5
Royal Defense Forces
Military age: 16.5 years of age
Conscription: 18 years of age,
22- to 24-month period
(compulsory)
Available for military service: 1,255,902, age 1849
(2016 est.)
Fit for military service: 2,105,973,
age 1849 (2016 est.)
Reaching military age annually: 52,466 (2016 est.)
Active personnel: 72,000 (incl. average 46,800
conscripts annually)
Reserve personnel: 1,386,000+
(2016 est.)
Expenditures Budget: DL $15.085
billion (US$10.77bn)
Percent of GDP: 3.2%
Industry Domestic suppliers: Siena Fleet Systems,
Cristina Arms Solutions,
Supermarina
The Royal Defense Forces (Regale Forze di Difesa) is arguably one of the most technologically advanced armed forces in Europa. It comprises the Regio Esercito (Royal Army), Regia Marina (Royal Navy), and the Regia Aeronautica Militare (Royal Air Force). It is seen as the guarantor of the country's independence. This principle translates into the culture, involving all citizens in the country's defence. The country dedicates about 30% of the government spending to the military.
The Royal Defense Forces (RDF) is being developed to respond to a wide range of issues, in both conventional and unconventional warfare. The Defense Science and Technology Agency is responsible for procuring resources for the military. The geographic restrictions of the Free Port of Cristina mean that the RDF must plan to fully repulse an attack, as they can not fall back and re-group. The small size of the population has also affected the way the RDF has been designed, with a moderate active force but a large number of reserves. It has an active strength of around 72,000 personnel and is capable of mobilising over 1.3 million reservists.
Deterrence and diplomacy have been the fundamental tenets of Cristina's military defence policy. Through the years, the military has developed extensive links with armed forces from other countries. In recent years, there has also been an increased emphasis on international peace-keeping and relief operations, notably the peace-keeping operations.
Cristina has conscription for all able-bodied males at age 18, except those with a criminal record. Those who have yet to complete pre-university education or are awarded the Public Service Commission scholarship can opt to defer their draft. Though not required to perform military service, the number of women in the RDF has been increasing: since the kingdom's independence they have been allowed to fill military vocations formerly reserved for men. Before induction into a specific branch of the armed forces, recruits undergo at least 9 weeks of basic military training.
Training involving activities such as live firing and amphibious warfare is often carried outside the urban area and are typically barred to civilian access. This also avoids risk to the city. However, large-scale drills are considered too dangerous to be performed in the area, and have been performed in the Cristinese Protectorate in Mantella. Training is also held in about a dozen other countries. In general, military exercises are held with foreign forces once or twice per week.
Due to airspace and land constraints, the Royal Air Force (RAM) maintains a number of overseas bases and in 
Mantella. The RAM's 11 Squadron is based in RAM Base Brosinek, Carini, southern Mantella. The RAM also has a few overseas detachments in other Europan countries.
AV-81 Terra armoured amphibious combat vehicle.
The RDF has sent forces to assist in operations outside the country. It has helped stabilise south-western Mantella and also helped in relief efforts and 
humanitarian aid missions in 
Afropa.
The RDF utilises technology as "force multipliers", especially in the area of integration, which will enable its various units to fight in an integrated manner. The Army, Air Force and Navy are linked via advanced data-links and networks to enable coordinated attacks and support for various units and forces. Technology is an important element in the RDF's transformation into a 3rd Generation Fighting Force.
D&D Mustang native armored amphibious carrier
The RDF acknowledges that technology is crucial for overcoming the limitations of Cristina's small population. Having consistently one of the largest defence budgets in the region, the Free Port of Cristina has focused on maintaining its spending on sophisticated and superior weaponry. Research and experimentation to develop a technological edge began fifteen years ago, even though the RDF then had only rudimentary capabilities. The effort started off with a three-man team. At present, the RDF is one of the largest employers of engineers and scientists in Cristina and continues to devote considerable resources to defence research and development (R&D) and experimentation 5% and 1% of the defence budget, respectively. Cristina's education system has also produced national servicemen who can be trained to operate RDF's sophisticated platforms and systems.
Mariners of the Royal Navy.
The country also has an advanced and well established military manufacturing industry that is responsible for the design and development of hight-tech military hardware such as:
C1 Aries MBT: Modern main battle tank.
Sago IFV: 8x8 wheeled infantry fighting vehicle (an advanced upgrade of the Mantellan VCC)
Matadore (Murdisto): Unguided short range Anti-armour weapon
Ursa: Light weight howitzer
CAS AR-2: Multirole combat and assault Rifle
Stela-Class stealth frigates: Warships designed with stealthy characteristics, equipped with advanced combat systems and with longer endurance.
F-13 Vulturo: A single-seat, single-jet engine, 4.5th generation multirole fighter designed for the Air Force and Navy. The aircraft is equipped with a wide range of weapons and is intended to perform air supremacy, interdiction, aerial reconnaissance, ground support, in-depth strike, anti-ship strike missions. It has a tail-less cropped delta-canard configuration, which provides for high maneuverability. The Vulturo has been developed as a joint Cristina-Fleur de Lys.
Aιrospatiale-Siena Mirage 2000D/A-2 "Korvo" attack aircraft.
The Royal Defense Forces consists of the:
Army (three Combined Arms Divisions, two Army Operational Reserve Divisions and one island defence command);
Air Force (twenty eight squadrons and ten air bases);
Navy (eleven squadrons and two naval bases)
The RDF is headed by the Chief of Defence Force (CDF), a three-star General (i.e. Lieutenant General) by establishment and the sole and only (active) RDF General that can be promoted or hold three-star rank; he is assisted by the three chiefs of the respective services (Army, Airforce, Navy), who are two-star generals/admirals by establishment (or Major-General/ Rear-Admiral). The RDF has a Sergeant Major who currently holds the rank of CWO. The CDF is supported by various staff from branches such as the Joint Operations and Planning Directorate, the Joint Manpower Department, the Joint Logistic Department, the Military Intelligence Organisation and the Foreign Military Liaison Branch.
AATC 206 armoured all-terrain carrier of the Royal Army
Supporting the combat role of the RDF, are other governmental organisations of the Ministry of Defence, such as the Defence Policy Group, the Defence Management Group, the Defence Industry and System Office and the Defence Research and Technology Office. Within these groups are the Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA), the Central Manpower Base (CMPB), and the Military Security Department (MSD). Domestic technology companies also play a role in building up Cristinese military capabilities, particularly the government-linked Siena Fleet Systems (SFS), Cristina Arms Solutions (CAS), and Draco and Domini Co. (D&D), both which designed and built some of the RDF's more advanced weaponry and equipment based on specific local requirements which may be expensive for foreign companies to adapt and produce.
The Special Operations Task Force, composed of the selected members of the Special Operations Force, CDF Commando Formation, Naval Diving Unit and other forces integrated under one command, is formed to combat common terrorist threats.
Frigates and corvettes of the Royal Navy in the Byzantine Sea
