Royal Air Force (Urcea)
 | This article is a work-in-progress because it is incomplete and pending further input from an author. Note: The contents of this article are not considered canonical and may be inaccurate. Please comment on this article's talk page to share your input, comments and questions. |
| Royal Air Force | |
|---|---|
 Roundel of the Royal Air Force | |
| Active | 1904-present |
| Country |  Urcea |
| Type | Air force |
| Role | Air, space, and cyberspace warfare |
| Size | 1,982,243 active duty personnel 604,205 reservists |
| Part of | Armed Forces of the Apostolic Kingdom of Urcea |
| Motto(s) | "Sub specie Dei." (From God's vision) |
| Colors | Red, blue, and white |
| Commanders | |
| Magister Militum | Livio Iarnán |
| Aircraft flown | |
| 24,927 total aircraft | |
His Most Christian Majesty's Royal Air Force is the aerial and space warfare service branch of the Armed Forces of the Apostolic Kingdom of Urcea. It is one of the three branches of the Urcean military. Initially formed as His Most Christian Majesty's Royal Air Fleet in 1904 with a focus on airship warfare, the advent of airplanes and gradual adoption of airplane-based warfare in the first two years of the Second Great War led to all non-naval aerial operations being added to the Air Fleet, which was reformed as the Air Force on March 1st, 1929. The RAF is one of the largest and most technologically advanced air forces in the world. The Royal Air Force articulates its core missions as air and space superiority, global integrated intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, rapid global mobility, global strike, and command and control.
Mission
History
The Royal Air Force's foundation came with its predecessor organization, the Royal Air Fleet, which was founded in 1904. In the years immediately following the Red Interregnum, the restored King Patrick III sought to implement a major nation-wide infrastructure program, which saw construction of new railways, bridges, and a revitalization of the Royal Navy. In addition to these more conventional projects, however, the King took notice of emergent technologies - namely lighter-than-air airships and, to a lesser extent, the brand-new heavier-than-air airplanes. After having witnessed stalemates during the Red Interregnum, especially Burgundie's failed Overland Campaign, the King saw the military value in control of the air. Consequently, his infrastructure program included the construction of new airfields and hangars, primarily for airship use. After a short period in which the under-construction airship fleet was overseen by the Royal Army, King Patrick III authorized the creation of His Majesty's Royal Air Fleet in 1904, creating a brand new third branch of the Armed Forces of the Apostolic Kingdom of Urcea. The new Royal Air Fleet was primarily focused on the use of airships, as all three branches - including the Army - began testing and development of airplanes for military use during this time. Although the King's original intention was for military applications of airships, the military's research and development efforts soon yielded technological advancements that led to civilian use of airships as well. The Royal Air Fleet became responsible for mail delivery to Crotona, Tromarine, and Halfway in 1911.
Organization
Designation system
Urcean aircraft are designated with a three or four letter acronym followed by a number. The acronym is the word "Standard", following designation patterns in all Urcean armed forces branches, followed by the type of aircraft and ending with "volar", the Burgoignesc word for "flight". The word traces to the beginning of Levantine flight traditions with airships in Burgundie. The aircraft purposes under the designations are as follows:
A – Attack
B – Bomber
E – Special Electronic
F – Fuel (i.e. tanker)
G – Guidance (i.e. trainer)
GG – Guidance (trainer) gliders
H – Search and rescue
M – Multi-mission
O – Observation
P - Pursuit (i.e. fighter)
R – Reconnaissance
T – Transport
U – Utility
V – VIP staff transport
W – Weather reconnaissance
LGM – Ballistic missile