Union Fleet Weapon Development Bureau

Union Fleet Weapon Development Bureau‏‎

Of all the fleet operated technology development departments, the UFWDB is actually the smallest and struggles every year to get a decent budget. (until 5020) Military planners such as McElligott have a hard time convincing the Military Council and thus the Assembly to increase funding to a department that is seen as obsolete by many. Even though the Fleet receives a tremendous budget, the use of the funds and moneys are tightly controlled. [1] With the advent of Translocators and the switch from Fleet owned development bureaus to Industry led development ( part of the Uniform Design Doctrine ) [2] the need to develop new fleet weapons was and is deemed unnecessary. The separate operating Translocator Research and Development Bureau is well funded but works solely on the improvement and development of Translocator Cannon and Bomb technology[3]

Less than 5000 Engineers and scientists are working for the UFWDB and are mainly evaluating proposed weapon systems offered by Union Industry instead of researching and developing weapons on their own.[5]



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[1] The Union Fleet budget control and appropriation is one of the ( if not the most efficient )most efficient Union departments.

[2] It was decided that the Fleet should only suggest what it needs and have Union Industry respond with designs and developments.

[3] Translocator Cannons are manufactured by Fleet owned Factories and no private or civilian company makes them or knows how to make them. [4]

[4] SII Industries is licensed to manufacture certain components and TL Bombs.

[5] Secret Weapon Development is now done under the supervision of NAVINT technical division where funds are easier allocated under the Secret Project Funding Act of 3400