Die Kien Tribüne (the Kien Tribune) is the leading national and current affairs newspaper in Hulstria, gripping over 1.6 million readers daily.___
Imperial Navy proposes radical overhaul underneath new EmperorSeptember, 4556___
The Imperial Navy, at a ceremony presided over by Emperor Franz IX and Chief of the Imperial General Staff Colonel-General Franz Wilhelm von Göthausen and joined by Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Navy General-Admiral Vinzenz von Sprecher to discuss the future of the Imperial Navy. Where Hulstria was once a global superpower alongside the Holy Luthori Empire, the times have changed and the ability for Hulstria and Gao-Soto's Imperial Navy to project are limited, if any at all. Considered by the Zardic Institute of International Studies as a "Small Power" the military over the past several months has undergone a serious renovation; numerous politically appointed officers from previous regimes have been arrested, tried and sent to prison for their involvement in failing to adhere to military standards. The Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Navy, commonly called the Oberkommandant, was joined by former Ostland Marine staff officer, Admiral Germund Häussler who holds the role of Fleet Commander (Flottenkommandant) which serves as the operational head of the Imperial Admiralty, which the Commander-in-Chief serves as the head of.
Ambitious plans, bolstered by a massively increased defense budget include the building of 12 Kordusian-class frigates, a series of guided missile frigates that are often considered to be destroyers, that will be produced underneath a local license known as the Hulstrian-class frigate and produced by Imperial Shipyards (Kaiserliche Werft). The massive naval expansion, expected to be completed by 4565 will include expanding the Imperial Navy from its current size of 15 vessels to over 50 vessels, with others not included due to plans for the Imperial Navy. Naval engineering experts will be brought in from all across the globe, notably from Ostland. The ambitious naval plan will also include the produce of Type 212 conventional submarines for the submarine force, the plan is currently for 10 submarines with additional funding for 10 more. The Imperial Navy will also expand its logistical capabilities and seriously expand its intelligence gathering by adding Czimnetz-class fleet service ship to its fleets. Fleet Commander Admiral Häussler has announced that the initial goal is to build two fleets, one for blue sea operation and the other for Dovani operations, where Hulstria and Gao-Soto will primarily focus its objectives.
The Imperial Navy's plan have the powerful backing of Emperor Franz IX who himself holds the rank of Vice Admiral prior to being coronated as Emperor of Hulstria. The Emperor spoke highly of the plans and has personally authorized the massive wealth of the Rothigren-Traugotts to assist in the re-building. The Emperor also joined exercises of the Imperial Marine Corps which once served as the foremost fighting force of the Imperial Armed Forces; the Imperial Marine Corps conducted two series of trainings held throughout August and September, one located on coastal Hulstria and Gao-Soto while the other took place in the Schneeberg Mountains and was held in combination with exercises with the Ostland Landwehr. Despite the popularity of the Imperial Marine Corps, the Imperial Armed Forces have a noted and feared history for being cold-weather, mountain fighters and have pioneered many mountaineer-based warfare strategies and tactics.
The Emperor Otto IV Mountain Training Complex located in eastern Hulstria and serves as a new state of the art mountain warfare complex training center for all branches of the Imperial Armed Forces. While the Imperial Navy is serving as the premier force, the Imperial Army is quietly undergoing a massive re-organization and readiness check. The bulk of the remaining armor and mechanized forces are in the Imperial Marine Corps but with the presence of a growing defense industry that is being propped up by rapid capital from the Western Dovani Economic Area and foreign investors from Lourenne, Kalopia, Ostland, Kazulia, Vanuku, Keymon and other nations pouring in, the rapid economic change can be seen across the landscape in Hulstria and Gao-Soto.