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Daitō:
Aizawa-Shinoda Investing into Fighter-Controlled Combat Drones under "Project Yanai"On a battlefield in the near future, an L-5 drops a pallet loaded with small, expendable drones, which break off and immediately begin flying towards a flight of J-21s at high altitude. As the J-21 pilots fly towards an enemy surface-to-air missile battery, they issue commands to the drones under their control: "Collect data," "go forward and draw fire," or "find this target." Based on the data gathered by some of these drones, the pilots are alerted to a probable threat, and an alternate route is suggested using information from other drones which had scouted ahead. This is the kind of technology which Aizawa-Shinoda aims to prove out in its newly-revealed "Project Yanai", a multi-year investment started in 2019, wherein the company aims to sink more than ¥8 billion ($100 million) of its own money into drones, artificial intelligence, upgrades to the J-21 and novel communications technologies that will connect all the pieces together, Akihira Harada, the Vice President of the company's secretive "Wraith Works" advanced development division, in a briefing to reporters on Monday.

Upcoming demonstrations are expected to see a J-21 pair up with a "network" of Aizawa's "Kasha" drones, an expendable aircraft the company disclosed in 2020. However, the most significant element of the effort will focus on figuring out how fighter pilots can actually operate drones in the field, what advantages these drones can offer for human pilots, and how to establish trust between pilots and the AI guiding the drones. Vice President Hirada was quoted as saying "What we’re really focusing on is a systematic build up where we can evaluate that human and uncrewed system interaction, and understand how those behaviors build up over time.” He also said that Project Yanai will inform what Aizawa eventually proposes for the Imperial Daitōjin Air Force's Joint Combat Aircraft (JCA) effort, an assortment of unmanned combat drones which will augment the J-13 and J-21, as well as the Zayasu-built J-20 and the upcoming sixth-generation fighter which will form the centerpiece of the "Air Dominance Fighter for the 27th Century[1]" (ADF-27) family of systems.

In late 2022, Nanako Ahane, the current Chief of Staff of the Imperial Daitōjin Air Force, stated the service could begin a JCA competition as early as fiscal year 2023. At the same time, the Air Force has to learn how to integrate combat drones with normal fighter operations, said Ahane, who added that the service could pursue demonstrations where fighter squadrons experimented with some of the unmanned systems already on the market.
   "You would be employing an integrated unit at a small scale," she said. "You'd be integrating these drones with existing aircraft in a way which somewhat proves out some of the tactics, techniques and procedures, as well as things like maintenance concepts and organizational structures."

Project Yanai's early tests will focus on demonstrating Kasha's airworthiness, starting with captive carry tests from an undisclosed aircraft. Then, Kasha will make its first test flight, which will demonstrate whether it can be successfully launched from an aircraft and allow Aizawa to assess its performance characteristics. After that, Aizawa will conduct tests where a J-21 controls one—and then multiple—Kasha drones. However, Harada stressed that the effort is more ambitious than simply proving that fighter jet and drones can operate within the same airspace.
   "Just following fighters around is not an effective way to defeat a near peer adversary. You really have to have that ability to push in front of the fighters to either stimulate the integrated air defenses of the adversary, or you have to be providing information that the onboard systems of a fighter can’t organically get themselves."

Key to Project Yanai is a concept called "Flexible Autonomy", an AI brain for unmanned systems that can adapt to the needs and preferences of the user. In early tests with autonomous systems as far back as the early 2000s, as Harada noted, "...We automated everything, and essentially, the mission would unfold, and the user would watch this, giving a lot of feedback like 'Why did it do that? I don't understand why it did that. I wanted it to do this instead.'" before adding "There was no easy way for them to interject or drive what the user thought should be happening with the set of autonomous systems."

By contrast, a flexible autonomy framework will allow the user to decide how much control they have over the uncrewed system at any point during a mission. Pilots with years of experience and a high level of comfort in the cockpit of the aircraft can direct every action of the drones under his or her command, while a more novice pilot could opt to take a more hands-off approach.
   "The underlying behaviors, the autonomy, the way in which the rest of the ecosystem works together—that is exactly what we want to uncover in these series of experiments, to understand how you would actually field this type of capability," he said. "Frankly, as we watch the rest of the environment, this is an area that’s not getting as much focus as it should. We have far too many people that are emphasizing 'Here's my pretty vehicle.'" While Kasha will take a key role in Project Yanai, Aizawa looks to demonstrate other air vehicles and classified payloads during the tests. Kasha is slated to cost less than ¥160 million ($2 million) per copy and is currently designed to be expendable, Harada said. However, Aizawa is also making investments in mid- and high-tier drones that could also be offered for the JCA program. 1. 27th century on the Imperial Calendar, not the Gregorian Calendar

Daitō:
Air Force Acquires First J-14sThe Imperial Daitōjin Air Force has acquired its first batch of J-14s, Marshal Nanako Ahane confirmed in a statement earlier today. The aircraft, nicknamed the "Raijū", is designed to replace the country's aging fleet of J-10s and is capable of carrying a payload nearly 5,600kg larger than its predecessor, all the while doing so at higher speeds, higher altitudes, and with a longer range. As of today, the number of aircraft currently operated by the Air Force is four or five, however, it is widely expected that the remaining J-14s of the 15th Fighter Squadron, which presently operates the J-10, will be acquired by the end of the month, while their J-10s will be replaced in their entirety by summer, allowing time to train on the new aircraft. While rumors had abounded that the J-14 would be the first to make use of a ceramic RAM coating, which would effectively make the aircraft a fifth-generation fighter, and indeed reports had been made that a variant of the aircraft made of use of it during testing, the Marshal stated that there were no plans at the time to equip the fighter with this specialized coating, instead suggesting that the J-13, J-20, and J-21 were most likely to receive it, owing to their roles.

