NationStates Jolt Archive

The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia

Building. This is the factbook and potentially the news thread for Larionko Aidarov's second state, and may act as a base from which to launch Yugoslav-related RPs in the group A Modern World.

Yugoslav-involved threads

HISTORY

In the closing months of 1992, following more than half a year as war-time leader of embattled Lavrageria, Larionko Aidarov arrived in Novi Sad, Serbia, to pursue the long-awaited establishment of a pan-Slavic state in the Balkans.

Strong pan-Slavic sentiment, in the Balkans especially, existing since the domination suffered at the hands of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the Ottoman Empire, was channeled into a defensive under-dog mentality when Russia, the traditional protector, became part of the new evil empire. In essence, since coming under the sway of Tsar Wingert, Russia now appeared complicit in not only failing to protect Lavrageria, but of actively taking part in its oppression. The invasions of Moldova and the Baltic states only confirmed this, being a little too close to home to ignore (as little attention had been paid to the fate of Kazakhstan, felled earlier by pre-Tsarist Russia).

Larionko Aidarov was a figure of heroic resistance against the odds, and a man with character and guile enough to lead an ambitious people to a groundbreaking future. He became known as Lav -the lion-, and was soon drumming-up support with the governments of the world as much as the peoples of the Balkans.

The fall of mighty Russia to the Estenlandic Tsar, and the immediate and obvious aggression of Moscow's new leadership, was undeniably frightening to the free world, right and left, as the Holy League suddenly gained tens of millions of subjects and large natural resources, along with Russia's potent nuclear arsenal.

A disunited Balkan peninsula would have been easy pickings, hemmed-in by Italy and the Russian Empire, and the European continent lost to the world, the Holy League secured and confident. Neither the capitalist west, poised to fight for the defence of remaining free nations on the continent and the markets there in that would be closed by feudal domination, nor the communist bloc, with interests as close as Libya and high-hopes for the salvation of European socialism after the collapse of the USSR, wanted to see the Balkans consumed.

On the 7th of January 1997 -the Serbian new year- Yugoslavia, land of the southern Slavs, was created a large and potentially influential nation of more than thirty million, stretching from the Adriatic to the Black Sea, controlling major land trade routes through Europe and between Europe and Asia Minor.

Aided by capitalist and communist blocs in creating the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and establishing himself as President for Life, Marshal Lav was compelled to write neutrality into the constitution of his new state, ensuring that it would not become a battleground between capitalist and communist ideology, agreeing only that feudalism and cruelty were mutual enemies of these and neutral Yugoslavia.

A three-prong economy was established, enabling small-time private enterprise, a large middle sector practicing worker self-management, and securing a state sector protecting vital utilities and defence concerns. Local democracy was instituted under the strong leadership of the life-long President, and new administrative subdivisions were created in an effort to prevent political power running along ethnic lines.

GEOGRAPHY

Located on the Balkan peninsula, the Socialist Federal Republic incorporates the former Republics and Kingdoms of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro, and Slovenia. It covers some 366,537 square kilometres of land and sea, being bounded by the Adriatic to the west and the Black Sea to the east. At those proportions, the Republic falls just between Germany and Japan in terms of territorial extent.

Yugoslavia's terrain is varied, but through large parts it would be fair to describe the nation as mountainous and rugged, with valleys and limestone basins common, and the highest peak Bulgaria's Musala, reaching 2,952 metres above sea level. There are also significant plains to be found, especially in the north and parts of Bulgaria.

Across most of its extent, the Socialist Federal Republic is subject to earthquakes, and in some areas landslides and flooding also present dangers.

The SFRY shares over four hundred kilometres of border with Albania, almost seven hundred and fifty with Greece, more than a thousand kilometres with Romania, close to six hundred with Hungary, more than two hundred with Italy, over three hundred with Austria, and some two hundred and forty kilometres with the Ottoman Empire.

ECONOMY AND TRADE

The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia controls key land routes between Europe and the Middle East, and many of Europe's major transit routes, such as those through Slovenia.

The economy is very much mixed in structure, reflective of the government's non-alignment policy in political affairs. Many utilities are state-owned (as they would be in, for example Dra-pol), and some of these -considered vital- quite strictly managed and with little space for unionisation. A large part of the economy is driven by worker self management (as in the Indian Soviet Commonwealth and parts of Neo-Anarchos), and tends to incorporate healthy wages and high productivity, but parts of this sector are none the less geared to the international free market (unlike the Soviets').

So, Yugoslavia's economy is divided into three parts:

1) The government manages many aspects of the defence industry, which is the nation's largest area of economic activity, claiming that it is of importance to national security that this be under state control, and also controls public utilities such as power supply and public transport.

2) Workers themselves control a large middle portion of the economy through social ownership and worker self-management, which enables a moderate degree of competition and only a little political influence compared to that seen in the former Soviet bloc. Organisations of associated labour break-down large companies into small units with democratic control of their work.

3) Private enterprise exists on a small scale, with some individual shops, small farms, and tradesmen working for themselves, disallowed from employing peers and taking-on the role of the over-bearing capitalist or manager.

Food

The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia is neither the richest nor poorest of nations economically or in respect of its natural resources. Under the administration of Larionko Lav Aidarov, the nation's more than thirty million people, on their better than third of a million square kilometres of home, have begun to make good use of their ample arable land, and soon shall be self-sufficient in production of staple foods. This will leave room for some food export and for two-way trade in exotic foodstuffs.

Raw materials

Yugoslavia also possesses and exploits sources of antimony, asbestos, natural asphalt, bauxite, calcium, chromite, clay, coal, copper, natural gas, gold, gypsum, iron ore and low-grade iron ore, lead, lignite coal, limestone, manganese, magnesium, marble, mercury, mica, nickel,pyrite, salt, sand, silver, timber, tungsten, uranium, and zinc.

Belgrade hopes to export many of these worldwide, and while the on-going creation of self-management schemes in many sectors is likely to slightly increase costs in the form of wage increases, initial signs suggest an over-all rise in productivity, which the government is partly attributing to the very same programmes.

Oil

Oil reserves are know to exceed 145 million barrels, which is significant to but not sufficient for national needs. By the time current projects are brought fully on-line, the SFRY shall produce a total of 36,623 barrels daily, meaning that known reserves are likely to be exhausted before 2020. It is hoped that limited on-going prospecting and improving extraction efficiency during the next decade may slightly extend production, but this is unlikely to be substantial. Belgrade hopes to exploit its growing domestic refining abilites to re-export petroleum products imported in the form of raw crude. Total national consumption is estimated at 350,000 barrels per day for next year, based on government plans and projections. Bearing in mind contributions to national reserves for contingency use, the SFRY will need to import perhaps a third of a million barrels per day while hoping to export some few thousand at sometimes lower cost than oil from the Middle East where it is more crucial to national economies.

Calling itself non-aligned, Belgrade hopes to import part of its oil needs in future from both United Elias and Neo-Anarchos on different sides of the political spectrum, as well as from what may be relatively minor sources such as the U.A.E., Armand, and Norway. Ultimately, though, Libya is the primary source of Yugoslavia's oil, while the government does not currently plan to import Russian oil for domestic use (though import of unrefined crude for processing and re-export has not been ruled-out).

Defence

Yugoslavia has at its disposal substantial military industries, many of which are concentrated in Bulgaria, where the Republic impressively maintains and refurbishes MiG-29 multi-role fighters from its own fleet of Fulcrums while also offering similar services to other MiG users, which it hopes to see turn to a profitable enterprise since the extreme polarisation of the Russian source in contrast to Yugoslav neutrality.

The SFRY has also taken to dispatching military advisors as services to potential allies and trade partners. Bulgarian, Lavragerian, Croatian, and Serbian-trained pilots can be found serving in Libya along with Bulgarian and Serbian naval personnel, while experts trained by Lavragerian War veterans have recently been sent to Sub Saharan Africa to consult with forces unused to intensive armoured warfare and officers have been sent to lead newly raised volunteers.

Having selected 9x19mm and 5.56x45mm ammunition as standards, Belgrade also hopes to win contracts to supply the armies of many developed nations with such munitions at relatively low cost, and diplomats are pushing the idea.

Yugoslavia is starting attempts to establish itself as a source of near cutting edge defence systems at prices below that of similar equipment from the richer nations, that may cost substantially more while providing only a minimal performance enhancement. Non-alignment also means that Belgrade's is an arsenal open to many nations that might struggle to acquire modern weapons from the major NATO, Progressive, or Holy League arms producers. Modern assault rifles, anti-tank guided missiles, man-portable air-defence missile systems, wheeled and tracked armoured vehicles, gun and rocket artillery, and combat aircraft are all potential exports to poor and middle-income economies.

