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+--- Thread: Lodamun (/thread-37.html)
RE: Lodamun - imperialpearl - 01-11-2024
![[Image: T7o1DoQ.png]](https://i.imgur.com/T7o1DoQ.png)
Ahead of the upcoming financial year, the Department of Defence has approved some 12 billion LOD to the Strategic Defence Agency (SDA) for the construction of a new long-range over-the-horizon radar network, which once completed would bring the Lodamese Armed Forces closer to its goal of information dominance in Seleya and the Northern Hemisphere by extension. Since the Neilson Administration, the Lodamese Armed Forces, particularly the Lodamese Air Force and Army have sought, albeit clandestinely, to observe and experiment with varying strategies to ensure Lodamun is capable of maintaining a degree of situational awareness in the various domains of the combat. These experiments ultimately birthed concepts such as the Triton long-range maritime patrol drone being deployed by the Lodamese Coast Guard and Navy in a surveillance capacity in the Mad Dog Ocean, the Arctic and other regions. Additionally, it resulted in the Lodamese Air Force’s acquisition of AEW&C (airborne early warning and control) aircraft to assist in patrolling various sectors of Lodamese and North Seleyan airbase, alongside the Lodamese Navy’s airborne maritime patrols in the Artanian Sea and the South Ocean. Yet, even with these advances, the Department of Defence has previously expressed concern related to the nation’s chronic underinvestment in land-based radar. In a now declassified DoD report, it was discovered that there exists numerous gaps in Lodamun’s aerospace as well as maritime defence capabilities. It notes that although AEW&C had supplemented the efforts of a long-range, land-based radar network, it was nonetheless important for the nation to maintain the ability to monitor and track the movements of air and naval assets in varying directions, particularly in the South-West in the Artanian Sea, the North in the Arctic and beyond the Karzon Strait and to the East in the Anantonese Ocean. “The pursuit of information dominance, i.e. superiority in the generation, manipulation, and use of information sufficient to afford its possessors military dominance, must therein become the business of all branches of the Armed Forces as well as the agencies which support its operations. Historic underinvestment in such capabilities has placed Lodamun at particular risk, especially amidst the advent of long-range beyond visual range weaponry by various regional and extra-regional adversaries,” the DoD report read.
Last year, the Strategic Defence Agency unveiled to the National Congress, advanced plans for the development of a long-range over-the-horizon radar network, which would provide Lodamun with the very capability as described in the DoD report. The plans had been developed by the SDA in collaboration with the Armed Forces Projects Agency (AFPA) as part of the latter’s Advanced Operational Radar (AOR) programme. In documents received by the National Congress, the Director of the SDA ADM. Richard Ebaugh stated that the partnership with the AFPA had been made possible through overtures from the DoD towards greater collaboration between the Department’s subordinate agencies and the AFPA. “The AFPA remains one of our most capable partners in strategic defence. Although the application of over-the-horizon radar had been conceptualised in the SDA, the systems and technologies as proposed were developed by a dedicated team from the AFPA,” ADM. Ebaugh’s submission read. The Lodamese Advanced Operation Radar Array (LAORA), as the system is being coined, is likely to become the first such system on the Seleyan continent. Congressional documents detailed how LAORA’s over-the-horizon capability is made possible: A strong shortwave signal from a large transmitting antenna reaches a target beyond the horizon by bending off the ionosphere, and the target's echo returns to the receiving antenna via the same path. As the Lodamese Air Force does not maintain any space-based sensors, ADM. Ebaugh believes that LAORA could temporarily augment such a capability. “We are aware of current efforts by the Lodamese Air Force to begin work on building out much of the infrastructure/hardware for a space-based sensor network, (as the SDA is directly connected to this project as its joint manager), LAORA could potentially augment such a capability until it has been acquired and fully integrated into our current systems,” ADM. Ebaugh explained. He noted that considerations related to the proliferation of hypersonic weaponry by regional contemporaries, namely Baltusia remain of great concern to the SDA and thus LAORA is being developed to track such threats. “We are cognizant of the advances in hypersonic weaponry in Baltusia, whether there is merit to those advances is another thing, however, we view it necessary to prepare for the inevitability of these threats emerging,” Ebaugh said.
