Austrasien Armed Forces

The Reichswehr are the armed forces of the Austrasian Riche. It encompasses the Reichsheer, Reichsflotte, Reichsluftwehr, Zentralatomwehr, Reichsweltraumwehr and the Gendarmeriekorps. The commander-in-chief of the Reichswehr is the Inspector General of the Armed Forces, who reports directly to the Riche Senate. The current Inspector General is Reichsmarschall Reinhard Falk.

Riche Army
The Riche Army (Gothic: Reichsheer) is the land warfare component of the Austrasian armed forces. Its principle maneuver units consist of three heavy combined arms brigades, two medium combined arms brigades and five light infantry brigades. All Reichsheer formations are maintained at permanent readiness with ~90% manning in peacetime. The principal sub-organizations of the Riche Army are the Armoured Troops (Gothic: Panzertruppen) and Mobile Troops (Gothic: Jaegertruppen), the heavy combined arms and light troops respectively.

Air Force
The Air Force (Gothic: Luftwehr) is the air warfare component of the Austrasian armed forces. The Air Force's 13 fighter squadrons (Gothic: Jagdstaffel) and eight MALE drone squadrons (gothic: Aufklaerungsangriffstaffel) form the bulk of its combat power.

Doctrine
The primary missions of the Air Force are and reconnaissance-strike. In the event of the conflict, the Air Force aims to seize control of the air through rapid and concentrated attacks on the opponent's combat aircraft, followed by a search-and-destroy campaign against the opponent's ground and naval manoeuvre troops. The aim of the air campaign is to deprive the opponent of the capability to mass combat power at a decisive time and place, opening the way for their defeat.

Riche Fleet
The Riche Fleet (Gothic: Reichsflotte) is the marine warfare component of the Austrasian armed forces. It's fleet of 20 diesel-AIP submarines forms the backbone of the fleet.

Nuclear Force
The Central Nuclear Force (Gothic: Zentralatomwehr) commonly abbreviated ZAW is a special component of the Austrasian armed forces responsible for the security and of Austrasian nuclear weapons and nuclear installations. ZAW personnel are seconded to the Army, Fleet and Air Force to secure atomic warheads against potential tampering, theft or unauthorized use while freestanding ZAW security units are stationed at nuclear power plants, reprocessing facilities and fissile fuel storage repositories in Austrasia.

Space Force
The Space Force (Gothic:Weltraumwehr) is the orbital component of the Austrasian armed forces. Uniquely among Austrasia's armed forces, the Space Force works closely with Austrasian private industry to operate constellations of dual-use earth observation and communication satellites.

Theses

 * 1) Austrasia's arsenal of strategic nuclear weapons will prevent an opponent from seeking unconditional surrender
 * 2) Austrasia's tactical nuclear weapons make a conventional ground invasion impossible
 * 3) Control of the air will dictate the course of the battles for the ground and sea
 * 4) Occupation of territory is the most important factor in a peace settlement
 * 5) Observation of the earth from space is the best method of obtaining military intelligence
 * 6) Any conventional force can be defeated provided it is detected with sufficient time

Conclusions

 * 1) Maintaining an effective arsenal of strategic and tactical weapons is the highest defense priority
 * 2) Airpower is the most important component of conventional military power
 * 3) The first objective of land power is to hold all territory, the second is to seize additional territory
 * 4) The first objective of seapower is to prevent the opponent from using the sea as means to seize territory
 * 5) The first objective of space power is to determine the disposition and size of the opponent's forces