Kalistani Major History

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Kalistan joins Lodamun in Air Exercises
Major "Afterburner 2" Training Series allows Kalistani Pilots to Stretch their wings
Loxhampton, Berkwaki, Commonwealth of Lodamun
June 30, 5500


The F/A-10, joint designed in the 51st Century with Indrala, is backbone of Imperial Contingent

Kalistan has been invited to participate in major, multi national joint air exercises in Lodamun, said Air Force spokesperson Major Jeanette Southern. Kalistan has had a long, low-level naval cooperation agreement with Lodamun, and this is really the first time that Kalistani Air has participated in joint exercises with Lodamun. "Well, with anyone," said Major Southern. "Kalistan's air force usually focuses on close air support, and works primarily in an attack capacity supporting artillery. Our defensive doctrine focuses primarily on naval forces and on artillery, and the Air Force is sort of an after thought. As a result, our pilots usually consider themselves part of reinforced Artillery regiments and don't get to train independently very often. Exercises such as this are not only very fun, but also extremely valuable for our pilots." The exercise, a multi-week, multi-national effort involves elements of the Armed Forces of Lodamun, Kalistan, Luthori, Baltusia, Hutori, Dolgava, and Lourenne. The training focuses on naval strike operations both offensive and defensive

There was some concern about the participation of Luthori in the exercises, mostly from the Lodamese Government itself. "The Lodamese were very sensitive to Her Imperial Majesty's previous attitude toward Luthorian participation in the Seleyan sphere," said Major Southern. "We had to do some fairly major reassurance that 1) the issue was with Luthorian naval vessels taking up a permanent base in Baltusia, which would 2) necessitate Luthori military transit in the Ananto Strait. Her Imperial Majesty was merely expressing Kalistani Imperial Policy that this water is not to be used by any power but those from an Anantonese Nation [meaning a nation bordering the Anantonese Ocean] as per her quarantine order, and the fact that Luthori had taken a militaristic position both in support of expanding their own influence in a nation bordering Kalistan proper, and against our friends in Lourenne. So, we had to reassure Lodamun that Her Imperial Majesty had absolutely no problem with Luthori Air participating in a Lodamese International Military exercise, and we were happy to participate in it too, and Her Imperial Majesty expressed great appreciation to the Commonwealth President for his consideration and sensitivity that the President showed in this matter."

Kalistani contingents to the exercise included the F/A 10, the multi-purpose jet designed in cooperation with Indrala, as well as the KF-25 Smoke Monster, which is designed to fly close air support missions for Tanks and Artillery, but are seeing a slowly expanding role as a land based strike craft in support of naval operations. "Kalistani Marines are also participating in the exercises in helicopter based exercises which involve landing on, clearing and seizing hostile shipping in a chaotic naval theater of operations," said Major Southern. "These types of exercises not only allow us to train in real-world scenarios, but also to share our tactics with other nations in a wargame environment. We are also using the exercises to test readiness of our air and Marine units." Kalistani forces remain under direct Kalistani Command and control, but overall operational control is maintained by the Lodamese, who have organized and are running the Afterburner 2 Exercise.

The exercises continue during this summer and are based in the seas around Lodamun. There are no firm over all strength numbers of participants, but it is reportedly "many squadrons and most of our trainers," according to Southern. "We aren't compromising our national security by participating in the wargames in Lodamun, but now is the best time to participate, in a big way, while we remain at peace. I am sure these wargames will also encourage comradery between Kalistan and our neighbors-- I hear the fraternization in the evenings is what one would expect from military men and women when meeting and cooperating internationally, which is very promising." As the training cycle continues, new elements will cycle in and out of country, and as much as 45% of the Kalistani Regular Force and 15% of the Kalistani Regular Marines will ultimately participate on some level.