The Imperial Aerospace Force of Xiomera announced today that its newest “force multiplier” is set to begin final shakedown testing by the end of this month. The Tzitzimītl drone carrier is an 11-ton unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) with an announced range of 4,350 miles (7,000 km). The behemoth UAV will be capable of launching up to 100 smaller Halcuaute drones mid-flight from either side of its fuselage. With a a 15-kilometer (9.3 miles) ceiling and a top speed of 435 miles per hour, the Tzitzimītl is expected to utilize High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) features and stealth technology to make it harder for enemy air defenses to shoot down before it can deploy its drone swarm cargo.
The Tzitzimītl is also expected to be able to carry a combination of air-to-air, anti-ship and air-to-ground missiles for additional punch. Initial specifications also indicate that it could also carry 1,000-kilogram (2,200-pound) guided bombs. The super UAV is designed with modularity in mind, with payloads that can be switched out in two hours or less to adjust to new mission profiles.
The Tzitzimītl will also have significant applications for intelligence gathering, surveillance, electronic warfare, and emergency rescue operations. While the Imperial government is expected to use the Tzitzimītl for a variety of civilian applications as well, its military potential is of far greater importance to Tlālacuetztla.
“With Tzitzimītl, we are continuing to leverage the power of Xiomeran technology to balance the scales,” Marshal Huelixiuh of the Imperial Aerospace Force told XIN. “When you have many opponents who can outnumber you on the battlefield, it is important to multiply your force as much as possible through superior technology and tactics. Weapons systems such as Tzitzimītl allow us to do that. Through the use of unmanned drone systems, networked and AI-capable, operating as a swarm, we can dominate the air theatre and maintain a dominant edge even in the face of opposing numbers. We can also use these systems to support our forces on the ground and at sea, increasing their force potential as well. As we continue to advance our development and deployment of unmanned combat systems through our Future Force Program, I would advise our enemies not to get too comfortable just because they think they have the advantage over us due to numbers,” the Marshal said.
The Future Force Program the Marshal mentioned is an ongoing effort by Xiomeran defense contractors and the Imperial military to develop unmanned air, ground and naval combat systems to complement the manned components of the Imperial military. The FFP also aims to blunt the numerical advantage that enemies of the Empire possess through the use of unmanned systems. The Imperial Army has reportedly been reviewing designs for future autonomous tanks and howitzer systems. The Imperial Navy has also been reviewing designs for unmanned combat vessels. The Tzitzimītl, however, is the first system to actually be ready for shakedown testing and possible deployment.
The Tzitzimītl, or “Celestial Deity”, gets its name from the Huenyan indigenous deities of the same name who are associated with the stars and solar eclipses.
Imperial military practices amphibious tactics at Chenalco
The Imperial Navy, Aerospace Force and Army, along with Imperial Special Forces units, will be conducting a series of amphibious assault training operations at the Chenalco Island colony from June 13th to June 15th. The training, dubbed Tonatiuh Chīchīltic 2025 (Red Sunset 2025), is being described by Imperial defense officials as routine training to keep Imperial forces “at a finely honed and sharp edge”.
“Our goal with this training operation is to ensure that our air, naval and ground forces are experienced in coordinating both amphibious assaults, and general offensive operations in a typical Caxcanan theatre of operations,” General Tlāltēuctli of the Imperial Army told XIN. “It is only through practical experience on the ground that an armed force can maintain its prowess on the battlefield.”
The training is also being undertaken to “restore the garrison of the Chenalco Islands to Imperial expectations for preparedness,” General Tlāltēuctli said. The response of the Chenalco colonial garrison to recent Milintican provocations was described as “sluggish, slow and entirely lackadasical” in a scathing report by Imperial Military Intelligence to the Imperial Parliament. Ten officers of the garrison were subjected to administrative punishment over the failures. As a result of the IMI investigation, all colonial garrisons have since been subject to unannounced inspections and review to ensure their competence.