Both the Senate and House of Representatives Committee on Defence and National Security have granted approval for the construction of an initial radar array in western Lodamun (Berkwaki) with the intent of having said radar facing the Artanian Sea. According to the mockups from the SDA, such an array would allow for Lodamun to see well into Keymon and the Artanian Sea, both its eastern and western limits. “Persistent monitoring of marine and air traffic in the Artanian Sea is the ultimate goal of LAORA in this space. Although it can be calibrated to also focus on ballistic missile threats, our assessment of current ballistic missile threats are unlikely owing to our relations with the handful of states that possess such a capability,” Chairman of the Combined Chiefs, General Kristian Harding explained. Harding noted that there were advanced plans for Lodamun to cooperate with Kalistan on continental defence, particularly in radar and sensors. “What I do know is that the SDA is likely to cooperate with the Kalistani Armed Forces in the future, especially on technical matters related to radar. An early warning capability for Northern Seleya has always been something both our nations have eyed, and I’m sure the SDA is keen to get to work on achieving that goal,” he added. Construction of the array itself is expected to begin next year with the Defence Procurement Administration set to select two contractors to work jointly on the project. Concurrently, Burrell Systems and Herelow International are in the running for the contract, however, unconfirmed rumours point to Harrington Dynamics as having a potential interest in the project
RE: Lodamun - imperialpearl - 05-11-2024
![[Image: b3zv5zR.png]](https://i.imgur.com/b3zv5zR.png)
Once more buoyed by the overtures and encouragement by both the Secretary of Commerce and Industry and the Merchant-General of the Harrington Company to begin looking beyond Lodamun’s borders for opportunities for growth, Jackson Energy, one of Lodamun’s leading crude oil and natural gas companies has announced that it has been granted approval to construct a gas-fired powerplant in Dolgava. Via a press statement issued earlier this morning, the company noted that the decision came amidst months of negotiations between the firm and the Dolgavan Government, with the Dolgavan Government finally signing onto the agreement yesterday. “This announcement is the culmination of months of hard work and dedication by our team of negotiators who continued to engage with the Dolgavan Government in what we believe could be a worthwhile venture,” the statement read. The terms of the agreement, as negotiated underscore Jackson Energy’s broader commitment to the Dolgavan power-generation market, noting the behaviour of previous competitors to make an initial investment and simply forget about said investments later down the line. The terms are clear in that in order to remain in the market, Jackson Energy must commit to a medium to long-term investment programme. The company noted that its involvement in the Dolgavan market would be managed through its subsidiary Jackson Electric operating from the company’s headquarters in Harrington. As the company continues to expand natural gas production, which compared to North Seleyan Petroleum’s crude oil heavy portfolio, is its main product, the company believes that it is important to begin diversifying the opportunities it can accrue from natural gas. Some energy analysts have expressed concern at what seems to be a “crisis in the making” in the Lodamese natural gas market as the nation’s investment into nuclear energy and renewables grows. Lower demand for natural gas for power generation amidst both the federal government’s moratorium on new gas-fired powerplants within Lodamun alongside increased investment into alternatives by the Civil Projects Administration and the Department of Energy and Natural Resources is beginning to show its double-edgedness.
Although increased natural gas to Berkwaki’s downstream petrochemicals industry (which includes refining, basic chemicals, urea, ammonia, methanol, etc) is nonetheless a positive, limited capacity within the sector to cause a situation wherein the nation may have to stop importing natural gas altogether to prevent “overproduction”. “Weakening domestic demand, notwithstanding the case of Berkwaki, is becoming a major concern. Long-term supply contracts coupled with growing investment in renewables and little to no investment into natural gas stock is a recipe for a dramatic collapse in the price of natural gas in Lodamun and potentially the Northern Hemisphere,” Dr Thomas Pearce, Director of the Resource Information Bureau, explained. Although the company noted that its decision to establish a gas-fired powerplant in Dolgava has not been in response to alleged rumours of a natural gas price collapse, it nonetheless underscored that the investment was but the first step in a series of investment decisions aimed at establishing a vibrant market in the Northern Hemisphere and diversifying its portfolio. “Although natural gas, primarily its extraction and refining has been a long-establish practice in the Northern Hemisphere, there has been little to no significant investments made in the various bi-products that occurred from natural gas outside of Lodamun and Kalistan. It is our intention to change that,” the statement also read. The Harrington Company, as Lodamun’s de-facto export-import bank, has noted that projects which it views to be of benefit to Lodamese exports and imports, it will “tag along”. This is a significant announcement coming from the entity noting that for the better half of the past two (2) centuries, its operations have been primarily limited to managing the nation’s exports and imports and governing over trade agreements. However, it appears that its recently reconstituted charter now allows for it to act as the nation’s Export-Import Bank.