Daitō:
Taihō Completes Shakedown Cruise
Taihō underway in the Rokkenjiman SeaThe Taihō has completed its shakedown cruise following a delay in part due to the recent conflict with the First Empire of Rokkenjima. The carrier, under the command of Rear Admiral Hirotoki Saotome, played a role in the opening hours of hostilities between the two countries, when a pair of J-7s shot down two Rokkenjiman RK-80s—now recovered—which had, moments earlier, downed a Daitōjin Q-6 "Akugyo" maritime patrol aircraft. As the year continues, Taihō is expected to undertake its first deployment in the Kyne alongside CSG-4, where it is anticipated to take over duties for the Utsugi, which is scheduled to be refueled this year, while her sisters, Iwaki and Kirigamine, complete their refit. With Taihō entering service, the navy now looks to the launch of two other vessels later this month, those being the Miyakejima and the Minekaze, whose classes are intended to partially replace the Tone and Kirishima class cruisers.Army Orders New Tanks
The Type 83 Bushi, previously Senshi-JThe Army has announced that it has contracted Zayasu Heavy Industries to produce its "Senshi-J" Main Battle Tank, re-designating it the Type 83 Bushi. Per the Ministry of War, the Army will acquire, during Fiscal Year 2023, fifty-six of such vehicles, with the intention to eventually take inventory of more than 500 by the end of the decade. As has been previously mentioned earlier in the year, the Bushi, or "Warrior", will feature a diesel hybrid-electric engine, intended alongside a high-powered electric generator to cut fuel consumption in half from what is seen on the older Senshi. It will also come equipped with the Muneate active protection system (APS) and the SHOKUBAI Next Generation Electronic Architecture (NGEA), which will provide better defensive and sensory capabilities for the vehicle and its crew. On that note, the vehicle will also feature an unmanned turret, capable of being controlled from inside the main hull, while ammunition is handled an autoloader. Most importantly, however, is that it is designed to have a reduced weight compared to present models of the Senshi, all the while maintaining the same survivability seen on the previous vehicle.

The Type 83 is unlikely to be made available for export for the foreseeable future, however, a spokesman for the company expressed that its leaders hope the government will change course in good time. At present, each unit is expected to cost roughly $4.43 million, approximately $1.22 million more than the current Type-40U4 Senshi, although said price is anticipated to drop as manufacturing kicks off.

Daitō:
Daitō Celebrates Armed Forces Day, Peace in East Ardia
Veterans of the "Three Day War" March during a Military Parade in Shinkyō, 17 April, 2683
The Imperial Daitōjin Armed Forces celebrated the 105th anniversary of the end of the Ardian Continental War today, as well as the end of the conflict between the Empire of Daitō and the First Empire of Rokkenjima, which has come to be referred to as the "Three Day War" by many in the public. Although clothed in the typical pomp of the day's celebration, many on the ground noted that, compared to parades held in previous years, the one held outside of the IDAF's General Headquarters in Shiraizumi Ward carried with it a certain solemn atmosphere, at least at first, as though many of the aims set forth during the conflict had been met, that it had even come to war was, as one commentator put it, still unfortunate. Nonetheless, the parade saw members of all branches of the Imperial Daitōjin Armed Forces participate, including members of the Naval Landing Forces, who launched a raid in the Tokara Islands during the closing hours of the war, and pilots belonging to both the Air Force and Navy, most notably a formation led by Captain Genta Saeki, who commanded a J-7 during the opening engagement of the conflict, as well as a P-3 stealth bomber. On display, though not actually a part of the parade itself, was one of the RK-80s that had been shot down during the conflict by the aforementioned pilot, now restored to some degree, being set to be put on display in a museum in Shinkyō once study of the aircraft is complete.