Using domestic industries in Serbia, Bosnia, and Bulgaria in particular Yugoslavia is attempting to develop real world-standard systems that previously have alluded the individual states and the Lavragerians. The M-2006 battle tank uses pre-existing M-84 production facilities and systems brought from Lavrageria which received customised T-80s, but without substantial orders it is unlikely that the Republic will be able to develop the facilities to replicate the most advanced systems.

Receiving via the United African Republic several finished examples of, and, more importantly, appropriate machine jibs for the HAL Dhruv light multi-role helicopter, Yugoslavia has initiated domestic production of an unlicenced copy for diplomatic and utility transport, communications relay, command and control, reconnaissance, search and rescue, and other general duties in the national armed forces, though Belgrade is not aggressively marketing its copied machine for export. Notably, however, the SFRY is developing a limited gunship on the Dhruv airframe- this will probably be armed with, amongst other things, guided anti-tank missiles.

Combining a few of these programmes and aims, Yugoslavia has begun to dispatch along with its advisors several experimental new products such as the IBL-2000 unmanned aerial vehicle, G-4 Super Galeb jets armed with the LBV-250 laser guided bomb and Grom-B TV and radar-guided missile, and the highly promising Munja armoured engineering vehicle to active conflict zones such as those engaged by the members of the African National Pact with which Belgrade is pursuing positive relations.

Also, while much of Yugoslavia's help to African nations is happening on credit, as Aidarov puts it, there is also initial trade. Yugoslavia has acquired AFRISAM medium-range surface to air missiles and associated systems. The AFRISAM, developed by the UAR with Soviet help, is also produced in the African Commonwealth, and there is every possibility that Belgrade will be engaging with the two African partners to develop an air-launched version of the component LS-8 missile to serve as the BVR element of Novi Avion's armament, with a view to selling the light-weight multi-role fighter to those nations amongst others. Yugoslavia is also aquiring South African missile technology via the UAR, and has begun to put this to practical use in its defence industry.

DIPLOMACY

The Socialist Federal Republic under President Larionko "Lav" Aidarov has tried to establish a treaty of non-alignment, but has suffered frustration in the face of assassination plots against its leadership and the outbreak of war in Southern Africa pitting potential signatories against one another.

Despite its socialist title and worker self management schemes, Yugoslavia is keen to avoid being seen as an ally or puppet of the Progressive Bloc, or, specifically, the Igovians. Belgrade's policy is that troops and military assets belonging to any of the major blocs, communist/anarchist, capitalist/democrat, or feudal/christian, should not be hosted on Yugoslavian soil, and that all sides should as such be aware that the Federation poses no great strategic threat in the superpower struggles.

With the (temporary?) collapse of non-alignment dreams, Yugoslavia has begun to invest heavily in Africa and to pursue closer ties with non-League states in Eastern and Central Europe, especially Romania and the Czech Republic.

DEFENCE

The Yugoslav People's Army (Jugoslovenska Narodna Armija)
YPA, JNA, JHA, JLA

Supreme Commander Larionko Aidarov
Federal Secretary for National Defence Kastus Vorobei
Noted Army Generals include Milan Pupin, Mihajilo Draganic, Bojan Javoric, and Plamen Stojakovic

Opšte-narodna odbrana
-Total national defence
Ništa nas ne može iznenaditi!
-Nothing can surprise us!

(Link) Equipment specifications and images may be found in a distinct thread, found here (Link) (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=493074)

Manpower

*182,000 Army personnel including 70,000 volunteers and 112,000 conscripts
*575,000 Trained Reserve Forces
*1,200,000 trained Territorial Defence Forces
*2,000,000 untrained Territorial Defence Forces
*18,000 Militia Troops (heavy security police)
*50,000 Federal Militia (police)
*42,000 Air Force personnel including 37,000 volunteers and 5,000 conscripts
*13,000 Naval Forces personnel including 8,000 volunteers and 5,000 conscripts

Organisation: Regular Forces

*42 Tank, Mechanised, and Mountain-Infantry Brigades with integral Artillery, Air-Defence, and Anti-Tank Regiments; plus one Airborne Brigade
-19 Air-Defence Regiments with towed and self-propelled AAA and SAMs
-8 Artillery Regiments with towed and self-propelled guns, mortars, and rockets
-7 Anti-Tank Regiments with towed, self-propelled, and man-portable guns, recoilless rifles, and guided missiles

Total Equipment

Overview

-2,400 Anti-Aircraft Artillery Pieces
-1,750 Surface-to-Air Missiles Systems

-7,500 Towed Mortars
-1,500 Towed Artillery Guns
-220 Self-Propelled Guns
-200 Self-Propelled Multiple-Launch Rocket Systems

-1,000 Anti-Tank Guns
-4,500 Crew-Served Anti-Tank Weapons

-1,500 Tanks

Small Arms

-7.62x25mm Model 57 Automatic Pistol [Territorial Defence Forces]
-9x19mm Model 70 Automatic Pistol [Territorial Defence Forces]
-9x19mm Model 70A Automatic Pistol [Trained Reserve]
-9x19mm CZ-99 Automatic Pistol [Regular Army]
-9x19mm CZ-999 Automatic Pistol [Elite Naval and Airborne Infantry]
-9x19mm CZ-99 Compact Automatic [Sova-15]
-9x19mm HS2000 Automatic Pistol [Militia Troops]
-9x19mm Arcus 98 DA Automatic Pistol [Air Force and Navy]
-.380" Model 70(K) Automatic Pistol [Federal Militia]
-.357"/9x19mm Model 83 Double-Action Revolver [Federal Militia]

-7.62x25mm Model 49 Submachine Gun [Territorial Defence Forces]
-7.62x25mm Model 56 Submachine Gun [Territorial Defence Forces]
-9x19mm Model 65 Submachine Gun [Trained Reserve, Militia Troops]
-9x19mm Shipka Submachine Gun [Sova-15]
-5.56x45mm Zastava M85 Submachine Gun [Regular Army, Air Force, Navy]
-.380" Model 84(2) Machine-Pistol [Air Force, Navy, Sova-15, Militia Troops]

-12-Gauge LP 12 PAS Shotgun [Militia Troops]

-7.62x39mm M59 Semi-Automatic Rifle [Territorial Defence Forces]
-7.62x39mm M66A1 Semi-Automatic Rifle [Territorial Defence Forces]
-7.62x39mm M64(-B) Assault Rifle [Territorial Defence Forces]
-7.62x39mm M70(-B1/AB2) Assault Rifle [Trained Reserve]
-5.56x45mm M80(-A) Assault Rifle [Regular Army]
-5.56x45mm M21S Assault Rifle [Elite Naval and Airborne Infantry]

-7.92x57mm M76 Designated Marksman's Rifle [Regular Army, Militia Troops]
-12.7x107mm M-93 Crna Strela Sniper's Rifle [Regular Army]
-20x110mm RT-20 Anti-Material Rifle [Elite Naval and Airborne Infantry]

-7.62x39mm M64(-A/B) Squad Automatic Weapon [Territorial Defence Forces]
-7.62x39mm M72(-B1/AB1) Squad Automatic Weapon [Trained Reserve]
-5.56x45mm M82(-A) Squad Automatic Weapon [Regular Army]
-7.92x57mm Model M53 General Purpose Machine-Gun [Trained Reserve]
-7.92x57mm Model M88 General Purpose Machine-Gun [Regular Army]
-12.7x107mm M87 Heavy Machine-Gun [Regular Army]

Organisation: Reserve Forces

Territorial Forces

*Manouverable Elements of Battalion size tasked with partisan action
*Spatial Elements of Company size tasked with defence of key locations and protection of civilians

The Territorial Defence Forces exist in each Socialist Republic, and consist partly of ex-conscripts. They are lead by experienced officers, and use ex-YPA equipment. In peace-time, TDF and ATR forces are hard to distinguish from one-another and often engage in shared training operations, but, come war, ATR recruits join the YPA to augment regular units, raise new ones, and replace losses, going to confront the enemy, while TDF recruits disperse into the local environment and await the arrival of hostile forces. It is TDF recruits that would be the primary users of Lav's elaborate bunker network.

TDF personnel are not full-time fighters, and many would continue to work jobs even during an invasion, until the enemy actually approached their area of operation. Some may even attempt to live double lives while under occupation, working by day and slipping away to join partisan units by night.

