2022 Confederate Memo on Defence

The 2022 Confederate Memo on Defence was a White Paper that consisted of a major review of Arcerion's defense policy initiated by the newly formed government under Prime Minister Iain Donnegal. The review was led by the Right Honourable Clark Hart, AS, MP, AMM, a retired infantry officer who had previously served with the Arcer Army. The document itself centred on the requirement to create a new, more flexible and responsive defence force, capable of conducting peackeepeing operations in the wake of an ongoing Varshan conflict, as well as support to civil authority missions (ie. CIMIC, Civil-Military-Cooperation) with the influx of Varshani refugees. This was coupled with the overall assessment that the armoured forces of Arcerion must be divested and turned over into lighter and more effective motorized forces.

It also had the specific point of emphasizing that Arcerion "would only undertake major expeditionary operations that are provoked by a grave threat to the national interest." The 2022 announcement of the review and the publication of its findings were intended by PM Donnegal to reinforce Arcerion's position in Southern Crona.

The paper was also coupled during an increased time of tension between Arcerion and the Cape, specifically over the diplomatic maneuverings of Arcerion in forming the Southern Crona Congress, aimed at increasing cooperation. This was seen as a diplomatic and potential military challenge to the Cape's control over the Songun Straits, a key economic and strategic chokepoint in Crona.

Contents

Summary Findings

The principal findings that the Arcer Army was well equipped for a future conflict against a peer actor or a near-peer actor, as its participation in the Varshan War, specifically Operation Pullman would highlight. However, the continued investment into heavy mechanized forces was a critical error considering Arcerion's position in Southern Crona. To the North, the nations of Kelekona, Telekona, and Titechaxha posed to true peer threat towards Arcerion's interests. The New Archduchy also was an economic and diplomatic ally, with close political ties including the Arcer Agreement on Aerospace patrolling for the small Levantine nation. To the South, the nation of Paulastra was one of Arcerion's closest allies and a major trading partner, and Washakara was neglibigble in terms of military strength. This meant that major mechanized and armoured formations focusing on capital equipment such as heavy self-propelled artillery and main battle tanks should be divested in order to ensure the Army met a cost efficient solution for its actual requirements. As well, it emphasized a drastic upscale of Arcerion's use of unamanned aerial systems (UAS) at the tactical and operational level, an increased procurement of loitering munitions, next generation anti-tank missile acquisition, and a more robust command and control (C2) infrastructure to allow motorized infantry units supported by anti-tank formations to remain flexible. Hart's assessment also was that any major operations on Arcerion soil would require the rapid mobilization and deployment of the Army Reserve, and as such the military should seek to increase their Reserve component by up tp %40, using funds from divested heavy mechanized formations. As well, lighter and more training-intensive formations such as 11 Brigade (Parachute) should be given additional battalions or provided with the opportunity to begin standing up additional air assault and airborne regiments to form additional brigades of troops that could conduct airfield seizure and vertical envelopment tasks.

For the Navy, the plans to replace the aging Kurst, the nation's carrier were formalized. It would be replaced by a pair of helicopter carriers, and the Kurst given a lfife cycle upgrade and placed in a reserve capacity where it could be called up to serve rapidly in the event of a shooting war. Smaller frigates and patrol crafts, focusing on a rbosut CIWS and anti-ship missile (AShM) procurement would help force project Arcerion interests in the Songun and Malentine Seas. Maritime patrol aircraft were recommended to be upgraded or replaced, as the aging P-4 fleet was reaching the end of its recommended flight hours and maintenance costs were rising rapidly. Hart's review also recommended that the Navy upgrade or replace its aging shore-based missile and radar infrastructure, most of which was of 1990s vintage with little attention or funding given since then to upgrade or replace said systems. Finally, the Navy was recommended to complete a comprehensive overhaul of the subsurface fleet, and the proposition for new shallow-water diesel electric submarines was to be drafted and tendered within the next 24 months as recommended.

Strategic Outlook

The recommendations resulted in a major strategic shift for Arcerion's procurement strategy. Projects such as the Next-Generation Main Battle Tank Replacement were abandoned in favour of life cycle and upgrade programs, whereas solutions to a new wheeled vehicle were placed for tender. For small arms, vendors were encouraged and funded by the Arcer government and Ministry of Defense to create new anti-tank missile systems, as well as further find ways to make infantry and their supporting echelons more effective. Arcer Armament Industries (AAI) began to place bids on the Light and Medium UAS contracts that would equip the Army's