NationStates Jolt Archive

14/05/09, The Old Fortress, Klein City, Sudova

Her socket itched. Sara stood up from her desk, and walked to the window.

Down below, the final touches on the Lynion, Rechburg, and Ralkovian embassies could be seen being applied. She smiled a tight, grim, smile. At least they liked the quality of the concrete. Behind her, on the desk, were a stack of requests-some would be forwarded, some addressed domestically, and some she would have to use for tinder later.

she fobbled the glass eye she didn't wear in her right hand idly. It was a reminder that vanity could not be served in her office-at least, not without the appearance of weakness or hypocrisy.

she paced the office in a circle.

Okay, so we've sold the Lynions their iron, steel, copper, and lead, let the Rechburgers open their businesses... she paused at the desk, and looked at the missive from the Military Attache to her embassy in the Vampirial Kingdom of Lynion again. Prioritize... the guns are basically the same, and we've actually got a slight edge on some of the brute-force manufacturing...

She sighed again. Well, I could leave it to those incompetents in the Intelligence section, or risk an incident trying get the stuff under-the-table...OR, I could just ask if they'll sell it.

She went over the report again, both mentally, and with her own vision and hands.

Command, Control, and Communication. it doesn't matter how big a gun you have, if you can't bring it to bear on an enemy, or identify an enemy versus a friend...

She sighed again. "Have to." she muttered.

At least, if we're buying the stuff from them, they know we won't be using it ON them. She sat down, and drafted an instruction.

Request for proposal: A contract to develop enhanced capability communications and data systems to be integrated into the following units

Armoured Personnel Carrier M-113 and M-114

M-60A3 Battle Tanks (to include targeting data interlink and night vision enhancement to generation V standards)

UH-56 Cheyenne Helicopters (Communications, Datalink, night vision and missile guidance software and hardware)

E-767 AWACS (improved communcations, decryption, and data-management systems to increase per-technician efficiency, this contract includes both training and equipment clauses)

F-20E Interception fighters: Datalink and Communications, missile guidance and IFF

Replacement of the AN/PRC-77 infantry radio with KY-57 Encryption to a more powerful, less bulky and more secure model (infantry issue), this contract extends to both backpack, and vehicular mountings, and needs to include some form of communications management system for handling multiple simultaneous client systems (possibly including individual issue personal communications systems and night vision gear).

Generation IV or V standard Night Vision gear, Individual Issue

Contract requirements may increase as systems are integrated and proven to work. Her Majesty requests that all systems be able to "Talk" to each other in a manner similar to a network, and that systems be built "user friendly" to speed training and integration. Initial funds of ten billion Gilder (see exchange rates for your nation's currency) will be provided upon acceptance in stage One-to cover research and development costs, initial production of sufficient prototypes for stage two adoption trials. An additional ten billion Gilder will be paid out to the winner of stage two (Field) trials.

Contracts will be by double-elimination conducted by designated units of the Sudovan military. Success in obtaining these contracts and successfully integrating these systems into Sudovan military platforms will likely lead to further contracts as older designs are retired (i.e. as specific unit types are rated "obselete" and new designs are considered, compatibility with existing C3 systems will be taken into account and may prove decisive in selecting replacements for existing military hardware.)

The Ambassador had received the reply back from Rechburg, it was a mixed bag he felt, with some units being able to be supplied and those that couldn’t be supplied better alternatives would be provided.

The fiscal arrangements would be that a consortium based on 60/40 Rechburg/Sudovian be established.
The first 33% of each of the contracted items would be produced in Rechburg, the balance built in the Rechburg-Sudovian armaments consortium in Sudovia once the facilities were completed. Initially the Sudovian production would be done by Rechburg technicians, but as the numbers of Sudovian technicians became available the Rechburgian would be replaced. That process was likely to take several years to occur, considering the complexities in training technicians.

The Rechburg participation would be the expertise in manufacture, financial assistance and on going support for the systems. The training of technicians would be done in Rechburg and later when facilities were available they would transfer to Sudovia.
The advantages for Sudovia were many. They gained a modern armaments industry, with minimum initial financial outlay and a growing pool of expertise.
Unemployment would cease to be an issue for Sudovia but education standards would need to be increased.
For Rechburg the financial gains in the consortium and the markets that would open up from that would compensate from the loss of all being produced in Rechburg.