Air Force

Organisation

*42,000 personnel

Equipment

130x Lasta 95 (Lasta-3) basic flight trainer

124x G4M Super Galeb two-seat basic/advanced jet trainer/close support/light fighter

6x NL-18 (MiG-29UB) two-seat radarless conversion trainer
12x NJ-22M Orao 2 two-seat flight/weapons trainer/close-support/ground attack fighter
55x NL-20 Putin two-seat conversion trainer/multi-role fighter

32x L-18 (MiG-29A) short-range interceptor/air superiority fighter
14x L-19 (Su-30) long-range interceptor/air superiority fighter

200x L-20 Putin multi-role light fighter
4x L-18M2 (MiG-29M2) two-seat multi-role fighter

60x J-23 Super Orao close-support/ground attack fighter

45x I-20 Putin reconnaissance fighter

35x Boxkite CC.7 utility transport

2x A-50 Mainstay airborne early warning and control system

80x LS-8 AFRISAM surface-to-air missile systems, twenty batteries in four regiments

8x Improved Long Track P-40 target acquisition radar attached to LS-8
20x Scavenger fire-control radar attached to LS-8

P-14 Tall King upgrade early warning radar with anti anti-radiation-missile subsystem and solid state high-frequency amplification to enhance sensitivity, 600km range and 46km ceiling

Naval Forces

Organisation

*1,000 Naval Infantry
*30x100-man Coastal Artillery Batteries
*9,000 ship's crew and support

Coastal Artillery Batteries
30x Batteries
-88mm FLAK guns
-122mm D-30J howitzers
-152mm M-84 Nora-C howitzers
-Brom truck-mounted anti-ship missiles

Submarines
3x Heroj Class patrol submarines
3x Sava Class patrol submarines
4x Una Class midget submarines
4x Mala Class swimmer-delivery vehicles

Frigates
6x Kotor Class light frigates

Minor Combattants
6x Rade Koncar Class missile boats
18x Kobra Class missile boats

Support
1x Vis Class command and support ship
4x Kit/Lubin Class logistics ships
2x Milj Class inshore minesweepers

PERSONALITIES

Maršal Jugoslavije President Larionko "Lav" Aidarov (http://images.ibsys.com/2006/0410/8600833.jpg)

Miroslava Goranov

Foreign and Information Secretary Aleksandar Milutinov

Federal Secretary for National Defence Kastus Vorobei

Army-General Milan Pupin

Army-General Mihajilo Draganic

Army-General Bojan Javoric

Army-General Plamen Stojakovic

PEOPLE/POPULATION

30,857,236 people populate the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

Most of these are officially considered to be Slavs, be they Serbs, Bulgars, South Glakatahn, or otherwise. Some say that President Aidarov has stretched the definition to enable Bulgaria's annexation to the Federation. The largest non-Slavic minority are the Albanians, with Turks and Hungarians also represented in significant numbers.

Religion is at the moment much a secondary concern in the Republic, which contains Orthodox Christians in large numbers along with smaller numbers of Catholics and some Protestants, as well as substantial numbers of Muslims and committed atheists. It is fair to say that, by and large, Yugoslav theists are not the most dogmatic in the world- Muslims call themselves such and usually take names influenced by Islam, and Mosques exist, but many drink alcohol and think little of halal before sitting down to dinner; likewise, Orthodox Yugoslavs feel no particular connection to Russian and Estenlandic authorities; and Catholics in many parts have been quite deliberate in rejecting Papal authority in the political sphere.

POLITICS- DISPUTES AND OPPOSITION

Most infamous amongst groups resisting the formation or shape of the new Yugoslavia is the KLA -the Kosovo Liberation Army- which Belgrade identifies as a terrorist organisation with links to the Albanian government. Tirana and the KLA, Belgrade claims, aim to destabilise the Federal Republic in pursuit of the reputedly unrealistic creation of a Greater Albania. The KLA has been engaged in intensive firefights with the JNA, and targeted by a series of special-forces and police raids, with an especially intense round of conflict in 2006 ending in claims of success from the Yugoslav authorities.

More worryingly, however, and receiving no official recognition from an apparently dismissive federal government, is a right-wing Serbian nationalist movement calling itself, with a disturbing reference to the past, the Black Hand. Some Serb nationalists, it seems, were uncomfortable with Belgrade's forcing of a Serbo-Russian split, and continue to feel that restoration of Serbia's alliance with Russia would be in their best interests. They were further hurt by Lav's division of Serbia by the creation of Socialist Autonomous Provinces in Vojvodina and Kosovo, and some worry that this group -if it even exists in an organised form- may seek Holy League assistance in toppling the Socialist Federal Republic and reincorporating the SAPs, and perhaps even in subjugating all of Yugoslavia to a Serbian racial autocracy. (Sova is the only entity actively tracking this movement, and Sova itself is a small and totally secret organisation answerable only to the President and not yet known outside of Yugoslavia.)

VTI Novi Avion Light Multi-Role Fighter flies for first time over Socialist Federal Republic, anti-royalist rhetoric hits new high

Novi Avion, set to fly as the Yugoslav People's Army Air Force's fifth generation fighter, is the product of work and ambition in many nations.

Its development, by the Military Technology Institute (VTI), could not have happened as it did without Lavragerian engineers schooled in Russia; local students at the new well-funded socialist universities; technology bought by the Lavragerian Republic, often with foreign aid money and loans, from Russia, including modern MiG and Sukhoi fighter aircraft; engineers and systems from the United African Republic, technology often coming in turn to that nation from Beth Gellert and South Africa, in the latter case being sometimes Israeli and before that Quinntonian in source(!); missiles and combat-learned advice from Drapoel Hotanites, again with technology being in part originally Beddgelen, as well as Chinese and, of course, captured South Korean science; and, with Bulgarian, Serbian, Bosnian, Croatian, and Slovenian minds and technologies, one can only speculate about what other sources Lav may have drawn upon, with speculation of espionage against France originating from apparent similarities to the Rafale, and of course the massed ranks of disgruntled French socialists and democrats.

The Novi Avion's airframe, being of single-seat canard lay-out and giving-up other suspicions, of Swedish involvement, was seen grounded in Petrovaradin during the since disrupted conference on non-aligment, but it is only with yet another piece of foreign help that the plane finally, and literally, is able to get off the ground.

Relations between Belgrade and Mumbai are not the world's warmest after Larionko Aidarov's misuse of aid money in Lavrageria, so it is perhaps ironic that it should be the western Indians that finally make viable the project into which so much of those funds were sunk. Still, it is an Indian powerplant that pushes Novi Avion into the sky, after Yugoslavia and the Indians agree a production licence for a compact turbofan unit derived ultimately from the SNECMA M53 driving the warbirds of hated France!

Name

Called Novi Avion while in development, a name deemed rather cold and doomed to eventual obsolescence, the new Yugoslav light fighter is to be designated L-20 (L being for Lovac, or hunter). This is less significant than the name by which President Larionko Aidarov presented the Novi Avion: Putin.

L-20 Putin is intended to tweak Slavic pride without singling out one of the various Balkan languages at the expense of another, or even arrogantly promoting one of the new champions of the federal government, and to keep fresh in the mind of the world the brutal death of democracy in a Europe at the scant mercy of the Holy League. A Europe now defended by fighter planes built in Yugoslavia, lead by the man whom Russian President Putin helped to power in Lavrageria before being destroyed by the League. It recalls the link between southern and northern Slavs without allowing the Balkan peoples to forget the Tsarist sword.

Weights and Dimensions

A very compact machine, affordable and agile as a result, Novi Avion has a wingspan of 8.00 metres, length of 13.75 metres, and height of 4.87 metres. Its canard span is 3.55 metres, and wing size in the region of 30 metres square. Empty weight is 6,247kg and maximum take-off weight some 13,400kg.

Powerplant

A licence-built afterburning turbofan of Indian design, said to be a scaled-down version of the J53 that powers HAL's F(J).4, Novi Avion's powerplant was the last piece of the puzzle, and an impressive picture it has completed, providing no small part of the thrust given by the full-size unit.

Performance

Official maximum speed attributed to Novi Avion is Mach 1.85, but this is probably not so very exact a figure as it appears. Ceiling is approximately 15,000 metres. Combat range, depending on load-out, may be between 400 and 1,000 kilometres, while ferry range is in excess of 3,750km. Agility, given the small size, healthy wing area, and canard lay-out of the L-20, is impressive, as well displayed at the unveiling of the aircraft.

Constructed largely of composites, the Putin has a low radar cross section, though is not a thorougbred stealth aircraft.

Systems

Novi Avion incorporates a digital flight control system, Head Up Display and Hands On Throttle And Stick operation, and may carry helmet-mounted sighting equipment believed to be derived from technology of Israeli and/or South African origin. Radar Warning Receivers are fitted, and there is capacity for a jamming system apparently derived locally from technology brought to Yugoslavia by Aidarov's two dedicated countermeasures-platform Su-25SM aircraft and believed to be incomplete at the time of Novi Avion's first flight. Novi Avion will be able to carry native target designation equipment once it is proven in on-going trials.

For a time it was unclear from where Yugoslavia would acquire a modern radar system for Novi Avion, with talk of this becoming a major let-down to a potentially world-class aircraft. Suggestions included the adaptation of Miggen systems acquired via Libya, which would have left the aircraft notably inferior to the best of its potential rivals in French and Russian service. This problem has reportedly been solved, though precisely how is not yet published. [Ultimately, following work with the African National Pact and then South Africa, Belgrade has engaged in secretive dealing with Israel to acquire ELTA's EL/M-2032 pulse Doppler multi-role fire control radar for Novi Avion.]

