Armed Forces of Zahava

Organization and Components
Sanctorus Imperialis Stratia

The Sanctorus Imperialis Stratia (Army of the Divine Empire) known commonly as the Stratia is the component of the Militarum responsible for conducting land warfare. The Stratia's main responsibilities are defense of imperial territory against foreign invasion, assissting forces of the Praeceps as needed, and the projection of the will of the Emperor and the Imperial citizenry into foreign territories.

Sanctorus Imperialis Nautika

The Sanctorus Imperialis Armada (Naval forces of the Divine Empire) known commonly as just the Armada is the component of the Militarum responsible for conducting naval warfare. The Armada's primary responsibility is to prevent foreign invasion or blockade by sea, protection of Imperial vessels underway, in addition to acting as the main instrument in projecting Imperial authority and power abroad.

Sanctorus Aeronautica Imperialis

The Sanctorus Aeronautica Imperialis (Air force of the Divine Empire) is the aerial warfare branch of the Militarum, fielding in excess of 2,000 aircraft. The vast majority of fixed-wing aircraft in the Militarum falls under its command, and as such it is closely integrated with the other service branches at the operational level. It is responsible for safeguarding the airspace of the Empire, as well as providing air support to the rest of the Militarum and projecting force in foreign territory

Sanctorus Imperialis Praeceps

Sanctorus Imperialis Praeceps (Frontier Troops), commonly referred to simply as the Praeceps are the border defense force of the Empire, responsible for preventing unauthorized access to Imperial territory from the land and sea. These forces man border checkpoints across the frontier and operatea number of ships and aircraft for coastal and harbor defense. Praeceps also maintain checkpoints in every international airport in Imperial territory. The Praeceps also work closely with the Ordo Custodes in enforcement of Imperial Law and dealing with civil unrest

In the event of war, the Praeceps serve as a stop-gap force intended to delay an invading army long enough for forces of the Stratia to arrive in strength.

Ordo Hetaeri

The Ordo Hetaeri (Order of Companions) is tasked with providing personal security for all Imperial residences, and for providing personal protection to all members of the Imperial family.

Ordo Scholari

The Ordo Scholari (Order of the Scholars) are tasked with providing security for all shrines, temples, and other religious sites, as well as providing personal security for ranking religious figures

Zahavan General Staff

The General Staff is the joint command organ and the headquarters for which all the Zahavan armed forces answer to. The general staff is headed by the Chief of the general staff.

The general staff serves as the chief operations command with primary duties being studying and planning of the strategic aspects of warfare and drafting of battle plans or campaigns.

Strategos

The Madda serves as a body and while consisting of members of both the Ordo Externus and Ordo Custodes, the Madda organization operates independently in order to provide an entirely intelligence-focused assessment to the Emperor, the ministry of war, and the general staff.

Ordo Externus

The Imperial Foreign Intelligence Ministry, or Ordo Externus serves as the main foreign intelligence gathering component of the Imperial armed forces. Tasks include identifying, monitoring, foreign agents operating within the Empire. Additionally the Ordo Externus is responsible for the operation of Imperial assets operating in foreign countries

Ordo Custodes

The Imperial Security Directorate, or Ordo Custodes, commonly referred to simply as the Custodes is the main state security agency of the Empire. The official responsibilities of the Custodes are the physical protection of Imperial citizenry government officials and buildings; the uncovering and neutralization of plots against the same. Though not specifically named, these responsibilities are understood to encompass domestic and foreign intelligence gathering, counterintelligence activities, and anti-terrorism operations. The Ordo Custodes are most noted for being deployed against individuals or organizations deemed enemies of the state by the Emperor.

Service
The military service is held in three different tracks: Regular service – mandatory military service which is held according to the Zahavan Conscription law Permanent Service – military service which is held as part of a contractual agreement, these are the full time professional soldiers Reserve service – a military service in which citizens are called for active duty of at most a month every year, for training activities and ongoing defense activities and especially for the purpose of increasing the military forces in case of a war.

Women
Women have served in the medical and logistics services since 1960. Until 1991 women were restricted from serving in certain services and combat roles, since 1991 women have been permitted to serve in all functions of service without restriction so long as they are capable of meeting the same requirements and standards as males in the same role.

Mission
The Mission of the Zahavan Armed Forces as outlined in the constitution is as follows:
 * To defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the nation, and to defend its population against foreign or domestic armed aggression.
 * To render assistance in the case of natural catastrophes and disasters of exceptional magnitude, and engagement in international crisis response operations.
 * To support national policy and protect Zahavan interests
 * To Protect the Monarch of Zahava

Doctrine
The Zahavan General Staff at the Royal War College in conjunction with representatives of the ministries of War, Interior, Public Security and Foreign Affairs produce a every four years, which is broken down into three parts, the report is known as the National Defense Brief and is submitted to the Emperor and Ordo Custodes.

Part one lists what are believed to be the most immediate threats to Zahava, proposes policies to minimize or eliminate these threats. What is currently being done to eliminate or minimize the threats, and what systems or procedures are inadequate. The Second part lists projects which the joint general staff wish to see developed, as well as what the projected costs for each program will be. The last part of the report outlines the current military budget and provides extrapolations giving a general idea of what the military budget required, proposed, and desired would be for the next four years. Coupled with reports from the various other ministries the national defense brief determines the structure of funding until the next report.

The National Defense Brief is a highly classified document, although sanitized versions of the report are submitted to the media and disclosed to the public.

Part I
Immediate Threats:


 * Cyber warfare attacks carried out by individuals or hostile states against state and private infrastructure

Part II
Policies and Means to neutralize threats to the State


 * Further development and integration of existing cyber warfare monitoring and defense systems, Establishment of Specialized military network warfare forces, Further development of offensive cyber warfare and intelligence systems. Establishment of new cyber warfare and intelligence research and education centers

Weapons and Equipment


Some of Zahava's military equipment is imported, and used as is, or adapted for Zahavan use such as. Zahava has also developed its own independent weapons industry, which has developed weapons and vehicles such as the

Zahava has also produced a number of remote controlled weapons platforms, which can include machine guns, grenade launchers, and anti-tank missiles on a remotely operated turret attached to various vehicles or fortifications. The Zahavan armed forces also posses a number of sophisticated unmanned aerial vehicles used for observation and reconnaissance, and possess advanced combat engineering equipment from armored bulldozers to ground based robots and other mine or explosive clearing vehicles.

The Zahavan armed forces also has several large internal research and development departments, and it purchases many technologies produced by these Zahavan security industries. Many of these developments have been battle-tested in Zahava's numerous military engagements with neighboring countries or rebel groups, making the relationship mutually beneficial.

Chemical and Biological Weapons


Since the early 1900's the Zahavan armed forces have researched, developed, and produced a wide variety of biological and chemical weapons agents, with production peaking in the 1970s. Until 2015 it was believed the stockpiles of such weapons were being destroyed, however the government, under pressure following a security leak has acknowledged one facility for the purpose of producing, and storing stockpiles of chemical agents. The government has not commented on the size of its chemical or biological weapons stockpile, nor has the government disclosed which chemical and biological agents it has produced or possess.