Communications contract Proposal.

System overview
Brienne Communications systems provides a tactical voice and data communications system for joint operations across the Rechburg Armed Forces in support of land and amphibious operations. It has been integrated with over 20,000 military vehicles, from APC’s to the Challenger 2 Main Battle Tank. The entire Rechburg Navy fleet have also been fitted with Brienne Communications systems equipment and all the major helicopter types supporting land operations, such as Apache, Chinook, Merlin and Lynx have been fitted. Brienne Communications systems features enhanced communications security (COMSEC) through integrated voice and data encryption devices and enhanced Electronic Protective Measures through features such as frequency-hopping spread spectrum. It also provides tactical situational awareness for commanders through GPS links, helping to reduce the probability of friendly fire. The complete contract involves more than 48,000 radios (excluding the 45,000 Personal Role Radios) and more than 30,000 computer terminals being installed in more than 30,000 platforms, together with the necessary training of around 75,000 Service personnel. The Brienne Communications systems is a fundamental part of the Rechburg Military achieving a Network Enabled Capability, as it provides the carriers for the passage of data between the various software applications involved. It is also an integral part of the Integrated Soldier Technology concept. Brienne Communications systems is managed from within the MoD DE&S by the BRIEN Integrated Systems.


Specific Equipment details:-

Military Communication Systems
Summary of Brien System.

The Brien Communications system gives you conformity of systems throughout your military infrastructure, It can be from the man held BRIEN G1 through to the Battlesuite on board ships, tanks and aircraft in BRIEN G2

With a worldwide deployment of over 50,000 systems, Brienne Communications System (BCS) is considered one of the world’s leaders in platform intra-communications systems.
Under the generic family name of 'BRIEN,' BCS produces a wide range of highly reliable modular communication systems for platforms including marine, light vehicles and armoured vehicles (light and heavy). All systems are constructed to the very rigorous standards required for heavy armoured vehicles, and maintain the excellent high reliability the Brien family is noted for.
With the introduction of BCS's Generation 2 (G2) Brienne communication systems, BCS can now offer BRIEN (AN / VIC-3) reliability and battle damage resilience in a much improved G2 communication system with full backward compatibility with BRIEN AN / VIC-3 and LV2 systems.
BRIEN COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS
The modular approach adopted by bcs for the BRIEN family of communications systems provides a cost-effective, flexible solution for all platform types. Platforms covered by the range of BRIEN systems include:
Heavy, medium armoured fighting platforms
Command platforms (using multi-radio fits including legacy and IP based radios)
Light vehicles of all types
Marine platforms
The ability to 'fit for role' and adapt to meet the changing future military requirements make the BRIEN family of communication systems the most flexible systems available, and the only system with growth potential for future technology.
BRIEN AN / VIC-3 AND LV2 COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS
BRIEN AN / VIC-3 and LV2 communication systems continue to meet the requirements of many nations in light vehicles and medium / heavy armour. BRIEN AN / VIC-3 and LV2 is a battle-proved communication system that is upgradeable via the addition of specific modules, and is fully compatible with the new BRIEN G2 variant.
The use of the newer G2 modules provides the opportunity for current BRIEN users to migrate to the BRIEN G2 communication system, at low cost, via a gradual upgrade path, resulting in greater flexibility and capability.
BRIEN G2 COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM
BCS has developed the next generation intercom system to further enhance the BRIEN product family and provide an upgrade path for current BRIEN AN/VIC-3 and LV2 users. The BRIEN G2 communication system enhances the features of the existing BRIEN and LV2 systems with increased functionality, whilst maintaining complete backwards compatibility to allow for a progressive upgrade.
BRIEN G2 utilises modern technology that is software upgradeable in the field. DSP technology provides enhanced speech and noise filtering, creating even greater levels of speech intelligibility in the high noise environment of the armoured vehicle. Improved features of the BRIEN G2 system include:
Enhanced battle-damage resilience utilising a dynamic controller (no fixed master station)
Greater number of users and radios within a single system
Auto set-up capability to enhance ease of use
Dynamic data capability with data rates in excess of 1 MBit
New highly-flexible user interface with the capability of alpha numeric name allocation for users radios
Direct connection from crew stations to RS232 and Ethernet devices such as radios and PCs
Full remote control of crew stations from any attached PC
Selective calling between crew stations in the same vehicle or between vehicles when systems are interconnected
Inter-vehicle connection provides full access to all radios and crew stations within the inter-connected vehicles for voice and data
AEC 128 encryption for security of inter-vehicle cable connections
Full remoting capability over wireless
Backward compatible with BRIEN AN / VIC-3 and LV2, utilising the same cabling system
Can be directly connected to the BRIEN G2 TacIP intercom, providing full functionality across and between the systems
Use of expander units to add further functionality
BRIEN G2 TACTICAL IP (TACIP) INTERCOM
Using the same common circuitry as the BRIEN G2, the BRIEN G2 TacIP meets the needs of users for full multimedia capabilities in a network enabled environment.
Unlike many other IP based systems, BRIEN G2 TacIP has been designed specifically to meet the same stringent battle-damage resilience criteria as the rest of the BRIEN family of systems. This ensures that the vital primary function of the system is maintained and that voice always gets through, regardless of any data conditions on the system.
With its unique ring structure and fault detection system, BRIEN G2 TacIP will set the standard for IP-based systems.
Functionality of the G2 TacIP intercom is similar to that of the BRIEN G2, but provides the flexibility of much higher data rates to meet the multimedia requirements of the network enabled battle space.
The ability to interconnect BRIEN G2 and BRIEN G2 TacIP systems allows users the flexibility of configuration and growth to meet their communication requirements for modern, flexible command and control, whilst maintaining cost-effective installations to meet user requirements.