The light fighter has, it is claimed, as a result of its avionics fit, multi-mode long-range multi target handling look-down shoot-down abilities. [With Synthetic Apeture Radar technology, Novi Avion can control smart weapons in air to surface attack, displaying high resolution imagery for ground targets out to 150km and an ability to detect and classify naval targets at 300km. In air to air mode, the EL/M-2032 radar enables detection and tracking out to 150km.]

Armament

A range of aramament may be carried by Novi Avion, which will serve in Yugoslavia but is also set for several export deals, including to some of the nations that have helped in development of the fighter.

L-20 has eleven hardpoints, including one for mounting of is cannon armament and two wingtip stations for short-range missiles.

In Yugoslavian serice, Novi Avion will be fitted with a locally produced copy of GSh-23L twin-barrel 23mm cannon for use against air and ground targets.

For basic ground attack work it will carry dumb bombs, cluster bombs, napalm tanks, and pods for 70mm folding fin aerial rockets.

In a new development, L-20s will be able to deploy the Yugoslav LVB-250 laser-guided bomb, which is seen as a significant step for Balkan defence and industry.

Grom-B air to surface missiles will provide the biggest punch in the arsenal of Yugoslav machines, with these new weapons moving from the radio guidance of the original Grom to TV guidance and passive radar homing, substantially increasing the capabilities of the air force to strike at enemy assets and engage in effective SEAD operations. Grom-B represents the core of Novi Avion's anti-ship potential in the short term at least.

In air-to-air combat, Yugoslav machines will carry the new and as yet mysterious Komarac-A advanced short-range missile, which is developed with help from the ANP, Drapoel government-in-exile, and South Africa's Denel, the latter of which is thought to have recently received several millions of dollars from Belgrade. This missile is said to have features -such as lock-on-after-launch ability- enabling effective range substantially beyond that of many other IR-guided missiles, and this is just as well since Yugoslavia as yet has no true beyond visual range missile of its own in production. A current project aims to rectify this, incorporating technologies and experience with LS-8 AFRISAM, R-Darter, and R-27R (AA-10 Alamo) to provide a radar guided missile for BVR engagement in the near future.

Novi Avion offered for export may mount single-barrel 20mm or 30mm cannon of various origin; carry different dumb bombs; rockets such as 57 or 80mm; AS-7 Kerry and AGM-65 Maverick air-to-surface missiles; R-60 (AA-8 Aphid), DRAR-1, DRAB, U-Darter, and A-Darter IR-guided short range air-to-air missiles; and R-27 (AA-10 Alamo) or R-Darter radar-guided beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles.

Other Versions

Apart from differing armament configurations, Novi Avion, also sometimes called Yu-Supersonik during development, will be built in two-seater form for training purposes. L-20, a multi-role fighter, shall be joined by NL-20 two-seat trainer, and I-20 reconnaissance fighter, both of which shall retain at least partial combat potential.

Service

Putin shall enter Yugoslav service as a replacement for the range of MiG-21 fighter and reconnaissance aircraft currently designated L-12, NL-12, L-14, L-14I, NL-14, L-15, L-15M, L-16, NL-16, L-17, and L-17K. Thoughts of replacing Orao attackers have been put aside as plans get underway for the long-overdue development of an upgraded Super Orao, which will carry its own radar and take advantage of weapons advances and, perhaps, new propulsion technology. L-20 will serve along side L-18 (MiG-29) behind L-19 (Su-30).

Two-hundred L-20 multi-role fighters, forty-five I-20 reconnaissance planes, and fifty-five two-seat conversion trainers are to be built for Yugoslavia, with hopes that this significant initial production run may encourage smaller foreign buyers to come forwards, as the Novi Avion is already likely to be cheaper than competition from France, Russia, Quinntonia, and the like, and more readily available to some nations than would be aircraft from India.

Novi Avion (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/12/NoviAvion1.jpg) A.K.A. L-20 Putin (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/ac/NoviAvion2.jpg)

With public opinion in the INU slowly but steadily gravitating in the Lav's favor, it is generally seen as a good thing that his nation can largely take care of itself defense-wise. Not only do many find it difficult to give Adirov the cold shoulder after Lavrageria, but he also lacks any inhibitions when it comes to arming the ANP. The completion of the Novi Avion project, many Unioners say, is another step in the right direction.

It doesn't really matter to many that the Novi Avion is projected to be considerably cheaper than HAL's new F(J).9, since they are probably quite different airplanes aimed at different roles and markets, and HAL still managed to make some money on the J53 liscencing deal. A Boxkite liscencing deal also looks quite promising.

OOC: Heh, I'm flattered. It'd certainly be ironic if the Putin saw action against Russian air forces in Africa...

The Third Commonwealth is actually something of a follower behind the INU in respect of attitude towards the SFRY. During the Second Commonwealth, Beddgelens took relatively little interest in the plight of Lavrageria, seeing the war there as a clash between feudal beasts and corrupt parliamentary capitalists, and hopes were initially low for the Balkan union when Aidarov escaped from the north. It is likely that the Second Commonwealth would still have maintained disinterest due to Yugoslav ridgidity in government and limited engagement with the free market, but the change of attitude is what killed the 2nd Commonwealth. Today, though there is no effort to undermine troubled Yugoslav attempts towards neutrality, Igovians are pleased to see defence trade underway between the SFRY, INU, and UAR (though the ANP as a whole is still viewed with discomfort). This is despite the fact that the success of Putin (and there's no great love of that name in any Soviet Commonwealth) might be the final downfall of the NT-5 light fighter programme, which has lost its appeal domestically. It no longer seems worth developing the project further when it will only come into competition with an impressive programme that has brought together Africa, Europe, and Asia like never before.

There is now much debate over whether the Commonwealth should offer to help integrate L'Angelot Maudit AMRAAM into the Novi Avion for Yugoslavia or for certain exports. While the idea seems appealing, some doubt the wisdom of putting current front-line Soviet military technology into the hands of a shifty character like President Aidarov.

Positive reactions following the first public flight of L-20 Putin have put Belgrade in a good mood after recent troubles involving French espionage, the death of Interim-PM Ivan Gukov, uncertainty about how heavily to commit to Southern Africa and whether or not to directly confront NATO forces, and the hushed-up illegal activities of the fringe-group Kosovo Liberation Army.

A further demonstration has taken place, this time somewhat expensively involving a Bulgarian MiG-21 adapted as an unmanned drone. The drone, performing a gentle turn at several hundred knots on an apparently pre-programmed course in front of press cameras, was engaged by an aircraft not immediately visible, but soon identified as a second operational L-20.

The drone was struck by small missile travelling well beyond Mach 2 and performing an impressive high-G move to attack the target, having been launched from an angle far off boresight relative to the drone. The Komarac-A IR-guided missile displayed, for a brief instant before its warhead detonated, an airframe visibly configured for low-drag compared to many contemporary SRAAMs, and certainly left the viewer with no doubt as to its possession of thrust-vectoring controls.

A second demonstration followed, being in truth a somewhat risky continuation of trials proving the involved technologies as well as a chance to show them off. Between them, the engagements proved the ability of L-20 armed with Komarac to use aircraft radar designation or helmet-mounted sighting for launch of IR-guided weaponry beyond infra-red detection range or radically far off boresight. Also demonstrated was the high velocity of the missile and the long-range achieved with a low-drag airframe such as enables the system to take full advantage of its lock-on-after-launch function, and, as well, the joint tail-control and thrust-vectoring enablement of high agility. Finally, proximity fusing and high-lethality warhead were unmistakable as the drone aircraft were brought down in ruins.

No answer to the search for a truly long-range radar-guided missile was made evident in the displays.

With military projects and co-operation advancing well, Belgrade has also been addressing economic schemes.

Such programmes as the Munja engineering vehicle and IBL-2000 unmanned aerial vehicle are being put through their paces in Africa and defence export deals negotiated with Tripoli, Novi Avion is a project nearing fruition, and AFRISAM batteries are being integrated into Yugoslav defences, but more remains to be done.

HAL-related developments
It appears that the Socialist Federal Republic intends to build some thirty-five Boxkite CC.7 utility transport aircraft under licence from India's HAL in a significant step towards air-mobilisation of the Yugoslav People's Army's single Airborne Brigade. In keeping with warming relations, though not to any great fanfare, Belgrade has resolved finally to not aggressively market its under-development espionage-enabled rip-off of HAL's most successful product, the Dhruv lightweight multirole helicopter, though it appears that the machine will be built for domestic use as a cheaper alternative in an economy that some say is already taking on too much too soon.

Putin on the market
Having declared its intention to produce some three hundred Novi Avion Putin airframes (including fighter, conversion trainer, and recconnaissance jet versions) for Yugoslavian use, Belgrade is now actively seeking foreign buyers for the low-cost lightweight multirole fighter.

