OOC Source: PinterestCachtice: The Comprehensive review of the Armed Forces of Deltaria (officially the Unified Armed Forces) has completed after 1.5 years and reveals the need for the Deltarian military to, "rethink its long term ambitions and adapt its organization, size and budget on such a new reality." The committee in charge of the review hit hard at previous administrations and the Federal Ministry of War, calling all involved "ignorant of the facts", largely due to their refusal to look at options for reform and downsizing the Deltarian military. The committee suggests that several reforms could make the military more efficient, less expensive and generally better prepared for defending the country. These reforms include investing in better digital infrastructure, downsizing the bureaucracy and reforming the way it works as well as abolish conscription, which is called by the committee as "a morale killer for the troops and budget killer for the government. It also recommends the decomissioning of one of two carrier strike groups, meant to cut maintenance costs, and using the Attack Group led by the Kirov class battlecruiser as a replacement, organizing it into a Strike Group solemnly meant to protect the Majatran Sea and its surroundings while the remaining carrier group can be used for power projection. Smaller strike groups could also be created with the amphibious assault ships in service, serving as "mini strike groups" meant to support the main carrier group. Furthermore a additional 5 nuclear submarines are to be decomissioned to cut costs and bureaucracy. The downsizing of the navy will also have consequences for the Ushalande Shipyards, which will see two of 8 construction terminals/hubs close if the plans will continue.
When it comes to the army the committee thus advices the abolishment of conscription, which would see the current active personell drop from 1 million to 550.000 as only professional volunteer soldiers remain. It would mean a further cut in the bureaucracy and the government saving over 4 billion annually. Furthermore some on order equipment should be cancelled, with the committee favouring the refurbishment of existing equipment, giving it a mid life upgrade which is supposed to further cut costs. The airforce would remain largely intact, with the committee seeing the airforce "as a more important component then previous administration seek to acknowledge" saying the airforce had been neglected before and would need some additional attention. In total the committee additionally proposes a one time upgrade for much of the military its equipment including its main weapon systems, recommending to work with private contractors to provide this equipment with a "mid-life upgrade to ensure its continued use". Additionally around 2 billion should be invested in the digitalization of certain systems, such as the communication systems for army units and some funds to fund research into newly developed augmented reality devices, also seen in Vanuku.
In total, while some investments are also proposed, the entire package the committee recommends would see over 18 billion saved annually, with a entire strike group and over half a million conscripts being removed from the table. Further bureaucratic reforms and downsizing would mean that the Deltarian military will surely undergo change. The Federal Ministry of War and Office of the Federal President have both issued a statement saying they intend to, "fully take over the recommendations of the committee and executive/propose the necessary changes as soon as possible." meaning that all of what the committee recommends will be taken over. While this will mean a upgrade for much of the existing equipment it will also mean a significant downsize of the overall military, with some defense hawks in the ruling party calling it a "gross mistake that endangers the safety of the country." Defense analysts suggest that the targetted investments proposed and the mid-life upgrade of major weapons systems like many of the aircraft in the airforce will mean that the Deltarian military will likely not lose much of its operational capabilities. But despite this, for some it feels as a new period in Deltarian defense policy.