Brienne Multisys Communications systems
Summary

The B4i systems sits comfortably with the BRIEN G2 military communication suites. The B4i however has a specific civil and military bias where as the BRIEN G2 is specifically a military system.
However by uniting the two systems together using the BRIEN COMM BRIDGE SUITE the systems can be married so civil and military leaders can communicate directly if necessary.

B4i is an experienced turnkey communications systems supplier, integrator and maintainer of communications, command and control systems for defence (airforce, army and navy) and civilian customers around the world.
B4i has in-house hardware and software design, development and manufacturing capability. Our base product is the Multisys digital voice and data switch which has been used in applications such as:
Air traffic control
Air-ground-air voice and data communications
Ground-ground voice and data communications
Inter-site radar and data routing
Remote radio control
Mobile and fixed military secure (red / black) voice, command and control communications
Naval shipboard and shore-based voice and data communications
Voice communications system simulation
Secure voice conferencing systems

MULTISYS DIGITAL VOICE AND DATA COMMUNICATION SYSTEM
The MULTISYS communication system consists of two main elements, the fully fault tolerant yet affordable MULTISYS digital voice and data switch and a touchscreen based Human Machine Interface (HMI) with a customisable Graphical User Interface (GUI). These elements are coupled to communication equipment such as radios, PABXs, intercoms, direct telephones, etc to form total communications systems. The switch provides the core technology for the B4i product range.
The B4i-developed switch adheres to an open systems architecture by using industry standard interfaces and protocols such as X.21, X.25, G.703, fast and gigabit Ethernet, ETSI, CAS, QSIG, ISDN, DPNSS and TETRA and supports VOIP and TDM over IP. This allows for distributed architecture that places the correct equipment in the correct location to achieve an efficient cost effective solution for any customer.
The MULTISYS non-blocking 'mesh' architecture ensures that a call will always get through the system.
The implementation of radio communications specific commands such as individual PTT, carrier detect indication, main / standby changeover, retransmission, voting and remote control are core features of the product.
With its modular design, MULTISYS can be configured for small to large (i.e. up to 1,000 operators, 2,000 party conferences and control of 200 plus radios) communications systems that provide a variety of communications features and a wide range of analogue and digital interfaces to choose from.
The ruggedised version of Switchplus is suitable for use in transportable defence applications and has been designed and tested to MIL-STD-810E and MIL-STD-167 for shock and vibration as well as to MIL-STD-461/462 for EMI/EMC.
SECURE CONFERENCE SYSTEM
Designed for defence applications, the MULTISYS Secure Conference System (SSCS) overcomes the limitation of point to point encrypted calls by providing



Armoured Personal Carriers

It is not possible for Rechburg to supply the M113 or M114 APC’s as these have been scrapped as to old and inefficient, however we can supply either or both of the following APC models, which are in current use in the Rechburg armed forces and produced in Rechburg by Davout Armaments Industries.