The possibility of selling some to the United African Republic is now an uncertain one as it appears that the African socialists may be unable to raise sufficient funds for even the relatively cheap Yugoslav jet to be acquired in workable strength. The SFRY may in fact sell or even rent used Fishbeds and other Russian-origin jets at rock-bottom prices for short-term use by the UARL during what is expected to be an extremely tense few months or years, where after it looks entirely likely that the Lusakans may acquire even cheaper -but less capable- Miggen to act as interceptors. This does raise the possibility that New Lusaka City may buy such Miggens from Libya, which has many sitting in reserve, enabling Yugoslavia to open negotiations with Tripoli to perhaps see Putin as the next Libyan front-line fighter.

But this is likely to take some years to be realised, if it happens at all. In the meanwhile, the SFRY desperately needs the revenues that Novi Avion exports might earn. To that end, a number of potential customers are being approached, including nations as varied as Mannicagua, Depkazia, Neo-Anarchos, Switzerland, Romania, the African Commonwealth, and Spyr. Quite unofficial as yet are the trips made by Yugoslav defence industry workers and government representatives to various of the 'lesser' Indian states, including both North Pakistan and Kashmir, North Hindustan, unlikely little Sikkim, and Bihar. It perhaps seems unlikely that these nations will be considered amongst the ideal customers for modern warplanes with INU-supplied powerplants, but they perhaps represent an emergency fall-back and, one might suggest, talk of such nations being interested in the project may serve to catch the attention of other potential buyers.

African arms trade
Already selling M66A1 battle rifles to the United African Republic, along with munitions and small quantities of various other arms, and M-93 sniper-rifles and Munja-related technologies to the African Commonwealth, while buying AFRISAM components from both parties, the SFRY is also declaring its intention to import helicopter gunships in a high-value deal with Kinshasa. It appears that Congolese Hind-alike dedicated attack helicopters may be refitted with Yugoslav weaponry (including Maljutka-series ATGMs).
Through a combination of domestic innovation, Indian co-operation, and African imports, Yugoslavia has now come close to outfitting its armed forces with a full range of modern equipment at relatively low cost.

Air defence gap
At low-level, Yugoslav forces and facilities are protected against aerial assault by 7.92mm M88 (PK) and 12.7mm M87 (NSV) machineguns, 20mm M55 triple-mount towed cannons, 20mm BOV-3 and 30mm BOV-30 self-propelled anti-aircraft guns, Strela 2M2J Sava and Strela 2M3J Super-Sava man-portable surface-to-air missile, and tracked and wheeled vehicles mounting Super-Sava.
Medium-altitude and area defence is provided for by a growning number of AFRISAM batteries, but at high-altitude and long-range, defence is notably absent, and left entirely up to interceptor aircraft. Belgrade is seeking surface to air missiles to ward-off enemy AWACS type aircraft, potentially to attack strategic bomber aircraft, destroy high-altitude spies, generally to engage attackers forced above AFRISAM, and possibly even to protect against short and intermediate range ballistic missile attacks from continental enemies such as Russia and France.
Though not entirely hopeful over these prospects, President Aidarov has expressed interest in such systems as Quinntonia's Patriot and the Soviet CS-400 and 500, and Yugoslavia is in the hunt for a small number of similarly able defence weapons.

Progress noted, but loans sought?
Developing the Balkans at a lightning rate, the pan-Slavic movement headed by President Larionko 'Lav' Aidarov has seen its leader declare per-capita GDP at a level, "now above [US]$7,000", while growth continues at several percent greater than was the case in most of the individual component states that comprise the new Socialist Federal Republic and unemployment continues to decline even more rapidly.
However, to make sure that solid foundations are built under the rising spires of Yugoslavian progress, currency is needed in short order and to the tune of some billions of dollars. Belgrade is now seeking low-interest loans from left and right as the new 'social sector' develops and needs, essentially, start-up capital before it can engage with a population now enjoying increased wages and improving services and expecting consumer goods to be made available.
Aidarov is hoping that left-wing nations interested in the social-sectors worker-management ambitions will offer low-interest loans to set-up such enterprises geared towards internal Federal competition, and that seeing the Balkans courted by the left may encourage other nations to offer more reasonably priced loans. Lav does not want to bury his promising new economy in deep debt.

Elections again in the whispering
Since the untimely death of interim-Prime Minister Ivan Gukov, believed to have been the victim of assassination by the French state, Yugoslavia has struggled by without an official head of government. Now it appears that the federation is again thinking on arrangement of a democratically-empowered replacement.
There is much debate about how the candidates may be selected, whether there is potential for friction between voters from the different republics and whether populations may simply vote for their own, whether final selection of a leader may be an internal party affair, and just how long the whole affair is likely to take.

Somewhat eager to distance itself from Britain in light of the Zimbabwe Situation, and also dissatisfied with the prohibitively high price of British military equipment, Maputo has decided to pursue closer relations with Yugoslavia. It is clear to anyone who bothers to look that the mere mention of "Free State" will send the Maputo government into a wild panic, especially after the APP started demonstrating in front of Parliament House itself, and it is considered unlikely that London would come to the Commonwealth's aid.

A communique is therefore dispatched to Belgrade, inviting Yugoslav diplomats to Maputo, and also asking about the prospect of overhauling the unimproved T-55s in CoMDF-A service.

Belgrade reacts positively to Maputo's approaches, having enjoyed positive relations with other African nations, namely Libya, the United Republics, and the [other/Congolese] Commonwealth. Considering the presence of Russian troops in the region and that nation's apparently positive relationship with the Free State, and of course President Aidarov's understandable vendetta against Tsar Wingert, there is all the more reason for the Mozambique Commonwealth to be positively regarded in Yugoslavia.

Belgrade hopes to establish an embassy in Maputo and a consulate perhaps in Pemba, recognising Maputo as the legitimate Mozambican authority. Lav has offered to subsidise some of the expenses for the Commomwealth's establishment of an embassy in Petrovaradin, Gibraltar of the Danube. This means, essentially, the provision of Yugoslav security and support in transport for embassy staff in the SFRY and between Novi Sad and Mozambique.

Pero Divac, a small-time industrialist in pre-socialist Serbia who helped to build a successful samoupravljanje (self-management) enterprise in the first days of Aidarov's rule, has been appointed Yugoslav Ambassador to Mozambique and is flying there aboard a Yugoslav Boxkite configured for diplomatic transport.

On the issue of the T-55, Yugoslavia has the capacity for a wide range of upgrades and modifications. The Republic turns some of its old T-55s into Munja armoured engineering vehicles with the ability to operate remotely and detect land-mines; others become heavy armoured personnel carriers and have -secretly- been deployed against Albanian villages harbouring KLA fighters, where the chances of being hit by heavy machinegun and grenade fire make travel risky for conventional APCs; and the scope for enhancing battle tanks is considerable.

Some -the T-55 is still fielded by the Army Trained Reserve- have basic enhancements such as the fitting of armoured skirts, the incorporation of strengthened anti-mine armour, or even the mounting of rubber track-pads, others have various degrees of appliqué armour on the turret and front hull. Many of these enhancements are quite simple and inexpensive. A few Yugoslav examples have -somewhat experimentally, since the Army has access to superior M-84 tanks and does not really need enhanced T-55s for its own use- gone much further: attempts at fitting IR shielding, the addition of advanced passive armour to protect against kinetic attack or ERA against HEAT munitions, increased ammunition stowage, stabalised gun, ability to fire Stabber-type ATGM, laser range-finder, some of the best thermal imaging systems in the world, Drozod-type active protection system, and even experimental Shtora-type electro-optical jammer currently under development for a larger M-84-derivative battle tank project.

The suggestion from Belgrade is that Mozambique's T-55s could be given very basic upgrade by addition of basic passive armour and such minor details, or, more ambitiously, that they might go half way to the limit of Yugoslavia's ability: fit a Yugoslav FCS including laser range-finder and possibly a thermal sight related to Agava, supply -at Mozambique's discretion- passive or reactive armour enchancements, an improved powerpack, and, optionally, the ability to fire Stabber-type missiles.

The first option would require a small financial payment. The second would be possibly beyond Mozambique's means to pay-for up-front, but would be just part of a much larger co-operation and aid deal. This would see Yugoslav advisors and engineers coming to Mozambique to help in the extraction of natural gas and of titanium, taking much of the initial output back to Yugoslavia in payment for help and arms-upgrades but enhancing Mozambique's long-term abilities to exploit its own resources. This may also lead to Yugoslav engineers helping to develop Mozambique's hydropower potential and distribution grid, possibly in co-operation with neighbouring states (though not the Free State).

