Amidst the increasingly unsettling geopolitical environment, it is becoming increasingly clear to policy-makers that the question of Keymon's Defence can no longer be ignored. On the backdrop of mounting tensions between the world's leading economic powers, the concept of Keymon abandoning its disarmament and instead switching to a concept of armed neutrality has gained significant headway in the halls of power. The appointment of Volfango Salce as Secretary for National Defence and the decision to bring back the Department of National Defence and the introduction of the Keymon Defence Force Act, reignites the question of Keymon's ability to become self-reliant. Secretary Salce in outlining his plans for crafting a new model for the Keymon Defence Force noted that the government must embark on a process of learning and observing. Learning from the mistakes of previous government and nations in their previous conflicts and observing the moves of numerous nations in their own respective pursuit of "defence." For much of its history, the Keymon's Armed Forces have been a force of relative inaction, one underpinned by the nation's lack of strategic vision. It is through the inability of successive governments to connect geopolitics to Keymon's defence policy, Keymon has often found itself on the receiving end of military aggression. Secretary Salce believes that the nation's future must be ensured through a capable defence. Noting that coupling geopolitics (an inherent understanding of Keymon's position in the world) with defence, Keymon will see the benefits of a highly planned and expertly organised structure. In recognition of the inherent need to overhaul leadership within this new Keymon Defence Force, Secretary for National Defence Salce has appointed Lt. General Jean-Claude Sabatier as the Chief of Defence (highest-ranking officer of the Defence Force). Lt. General Sabatier is a career commander, having spent the majority of his life in defence universities and as a policy adviser to previous Prime Ministers, his appointment comes as confirmation of the government's intention to craft a highly capable Keymon Defence Force, one deeply rooted in strategy and tactics rather than impulse and emotion. In outlining his ambitious programme to "build a Defence Force from scratch", Lt. General Sabatier outlined the core principles to be applied for the Army, Navy and Air-Force.
According to Lt. General Sabatier, Keymon's defence policy will be underpinned by the concept of Total Defence. Total Defence, in the case of Keymon, encompasses a whole-of-society approach to ensuring the defence of Keymon. From Civil Defence to the Keymon Defence Force to the way infrastructure is built in Keymon, all will be integrated to ensure that every aspect of Keymonite life is prepared for the eventuality of conflict on the Keymon Island. In appointing Major-General Gianluigi Morga as Chief of the Army Staff, Lt. General Sabatier mounts the creation of a new model for the Keymonite Army. Underneath the previous order, there was no real concept/model upon which the Keymonite Army was built on. Its structure was often viewed as mix-matched and not uniquely suited for Keymon's unique environment and unique geography. A clear lack of innovation on the part of defence planners at the time underscored the importance of strategic. Underneath the new model for the Keymonite Army, known as Army Model A, the Keymonite Army would not be returning to traditional divisional/regimental order but will employ numerous schools of thought. In recognition of Keymon's mountainous terrain and its numerous advantages in terms of tactics to be applied, a combination between mechanized infantry and light infantry will play an extremely integral role in the future Keymonite Army. Army Model A would see light infantry units (specialised troops such as mountaineers, paratroopers and urban warfare specialists) become specialised brigade formations. According to Major-General Morga, these light infantry units will follow the Dorvish concept of "Jäger", specialised and often mobile units whose missions vary from causing confusion behind enemy lines, direct action and rear-guard operations. Within the Keymonite model, "Scarmaghjoli" (Skirmishers), similar to their Dorvish counterparts, will be underpinned by the tactic of fire and manoeuvre; probing the weaknesses of enemy units to allow for shock infantry to exploit the confusion created by the probing action. Mechanised Infantry will become the backbone of the Keymonite Army. "Fanteria Blindata" (Armoured Infantry) as they will be known, will see regular infantry units working alongside mechanised equipment such as infantry fighting vehicles. Aside from their role as the backbone of the Keymonite Army (the majority of the infantry units of the Keymonite Army will comprise of armoured infantry units), these Fanteria Blindata units will be tasked with anti-tank action against enemy armour. "Muntagnoli" (Mountaineer) units will become integral units to Keymon's wider defence strategy. In recognition of the nation's mountainous terrain, Major-General Morga has placed a unique emphasis on the importance of using Keymon's environment to ensure success. Thus mountaineer units will be trained to conduct attacks either through the mountain passes or to launch operations from the mountains before retreating to their hilltop fortresses. A unique concept is to be applied to Keymon's future "Paracadutisti" (Paratrooper) units. Major-General Morga envisions airborne units behind used similar to the Scarmaghjoli as units airdropped into various locations to cause confusion behind enemy lines. It is Major-General Morga's belief that the airborne units should be used alongside the Scarmaghjoli, to ensure a rolling/lasting engagement environment. As the Scarmaghjoli attack and manoeuvre, Paracadutisti will be airdropped to act as an additional supporting fire mechanism for the manoeuvring Scarmaghjoli (OOC:
Fireforce). Lt. General Sabatier noted that these units must remain small but extremely lethal as Keymon must remain a cost-effective and flexible defence.