The Warrior & The Boxer APCs.


APC (http://z13.invisionfree.com/Duchy_of_Rechburg/index.php?showtopic=66)

Main Battle Tanks.

Again we cannot supply the M60 as this tank was considered to outdated to continue production, however we can supply the

Challenger I MBT which would be our suggestion or the Chieftain both of which are in service with our Reserve armoured Units.

ChallengerI (http://z13.invisionfree.com/Duchy_of_Rechburg/index.php?showtopic=78)

Both these tanks are fitted out with the Briens communications and battle suites.

Contract Proposal for Air Units

We are not able to supply the UH56 as this attack helicopter was found to have many limitations, however we are able to offer the Apache Attack helicopter which is a well tried and modern system.

E767 we can supply

We are unable to supply the F20, but would recommend the F35 or the F18 of which we both build.

"I've got the request in the report they've given me," started Ambassador Lock as he opened his hologram communications back to Lynion.

"Alright, I've got the report already done and it'll be sent to your PDA," replied the figure as Lock watched his PDA come alive. "I'm going to see the Vamperial Order. Good luck Lock," finished the figure as it vanished off the screen. Lock went over the report before giving it to the Sudovians.


Report for the Arms Deal
Subjects: APC's, Battle Tanks, Helicopters and Fighter Jets
FROM: Vamperial Order

Subject: APC's

The main APC in the Lynion Army is the LY219 Armoured Multirole Tactical Vehicle. We use it as an APC and an IFV. The LY219 was first brought from the Lyran Company during the Cypron Conflict when the need for APC's came into play. After becoming effective, we then took some of the designs and enlisted them on our on Lynx APC. The Lynx APC has an IFV weapon system installed but is able to carry 6 men and twon boxes of ammo for the infantry. However, the Lynx APC is not for sale but we can buy several LY219's for you from the Lyran company at a cheaper price.

http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=541320

Subject: Battle Tanks

The Panzer X Lynion Battle Tank is the modern day upgrade of the German Panzer Tank. We have made modifications like the new Panzer X has a similar design to the German Panzer Tank but it uses M1 Abram armour plating, engines and the main turret. The Panzer X battle tank is the only Lynion Battle Tank that is on offer with the exception of Scert Battle Tank that isn't for sale.

Subject: Helicopters

With the world still in the rotor age of helicopters, the Lynion military bought a new design and perfected the gunship. The Lynion AU-1 Rotor-less gunship is the first of the helicopters to use jet and hover technology. Using the similar capabilities of a Harrier Jump-Jet, the AU-1 Gunship is a quick, light armoured and well armoured gunship used in conflicts involving Lynion Forces. These helicopters are quick to get airbourne and can quickly get to the site they require to be.

Subject: Fighter Jets

The only fighter jet we have to offer is the Tiger Hunter Fighter Jet which is the very first fighter plane and fighter jet used by the Lynion Air Force. It has become the cheaper copy of the F-22 with modifications and weapon systems.

Sara sighed as she looked over the proposals. Then, she looked at inventories again. Replacing the tanks and APC's entirely would be nice, but... she sighed at the thought of the heavy costs involved in re-tooling the factories to produce spares for so many actual Vehicles.

"Princepes?" General Dozier inquired, snapping her back into the real world of the command staff meeting.

"General, how many more months, after the Original designers abandoned it, did it take for your predecessor to make the AH-56 work?" she asked.

"Six. They'd actually beaten the worst problems, but the project was so far in the red that after the Americans shut it down, Lockheed was willing to accept a hunderedth the cost they'd run up just to be rid of it." he told her.

"And it's served reliably for...what, thirty-five, years?" she asked.

"Reliably with some...issues. Mostly avionics, but the transmission is still balky." he replied, somewhat ashamed.

"What would the pilots like to keep about the design, and the Mechanics?" she asked.

He shrugged, "I don't know what the mechanics would keep-the pilots seem to think the ability to pull actual aerobatic manuevers is pretty good."