Maputo is quite happy with the Yugoslav reception, and preparations are made to accomodate the new embassy in old Maputo, inside a somewhat decrepit old Portuguese building, near enough the ocean to offset the property's poor state of repair. It is of course quite reassuring to know that, if the Free State does go ahead with the perpetually-feared invasion, the Commonwealth can count on more foreign sympathy than it initially expected.

Foreign Minister Juan Fernandes is, at the same time, sent to Yugoslavia aboard the CoMDF-AF's VIP-configured Aerolet L-410.

On the subject of T-55 upgrades, the MoD decides to have its remaining ten unimproved vehicles fitted with laser rangefinders, thermal imaging, and additional passive armor. It is generally believed, and probably true, that the Free State won't have anything better to show, and that even slight improvements will go a very long way in leveling the field. The purchase of new ATGWs is ruled-out almost immediately, as the Ingwe enters Mozambican service. Two other T-55s, formerly discarded, are also sent in for a major overhaul and eventual conversion into Munja AEVs.

With infrastructure development lagging well behind schedule, Yugoslav civil engineers and other experts would be quite welcome in the Commonwealth of Mozambique, and Maputo is quite ready to supply Belgrade with whatever it wants at little or no cost if it means a considerable acceleration of development projects.

Belgrade concludes arms deal with Samarqand

Already working to refurbish in Bulgaria tired MiG-29 (Yug. designation L-18) fighters from the Depkazi arsenal, the Socialist Federal Republic has today announced a new level of defence trade with the Central Asian successor to the USSR.

Belgrade has agreed to supply the Depkazi Aeronautical Battle Force with Grom-B TV-guided and passive radar homing air to surface missiles for deployment by Su-24 and Su-25 aircraft, and is discussing the possible integration of Komarac-A air to air missiles aboard all Depkazi fighter types.

Yugoslavian contractors will also upgrade Depkazia's P-14 Tall King early warning radar systems with anti anti-radiation missile subsystems, and solid-state high-frequency amplification to enhance sensitivity, giving the nation 600km range and 46km altitude detection and the beginings of anti-stealth capability.

Depkazia's deserts and mountains are being put to use in trial of Yugoslav tank upgrades, with the prospect of enhancements being applied to T-72s in the Depkazi military to Yugoslavia's similar M-84s.

Yugoslavia, meanwhile, has received super cavitation technology in an attempt to maximise the capability of its relatively small navy, which must protect coasts and waters close to Tsarist naval strongholds.

Possibly much more important than the rocket torpedo technology and the oil and gas purchased by Belgrade is the announcement of limited co-operation with Samarqand and Tehran in ballistic missile technology and nuclear research.

Far less public are the visits by Yugoslav officials to the Institute of Virology and the Center for Prophylaxis and Quarantine of Most Hazardous Diseases, at Tashkent, to Vozrozhdeniye, and the Chemical Research Institute near Nukus...

Other headlines

Aidarov pleased with Mozambique trade growth

Embassy established in Armand

Disturbances over ethnic imbalance in the armed forces- a problem resolved by time, or a widening rift?

Operation Barikada (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=485171): War with Austria!

In the early hours of this morning, YPA mechanised forces, including vanguard elements from four of ten Tank Brigades, stormed the Austrian border with the Slovenian Socialist Republic while integrated Artillery Regiments and independent Artillery Brigades shelled positions along the border and unleashed shoot-and-scoot rocket strikes.

President Larionko Aidarov has declared in no uncertain terms that the current Austrian government represents a threat to Balkan security and is likely to become part of forces conspiring to destabilise the world. The prime motivation for the Socialist Federal Republic's sudden decision to attack Austria is a preventative one against Vienna's possible accession to the Holy League, which, though not yet a certainty, would put powerful forces -with a vendetta against the President and all who follow him- on Yugoslavia's borders. President Aidarov also pointed to reputed immobility and inferiority of Slovenes and other Yugoslav-origin minorities in Austria as cause for concern, and appealed to these populations to support the YPA in its efforts to over-throw the dangerous and imperially-motivated Austrian government, which threatened to drag the nation down for adventures ridiculous as those on the side of Germany during the last century.

The speed with which the League has acted on other opportunities less tempting than Yugoslavia and the recent mobilisation of massive French forces along with the League's strengthening by courting not only Austria but also Spain and Depkazia have meant that Belgrade is no longer prepared to wait and see, hoping for the best. If France must drag Europe to war, then the South Slavs will not wait for it to consume their homes and families, but make certain that it is a war contested far afield and at Yugoslavia's pace.

Mr.Aidarov has suggested that a functioning autonomous government in Austria is desirable not only for eight million Austrians but also for their Slavic and other neighbours, and already has stressed that this is a war on a dangerous authority and not against a people or their own culture and self determination.

Non-Aggression with the Ottoman Empire

On the eve of Operation Barikada's launch, and, by coincidence, just hours before Ottoman diplomats arrived to request an exchange of ambassadors between the Empire and the Socialist Federal Republic, agents of Larionko Aidarov's government were dispatched to propose a treaty of non-aggression between Yugoslavia and the Ottomans. The results are promising, though the extent of Belgrade's future co-operation with its southeastern neighbour remain less clear.

Reserve Activated, Economy on War Footing

Though Austria, being small and still outside the Holy League, is not expected to threaten Yugoslav soil directly during the course of the war, it is deemed wise to prepare for the possibility of an more difficult campaign than that which planners realistically expect. Attempts to purchase extra power supplies from the neighbouring Ottoman Empire are progressing with difficulty due to the Empire's energy policy and economic differences between the two states, but Yugoslavia's own oil, gas, and coal-burning plus hydroelectrical plants are still likely to provide sufficient energy for war production.

The Army Trained Reserve has been ordered on duty, with a small boost in personnel strength going to the Navy and Air Force while the Army is to reach a temporary manpower total of some three-quarters of a million, equivalent to more than nine percent of Austria's total population.

Additionally, OpceNarodana Obrana i Društvena SamoZaštita, nationwide defence and social self protection committee, requires readiness in the Territorial Defence Forces, especially in Slovenia, and also Croatia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and eastern Bulgaria, ništa nas ne može iznenaditi, nothing can surprise us!

Belgrade Attempts to Preserve Non-Alignment

Though overt in striking Austria as a defence against encroachment by the Holy League, President Aidarov continues to hope the Yugoslavia can avoid becoming a battleground for the world's 1st tier powers. Attacking a potential League ally, Aidarov hopes that the British fleet will protect commerce -including Yugoslav- in the Mediterranean as he imports fuel from Libya and the Middle East, however, the SFRY maintains that it is neutral territory and stresses that British forces are not likely to be more welcome to use Yugoslavia's ports and airfields for strategic use than would be French or Russian.

Trade Grows with African Nationalists, Indians as Depkazi Interests Collapse

After fears of Austrian involvement with the Catholic powers, the joining of Depkazia to Holy League aims comes as a double blow to Yugoslavia, where hopes had been high for co-operation in several areas. Depkazi research reactors had been visted by Yugoslav scientists in recent months as Belgrade considered replacement power-generation methods in the stead of dwindling local fossil fuels, and it was rumoured that more visits had been made to some of the largest chemical and biological warfare facilities on earth.

On the other hand, delivery of what is thought to be about one dozen Depkazi MiG-29 fighters to Bulgaria for overhaul has given the SFRY a way to hit back for the loss of these useful ties, and President Aidarov has ordered the impounding of said aircraft. The joining of war with Austria makes it likely that former Depkazi Fulcrums will be redesignated and put to work defending the skies of Yugoslavia alongside other L-18s (the Yugoslav designation for MiG-29).

Replacing Depkazian trade potential, Belgrade looks to the forgiving Indian National Union and needy African National Pact, and has recently purchased an extension to existing domestic manufacture rights for Hindustani Boxkite transport aircraft. The government hopes for more trade to come.

Election Delayed, "For the Duration"

Following the assassination, by French agents, of Ivan Gukov the long wait for a new Prime Minister is set to continue, say government spokesmen. War and the activation of so many young men and women makes an orderly election impossible, and so President Aidarov and his appointed deputies soldier on unaided.

Brotherhood and Unity! Soon Our Soldiers Shall Stand on the Frontiers of the Czechs and Slovaks!

Good old Larionko would find British support a bit scant, as they were being currently subjected to massive blows by the Bourbon brothers, Spain and France.

((AC!!?!? This is your arena mon ami! Hop to it! And I must say Lav, well done, well done. You know, Larionko Aidarov, if this was real history, would be a man of the century. Kudos, and lets all settle in for a nice 'splendid little war.' And Austria, hop to it man, 'you can do it!'))

IC:
The Strathdonian Response to the actions of the Yugoslavians was likely a big mess of mixed signals
On one hand the actions of the YPA might act to drive the Austrians further into the clawed hands of the HL and various members of the Strathdonian government were less than trusuting of the yugoslavians after their support for the ANP during the recetn tensions. On the other trade between the two antions ahd picked up recently and anythign that diverted the HL was of course a good thing...

