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KDY, SieSys reveal latest prototypes; "Mobile Warfare" theme readily apparent
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Topic Started: Jan 5 2012, 05:59 AM (145 Views)
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The Authority of the Grand Moff
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Jan 5 2012, 05:59 AM
Post #1
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EUROBUSINESS QUARTERLY 1/5/20XX
Charged by their peers on the Council of Moffs with a radical evaluation of the strategic and tactical capabilities of their vaunted Legions, both Moff Kuat of Kuat Drive Yards and Moff Sienar of Sienar Systems have released the first information on their latest prototypes, both of which present impressive breakthroughs in the principles behind mobile warfare and tactical flexibility.
The first to issue a release was Kuat Drive Yards regarding their new "Fighter Tank". Though not the information expected on the so-called "Super Tank" project--previously announced by KDY in November--the announcement of the design officially designated simply "XFT" has the potential to send the arms market in a frenzy, one EBQ analyst suggested.
"It's really quite an intriguing and brilliant design," says Dr. Simon Gregorovitch. "Light, fast tanks have been dormant since the ineffective 'cruiser tanks' of the Second World War--but technology may have finally caught up with the concept, and it may prove versatile in a number of roles."
The released specifications of the XFT reveal a small, light, and very fast design. Though not a match on its own with a Main Battle Tank, its lightweight silicon carbide armor and impressive armament of a pair of 85mm cannons make it more than capable of handling most other targets with impunity. An excellent power-to-weight ratio gives it a top speed of nearly 80 miles per hour, far outstripping any MBT.
Not to be outdone, Sienar Systems' new transport variant of their successful ORCA line, designated simply as a "Carryall", has impressed investors jaded with the company's seeming inaction in the face of KDY's aggressive development. A representative of SieSys declared that the design, intended to ferry both rear-action supplies as well light and medium assault vehicles "directly to the forefront of an advance" represented a "logistical and tactical breakthrough".
Whether the design is capable of transporting the XFT could be neither confirmed nor denied--KDY would offer no comment, while SieSys only stated that "No such Trials have yet been undertaken"--but Sienar Systems did reveal that the larger ORCA design offered also "excellent gunship potential", though further details were not forthcoming.
-EBQ
Posted Image
Posted Image XFT "Fighter Tank" prototype
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Posted Image
Posted Image ORCA Carryall prototype
Posted Image Detail of Orca Carryall cargo clamp
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The Authority of the Grand Moff
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Feb 10 2012, 12:47 AM
Post #2
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EUROBUSINESS QUARTERLY 2/9/20xx
XFT, Carryall Prototypes Enter Testing Delays continue to dog KDY "Super Tank"
Despite information still not forthcoming on Kuat Drive Yards' "Super Tank", investors today were able to take heart in a joint announcement released today by KDY and Sienar Systems that their respective eXperimental Fighter Tank and ORCA Carryall projects were proceeding on schedule, with prototypes entering testing later this week.
That the announcement was shared between the two weapons complexes confirmed previous industry suspicions that the two vehicles are intended to operate with each other. The joint release provided further information on the specifications and expected capabilities of both the XFT and the Carryall, which were analysed by EBQ's own Dr. Simon Gregorovitch.
"The XFT is the first military vehicle to make extensive use of carbon nanotube fiber," explains Dr. Gregorovitch. "It is a remarkable substance because it is both extremely strong and extremely lightweight, although until very recently it was far too expensive to have much practical use except in high-end supercars. Years of development by both the automotive and, somewhat incongrously, the golfing industry have brought carbon fiber into increasing use--and it is what makes the XFT possible."
The XFT, along with virtually any armored vehicle smaller than a main battle tank, will be capable of being airlifted by the Carryall, whose estimated 40-ton carrying capacity "will double that of the current heavyweight champion of helicopters, the MIL Mi-26," says Dr. Gregorovitch. "It should also prove to be significantly faster, particularly when unloaded."
Industry analysts expect that should the XFT prove successful, it will likely lead to an upscaled replacement for the T-4B main battle tank, although neither KDY nor SieSys would offer comment.
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The Authority of the Grand Moff
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Mar 21 2012, 12:08 PM
Post #3
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EUROBUSINESS QUARTERLY 3/21/20XX
Trials Completed by XFT, Carryall, Will Enter Service SieSys confirms gunship designs "in the works"
Kuat Drive Yards' eXperimental Fighter Tank and Sienar Systems' ORCA Carryall are now out of the prototype stage after completing final testing and will enter service, both companies announced today in a joint press release. The SieSys design will keep the "Carryall" designation, while the production Fighter Tank was named "Timberwolf".
In a separate statement, Moff Sienar confirmed that gunship designs based on the Carryall chassis are "in the works", but would not comment further.
KDY stated that the Timberwolf will be made available on the open market, but SieSys will keep the Carryall, like the earlier ORCA, solely within the purviews of the Legions of The Grand Moff. Analysts differ over whether this is because the ORCA designs are believed to be notoriously difficult to operate or simply a calculated effort to keep such advanced technology under Moff control.
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