RE: Lodamun - imperialpearl - 21-11-2024
![[Image: p8fdMtX.png]](https://i.imgur.com/p8fdMtX.png)
With the Lodamese Armed Forces firmly set in its ambitions to enhance its long-range strike capabilities, the Defence Procurement Administration (DPA), has announced the commencement of a supposedly highly competitive bidding/proposals process to determine the future strategic bomber aircraft(s) for the Lodamese Air Force. The announcement was made via a press statement wherein the DPA confirmed that approval from the Secretary of Defence had been obtained to open up the process to domestic and international competitors. The Lodamese Armed Forces has long expressed its ambitions to build and maintain long-range strike capabilities as it has viewed such a capability has important to maintaining an edge over its regional and international contemporaries. “Long-range strike would ultimately enable us to conduct a broad spectrum of operations beyond our borders whilst keeping more sensitive assets at home, the picture being built should be one wherein Lodamun is capable of bringing an ever-increasing degree of firepower to the doorstep of potential adversaries.” A declassified DoD memo read. According to the DPA statement, potential competitors were requested to present designs (either conceptual or pre-existing) for long-range strategic bombers capable of working in tandem with aircraft such as the LF-16 and the LF-15 (multi-role fighters which form the backbone of the Lodamese Air Force’s capabilities). It noted that said designs need not include stealth capabilities as such a requirement is not within the range of capabilities currently needed by the Lodamese Air Force. At the DoD weekly press briefing, DoD Press Secretary Rayan Park was asked to comment on the DPA statement wherein she said: “The Secretary of Defence considers long-range strike capabilities, that is the ability to conduct sorties in regions/sectors of the world well being Lodamun’s borders or the reaches of a friendly airbase, as essential to a Lodamese Armed Forces with ambitions for enhanced security throughout the Seleyan continent and the various bodies of water surrounding it. Long-range strike in this instance does not pertain to weapons but aircraft with a range capable of striking targets almost anywhere.”
The Department of the Air Force confirmed that it has been looking at various examples throughout the world in building out the specifications/requirements which are now present in the DPA bidding process. According to Secretary of the Air Force Joel Young, the Air Force had been looking at the Trigunian Air Force’s employment of its own strategic bombers throughout history. Concurrently, the Tu-95, Tu-22m3 and the Tu-160 strategic bombers conduct numerous operations throughout the Northern Hemisphere, primarily within the Keris/Macon region; from maritime patrols to air policing. It noted that what made the TAF’s use of its strategic bomber assets so interesting was its secondary role as a missile platform. Here, Secretary Young noted that although historically, the bombers had been used to carry nuclear weapons (when Trigunia maintained such weapons), however as the nation’s dynamic changed, bombers were altered to become platforms from which Trigunia was capable of launching a broad spectrum of munitions including hypersonic cruise missiles and glide bombs. “Although they were built with the specific purpose of launching nuclear weapons, they are now being used as a sort of flying missile platform from which the Trigunian Armed Forces can bring significant firepower to bear. This is the sort of capability we want Lodamun to possess,” Secretary Young said. According to the DPA/Air Force specifications, proposals ought to include two design concepts; one should be supersonic and the other subsonic.
RE: Lodamun - imperialpearl - 23-11-2024
![[Image: mJ3yNwb.png]](https://i.imgur.com/mJ3yNwb.png)
As tensions begin to flare in the Majatran continent amidst an ongoing skirmish between Pontesi and Istalian forces, the Lodamese Navy has reportedly dispatched an additional long-range Azuron long-range maritime patrol drone to Naval Station Crockett and Mordusia to enhance surveillance and monitoring in both the Migrant’s Pass and the Sea of Lost Souls. At a press conference held at the Department of Defence building in Kensington, Commander of South-Western Command (Majatran Command - MAJCOM), General Abel Milligen, Commander of Southern Command (Seleyan Command - SELCOM), Admiral Brendan Buckner and DoD Press Secretary Peter Hussain confirmed that the Lodamese Armed Forces was “monitoring” the situation. According to Hussain, the near-simultaneous attack against Pontesi and Kafuristan came as a surprise to the Lodamese military-intelligence establishment, admitting that an attack on such scale having gone unnoticed by the Lodamese Navy highlighted numerous holes in its intelligence-gathering operations. He noted that although claims surrounding Istalia’s capability to pull off a simultaneous attack on Kafuristan and Pontesi ought not to be doubted given the otherwise unique circumstances of the situation, the claims being made by Istalian state media have come into considerable doubt. “The Director of the ODI (Office of Defence Intelligence) is expected to have a more substantive press conference on this situation in the coming hours. However, I should note that the agency is disputing the claims held by Istalian state media of the scale of the offensives against Kafuristan and Pontesi.” Hussain explained. He also noted that the supposed invasion represented a major failure on the part of the MSCO, and its associated intelligence-gathering structures, pointing to the fact that although the organisation the organisation fashions itself a highly capable entity, similar to Lodamun, the Istalian movements “slip right under their noses.” According to General Milligen, the deployment of an additional Azuron drone to Naval Station Crockett would likely augment the efforts of the two (2) drones which have been permanently deployed to the base for the better half of a decade.
