As two transport destroyers and two airborne destroyers used to drop heavy Z-1s lifted off vertically from the ground, an escort formation consisting of three unmanned air superiority fighters quickly took off from the airport of the forward base. Protect Yang Tianyi and the Duke safely in the air.
Although for this backward world, air superiority fighters specifically used to seize air supremacy seem a bit redundant, but under Haaland's insistence, several formations of air superiority fighters were parked in the forward base to prepare for emergencies. .
Through the portholes on both sides of the transport plane, Duke Edward looked at the Iron Guards who were responsible for protecting them during the journey of only ten minutes. Three black and red unmanned combat aircraft formed a standard triangle, dividing the area where he and Yang Tianyi were. The destroyer is firmly protected within it.
"The group's products are really changing with each passing day. Are these unmanned combat aircraft also derivatives of the 'Peace Bird' project?"
Looking away from the fighter plane, Edward said with envy: "The 1,100-meter-long wing, I really want to see the majestic appearance of that world-destroying swan with my own eyes!"
"It's a pity that it's still at the drawing stage. If nothing goes wrong, it will take half a year for the European Union to complete the construction of the general framework, and then the group's Army Department will complete the configuration of weapons and drones."
Edward was a little confused by Yang Tianyi's explanation and asked doubtfully: "Ministry of War? I thought the giant ordnance bird was flying in the sky!"
"It flies in the sky, but it can only fly within the atmosphere and cannot enter space."
Seeing that Edward still had a look of confusion on his face, Yang Tianyi suddenly realized that a month had passed since he left this world and went to the Elysium World. During this period, Edward had not many ways to obtain the group's information, and he could only rely on transporting supplies. The robot army stopped by to bring him some latest information about the group.
Although Edward can open the portal at any time and go to the Elysian Space World to join the group's daily meetings, it is obvious that the Hughes Territory, which is developing rapidly, cannot do without him as its lord, or perhaps the Duke does not really want to leave him. A more familiar world.
Taking advantage of the fact that the destroyer was about to arrive at its destination in a few minutes, Yang Tianyi quickly explained to Edward the main departments of the Star Group.
The first is the Scientific Research Department, which can be called an unprecedented luxury scientific research team. Unlimited research funds and timeless topics and equipment and other superior conditions make the Star Scientific Research Department the strongest independent research and development capability on the planet in the Elysian Space World.
Even the top scientists of the North American Alliance and the Pan-Asian Alliance asked if they could join the Star Group at the risk of treason, just to see the true face of the New York laboratory.
Next is the Engineering Department, which has been with the group since its inception and is responsible for almost all of the group's engineering projects, ranging from the parts of a firearm to the construction of the Ordnance Bird and the New Baghdad Headquarters and even the punishment of criminals in the camp. The daily management of the company is all handled by this ubiquitous department.
If the people in the scientific research department are responsible for daydreaming, then the engineering department is responsible for realizing these seemingly impossible dreams.
The final highlight is naturally the Military Department, which has two sub-departments - the Army Department and the Navy Department.
As the destroyer slowly landed on the tarmac of the border station, the three unmanned combat aircraft also turned around in the air and returned to the forward base, while Yang Tianyi and the two boarded Edward's Duke's special train surrounded by many guards.
They found a seat by the window and sat down. The robot waiter who had been waiting for a long time came forward and brewed top-quality tea sent from the Elysium World for the two of them.
Gu took a sip of the clear and delicious tea in the cup to moisten his throat, and Yang Tianyi continued to introduce.
For now, the Army Department of the group is much larger than the Navy Department. Whether it is in terms of department personnel or resources invested, the Army Department is the group's number one gold-swallowing behemoth.
The advanced equipment covering all aspects makes every soldier's value far higher than before. The cost of a fourth-generation and a half exoskeleton is as high as 100,000 US dollars, and the cost of a fifth-generation exoskeleton reaches hundreds of thousands. If specialization and improvements are made in functions, millions are easily achievable.
Counting firearms, personal shields and other bits and pieces of weapons and equipment and high salaries, even the most ordinary human soldiers need hundreds of thousands of dollars to form combat effectiveness, let alone those elite exoskeleton warriors.
According to statistics from the Star Hub, there are 12,807 registered human soldiers in the Elysian Space World alone. The group's stronghold on Fenhabennis in the Star World also has thousands of escorts stationed beside the abyss portal to protect the project. There were about 2,000 troops building the defense line.
In other words, the group has nearly 20,000 human soldiers ready to go into battle at any time. According to the ratio of human and robot soldiers of about one to five, the group's robot troops should be around 100,000.
Among them, there are three divisions of 50,000 units deployed in the Elysium World, two divisions of 30,000 units in the Star World, and two divisions of 20,000 units stationed in the Abyss Portal. In addition to not requiring monthly salary payments on time, these robots are cost-effective. It is said that they are not much lower than human soldiers.
Among the military expenditures of the Group's Paradise Division in the second half of 2154, the Army Department took more than 90%, approximately 45 billion US dollars, while the Navy Department only had a pitiful 5 billion US dollars for the construction of crew training facilities. Pay personnel salaries and maintain the Star World frigates.
Even so, Ramsay, as the military chief of the Department of the Army, is still a little worried. At the budget meeting, he said that the military expenditures required for several large-scale projects in 2155 will exceed the imagination of the group's senior leaders. Only the ordnance in the "Peace Bird" program The bare metal of the Giant Bird requires at least 20 billion US dollars, not to mention the hundreds of unmanned combat aircraft and weapons platforms mounted on it.
By then, the budget required for just one Ordnance Bird will be equivalent to the entire second half of 2154. For this reason, Haaland has a headache and can only find ways to get money from the European Union, which is also not wealthy.
After all, nominally this ordnance giant bird will be included in the European Union's order of operations and used to defend the skies of the entire European continent from infringement, so the construction cost of up to 50 billion must be allocated to them at least 70 to 80%, right?
Regarding the group's increasingly tense financial situation, Duke Edward said thoughtfully that the Stars Group is the best friend and ally of the Hughes family. If there is any need for raw materials, it can be mined directly from the Hughes III for free to ease the group's problems. Rare metals and other aspects are subject to human dilemma.
The Duke is very clear that his relationship with the group is now inseparable, and he will suffer both prosperity and loss, so he will not get stuck on these details - when the group's strength gradually becomes stronger and steps into the starry sky, Hughes Mikami's What are these little resources?
If the situation of the War Department is like this, the Navy Department is even more embarrassed.
Considering the current strategic needs of the group, the frigates in the World of Stars have no practical function other than lying in the berth and enjoying the polishing services of machine workers every day. The simulation training of the first batch of crew members will still take several months to complete, and there is no rush to go on board for practical operations.
Therefore, if nothing unexpected happens, 2155 will still be the year when the army’s military expenditure exceeds that of the navy.
