Factory from Hel in Chynberg Voivodeship. Supposedly it can deliver up to 2.100 BHP but has been only rated for 1.900 on the tank. The upper side of the hull is protected by applique composite armor panels, while the lower side is protected by rubber skirts. The turret is fitted with a remote weapon station (RWS) and a new sensor system. The RWS is armed with a machine gun and might double-act as a commander’s sight. The sensor system consists of at least two modules, one at each side of the frontal turret. Each module contains three sensor units. These units might be cameras or laser-warning sensors.
If chosen by MOND, the tanks will be manufactured in North Valruzian Work's factory in the north of Chynberg Voivodeship near Jeziorne Sady, and tested on the training ground belonging to the company. North Valruzian Works announced that the nominal price for one tank will be around 13 million Valruzian Pesos, but the price can vary dependant on the specifications of the chosen version. It is not certain how many tanks will MOND be interested in purchasing but according to the sources from the ministry, if a comprehensive replacement will take place, the total number of tanks which MOND will be able to order will reach nearly 800 vehicles.
2. Valruzian Arms Company's WWB-100WWB is a shortcut for Valruzian
Wielozadaniowy Wóz Bojowy which translates to Multupurpouse Combat Vehicle.
Valruzian Arms Company (
Walruzyjskie Przedsiębiorstwo Zbrojeniowe,
WPZ) will be responsible for production.
(OOC Note: Based on the WPB Anders - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WPB_Anders)The Second vehicle with which the Valruzian Armaments Group intends to attract MOND during the tender process is the Valruzian Arms Company's WWB-100. WWB-100 is the WPZ's answer to ever increasing needs of the military and growing importance of the modularity of new machines in order to quickly adapt them to the actual needs of the armed forces. WWB-100, according to the WGZ, would be the most modular vehicle in the National Forces of Defense, and thanks to its easily achieved adaptability to the current needs of the military, would quickly become one of the greatest assets of the NSO. WWB-100 was developed as a family of vehicles, most prominently a light tank, but the unit can easily, within moments, changed into a light transporter capable of carrying up to 8 fully armed soldiers, or an armored vehicle-launched bridge. Producer of the vehicle WPZ ensures the numerous applications of the vehicle, list of which is not closed and can be easily broadened according to the needs of the military. The Anders is a front-engined vehicle with steel or rubber tracks. It is made from welded steel with further applique composite armor added for enhanced survivability.
The WWB-100 in combat configuration is fitted with Brzansk Arms' (BAR) APX20P turret, which is easily detachable. The APX20P turret is armed with a 30 mm gun from North Valruzian Works (PZP) and a coaxial machine gun. Furthermore, a new anti-tank guided missile from Brzansk Arms' launchers have been added to the turret. One launcher holding one missile is located at each side of the turret. These launchers have been specially developed for the WWB-100 project. The addition of ceramic armor made by the Istalian company Leonardi was necessary to reach the maximum level of protection of the unit. Another argument in favor of the vehicle is the fact that it is possible to modify it to gain amphibious possibilities. The Unit will be fitted with the same specially designed engine by BÖNNING Car Factory, but in WWB-100 its power will be limited to just a little over 1.000 BHP.
The modularity of the vehicle is what the WPZ counting the most while the tender process. Thanks to the modular character the base prices for the basic version in light transporter configuration will start at just a little over 2 million pesos, and dependant on the configuration the prices will rise to 3.5 million for version equipped with a bridge, and 7.8 million for the light tank configuration. MOND declared that the possible deal wold include the purchase of 150 WWB-100s with the option to expand the order with 140 more.
3. WGZ's S01X - Modern Support TankThe S01X is the result of cooperation of the largest companies within the WGZ: PZP, WPZ and Brzansk Arms.
The futuristic-looking tank is expected to have stealth capabilities. Currently, the WGZ works on the gun for the new tank.
Undoubtley the most interesting and futuristic vehicle of the three announced by the WGZ was the S01X. The S01X light tank was developed by Valruzian Armaments Group, and uses stealth technology thanks to thermal painting camouflage to blend in with its surroundings could enter into service as soon as 4344 - Republic of Valruzia's 100th anniversary. The goal of the S01X project is to create a light combat vehicle with the mobility and the firepower of the latest generation of main battle tanks. A modern main battle tank has a total weight of 50 to 60 tonnes while the S01X has a weight of 35 tons. A real advantage to be quickly deployed by military transport aircraft. The layout of the S01X is very similar to a standard main battle tank with the driver at the front of the hull, with an unmanned turret mounted at the rear. The S01X has been designed with a lot of angles to reduce its radar signature. It used also cooled wafers mounted on the hull and turret to increase its stealth technology camouflage. These technologies allow the S01X to match the infrared signature of its environment to confuse the tracking systems of weapons that use infrared.
The S01X is also fitted with external infrared sensors to create an infrared suitable camouflage on the field. The tank can also create effects to its temperature controlled wafers to look like a car or another common object, an effective countermeasure against radar, infrared and visual signature detection equipment. The S01X is fitted with an unmanned turret which can be armed with a 105 mm or 120mm caliber cannon adapted to fire with classic ammunitions or anti-tank guided missiles. Loading is carried out by using an autoloader unit located in the rear part of the turret, with 16 rounds ready to fire in the turret autoloader and 29 rounds stored in the chassis. WGZ announced that it ordered a specially designed engine from BÖNNING Car Factory that fulfills the needs of the unit. BÖNNING announced that the company has been working on a smaller engine with 900 BHP which would fit into the new tank.
The WGZ has not revealed the tank's price, but according to the sources from the WGZ, the initial cost of the stealth tank may be as high as 12 million Valruzian Pesos. If put into production, it is expected that MOND would be cautious and would start only with couple vehicles, and if those units would prove their functionality within the NSO, another orders would be placesd.