Astronean Armed Forces
| Astronean Armed Forces | |
|---|---|
| Astronean Aseistettu Fórsaí | |
 Emblem of the AAF | |
| Founded | 1672 |
| Service branches | Astronean Republican Air Force Astronean Republican Navy Astronean Republican Army |
| Headquarters | Defence Directorate, Feldrum |
| Leadership | |
| President | Nikolas Detrom |
| Defence Secretary | Sean Reiltal |
| Field Marshal | Atrus O'Hare |
| Manpower | |
| Military age | 17.5 |
| Conscription | No |
| Available for military service | 45,000,000, age 18-45 (2016 estimate) |
| Reaching military age annually | 791,000 (2016 estimate) |
| Active personnel | 600,000 |
| Reserve personnel | 2,100,000 |
| Expenditures | |
| Budget | $129,000,000,000 |
| Percent of GDP | 3.0% |
| Industry | |
| Domestic suppliers | ACC Defence Division, Talamnrath Precision Systems |
History
The Astronean Armed Forces, comprised originally of the Army and Navy, has its roots in the 16th century, as the Royal Astronean Armed Forces. Prior to the Kiril capitulation of 1596, the Astronean Kingdom's forces were split between the Army and Navy, commanded locally by different members of the royal family. Its proper formation came in the 17th century, with the onset of Astronean expansionism and the unification Astronea. After the Astronean Revolution of 1910, the Armed Forces were renamed, as the Astronean Armed Forces, comprising the Astronean Republican Army and Astronean Republican Navy. These names are still used today. The third arm of the Astronean Armed Forces, the Astronean Republican Air Force, was founded in 1921, after the introduction of the Army Air Corps in 1917.
Today
Astronea's Armed Forces today comprise of some 600,000 personnel, with 2,100,000 reserve personnel.
Branches
Astronean Republican Army (ARA)
The Astronean Republican Army forms the basis of all ground forces of the AAF. There are special units within the Army that complete specific tasks and responsibilities. A list of these can be found below. They include armoured corps, air corps and Special Forces.
- Astronean Rifles “Sotabanda”: primary infantry fighting forces, generally domestic/on continent.
- Astronean Expeditionary Force: premier veteran infantry, first port of call for foreign operations.
- Astronean Light Infantry (paras): elite airborne forces trained to deploy from any number of aircraft for combat operations.
- Astronean 1st Cavalry: veteran recon regiment, durable and experts of LRRP, the only regular infantry permitted to wear full beards on parade.
- Saighead Scouts: Detached SF from Saighead Regiment, masters of COIN and tracking, often used for cross border operations.
- Astronean Armoured Corps "Rikari": Encompasses all armoured regiments.
- Asymmetric Warfare Detachment: Tier 1 SF, deniable ops, deep penetration, counter terror, forward recon, sabotage, assassination, deployment of WMDs.
- Astronean Artillery Corps: All company level artillery and above.
- Strategic Missile Forces: Organization of theatre-level ballistic missiles.
- Army Aviation: Transport and attack helicopters operating from and in support of ground forces
- Special Warfare Detachment: Specialized NBC troops, employ thermobaric weapons.
- Astronean Republican Guard: paramilitary forces comprised mainly of veterans, responsible for defending homeland and conducting guerrilla warfare in times of invasion, funded and directed by Government.
- Strategic Air Defence Forces: operation of anti-aircraft and radar systems during peace and wartime.
- Special Purpose Reconnaissance Group: counter terrorism and espionage operatives.
The Astronean Republican Navy comprises all coastal and blue water vessels of the Astronean Armed Forces, as well as marine forces and the Naval Air Arm. They are responsible for the maritime security of Astronea's waters and bases. They are the main method of force projection beyond Astronea's borders.
Astronean Republican Air Force (ARAF)
Founded in 1921, the ARAF is responsible for all fixed wing combat aircraft of the Astronean Armed Forces, as well as various surveillance systems. They have a large fleet of combat, logistics and rotar wing aircraft organized into various wings, deployed across Astronean and overseas air bases.
Structure
Command organization
The Astronean Armed Forces are split into "Command Groups" serving each of the four administrative regions of the country. There is a Command Group in every region, each representing the joint command staff and headquarters responsible for organizing the forces under their command. The head of state is the head of the Armed Forces, they are the Commander-in-Chief, the president of Astronea, currently Nikolas Detrom. Together with the Defence Secretary, the President makes the majority of decisions regarding the use of the armed forces.
The Defence Directorate is the Government department and highest level of headquarters of the military, charged with formulating and executing defence policy. The department is controlled by the Defence Secretary.