Prime Minister Sadazane Konishi, as well as Marshal Esashi, Minister of War, oversaw the parade, as His Majesty, the Emperor was spending the week on tour across the nation, visiting Mount Ushiro in the Tanzawa Mountains and Saito before paying homage to the fallen of Hatsukaichi at the city's Peace Memorial, which marks the hypocenter of the atomic blast which devastated the city in 1945. During his address, Prime Minister Konishi emphasized the "need for both parties to put aside their differences" and to "work together to ensure that peace remains between them." He also touched on the casualties of the conflict, currently tallied at around 37 dead and eighty-three wounded on the part of the Imperial Daitōjin Armed Forces, framing them as "great heroes who sacrificed everything for their nation", suggesting that they would likely be enshrined as had been done for Daitō's war-dead since the late 1860s.Could Liquid Trees be a Gamechanger for Urban Spaces?
A "Liquid Tree" proposed by researchers in Daitō
Often times, companies and governments have planted trees in forests as a strategy to lower levels of CO2 in the air. But while this important, some have questioned what should be done in dense cities where there is little room for even a bush. After all, these urban centers are where pollution is most concentrated. While normally, the solution has been to struggle to find a place for trees and other plant-life, a group of researchers at Keiō University have come up with an innovative and downright strange solution to the issue of space: Liquid Trees. According to research, pollution kills nearly three times as many people a year as tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, and malaria combined. While Daitōjin cities, which rely to a larger degree on a complex web of nuclear and renewable energy, most often wind and hydroelectric power, are blessed with having relatively low air pollution, other cities across the globe are not so lucky.

Dr. Hibiki Itō, a researcher from Keiō University, explained to us that "It is estimated that cities are the source of as much as 75% of total CO2 emissions in the world, of which the largest percentage comes from traffic and cooling and heating in buildings." He further explained that, due to the high rates of urban dwelling among the Daitōjin population, and by extension, the higher population density, creating green areas and planting trees—which represent natural air purification in urban areas—is a complex goal to achieve, as there is a lack of free areas for landscaping. However, though it is a complex goal, it is one which is certainly important to resolve, as a solution would not only help to keep Daitōjin cities clean, it could potentially be a gamechanger for cities across Mundus as well.

A colleague of Dr. Itō's, Dr. Akitsugu Nosaka, one of the authors on the project from the university's Institute for Advanced Biosciences, has developed an innovative tool for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and for improving air quality in cities: the liquid tree. Officially dubbed FLUID 2, the novel creation is, in effect, an urban photo-bioreactor, a solution in the fight for clean air. The device contains roughly six-hundred liters of water and works by using microalgae to bind carbon dioxide and produce oxygen by way of photosynthesis. This microalgae is capable of replacing two ten-year-old trees or two-hundred square meters of lawn. The function of FLUID 2 is, practically speaking, an imitation of it, although unlike real trees, it can be installed in places where a tree cannot grow as the algae can survive extreme pollution. The big advantage of FLUID 2, however, that it is between ten and fifty times more efficient than trees. The team behind FLUID 2 has stated that their intention is not to replace trees, but rather to use their system to complement existing flora by placing it in areas where there is no room for foliage.

While some online have mocked the idea, misunderstanding the utility behind it or perhaps its appearance, FLUID 2 goes to show that the promotion of climate-smart urban development is as important as ever. By engaging the civil society, the public, and businesses to come up with new and innovative ideas on how to contribute to this in practice, it is possible to ensure that better solutions for climate change mitigation will be made, which will, in turn, have a positive effect in nearly every field of study. On a more personal note, it demonstrates to future generations that, when faced with a challenge, it is not necessarily wrong to come up with new ideas.Air Force to Unveil Next-Generation Stealth Bomber in June
Artist's Rendition of the Rumored P-X
General Hiromichi Sato of the Imperial Daitōjin Air Force, long suspected to be Marshal Ahane's successor in the coming years, announced last night, ahead of today's celebrations, that the Air Force was ready to unveil the long-rumored "P-X" program to the public. He stated that the aircraft was to known as the P-10 "Phantom", mirroring its predecessor's name, the "Wraith", while alluding to its allegedly improved stealth design, which will allow it to avoid being detected for far longer. This comes after the P-3 performed admirably during the Three Day War, where it was used to great effect in striking Rokkenjiman radar installations ahead of further military operations during the conflict. While he didn't specify as to any capabilities, he did state that the aircraft would formally be revealed on the 10th of May this year, which coincides with a number of other announcements scheduled for that month. We will, of course, update you on this and other developments as we receive further information.
OOC Note: Backdated to the 17th of April, 2023.

Daitō:
Prince, Privy Councilors Arrested in Kokuryūkai InvestigationIn a statement issued by the Imperial Household Ministry, it was reported that Hidehiko, Prince Kachō, as well as Kiyokazu Maeda, Tadahiro Hori and Tomosaburō Matsura, members of the Privy Council, have been arrested in connection to the ongoing investigation into the Kokuryūkai conspiracy. The "Kokuryūkai", or "Black Dragon Society", is a movement within Daitō which was founded by Sachio Heishi with the goal of placing a different emperor on the Celestial Throne, however, following his arrest, a great many members of the group have been discovered, which has, unfortunately, included the former Crown Prince. Prince Hidehiko stands charged as an accessory to murder and attempted regicide, charges which carry fifteen years behind bars. His co-conspirators, Kiyokazu Maeda, Tadahiro Hori and Tomosaburō Matsura, have been charged with the same crime, but also stand accused of corruption, using their positions on the council for their personal benefit. The four have resigned their positions on the Privy Council, while Prince Hidehiko has also been stripped of his duties within the Imperial Family. We will keep you updated on the situation as more information comes in.

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