She nodded. "can it be simplified?" she asked, "without losing the performance?"

"No Your Majesty." he told her flatly, "The 'pusher' prop requires the second gearbox, and that's been the major point of failure."

"Look into it." she told him. She looked over at General Cotello. "General, how much would it cost to shift from the current APCs to something more...modern?"

Cotello looked straight at her, "More than replacing the electronics and upgrading a limited array of systems." he said, "Possibly a LOT more-we only really need to make minor improvements in the drivetrain and communications gear for the 113's and 114's-while it'd be nice to have something a bit tougher and faster, the key to the latest spate of wars has been coordination, detection, communications, and endurance. We've actually got endurance, and firepower's a matter of what you put on the turret-what we don't have is the commo and coordination-if you hit the enemy, hit him hard, but you've got to HIT him first. Even the heaviest machines pop when you hit them with the right weapon-and there's a LOT of the right weapon floating around."

"What about the hydraulics problem?" Sara asked.

Cotello flushed a bit, "Well..."

"I'm hearing a lot of 'Not invented Here', and you're apparently forgetting that we've been running mostly not-invented-here." Sara said pointedly, "Can the A3's compete, or not?"

"With the right commo and night-vision?" he shrugged, "I think we can, Majesty."

"Against Challengers?" she pressed.

He looked away.

"We're not going to be facing T-55's, General. The world has moved on, we either get with the programme and move forward as well, or we're going to be eaten by it" she drove a fist down onto the table, "I want a realistic appraisal-can we adapt what we have in the inventory to face the threats of the present or not?"

TO: Sudovian Government
FROM: Vamperial Order
RE: Costs

Sorry for the seperate telegram for the costs.

APC's: Cost at USD$5 million
Panzer X's: USD$15 million
AU-1 Gunships: USD$25 million
Hunter Fighter Jets: USD$42 million

Question: The Vamperial Order is willing to train your military forces if you require it. This is of no cost.

Telex to Brienne Systems:
From: Her Majesty Sara, Princepes of Sudova et. al.

RE: After some discussion with my general staff, I have determined to award the electronics/avionics and Communications package contract to your firm, including technical training and support in the refit of Sudovan Air-force, Naval, and Marine-Corps in-service aircraft.

Discussions with Army and Marine-Corps generals have provided me with adequate cause to be severely annoyed with them. Could you have a team of your engineers and technicians examine our existing inventory of armoured vehicles for retrofitting to utilize the same data-analysis, communications, and C3 linkage systems? We currently have several hundered vehicles, and replacement of them with a different design would be...difficult to justify in financial terms, unless retrofitting and upgrades are truly impossible or impractical.

To
Her Majesty Sara, Princepes of Sudova

We at Brienne Systems can modernise most electronic and weapon systems without too much difficulty.
Most of the basic work can be completed in Sudovia in existing workshops, it is merely a matter of your majesty ensuring we have the facilities, we will add the additional machinery and equipment to use in the modernisation program.

Where we can we will utilise Sudovian engineers and will train others, in our proposed training program mentioned previously.

The only difficulty we have found in the past is that in modernising old systems such as the C3 is toning down the additional modern power output, both mechanical and electronic. It is easily resolved with minor modifications.
Once we have developed the full requirements for the new modernised equipment we can quickly get the parts built in Rechburg and have them shipped to Sudovia ready to assemble. In Sudovia all the structural work can be engineered and the new equipment installed.

Using a modular replacement system means easy maintenance systems for the future, and easier reconstruction systems now.

We will send a team of our top Engineers and designers to meet with you and to discuss the details and to inspect the facilities available to us.

Meanwhile your majesty please do not hesitate to call me should you need additional information.

Prince David Foy
President Brienne Systems Corporation.

To: Prince David Foy, President, Brienne Systems
From: Sara, Princepes of Sudova.

RE: Thank you for your prompt response. Ground is being broken and utilities installed in the sites your embassy staff requested. I have forwarded a number of my country's top engineering and computer sciences students (I'm accepting your offer of technical education as fully as possible. I suppose you might see them simply as math and engineering students armed with obselete devices like Slide-rules and the like...however, they're the sharpest people we can find, and I want them back heads-full-of-knowledge. Please take good care of them, we find them precious.)