Although Lodamun maintains very little diplomatic contact with Pontesi, the situation’s proximity to the Migrant’s Pass, a vital artery of global trade and the route through which Harrington Company vessels transit from the REM ports of Vascania to Lodamun, has made it incumbent on the Federal Government to enhance its surveillance operations throughout the length and breadth of the strait. As Kafuristan is a close trading partner of Lodamun, as Lodamun imports large quantities and crude oil and natural gas from the Majatran energy giant, the deployment of an Azuron drone to Mordusia represents the first major deployment of Lodamese assets to Mordusia following the signing of the defence relationship between Kensington and Randworth. Admiral Buckner has noted that the dynamic related to Kafuristan is starkly different from that related to Pontesi, explaining that whereas in the Migrant’s Pass and Pontesi, the Lodamese Navy could maintain a hands-off policy (as remain in a surveillance/intelligence-gathering capacity), Istalia continued disruption of crude oil and natural gas imports from Lodamun may provoke a broader response. “A drone is being flown in from Lodamun into Mordusia where it will operate in the Sea of Lost Souls and conduct surveillance and intelligence-gathering operations. It is our belief that we need to establish a clear picture of the environment, which would in turn allow for us to make a better decision on the way forward. The Istalian attack has garnered significant condemnation, with the State Department and Harrington Company announcing broad sanctions against Istalia for its attack against Kafuristan. It has been reported that although the Harrington Company has issued notices barring Lodamese/HC ships from venturing near Istalia, Kafuristan and the Sea of Lost Souls, the DoD has issued warnings to the Istalian regime that offensive action against Lodamese shipping still in Majatra will be met with a “proportional response.” Expeditionary Action Group Majatra (formerly Expeditionary Action Group Malivia) is reportedly being held on standby should Istalian forces attempt military action against HC vessels fleeing the Majatran Sea.
RE: Lodamun - GreekIdiot - 23-11-2024
Beiteynu
Neset-wide embargo against Istalia follows 1st Azhara; navy ordered to shoot down Lodamese drones in MP
August 5574
https://forum.prtcy.com/thread-3-post-2296.html#pid2296
RE: Lodamun - GreekIdiot - 23-11-2024
Beiteynu
Lingering traces of Beiteynuese influence in Seleya exterminated as Medinat Dpt. fumbles talks in Aldegar
August 5574
https://forum.prtcy.com/thread-3-post-2305.html#pid2305
RE: Lodamun - imperialpearl - 23-11-2024
![[Image: Ki2rkwN.png]](https://i.imgur.com/Ki2rkwN.png)
In an unlikely turn of events, the Lodamese Navy’s decision to deploy an additional maritime patrol drone to the Malivia to augment the efforts of existing assets in their surveillance and intelligence-gathering operations in and around the Migrant’s Pass has been met with serious pushback from Beiteynu after the nation threatened to “shoot down” said drones in what the Department of Defence is calling a major escalation to what was otherwise long-standing conduct. At an emergency press conference at the DoD building in Kensington, Commander of the Lodamese Navy’s Majatran Command (MAJCOM), General Abel Milligen stated that the DoD had been made aware of the bold threat to Lodamese operations in the area via the news. “Like everyone else, we were made aware of that otherwise bold threat to our operations via the news and were indeed not forewarned/foretold of the supposed Beiteynuese objections,” General Milligen explained. The drones, as mentioned previously had been dispatched to Naval Station Crockett in Malivia to augment the efforts of two maritime patrol drones after it had become clear to defence planners that Istalia’s “naval invasion” had largely slipped under the radar of most entities including the MSCO and the Lodamese Navy. Since the initial debacle surrounding the navy’s deployment of an Expeditionary Action Group to Malivia and its subsequent withdrawal, Azuron long-range, high-altitude, high-endurance drones have operated in the Migrant’s Pass, providing the Lodamese Navy with a much-needed eye in the region. Previously, the DoD underscored the importance of the Migrant’s Pass to the Lodamese economy, pointing to the fact that rare earth minerals from Vascania ultimately traverse the strait en route to