Luthori

[Ligbruderkrieg]

The Department of Defence today unveiled a multi-million-pound investment scheme focused on the development of the Luthorian defence industry. In this plan, the Luthorian armed forces hope to push for the domestic production of missile technology, which has become widely used in modern warfare following the end of the Hubris War between Beiteynu and Lourenne.

Defence officials state that “missile warfare has been a core component of modern warfare for centuries” and argued that the fact that “Luthori, a so-called “great power” or “rising power” isn’t producing its own missile technology is humiliating and disheartening itself”. Defence officials blame previous administrations who “lacked leadership capabilities in order to strengthen national defence”. A move not well-received by many, who criticised the military’s comment as a breach of their “constitutional duty of guarantors of the constitutional order”. Some military officers argued that their duty was to “protect the Constitution, not leave the government unscathed”. 

The Luthorian program will focus on the development and usage of missiles such as IRBMs and ICBMs for “defensive measures”. For the military, both type of missiles will enter into the realm of a “future defensive strategy” aimed at securing and solidifying Luthorian sovereignty through the enactment of defensive strategies revolving around the avoidance of direct mainland invasion and the creation of countermeasures to air supremacy tactics in the air and naval supremacy tactics on the sea.

“This missile technology will not be aimed at others; it’ll be employed as a complement in the deterrence strategy of Luthorian armed forces.”, said Chief of the Defence Staff, General Josh D. Radcliff. He moreover stated that “Luthori’s commitment to the development of the missile technology will of course be worrying news for some. Some might argue that Luthori commits herself to a path of militarism, but in fact, we merely wish to acquire the technology that other nations currently possess.” 

Luthori’s decision to pursue missile weaponry marks a continuation of a Luthorian policy focused on the modernisation of its forces, Luthori’s military budget increase, decided in 5689 concluded in 5700, the current-day military budget stands at £199.7 billions, compared to £74.5 billion twelve years ago, an increase of 168.1% over the last 12 years, with an average increase of 14% per year. Luthorian defence officials have stated that the bloated military budget will be used to pursue more projects focused at the “protection of Luthori and of Luthorian interests abroad”. 

Furthermore in a break from tradition, Luthorian military officials have stated a willingness from “listening at advice from abroad”, the Chief of the General Staff, General Toby Martin stated on that subject that Luthori would “look on help from abroad” because of its current “under preparedness” in that field. He moreover said that “the defence sector is a careful machine that can’t be built alone or based off our internationally recognised hubris and short-sighted mindset”, he brushed off jokingly. This comment got the General a note from both the Malvin Building and Crown Street, a sharp warning upon his conduct and comments, both commenting on the General’s “communicative skills” that will need to be “reviewed”. 

The program will take the form of a R&D program within Luthori’s defence industrial giants – with the most performant corporation being awarded a juicy and lucrative contract by the Government of Luthori following a call for bids. 

For now, Luthorian defence forces left the possible cost of such a program as an interrogation, as they deferred to private corporations before making a concrete and precise estimation, although they've estimated that a "large financial effort might be undertaken", with talks of this project costing over £60 billion to £90 billions over an estimated decade.