Belgrade has no particular interest in supporting anyone against Strathdonia, and now less cause for supporting anyone against Britain, but trade and aid deals with ANP nations continue in light of the nation's one true vendetta, that against France and Russia.

The SFRY is actually interested in exporting defence equipments to Strathdonia, be it 30mm automatic grenade launchers, trucks, UAVs, or frigates. Belgrade is also looking to minor African nations as possible buyers of Yugoslav small arms, armour, and aircraft as fairly modern and fairly cheap.

Meanwhile, despite the war to the north, talk of a developing tourist industry is apparently the next big thing, with Slovenia and parts of Croatia planned to be made into attractive sumer destinations, and specialist appeal in natural beauty of the mountains and great history in castles, palaces, mosques, and churches on the front-line of Islamo-Christian collision.

(OOC: Doesn't look like it'll be all that small a war! The Austrians are mobilising everything they can find, including stuff from under the sink and behind the couch. You can just see Lav on the cover of Time Magazine or something. All angry and Slavic, pretending not to be balding.)

Federal Premiership Season Ends with Victory for Red Star

A popular move on the part of the Aidarov government, the pan-Yugoslav football league, containing two federal divisions -premiership and second division- has ended its latest season with Red Star Belgrade firmly established at the top of Balkan football. Hard challenges to the Serbian side came from Croatian teams Hajduk Split and Dinamo Zagreb, while near-neighbours Partizan and Bulgaria's best finisher CSKA Sofia were also part of a leading pack that was far ahead of the rest.

Bulgaria's PFC Marek Dupnitsa ran-out narrow winners in the second division, earning promotion at the expense of another Belgrade side, FK Rad.

Premiership final standings:
FK Crvena Zvezda (Red Star Belgrade)
Hajduk Split
Dinamo Zagreb
FK Partizan
PFC CSKA Sofia
FK Željezničar
FK Sarajevo
FK Vardar
FK Velež
NK Zagreb
PFC Beroe Stara Zagora
Olimpija Ljubljana
PFC Slavia Sofia
FK Vojvodina
PFC Botev Plovdiv
NK Čelik Zenica
PFC Levski Sofia
FK Pelister
FK Sloboda Tuzla
NK Maribor
FK Borac
FK Rad

Red Star players were offered immunity from the draft in celebration of their victory, but the club formed under the YPA has issued a rousing statement dismissing the favour.

New Opšte-narodna odbrana edicts passed

With the entire Bulgarian army now mobilising to join the war in Austria, the scale of the YPA's reserves is hastening to reach its ultimate extent. Previously it was said that 575,000 trained reserves could be mobilised to support 182,000 standing regulars, but this was only due to the youth of the united Yugoslav People's Army: within a few years it was planned to have over one and a quarter million reserves available for wartime mobilisation, and the outbreak of war has forced a massive acceleration in this plan's realisation.

It may be too late to influence the outcome if Switzerland and Austria continue to stand alone, but a drawing-out of the conflict through Holy League intervention will require the full weight of one and a half million YPA soldiers to be directed against Yugoslavia's enemies.

The Territorial Defence Force's one point two million trained recruits are congratulated by Kastus Vorobei for their commitment and vigiliance, but the Federal Secretary for National Defence now urges the organisation's two million untrained members to follow this noble example and to attend meetings on their free days: after all, recreation must wait when there is a war on!

Vorobei has today announced the initiation of a new defence scheme, part of the grand total national defence policy that makes Yugoslavia the world's most secure nation, a true fortress of Slavic culture and socialist ideology.

Demonstrated in Bulgaria where one example survived concentrated shelling by a T-55 medium tank while occupied by a Pukovnik (colonel) who emerged unscathed, small pre-fabricated semi-buried bunkers are to be established around the country.

Vorobei has said that these pillboxes will not be a stain on the Yugoslavian landscape: the bunkers will be camouflaged for military reasons, which will also limit their impact on the normal aesthetic of the nation. In rural areas they will be covered by turf, and in urban setting some will actually be painted by school children while most will feature public information plates or even be fixed with floral displays or road signs.

The bunkers, mostly one-man affairs mass produced for a few dollars and driven aboard trucks to their dispersal positions, will provide emergency air raid shelter for people caught out in the open when sirens sound and will be used to shelter emergency and security personnel who must be on duty even during bombing or shelling. They will be positioned to defend civilian, strategic, and tactical positions, emplaced to give cover to each other.

These fixtures will last for decades, resisting small arms fire, shell and bomb fragments, and quite possibly more, enabling a single rifleman to shelter and give fire with his personal weapon. Most will enable the occupant to fire large sniper rifles, light machineguns, or weapons such as the Bumbar anti-tank guided missile which has a soft-launch function. Some few will be fitted for anti-aircraft machineguns, but being more complicated and expensive these are a minority.

The bunkers are not to be constantly manned, but would be occupied by TDF fighters at each stage of an enemy advance as it reached a given area.

Set to be hundreds strong at first, the plan has a second stage which may see tens of thousands of posts established around the country.

There is also a project under way to build larger structures in the mould of Spyrian forts.

OOC-Oh, Lav, up to your old tricks again, with half a million people suddenly appearing in your military. And trained and equipped, no less. With bunkers suddenly built all over the nation.
Maybe I misread, perhaps that post was to talk about the beginning of the massive training and building program, not the end.

WWJD
Amen.

OOC: I'm going to assume you've just had a bad day or something, and ignore that post.

Red Sky over Yugoslavia

In a busy month for the SFRY and the YPA in particular, the Secretary for Federal Defence announces the purchase from the Indian Soviet Commonwealth of a CS-400 Red Sky long-range surface-to-air missile system, worth tens of millions of dollars, to defend a key part of Yugoslavia's territory.

Belgrade almost certainly wants more than one system, but state profits from the sale of two-hundred M-95 Degman battletanks to the Southern Confederacy, along with new commercial deals with the Ottoman Empire and several African states are apparently insufficient to off-set the massive cost of the proven Soviet SAM/ABM system.

Having purchased one Red Sky unit -details of delivery or emplacement are not yet widely available- Belgrade apparently invites other nations to consider the possibility of selling equivalent systems to fill the gaps. More CS-400 may follow in time, finances permitting, but Quinntonian and possibly Chinese or Elias manufacturers are thought to have the means to supply high-altitude SAM systems as well.

The YPA hopes that other nations realising that Yugoslavia is going to get such SAM defences anyway may induce them to sell usually somewhat restricted technology. A Red Sky system protecting, perhaps, Mostar, should not rule out the possibility of Patriot guarding Sofia, says Secretary Vorobei.

Quite possibly Belgrade is simply trying to win concessions on the price of further SAM/ABM units by indicating that the Federation may yet look elsewhere.

With the war, for all intents and purposes, done Autria is willing to declare peace on the terms that Holy League troops will not be allowed inside Austria and that for an unofficial sweetner Austria will stop trying its colonial and territorial ambitions for the time being.

So with Austria proposing peace I also remind that I will no make the petty distinction between regular nations forces and Holy League forces. Don't worry, I will only invoke that little part with Spain and if Beth Gellert ever makes a pro-Holy League nation somewhere near Austria (even though it seems less and less likely with Xiaugo back), unless of course Maccebes stop a lot of his trading and political support heading my direction then it will be a mere technicality.

With all of that dreadful stuff behind Austria is sending out feelers to other neutral nations for the idea of a proposed... doctrine.... if you might which means the signers are there by neutral in all other conflicts and will never join in any wide alliance and will just commit to small scale nation-nation -if anything at all- wars.

Belgrade to release fighters

Belgrade has announced that it will negotiate to ship fourteen MiG-29 fighters back to Depkazia.

The fighters were sent by Depkazia's then-premier, Edmund Tchokareff, to the Socialist Republic of Bulgaria, part of the SFRY, for overhaul, but were later impounded on the orders of Marshal Lav as Tchokareff travelled to Rome, apparently to discuss Depkazi membership of the Holy League, and refurbishment work stopped. The sudden outbreak of war between Yugoslavia and Austria, again over potential League membership, saw work on the Depkazi Fulcrums completed, and the fighters -including two trainer versions- were painted in Yugoslav Air Force colours in anticipation of their defensive deployment.

The conclusion of the Austrian war and the anti-League coup in Depkazia mean that Belgrade now has no clear need or excuse for the continued holding of Depkazi jets, and, work completed and Yugoslavian markings removed, Belgrade is preparing their return.

A problem now arises: both Yugoslavia and Depkazia are known opponents of the Russian Tsar, and landlocked Depkazia's new administration appears to be making an enemy of the Armandian Combine. The only option is to ship the aircraft a great distance via China, and concerns over that nation's preparedness to allow Depkazi militarisation are now arising as conflict worsens in Afghanistan.