The Joint Strategic Command Staff is the combined most senior leadership of each branch of the AAF, and is chaired by the Field Marshal of the Astronean Armed Forces, currently Atrus O'Hare. The JSCF are responsible for executing the orders of the Commander-in-Chief, directed by the Field Marshal. Collectively, they make up the highest level of command of the entire armed forces.
The Main Intelligence Directorate is the intelligence arm of the military, responsible for obtaining, handling and processing all military intelligence, coordinating surveillance, reconnaissance and advising the Joint Strategic Command Staff on developing situations. They are the direct handlers of the Asymmetric Warfare Detachment, although the AWD is subordinate to Special Operations Command.
Special Operations Command is the arm of the JSCS responsible for conducting and organizing Special Operations Forces of the AAF.
Order of Battle
In each administrative region of Astronean, the Joint Strategic Command Staff oversees a command group which fields divisions, fleets, ARAF groups and facilities within each region. This is to enable the rapid mobilization of any one command group relative to regional threats.
Army
ARA (Astronean Republican Army) forces are divided into Corps, made up of divisions and independent brigades and regiments. These smaller units operate separately from divisional commanders and often serve specialist roles separate from their division level counterparts. All divisions maintain attached logistics and fire support units to support divisional commanders in their missions. While Army headquarters may be regionally based and organized, deployments abroad are frequent for many elements of the ARA.
The ARN (Astronean Republican Navy) maintains four fleets with headquarters in each region. There are two Joint Strategic Command Fleets, distinguished by the carrier groups in their organization. Force projection is a key Astronean policy, and as such a single JSCF will always maintain a carrier group on rotational deployment, with sizeable maritime patrol and surveillance missions year-round. Submarine hunter killer groups and Astronea's own nuclear equipped deterrents are shrouded in secrecy, with their locations and patrol routes kept secret even from the highest level goverment officials.
Air Force
Astronea has air bases located across the country and abroad. The ARAF (Astronean Republican Air Force) operates "ARAF Groups" numbered 1 and upwards. These groups are deployed on a regional basis for national defence and force projection.
Nuclear weapons
Astronea is a recognized nuclear state. Its three points of nuclear weapons delivery are known as the Nuclear Triquetra. It has stocks of land based, air launched and sea-launched nuclear weapons in the form of nuclear cruise missiles, nuclear bombs, nuclear SLBMs and nuclear IRBMs and ICBMs. It publicly claims to have 400 tactical warheads and 110 strategic warheads in its inventory.
Equipment
Astronea's equipment is comprised of 1990s-modern technology. Astronea went through a significant period of rearmament in the 1990s that continued into the 2000s after the revolution. Many old and outdated systems were scrapped, upgrade and replaced. Astronea has a strong defence industry that produces much of the Armed Forces' equipment. Astronea has gone to great lengths to implement modern technology in its defence systems, including integration with its GPS networks and digital and online infrastructure. Its focus is to ensure the "future proof" nature of its hardware and its forces.
Astronean Republican Defence Doctrine
The ARDD is the comprehensive doctrine of protecting Astronea's security, sovereignty and its interests. It is concerned with defending its borders and territorial claims, as well as its resources and citizens, both at home and abroad. It has an emphasis on force projection, both through soft (economic, diplomatic) and hard (military) means. This allows Astronea to maintain its influence and global standing. Its purpose is outlined in the foreward by the Chief of Defence Staff, Artem Valk:
"The purpose of the Astronean Republic Defence Doctrine (ARDD) is to explain the military instrument of power and its utility both in and beyond warfare. Professions are defined in part by their bodies of professional knowledge and ARDD is part of ours. While ARDD is authoritative, it requires judgement in its application.
Doctrine draws on the lessons of history, upon original thinking and from experiences gained from training and operations. It sets out the fundamental principles by which military force is employed.
The level of military doctrine covered in this publication is, for the most part, intended to be enduring. This edition of ARSD refreshes Astronean Defence Doctrine (4th Edition) and, without losing the importance of hard power and excellence in war-fighting, better explains the full spectrum utility of Defence. It also incorporates developments such as the whole force concept and the importance of cyber to Astronea’s security considerations.
ARDD should be read by all officers of the Armed Forces, both in regular and reserve service. I also recommend it all MID Civil Service personnel. Initial training should introduce this doctrine and all stages of subsequent training and education should re-visit it to extend our understanding and competence. ARDD is of particular relevance to officers of mid-seniority and above, in command and staff appointments.
Whoever reads this doctrine should, however, remember that it can never replace individual initiative. Doctrine is a guide to commanders and subordinates on how to think, not what to think."
— Artem Valk