Lodamun

[imperialpearl]

Exercise Afterburner, the intense and immersive aerial combat exercise led by the Lodamese Air Force and the Commonwealth Air Guard, is back and is shaping up to become the most consequential iteration yet. With an unprecedented number of aircraft from various nations, multinational squadrons, and advanced combat scenarios, this year’s exercise, Exercise Afterburner 4, is set to push the boundaries of both the aircraft and their pilots in a battle against numerous odds. The exercise, which had been particularly popular among numerous nations, had been suspended owing to challenges related to the logistical constraint of managing such a complex exercise in an austere environment for the Lodamese Air Force, its principal coordinator. Budget cuts had forced the service to reduce its focus on collaborative efforts that might endanger its tight budget wiggle room. Although it had been argued that the exercise provided a net benefit to the service by enabling it to establish stronger bonds with the other air forces of the region and the wider world, this was ultimately not enough to convince defence planners at the time of its broader relevance to Lodamun’s defence posture. “It was regrettable that the exercise had been suspended owing to the budget constraints within the Air Force. I have long understood it to be a major boon for the LAF as it provided them with a unique opportunity to ‘exchange notes’ with other services throughout the world,” Secretary of the Air Force Philip Arnold commented. Its return marks a major reaffirmation in the exercise’s overarching theme of preparedness, especially amidst the fact that it stands against the backdrop of a renewed focus on enhancing the Lodamese Air Force’s prowess. Secretary Arnold noted that given its importance, the exercise is likely to become a major bi-annual event for the Lodamese Air Force and would likely open to more nations in the coming months and years.

The exercise is reportedly taking place within the Lodamese interior, specifically within the environs surrounding Alford Air Force Base in central Millford. The participants, which include Egelion, Hutori and Luthori, conducted a series of base hops before landing in the near-alpine airbase as part of an impromptu roving airshow prior to the exercise’s commencing. For the Royal Egelian Air Force, it would be the first time the service would be operating outside of the nation's borders and would represent its first major multinational aerial combat exercise. For Hutori and Luthori, it would mark the first time the two nations would be welcomed back onto Lodamese soil, particularly in the case of the Imperial Luthorian Air Force amidst reconciled relations between Kensington and Fort William. Lt. Gen. Jerome Miklaszewski, the exercise’s principal coordinator, stated that the exercise traditionally pits invitees against a Lodamese contingent, this year composed of the Lodamese Air Force, Lodamese Navy Naval Air Forces and elements from the Millford, Berkwaki and Barrington State Air Guard, alongside another state, against other forces. He explained that it is not done to demonstrate Lodamun’s supposed superiority over the various participants, as in many instances the participants hail from contingents with recent combat experience, but instead it provides the participants with an opportunity to test their tactics and strategies against those of the Lodamese Armed Forces, which has made strides with respect to evolving combat tactics beyond the conventional/well-known doctrine. “I think what we are doing here is providing that degree of rigour that is usually missing from in-house exercises. An opponent with a unified command structure with the ability to shift tactics and bring online a diverse array of equipment is something I think most nations would like to benefit from,” Lt. Gen. Miklaszewski explained.