Belgrade has agreed to lobby jointly with Samarqand for Beijing to allow military trade between Yugoslavia and Depkazia to be resumed. Yugoslavia has, at the same time, send a trade mission to discuss the purchase from China of medical equipment enough to supply several state hospitals opening throughout the rising socialist federation, and is also inviting China to offer an alternative to the Soviet Red Sky long-range SAM/ABM system.

Beijing announces that China would be happy to begin the freight process, but intends to delay the actual handing over of the aircraft until after a "suitable conclusion" is attained at the conference between the three central Asian powers.

A bump just because I'm updating and enhancing the place.

In light of Parliament's search for an improved relationship with Chingiz Khagan's Depkazia, seen as less disagreeable than his father's, the Yugoslav choice to continue with the delivery of Samarkand's modernized MiG-29s is not seen in an altogether bad light in Mumbai. The fact that the Punjab itself is defended by a mere 40 F(J).4s continues to be a source of concern, but one that can be put on the back burner for the time being.

The Indian National Union is again given cause to be thankful for Yugoslavia's existence, with Austria looking to acquire more territory closer to home. If the Holy League does decide to go to war in that part of the world, few doubt Belgrade's ability to make Europe's monarchists pay for it very dearly. But with the League's intent more or less sure, at least in Indian eyes, many Unioners think that Yugoslavia is wasting time with non-alignment if Versailles' Austrian lackey is about to start making trouble anyway. Would not the Lav be better-served through closer association with the larger anti-League powers? A diplomatic mission is readied for travel to Belgrade in order to discuss this point with the Yugoslav government.

The issue of neutrality is a difficult and important one in Yugoslavia.

For the most part it is popular with the masses, though it can not be said that none in the Federal Republic wish to align themselves with one world power or another.

More importantly, it is a constitutional issue. Created with support from capitalist and socialist nations around the time of Lavrageria's partition and Russia's Tsarist restoration, Yugoslavia is in some ways a capitalist-communist collaboration against the Holy League. Yugoslavia's neutrality is in respect of non-League nations and organisations. The possibility of Sovietism bringing-down the government, alienating capitalist supporters, and provoking the Holy League is equal in menace to the possibility of the Federal Republic's undermining by capitalist ambitions and the collapse of socialism if not the whole multi-ethnic state.

Marshal Lav has recently begun to hint that a multi-national deployment, with the proper organisation, mission statement, and other agreements, might not be impossible to accommodate should the need be sufficiently dire.

Lav's Prime Ministerial pick approved by Federal referendum - Yugoslavia has a female PM after nine years

Saturday closed with the polls, and the results vindicate the consistantly popular life-presidency of Marshal Lav.

The assassination of Yugoslavia's inaugural PM, Ivan Gukov, suspected to have been carried-out with Franco-Russian support, left the Socialist Federal Republic without a head of government. Owing to the outbreak of war with Austria, Marshal Lav suspended the office for the duration, rather than try -without a PM- to organise an election and a draft at the same time.

With peace returned and storm-clouds gathering anew, the President nominated one Miroslava Goranov (née Miroslava Javoric) for the post of Prime Minister, and issued her a temporary appointment. A referendum, well attended, with turn-out reported at 71.4%, in which respondents were asked to approve or oppose Goranov's confirmation as full-time PM, returned a healthy, "Da!" with 69.8% of voters approving the appointment versus 18.1% opposing it (12.1% who turned-up either abstained or spoiled their ballot, a fact not widely reported in state media).

Amongst issues known to be important to Goranov are matters so varied as the plight of, "institutionalised orphans" and nuclear power for a Yugoslavia running low on fossil fuels. Goranov is said to own a rare and expensive vintage rug of Depkazi origin, thought to adorn her new office, and has said -while acting PM prior to the referendum- that Yugoslavia's relationship with the free Slavic states of Europ and with Romania is crucial to the free world. She is expected to make Prague the first official foreign visit of her Prime Ministerial career.

Goranov was first made known to the world during the late phases of Operation Barikada, when she was dispatched to Moscow to negotiate over the end of the conflict. She has been known to make the odd violent public outburst, and is reputed for her school ma'am tone and cold gaze, but is otherwise bordering on attractive. Sister of infamous Army-General Bojan Javoric and a Bosnian-Serb by birth, Miroslava self-identifies as ethnically Yugoslav, and is married to an apparently timid Bulgarian named Andrija (Goranov).

OOC: Are you still up for supporting the Soviet Party?

Vorobei announces military growth, technology deal

Lavragerian-born Defence Minister Kastus Vorobei proudly proclaims the absolute security of the Yugoslavian situation as news of two fighter upgrade contracts is broken in Belgrade.

The Socialist Federal Republic's Bulgarian-based MiG-29 maintenance facilities will be called upon to complete works they started two years ago with the upgrade of 14 Depkazi A-model Fulcrum, and this may see Yugoslavia working on more than one hundred airframes to carry out quarter of a billion dollars in initial repair and enhancement in 2008.

One the other side of the coin, Yugoslavia's 14 remaining Su-30 Flanker will reportedly be shipped to Lyong for attention by Strainist establishments involved in the construction of that nation's powerful F-94 Flanker derivative.

Yugoslavia's Flankers are known as Su-30MKL, and were built in pre-restoration Russia for the fledgeling Lavragerian air force and evacuated to the Balkans in the late '90s with Lav's new government. Belgrade is seeking the creation of an Su-30SY to serve as Yugoslavia's long-range interceptor and strike fighter ahead of short-range L-20 Putin.

Belgrade is seeking an overhaul including canard foreplanes as favoured since the introduction of the L-20, and three dimensional thrust vectoring control with fuel manipulation, the integration of domestically designed laser designation pods, top-line multi-mode phased array radar, extended range, self-protection jammer, and the ability to deploy Yugoslavian and Indian air to air, ground, and sea weapons. It is also necessary to ensure that Russian familiarity with the original Su-30 does not enable them to disrupt the new model's avionics, and Belgrade has made the important decision to integrate Su-30SY with the Soviet GPS network, as use of Russian satellites would be foolhardy at best.

Vorobei confirms that the 14 aircraft will form an elite squadron to be flown by the nation's top aces and armed with some of the very best weaponry on earth. In some ways, the Minister claims, Su-30SY may be the most deadly aircraft in the skies, few though its numbers may be. Komarac ASRAAM is widely regarded as the world's best IR guided short-range air-to-air missile, and Mumbai's provision of HAL Meteor gives the SU-30SY the top long-range missile, while also encouraging Belgrade to pursue Brahmos and perhaps acquire the top anti-ship missile. Native LVB-250 laser guided bombs and TV guided Grom-2 air to ground and anti-radiation missiles will also be part of the potential loadout.

Meanwhile the Yugoslav People's Army proclaims success in upgrading its reserve forces after ten years conscription has filled out the ranks of available trained personnel. The new composition of the JNA will be as such:

*182,000 Army personnel including 70,000 volunteers and 112,000 conscripts
*1,200,000 Trained Reserve Forces
*1,000,000 trained Territorial Defence Forces
*2,000,000 untrained Territorial Defence Forces
*18,000 Militia Troops (heavy security police)
*50,000 Federal Militia (police)
*42,000 Air Force personnel including 37,000 volunteers and 5,000 conscripts
*13,000 Naval Forces personnel including 8,000 volunteers and 5,000 conscripts

It remains true, experts say, that the TDF's strength can not realistically be mobilised and maintained in the field in its entirety at any one time. Local forces will mobilise only as enemies reach their area of responsibility. The job of the regular Army remains that of delaying an attacker while TDF forces mobilise to conduct partisan warfare in the finest Balkan tradition.

Critics claim that Belgrade's continued heavy investment in defence preparation risks leading the growing economy to fall short of its potential gains in coming years, but Aidarov's government is convinced of the need, and, after Russian missile strikes on the east coast, few citizens feel compelled to voice strong dissent on the issue while living conditions remain relatively good.

More arms deals as national confidence grows

Polls show that most Yugoslavs support Marshal Lav's expansion of arms exports, apparently due chiefly to the industrial jobs created by the sector. Belgrade is extremely keen to promote this in light of the short-fall against predicted tourism-related job creation, which has left many young people out of work.

It has now been confirmed that Yugoslavia will sell its remaining MiG-29 fighters to the Depkazi Caliphate in a deal with several hundred million dollars and inclusive of long-term servicing at the SFRY's Bulgarian facilities. The Yugoslav jets already have some measures designed to thwart their Russian creators, but it is hoped that co-operation with Samarkand will strengthen both nations in denying the Russians knowledge of exactly how their air forces' avionics function.

Defence Minister Vorobei says that new L-20 Putin fighters will be built to replace Fulcrums withdrawn from JNA service.

Vorobei finished an address to JNA servicemen and women with a rousing cry, "Jedan Lav! Jedan Narod! Bratstavo i Jedinstvo!" and Yugoslav militarism appears to be on the rise, perhaps in response to, 'the Hellenic troubles'.