5 January
Rio Reporter
In the usual start-of-year contract release a number of new items for the military stand out.
After acrimonious debate both within headquarters and, reportedly, among the diplomatic corps, the Emperor has used an Imperial Statement to resolve the controversy over the Navy's new light cruiser order. Originally intended to be a homogenous batch of four vessels, the type will now be split two each among the Senate-favoured indiginous design and the Navy-favoured Japanese submission that won the MI's design contest for the type. The ships will be built on an I+J+I+J basis with the Japanese type being built under license, the fee added to the previously announced license for river patrol boats. After the four vessels are in service and evaluated one or the other type will be used as a basis for future cruisers.
The Senate has expressed continued concerns over the MI's sourcing of designs from Japanese companies, noting the 'curious activites' of that nation with regard to the recent Mexican-captured 'pirate carrier' and the 'convienent' loss of the identical Hosho, among other issues, and the diplomatic firestorm that has erupted among the American powers over Japan's 'peace keeping' offers for Bolivia.
Meanwhile the Air Force issued additional contracts for German transport aircraft, with the Junkers Ju 52/3m and Focke-Wulf Fw 58 seeing their exsisting orders doubled in number (to 72 and 48, respectivly). In addition, additional Ju 52/3m aircraft will be constructed under licence at the Sienar Fleet Systems plant, the EMBRAER facility currently running at capacity constructing I-100 fighters and EMB-34 bombers (the latter to enter service this spring), and tooling up for production of the EMB-35 attack aircraft.
All is not roses for EMBRAER, however, as the final 36 EMB-32 "recon fighter" aircraft contracted for have been cancelled. The aircraft has proven to be a dissipointing performer in service, being grossly inferior in speed to most modern fighter and many attack aircraft, and lacking maneuverability compared to the older biplane types encountered in Bolivia. Adding to the sting is that the 36-aircraft contract was transferred to SFS, added to the exsisting 12-aircraft order for the V-23, licensed Grumman G-23 biplane, which is in fact superior in speed performance to the EMB-32. Approval of an export license for the EMB-32 to the Irish Air Corps must be only a small consolation.
EMBRAER did receive a contract, along with the German Heinkel company, for the acquistion of eight He 70K fast recon aircraft. The aircraft will be shipped from Germany without engines, which hithero on the type have been liquid-cooled inlines; EMBRAER will install their licensed Gnome-Rhone radials on them upon delivery.
Heinkel also received a contract for thirty-six He 59D-1 trainer/search-and-rescue seaplanes. Contracts were also awarded for transport aircraft to American companies, with 24 Lockheed Model 10s, 24 Douglas DC-3s, and 7 Beechcraft Model 17s being ordered.
Reportedly the Army had enquired as to the possibility of acquiring a quantity of the recently annouced Russian 14mm anti-tank/anti-aircraft weapons, only to have an export license denied due to concerns over Bolivia. The Foreign Ministry declined to comment.
This post has been edited 3 times, last edit by "Swamphen" (Mar 1st 2007, 10:03pm)