Lodamun. According to General Milligen, since the debacle, the Lodamese Armed Forces have operated with particular care so as not to trip over the numerous fault-likes and traps set by the powers present within the region. “The previous debacle surrounding this space underscored the importance of maintaining a safe distance from the various powers with clear stakes in the strait itself. We understand how the region has been structured such that Beiteynu, ever the eager to escalate a situation, can claim masterdom over all aspects of movement throughout (be it by air or sea),” DoD Press Secretary Peter Hussain explained. Hussain noted that both the President and the Secretary of Defence have not been deterred by the Beiteynuese threat, offering that against the backdrop of Beiteynu’s historic inability to act as a responsible nation, this threat to down Lodamese assets in the region, ultimately reinforces their resolve against viewing the nation as a reliable entity to cooperate with on matters in the region. “Following the previous crisis, it became clear to us that securing a self-aggrandising claim to power in the region was more important than actual regional security in the eyes of Yishelem and thus we have continued to engage the government in Narikaton & Darnussia, who understands our concerns and have made yeoman efforts towards tempering emotions,” Hussain added. General Milligen has noted that drone patrols would continue, albeit from a greater distance, adding that whereas previously the Lodamese Armed Forces would have been willing to cooperate with Beiteynu in form or fashion, its broad escalation has invariably torpedoed any hopes of such in the future. Surveillance videos and other information/data gathered from the drones’ powerful sensor suites will be shared with the Narik & Darnussians Armed Forces, with the BNI (Bureau of Naval Intelligence) likely to request that information not be transferred to third parties (i.e. Beiteynu).
RE: Lodamun - imperialpearl - 27-11-2024
![[Image: el43cmr.png]](https://i.imgur.com/el43cmr.png)
At a press conference at Whitehall earlier this morning, Whitehall Press Secretary Catherine Rush alongside Director of National Assessment Elliot Pierson confirmed that although the administration continues to monitor the situation in Majatra related to Istalia’s invasion of both Pontesi and Kafuristan, President Derrick Rice had been weighing options towards potentially arming Kafuri forces against the Istalian invasion. The situation, which has evolved from a minor skirmish along the Kafuri-Istalian border following once-believed-false statements from the Istalian State-controlled media, into a major conflict between both states. As was reported by the Majatran Defence Brief, Kafuristani forces are in the opening stages of mounting a sensible response to the invasion, with the regular army and reserve forces being called into service. It identified the recapture of King Bassam Naval Air Base, a major air base in the country, as one of the key objectives of the 7th Corps’ numerous offensives in the area of Northern O'mer, where the Istalian naval landings are currently being stalled. At an earlier briefing by the DoD, it was revealed that surveillance footage from the Azuron maritime patrol drone in Mordusia (currently operating in the Sea of Lost Souls) that the Istalian invasion naval invasion had been largely supported by numerous transportation vessels under cover of various warships ranging from corvettes to frigates. Here, the DoD noted that although the vessels had not posed any major threat to commercial shipping in the region, its advisory against Lodamese ships traversing the region would continue indefinitely. It was reported that President Rice held a series of videocalls with the Lodamese Ambassador to Kafuristan, Amias Dodson who continues to liaise between the Lodamese and Kafuri Governments. Rush noted that the Ambassador continues to engage with Chief Minister Abdul Baari al-Nasr and Foreign Minister Tammaam al-Badour and has reiterated both Lodamun’s support for the Kafuri Government and its absolute condemnation of the Istalian invasion. “The President has met with Ambassador Dodson in al-Kasraj, who continues to engage with Chief Minister Baari al-Nasr and Foreign Minister al-Badour. We continue to reiterate our support for Kafuristan as well as our condemnation of this unwarranted invasion by the regime in Romula,” PS Rush explained.
