Northern Council begins anti-submarine exercise in Mad Dog OceanA surfaced Kazulian submarine being escorted by Hutorian and Lourennais ships during Exercise Stingray.The Northern Council Treaty Organisation (NOCTO) has launched the first major submarine warfare exercise in the Mad Dog Ocean near Keymon, inviting non-member nations such as Hawu Mumenhes amid the alliance's reoriented aim towards strengthening its outward capabilities. Around 40 submarines, 10 surface vessels and from 9 nations within the Northern Council are participating Exercise Stingray. Exercise Stingray's purpose, according to the Joint Headquarters, is to simulate protecting the vital shipping lanes through the Mad Dog Ocean into the Northern Hemisphere with rugged but shallow underwater canyons and rapid currents. Anti-submarine warfare (ASW) training has not had its own series of exercises until now. Submarines from Baltusia, Dankuk, Dorvik, Hulstria, Hutori, Kazulia, Lourenne and Luthori underneath the direct command of the Joint Operations Centre. Keymon, the host nation, alongside commanding units from Kazulia, Lourenne and Hutori will coordinate the exercise from the Turtle Bay Naval Facility and maritime patrol aircraft underneath the Maritime Security Assistance Force (M-SAF).
Surface vessels, mainly destroyers and frigates, will simulate anti-submarine warfare tactics against the complement of submarines to simulate a realistic combat scenario. According to the Joint Headquarters, the submarines are expected to rotate hunting and being hunted for the next 2 week to simulate sustained operations. Chief of Staff of the Joint Headquarters, Admiral Sivert Christoffersen stated that simulating high intensify sustained operations was needed to ensure that the exercise feels less like an organised exercise and more like an actual combat situation. Admiral Christoffersen stated that his aim was to increase the outgoing capabilities of the various members of the alliance. Seeing that he could not ask the member states to acquire specific equipment, he wanted to focus on a speciality yielded by the Kazulians; working with what they have and working with the highest degree of efficiency and effectiveness.
Admiral Sivert Christoffersen, Chief of Staff of the Joint Headquarters wrote:This exercise ensures that all nations who participate are prepared for the eventuality of having to respond to an incident/situation in the Mad Dog Ocean or in the case of the Mad Dog Ocean nations, defend the vital naval routes from outside incursion.
The exercise is to be commanded by the Hutorian Navy through Admiral Mallory Bourdette (RHN) with assistance from Vice-Admiral Jean-Marc Crozier (LNC). It is being stressed that commanders from nations with varying languages must cooperate as a means of increasing the alliance's interoperability in all echelons of command and control. To support the simulated multi-threat environment, 10 Maritime Patrol Aircraft and 8 Helicopters from Kazulia and Dorvik will operate from the Turtle Bay Naval Facility under the control of personnel from Maritime Air Command (MACOM).
Hutori/Kazulia begins constructing Missile Defence systemConcept art of the MIM-33 Lockjaw, the foundation of the NC Missile Defence Shield.Asvald Gruppen, Viserby Systems and the Horizon Technology Corporation will begin construction of the MIM-33 "Lockjaw" missile defence system, following up with the system's development. Construction will take place in Viserby System's Astrotech Facility in Hulstria, whereby integration, assembling and testing could potentially take place as the system moves closer towards completion. Under the banner of Project Whiskey, the Lockjaw design was crafted through joint cooperation by Asvald Gruppen, Viserby Systems and the Horizon Technology Corporation, with the principle intentions of working towards establishing a permanent defence against short-to-long range ballistic missiles which remain a threat to the Northern Hemisphere. Lockjaw comprises a command and control module, missiles, launchers and radar. The missiles employed by the system, known as the Kiskadee, is to be hit-to-kill, meaning the missile must hit the target in-order to ensure its destruction. The missile is apparently being built by the Horizon Technology Corporation. The Kiskadee will supposedly possess new technologies being rolled out by Viserby Systems.
Construction of the system base is expected to begin next year with cooperation from other partner companies. According to statements from officials at both the Horizon Technology Company and Viserby Systems, the first Kiskadee missile manufactured in Hulstria will be a test missile used for demonstrations and stress testing. The Horizon Technology Company and Viserby Systems had been roped into the programme mainly due to HTC's expertise in missile development and Viserby's expertise in radar technology. The Horizon Technology Company was instrumental in the systems required for many of Hutori's missiles, whilst Viserby Systems is responsible for the development of the Skjoldr family of missile systems and stealth technology in Kazulia. The Lockjaw will undergo an intense testing phase after construction of the first unit is complete in 4475. When the Lockjaw is complete it will be positioned in strategic positions across the Northern Hemisphere, with the intention of working towards a secure Northern Hemisphere against short, medium, intermediate and intercontinental ballistic missiles.