Super Carrier Flagship Launched
Naval Modernisation Project Completed As VS Mrjkai Takes To The Water
Pride of the fleet... the new flagship embarks on its maiden voyage.
March 4366 - Despite religious unrest continuing to lead to upheaval and violence in the far south, Vanuku's government has pushed on determinedly with its long-term military strategy to secure the nation's place as a pre-eminent global power.
The latest of those initiatives has just borne fruit with the launch of a new flagship for its powerful navy. The VS Mrjkai (Luthorian: Protector) is a Támnr-class nuclear-powered super carrier, which features the state-of-the-art ST-21 multi-purpose jet fighter among its air group.
The carrier was commissioned in August 4060 at a cost of 10 Billion VAN. The project has overrun by around six months and is believed to have cost at least another 500 million VAN to complete due mainly to problems with the VTOL technology employed by the carrier air groups fighter wings. Nevertheless, the new carrier has now taken its place at the head of the navy's famous 1st Fleet. It brings to four the number of Támnr-class super carriers the navy now has at its disposal.
Minister of Defence Ulugbék Srnkzi said: "This is a proud day for the republic. This ship has been six years in the making and the planning and political will to bring it to fruition took much longer than that. However, we have a new flagship that is the envy of Terra and will enable Vanuku to provide naval projection and security to all four corners of the world, when and where needed."
It is believed with large naval and army commissions now completed, the MoD will concentrate its next efforts on the airforce with rumours that a joint project with Majatran super power Istalia in the offing."
In Other News... A New Era of Co-operation with Dorvik?
Long-serving Foreign Minister Gus De Smet has said he predicts a new era of co-operation with Dorvik following a change in political direction in the Artanian nation.
Vanuku has been at odds with Dorvik for more than a decade, over what the foreign minister described as Dorvik's imperialistic approach to global policing, leading to exchanges in the World Congress and a cooling of relations.
However, following the formation of a new federal republic in Dorvik and pledges by the government and other parties to move in a different direction, Vanuku's leaders believe there is room to work together.
Mr De Smet, who is now in his fourth term as Vanukean Foreign Minister, said: "We are very optimistic about options for future co-operation and I have personally been in touch with Chancellor Hoffmann and her team to express our support for her administration. Whilst there is a crucial role for maintaining Terran security through the legitimate and lawful institutions of the World Congress, we felt the last Dorvish regime was pushing an agenda that overstepped that mark and had adopted an overbearing, somewhat imperialist approach to their duties."