DNA Pierson noted that the administration had been weighing numerous options to support Kafuristan in its struggle against Istalia. Kafuristan remains Lodamun’s single most important trading partner in Majatra, with the Harrington Company importing large quantities of crude oil and natural gas from the nation. With the outbreak of war, crude oil and natural gas exports have collapsed owing to the otherwise insecure nature of traversing the active warzone. This freeze in energy imports has deeply impacted the domestic economy, with the Department of Energy and Natural Resources contemplating dipping into the Strategic Energy Reserve to temporarily plug the hole once filled by Kafuri imports. It is against this background that the administration has noted that special considerations were being made as to whether it was indeed possible to begin arming the Kafuristani Armed Forces against the Istalian invasion force. “The vast majority of the meetings we’ve had this morning primarily focused on the question of whether we should begin arming Kafuristan against Istalia and providing them with as much opportunity to beat back this invasion to the Istalian border,” Pierson explained. It was reported that Kafuri Air Force had made careful deployments of its F-16K multi-role fighter aircraft, owing to their limited numbers. The F-16K is the Kafuristani variant of the Harrington Dynamics F-16. These limited deployments have forced the Kafuri Ground Forces to become creative in delivering devasting strikes against Istalian forces, with the deployment of kamikaze drones being viewed as a major alternative to aircraft-borne airstrikes. John Hudson, a civilian analyst for the Lodamese Army Wartime Institute (LAWI), stated that if Kafuristan were to be granted additional F-16s, it would likely increase the scope and scale of their strikes against istalian targets and could potentially strengthen their offensive against Istalian forces both at the border and in Northern O'mer. “I think if the administration were to transfer F-16s to the Kafuri Air Force, it would provide them with greater flexibility to deliver devastating airstrikes against Istalian targets. If we factor in providing them with more sophisticated munitions such as the JDAM, anti-radiation missiles etc, we [Lodamun] could enhance the lethality of the Kafuri Armed Forces.”
PS Rush stated that the administration was not concerned about the potential diplomatic fallout that could arise should the administration choose to provide Kafuristan with the means to repel the invasion. “We are not interested in hearing anything related to Istalian complaints. All we are willing to fear at this time is that Istalian forces are withdrawing completely from all offensive theatres, be it Pontesi and/or Kafuristan,” Secretary Calliou explained. At the earlier DoD briefing, Secretary of Defence Kristian Harding confirmed that the Lodamese Armed Forces would not become involved in the conflict beyond intelligence-gathering and surveillance. “I think it is reasonable for us to state that the Lodamese Armed Forces will not become directly involved in what could be a protracted, drawn-out conflict. Our capacity remains relegated to intelligence-gathering and surveillance,” Harding explained. There have been some who have expressed concerns related to providing Kafuristan with arms and material, especially amidst comments within the Majatran Defence Brief which point to the potential for a Kafuri-counter invasion into Istalia and whether Lodamun would continue to support Kafuristan during a counter-invasion into Istalia itself. Ultimately, the decision rests with the President, who Rush has noted, is set to have a series of video-conference meetings with Chief Minister al-Nasr and King Bassam II, where the potential for Lodamese support will be raised.
RE: Lodamun - imperialpearl - 28-11-2024
![[Image: nlcjp4F.png]](https://i.imgur.com/nlcjp4F.png)
It ought to be noted that the defence of Lodamun proper has often been granted a priority by defence planners compared to say the defence of North Seleya or potentially the Seleyan continent as a whole. This is largely the product of otherwise outdated thinking that when in doubt, the Lodamese Armed Forces and its accompanying defence/security apparatus ought to circle the wagons around the defence of the nation itself or its immediate neighbourhood by proxy and that the other nations on the continent for whom Lodamun have traditionally called allies and partners be left the machinations of the emergent threat. The compartmentalisation of security had lent itself to a degree of arrogance on the part of Lodamese defence planners who believed that continent/sub-continent defence was not the responsibility of the Lodamese Armed Forces. Yet, the ever-changing global dynamic, largely marked by the emergence of numerous competitors each vying for influence both within Seleya and its neighbours, has made the concept of continental defence ever the more important. The Strategic Defence Agency (SDA) had been initially established not only to develop and maintain advanced systems which when working in tandem with each other may enhance the nation’s ability to defend itself from external threats but to also provide the means through which continental defence would become an essential part of the Lodamese Armed Forces’ core mission; hence underscoring the long-held notion that the defence of Seleya is as much of Lodamun’s business as it is that of any other nation on the continent. The agency is ultimately tasked with developing solutions aimed against the ever-increasing advances of numerous potential adversaries both regionally and internationally. The emergence of hypersonic weaponry, intercontinental ballistic missiles and intermediate-range weaponry in the arsenals of numerous states including Beiteynu, Baltusia and Deltaria poses a clear and present danger to the defence of Lodamun and by extension the Seleyan continent. Although the agency’s executives have remained largely tight-lipped surrounding some of its ongoing projects, in a rare press conference held at the Department of Defence building in Kensington, Director of the SDA General Daniel “Dan” Sutton lamented that Lodamun maintained no real answer to these systems beyond the rudimentary capabilities of the Andrew Neilson-class guided missile destroyer and the Andrews-class guided missile cruiser.