You may be interested to note that the sample systems you've shown my Air Force and Marine corps staff have drawn rave reviews, and the field-testing is going rather better than I'd hoped-or dreamt possible. The B4i and Multisys systems are proving to be every ounce as user-friendly as your offer suggested, and well worth the investment. Efficiency in the test squadrons has improved by more than two hundered percent with just the radio-change, and my AWACs Crews are no longer having to dig through incomplete and outdated manuals to do their jobs. Brigadier Jemael has requested that I grant him leave to give a testimonial for Brienne systems' Multisys/B4i combination as a low-cost means to improve operational efficiency.

This also means I'm about to give you more money-a Navalised B4i/Multisys combination, along with potential SatCom and over-the-horizon coordination for our Navy and Marine Corps, along with a contract for computers. Terms are similar to those offered for the Air Force and Army systems upgrades (in fact, the Marines use most of the same vehicles the Army does, with the addition of some LAV units, while the Navy and Marines both field the same fighter designs that the Air Force does.) The total contract is worth an additional fifteen billion Gilder. (at current exchange rates, roughly Ducats 34,185,000,000) The Naval refit will include updates to carrier-based S-3 and A-3 aircraft, as well as ship-based high-power/large capability coordination, detection, and tracking systems.

IF you're interested.

To: Taishi-Ci, Representative of High King Vamp of the Vampirial Kingdom of Lynion
From: Her Majesty, Sara, Princepes of Sudova.

RE: Training offers.

Per the agreements signed, I am now prepared to assign units for tactical training and joint-operations training by Lynion advisors. I intend to begin this with the 2nd Marine Regiment, as that force is one of four most likely to be deployed overseas under your nation's direction (Per Clause VII, paragraph 22, ss15 of the comprehensive treaty of friendship signed back in November of 2008). This is also the Marine Regiment currently fielding updated communications provided by Brienne Systems of Rechburg (the test regiment from the Navy department, working in conjunction with two regiments from the Army). I would appreciate a copy of your evaluators' assessment at the end of the training cycle, along with copies of any suggestions made.

TO: Her Majesty, Sara, Princepes of Sudova
FROM: King Taishi Ci, Vamperial Kingdom of Lynion

I have one slight problem with the training at the moment. The teams chosen to do the training to your military are currently engaged with the Defence of Union. I'm sorry for this but we didn't see this event coming. I would like to put the training on hold until Union is secured. I hope you understand this but I can't spare them at the moment. I would also like to request whats the conditions are like in Sudovia. (EG: Weather, Terrian, climate etcra). This has being requested by the men willing to train your military.

To: King Taishi Ci, Vamperial Kingdom of Lynion

From: Sarah, Princepes of Sudova

RE: Conditions

I have been told our climate is considered somewhat cold and unpleasant, the word 'gloomy' came up several times in web searches where other nations' foreign documents were available. We do have a fair amount of 'gloomy' weather, especially in the fall and spring months, and a good, solid, six hours of daylight in midwinter (on average). Terrain-wise, as you may have noticed on your flight in, we have extensive forests and quite a bit of boggy conditions in the low-lands (this isn't a problem for most of the year, but it can be quite annoying in summer, when the near-surface permafrost melts) along with a fair amount of high country (mountains). The Badlands in the Northwestern areas are mostly low-temperature desert, reaching sixty five to seventy degrees Farenheit in high summer. That area is mostly rock and scrubland, though with the miracle of irrigation, we have converted much of it to croplands, as it is the longest growing season area in the nation.



[ooc: Cold, wet, nasty and overcast most of the year, summer is bogs, winter the ground is rock-hard. Like Alaska or parts of Canada. Lots of storms too. Sudova is a hard place to live if you like things warm and pleasant. The country's very mountainous where it isn't the boggy lowlands or the near-frozen desert of the badlands]

TO: Princepes of Sudova, Sarah
FROM: Vamperial Kingdom of Lynion, King Taishi Ci

Our troops enjoy all climates but they love the cold as it makes them remember their homeland. The troops will be pleased to hear that your nation has a similar climate compared to Lynion's. I will be able to dispatch the trainer's soon as the Air Pirates have being defeated at Union.