Diving into the question of the Keymonite Air Force, Lt. General Sabatier sought to begin the conversation with the appointment of Major-General Rémi Marsilio as Chief of the Air Staff. A seasoned planner, Maj. General Marsilio brings his unique knowledge of air warfare doctrine to the Keymonite Air Force. Lt. General Sabatier notes that throughout history, a nation's ability to wage successive ground operations have often been underpinned by the nation's ability to maintain a tactically and technologically superior air-force. Maj. General Marsilio explained that nation's who combine the efforts of their aerospace forces and their ground forces to an almost seamless nature are often the ones who tend to come out of conflicts with high degrees of success. For Keymon, the order of the day is attempting to build a tactically and technologically superior air-force. One capable of being extremely flexible and lethal. "Experience, training and technology must form the backbone of this new air-force." Maj. General Marsilio explained. "We must be able to recognise the importance and advantage of experience, training and technology if we are to leverage our chances of survival against potential aggressors." Keymon's lack of strategic depth presents numerous challenges for defence planners both in the Army and Air-Force. For the army, defence planners must contend with the fact that due to the nation's relative size, there is little to no ground the nation can afford to use in a protracted conflict, thus there is a sudden imperative to ensure attention is placed on crafting a ground force capable of delivering stringent resistance even in the instances where it must give up territory. For the air-force, the conundrum of strategic depth focuses squarely on its ability to place airstrips/air-force bases. Unlike other nations with vast amounts of territories where airstrips can be erected and airbases can be built throughout the nation, Keymon does not maintain must land where many airbases can be constructed. To remedy this situation, military historians have proposed that in instances where Keymon's existing airbase infrastructure has been destroyed, the Keymonite Air Force utilise roadways/highways as runways from which sorties can be conducted from. In a scenario where precision strikes have been made against Keymon's major airbases and civilian airports, aircraft can be moved to hidden hardened aircraft shelters throughout the nation from which sorties can be launched (OOC:
Bas 90). As it pertains to technology, Major-General Marsilio has envisioned the Keymonite Air Force being the backbone of the nation's cybernetic defence mechanism. WIth Keymon's aggressive push into embracing technology, Major-General Marsilio believes that the air-force should embrace the transformation by establishing a Cyber Warfare College and a Cyber Warfare Command from which Keymon's cyberspace can be guarded and attacks could potentially be launched from. He also envisions military satellites underneath the control of the Air-Force relaying detailed data and geospatial intelligence to the three branches.
As it pertains to maritime forces, Lt. General Sabatier notes that the very concept of an expeditionary navy (a navy capable of waging wars in seas/oceans distant from home) is in direct contradiction to the theory of Total Defence. He explains that such a structure would defend the purpose of Keymon's philosophy of armed neutrality and responsible doctrine. Thus, in recognition of the aforementioned, he sought to appoint Ammiragliu Divisiunale (Divisional Admiral) Matteo Adnet as Chief of the Naval Staff. Div. Adm Adnet recognises the reality of Keymon's situation and sees the realism in Lt. General Sabatier's structural vision. Div. Adm Adnet believes that the Keymonite Navy should remain small but extremely skilled in numerous disciplines outside the scope of the Civil Guard. Concurrently, the civil guard is responsible for numerous at-sea operations including counternarcotics, search and rescue, environmental protection and maritime safety. This allows for the Keymonite Navy in its new capacity to focus on more mission-critical operations such as anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, anti-air warfare, mine warfare and riverine warfare. He notes that the Keymonite Navy must remain as a green-water navy, remaining near the nation's economic exclusion zone. "To deviate," he said, "would be an extremely difficult environment for sailors to adapt do." He admitted that when faced against a far more powerful opponent, the Keymonite Navy may very well be swept aside, however, he stated that the Navy must prepare for such an eventuality as the first contact enemy combatants could have against the Keymon Defence Force would be against the Keymonite Navy. Thus it is imperative for in that skirmish/engagement, the Keymonite Navy demonstrate to enemy combatants its determination to uphold Keymon's armed neutrality. "We must demonstrate to would-be aggressors "As at sea, so on land. That the determination and resistance of the Keymonite Navy are but a mere taste of the furiousness one will on land," Adnet explained. Artiglieria Costiera (Coast Artillery) units will be responsible for maintaining Keymon's onshore anti-ship defences. Fanteria di Artiglieria Costiera (Coastal Artillery Infantry) units are to be established to conduct unconventional warfare and reconnaissance behind enemy lines during naval invasions.
The future Keymon Defence Force, according to Lt. General Sabatier will not possess the massive numbers of its predecessors nor will it maintain a policy of mandatory conscription. Lt. General Sabatier believes that a small but extremely professional fighting force is more important than a behemoth comprising primarily of conscripts. Lt. General Sabatier has stated that currently, he intends on establishing the limit of the Keymon Defence Force as 40,000 active and 110,000 in reserve. In recognition of the need for an agency to manage the various types of equipment which will have to be procured in the future, Secretary for National Defence Volfango Salce announced the formation of the Agenzia di Materiale di Difesa (Defence Material Agency) which will be responsible for defence procurement. The remilitarisation of Keymon marks the turn of a chapter in the nation's history as it moves to become self-reliant economically and geopolitical.