“What makes these weapons a particular threat to Lodamun is that we possess no dynamic means of defending ourselves against them. Although one may point to SENTINEL (AEGIS) on the Andrew Neilson-class destroyers as a potential answer, they remain a reluctant stopgap measure for what ought to be a layered defence,” General Sutton explained. Some analysts have pointed to the Lourennais-made SOTERIA system as a ready-made solution to the SDA’s dilemma, however, General Sutton has shot down such suggestions pointing to the importance of Lodamun maintaining an independently developed system. “It is imperative that we develop a system that is unique to our needs and does not put us at the behest of other states. Although the SOTERIA system is capable, we nonetheless recognise its glaring limitations, particularly in the area of early warning. Sortea by its very nature operates in clusters/islands, and does not possess the long-range, layered early warning capabilities we are seeking to build for ourselves,” Sutton noted. The SOTERIA system is one of the world’s most capable short-range anti-air networks currently in operation. It is said to be capable of dealing with most intermediary threats ranging from aircraft to unguided munitions. Its capabilities against hypersonic weaponry and intercontinental ballistic missiles are largely unknown, however, some analysts have speculated that similar to other systems currently in operations throughout the world, it maintains a worrying vulnerability to the high-speed manoeuvres of hypersonic missiles. “I believe it was Admiral [Richard] Ebaugh (General Sutton’s predecessor), who spoke on the need for Lodamun and perhaps other nations to catch up in developing capable deterrents to hypersonic weapons,” Stanley Foster, a Senior Policy Analyst at the Institute for Global Policy and Strategy (IGPS), commented. “The SOTERIA system has never been marketed as a long-range anti-air and ballistic missile system. Yes, it is supported by a network of satellites (of which Lourenne has recently updated). Where it falls short is in long-range engagements. It is uniquely placed to destroy targets within the bubble afforded by its short-range radar, which would enable it to engage numerous targets simultaneously. It is a SENTINEL (AEGIS)-like system, capable of handling multiple, simultaneous engagements from numerous threat sources but falls short of what Lodamun needs, which is that long-range engagement edge.” This long-range engagement edge primarily relates to Lodamun’s ability to intercept hypersonic and intercontinental ballistic missiles in orbit before they separate from their boost vehicles.
In its most recent budget proposal, the SDA requested some 1.1 billion LOD for the procurement of three semi-submersible oil platforms via a joint collaboration alongside Lodamese energy giant North Seleyan Petroleum which raised numerous eyebrows within the defence procurement sphere. Speculation regarding the agency’s potential use of these platforms ultimately led to the conclusion that the SDA had been interested in testing mobile, sea-based radar solutions as a means of providing the Lodamese Armed Forces with the flexibility needed to expand its radar network beyond Lodamun’s borders. Pointing to the regrettable circumstance surrounding Kalistan’s OTH radar in both Likatonia and Kundrati, Gen. Sutton noted that both instances reaffirmed his own commitment that as it pertained to the maintenance of various systems, Lodamun ought not to depend heavily on “unreliable entities”. “It is for that very reason we are looking into developing mobile systems we can easily deploy and move should the situation change.” Although not providing many details surrounding the agency’s intimate plans for strategic defence within Lodamun, North Seleya and potentially the Seleyan continent, Gen. Sutton noted that the SDA would be placing significant emphasis in enhancing the effectiveness of the Guardian defence system (the Lodamese pattern of the Patriot Missile Defence System) alongside the development of new systems as a means of establishing a layered hard-kill defence for Lodamun and North Seleya. Guardian stands as a backronym for Global Unified Anti-missile Response and Defense with Integrated Advanced Networking. “It is obvious that given our ambitions to develop newer, more advanced systems, there will be a need for us to enhance our cooperation with the Armed Forces Projects Agency (AFPA) and potentially the Research Projects Administration (RPA),” Gen. Sutton noted. The SDA continued cooperation with the Lodamese Space Administration and now the Lodamese Air Force on rocketry and eventually satellite technology continues as the ability to track and identify emerging airborne threats remains a core feature which is lacking from Lodamun’s air defence landscape.
