Saridan

[Rogue]

Koeistad - After months of preparation the capital of Koeistad turned festive today as the long awaited military parade organized by the Department of National Defense showcased some of its newest hardware to the public. For the last 3 years, backed by billions in funding, the SDF has been modernizing and expanding on all fronts. From a order of additional modernized Cheetah G multirole aircraft to a joint project on the development of a new frigate with Mordusia, the military and all affiliated partners have been busy.

Primarily on display today were ground vehicles, with the primary vehicle gaining attention being the new "Groot Olifant" main battle tank. The tank, in development by Deronda Dynamics, was ordered by the Department of National Defense in order to fullfill the need that the SDF has for its own main battle tank to be used in large scale conflict, primarily for defense. Deronda Dynamics had been working on the design of the tank prior to the SNP government taking power, but development accelerated after additional funding was released. One prototype has been build, which was on display during the parade. The tank featured a modern turret, reworked weapons systems, a upgraded engine, a new thermal and commander sight and modernized communication systems compared to the older tanks within Saridan. The tank has so far been tested in multiple environments with promising results. The DND is currently working out the details on ordering a batch of the Groot Olifant, working with SDF command and Commission for Air and Ground Equipment in determining a suitable package. Current estimates on the final order range between 200 to 300 of these indigenous MBT's.

Besides the Groot Olifant there were several other pieces of equipment on display, with the well known "Rooikat" armoured reconnaissance vehicles also taking part. The Rooikat has also been modernized by Deronda Dynamics, receiving a upgrade to its turret and weapon systems as well as gaining new commander sights. These upgrades have made the vehicle better capable at providing anti-tank support. All current 250 Rooikat's in SDF service will be gradually modernized to the new Rooikat 5600 variant. 

The parade was received well by the population and military enthusiasts alike, showing in real time how additional tax dollars are giving the SDF a much needed boost in enhancing their capabilities.