DATE Ariana Update

The Transformation and Training Command (T2COM) G-2 periodically updates the operational environment of DATE countries to reflect real-world conditions. This update covers the changes to the DATE country, Ariana. While all variables include recent developments or enhanced details, the significant changes to Ariana are in the Political and Military variables.  This update ensures all Ariana variables are now structured and formatted in accordance with those of the other DATE countries.  

This update: 

• Emphasizes Ariana’s political power around the theocratic head of state and mutually supporting political bodies 

• Creates the Arianian Guard Corps (AGC) 

• Depicts the parallel military structure between the Regular Army and AGC  

• Includes Law Enforcement Command 

• Defines and moves a large militia under the AGC 

• Adds units: AGC Aerospace Group, AGC Naval Infantry, AGC Special Purpose Forces (AGC-SPF) 

• Expands descriptions of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), information warfare (INFOWAR), and chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) capabilities 

Political 

The political variable makes clear political power in Ariana resides in the theocratic apparatus of the state through the Supreme Leader, reflecting Ariana’s real-world inspiration. The president is now head of government, and the Supreme Leader is the head of state. The addition of the AGC to the military hierarchy reinforces his power center. To distinguish Ariana from its real-world inspiration. We introduced the Mullah Council and the Assembly of the Faithful. Names of prominent personalities were removed in favor of titles. Notably, the update includes an enhanced description of Ariana’s relationship with more nations to bring DATE Eurasia in agreement with the global DATE narrative. 

The new national flag of Ariana features a hoopoe bird and crescent moon. The old flag, depicting crossed shamshirs and flames on a divided field of green.

Military 

Order of Battle 

Supreme High Command (SHC) 

Arianian Regular Army (ARA) loyal to the Islamic authority of the Mullah Council and the Supreme Leader.  

The AGC and ARA maintain separate chains of command in the SHC but operate in parallel. The air forces and navies of the ARA and AGC report to their respective commands yet maintain parallel operational chains of command to synchronize operations when necessary (see below). These two parallel services are referred to generically as the Arianian Air Force and the Arianian Navy unless specified otherwise.  

The SHC now includes Law Enforcement Command, which represents all domestic law enforcement and intelligence activities. These three major commands—ARA, AGC, and Law Enforcement Command —represent the three highest levels of military power governed by the SHC.  

These changes are available immediately as graphics in the Military Variable but will be reflected in the Force Structure application on ODIN upon the next update of that tool.

Arianian Guard Corps   

(AGC-GF), the AGC-SPF, the AGC Aerospace Group (AGC-AG), the AGC Navy (AGCN), and the AGC Militia and Paramilitary (AGC-M&P).  

The AGC contains most of the special, clandestine, and covert operations and works on behalf of the Supreme Leader. The new construction consolidates militias and paramilitary forces within the AGC under 30 different Territorial Security Commands. The forces extend the AGC’s reach to the populace and augment law enforcement within Ariana. 

Additional military units include: 

• Major sub-units added to the air forces  

• Coast Guard subordinate to the AGC 

• Militia and paramilitary units subordinate to the AGC 

• AGC-SPF Command, conducting clandestine operations throughout the globe 

• AGC-AG, a well-equipped unit with air defense, aviation, space operations, ballistic missiles, and cyber capabilities   

Arianian Airforce

The Arianian Air Force consists of equipment and personnel of the combined AGC and ARA air forces. This Joint Air Force Headquarters retains the HQ Element and the 10th, 11th, 12th, and 13th Divisions of the previous order of battle. 

Additional military capabilities are housed within new higher commands of Air Defense, Air Transport, UAV, and Air Training.  Capabilities of SPF, recon, ground attack, maintenance, signals, materiel support, and heliborne jamming represent additional regiments and squadrons. 

Arianian Navy 

Like the Arianian Air Force, the Navy is divided into two main branches: the Arianian Guard Corps Navy (AGCN) and the Arianian Regular Navy (ARN), which conduct synchronous operations while administratively reporting to the AGC and ARA, respectively.  

Whereas the previous version of the Arianian Navy was divided into Northern and Southern Naval Districts, the new Navy is organized into the 1st Naval District on the Caspian Sea, the 2nd Naval District on the Persian (Arabian) Gulf, and the 3rd Naval District on the Gulf of Oman, with the Strait of Hormuz as the boundary between the 2nd and 3rd Districts. 

All other units of the Arianian Navy remain the same, with amphibious support, minesweeping, submarine, submarine chasing, missile attack, and torpedo patrol squadrons remaining intact.  

The exception is the Naval Infantry Regiment, which is now controlled by the AGCN directly. All other functions and organizations within the Naval Infantry Regiment remain the same. 

Military Capabilities 

The update also includes expanded focus areas, portraying Ariana’s modern and realistic capabilities.   

Information Advantage (Cyber) 

This category includes the role of state actors, non-state actors, criminal organizations, and military forces in both offensive and defensive cyber operations. 

• The AGC Cyber Operations group and the ARA INFOWAR Division represent the military threat in information warfare 

• Darham Cyber and Social Outreach Group is a non-state actor in line with the Arianian government 

• Hacking for Ariana (H4Ari) is a criminal group acting in their own self-interest and that of Ariana 

Uncrewed systems proliferation 

The information discusses the purpose of uncrewed systems, especially unmanned aerial systems (UAS), within reconnaissance, intelligence, surveillance, and target acquisition; command and control; research and development efforts; and the capability proliferation into air forces and ground forces. Ariana has invested heavily in the development of indigenously produced UAVs that maximize the use of artificial intelligence developed over the last decade. 

WMD  

Clarified language on Ariana’s ambitions regarding nuclear weapons development and willingness to employ CBRN in a first-strike scenario.  

Conclusion  

This comprehensive update of the Ariana operational environment more accurately reflects contemporary real-world conditions. While this review incorporated enhancements across all variables, the most substantial revisions were directed at the Political and Military domains. This update effectively harmonizes Ariana’s configuration with the broader DATE country architecture, ensuring a fully standardized and operationally relevant training baseline.