RE: Lodamun - imperialpearl - 29-11-2024
![[Image: DA9NC2j.png]](https://i.imgur.com/DA9NC2j.png)
Earlier this morning the Defence Procurement Administration (DPA) announced that following an intense bidding process involving both foreign and domestic competitors, the Lodamese Navy had selected the design of a Kazulian firm for the Coast Guard’s future icebreaker. For the better half of a decade, the Lodamese Coast Guard, having expressed its intention to establish a clear Lodamese presence in the Arctic/White Ocean following the downing of a maritime patrol drone under suspicious circumstances, has sought to acquire icebreakers which will form an essential part of the infrastructure/assets needed to operationalise this intended presence. Lodamese interest in the Arctic/White Ocean largely stems from the fact that passages in the region are traditionally used by vessels of the Harrington Company transiting the area via Hutorian and Trigunian LNG terminals. In usual instances, Historically. Lodamun has relied on Trigunian and Hutorian icebreakers, to create safe pathways for HC vessels to traverse the otherwise dangerous waters. However, amidst the lull in activity within Hutori and Trigunia still rebuilding the pieces of its fractured nation following the devasting civil conflict, safe routes throughout the region have been dwindling, even as some private sector entities have stepped up. Secretary of Defence Kristian Harding stated that this vulnerability had prompted the DoD and the DoDS to look into the procurement of icebreakers for service within the Lodamese Coast Guard. “We have long underscored the importance of Lodamun possessing the ability to conduct operations independent of other states and have historically registered our hesitance at being dependent on the goodwill of other nations. Eventually, that goodwill runs its course and we are left at the behest of these states,” Secretary Harding explained. Although the Lodamese Coast Guard maintain two icebreakers, the Commandant of the LCS Admiral Thomas Doyle confirmed that these vessels remain in drydock undergoing significant repairs and refitting. “It would be an understatement to call what we’re attempting to do to these vessels a “mid-life extension”. This is like the horse is clearly at the end of its life and we’re asking it to do 5 more seasons.” Secretary of Domestic Security Stanley Brennan noted that although a decision is yet to be made as to the fate of the Coast Guard’s two aged icebreakers, there had certainly been a major push to procure a new, more modern class of icebreaker/patrol vessel. “We were well aware of the deficiencies within the Coast Guard and thus decided to work with the Department of Defence towards acquiring new units/assets to support what we believe ought to be an expanded role for Lodamun in the Arctic/White Ocean,” Secretary Brennan explained.
The vessel in question refers to a variant of the current (Svalbard-class) currently operated by the Royal Kazulian Coast Guard. The contract had been granted to Asvald Gruppen Maritime for the vessel’s design whilst Dodson Shipyards is expected to construct four (4) ships of the class. In keeping with the Lodamese Coast Guard’s established conduct in the Arctic/White Ocean, although the vessel exists as a patrol craft, it would nonetheless possess minimal armament/offensive capabilities. “We have committed to ensuring the Arctic/White Ocean remains a zone for peace in keeping with the precedent set by Kazulia. Our drone operations out of Dolgava are largely conducted by long-range high-endurance drones by the Lodamese Navy and thus these vessels will not possess armaments in excess of 35mm cannons and small munitions,” Secretary Brennan explained. Unlike their Trigunian counterparts, the vessels will not be nuclear-powered but will instead be powered by diesel-electric engines designed by Hudson & Pike in Milford. “There was serious contemplation on whether we ought to go the nuclear route as Trigunia did, however, we ultimately believed that it would be more viable for us to utilise diesel-electric engines, given the potential cost-overruns often associated with the design and construction of nuclear-powered vessels,” Brennan added. Admiral Doyle stated that the proposed vessel would feature numerous capabilities including being able to launch helicopters, medium-range drones as well as AUVs (autonomous underwater vehicles). The supposed cost of the four ships stands at around $1.7 billion LOD.