July 3, 8:00 PM, Dorislav Standard Time.
The Z-80L - or to be more precise, an export variant of it - has been in service with the air forces of the First Dorislavian Republic, Belanirislav, and the Dorislav People's Republic for more than 110+ years. Dorislav purchased 20 of these aircraft from Zokesia in 2087. Later that year, the Belasirov and Dorislav Civil Wars erupted. Alongside the then-innovative and low-observable B-100 Blackouts purchased from Zokesia that year as well, Dorislav used them to conduct airstrikes on suspected Fasco-Dorislav Rebellion camps.
- A Z-80L of the Dorislavian Air Force taking off, c. 2190.
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When the Belanirislavian Civil War (2150-2152) erupted, elements of the Belanirislavian Air Force that had defected to the Dorislavian side in favor of an independent Dorislav would use them once more to provide not only air cover for the rebels, but also harass government forces and prevent them from conducting airstrikes. It is estimated that Dorislavian rebels captured 20 Z-80Ls, either directly or via defecting government forces, with 5 lost during that conflict.
In the 2160s, Dorislav would turn to Zokesia to purchase 7 Z-80Es of the SLEP III sub-variant as part of its efforts to modernize its military. For cost reasons, they opted to purchase a few dozen medium-range air-to-air missiles rather than BVRAAMs with a range of 50 km normally offered. The SLEP III was equipped with a 25 mm rotary cannon with a rate of fire of 3,300 rounds per minute, a newer, more powerful engine, and a new configuration that ditched the cruciform tail configuration for a delta-canard configuration.
In 2169, the soon-to-be-dissolved Zimori Autonomous Republic declared independence from Dorislav in defiance of the decision to dissolve the region and permanently integrate it into one of its "internal" republics. Zimor inherited 3 Z-80Ls from Dorislav. When the Zimori War of Independence began, Zimor used these Z-80Ls to harass Dorislavian Air Force assets during the first months of the war before all were shot down. On the Dorislavian side, Z-80 Foxes were used to conduct airstrikes on not only Zimori Army units, but also anything they believed was a hideout for Zimori military personnel. In the infamous Siege of Kobyeda lasting from 2170 to 2172, Z-80s dropped bombs on everything, even including apartment buildings. However, these strikes killed more civilians than military personnel and worsened the former's situation. At least one Z-80E was lost during the war, though this loss has been labeled an accident by the Dorislavian government.
However, no kind of thing, be it a gun, a tank, or a fighter jet, can remain in service forever, no matter how good it is, either in terms of looks or capabilities. Eventually, it must be retired from service and replaced by something newer, deadlier, and more efficient. The Z-80L is an example of this. It has served three air forces for 110+ years, and its age is beginning to show. Spare parts are dwindling. Ammunition is dwindling, too. Its 30 mm "pop-up" autocannon only does 650 rounds per minute and fires only HE rounds, meaning it is effective against aircraft and infantry, but not against ground vehicles. Although equipped with a radar, it has no BVR capabilities whatsoever.
For this reason, Dorislav's Ministry of Defense has announced it will be permanently retiring the Z-80L Fox from active service. This process is expected to begin in 2207 and end in 2218. Newer models like the Z-80E SLEP III will continue to serve into the foreseeable future. By gradually retiring them, existing pilots should be able to seamlessly transfer into newer models and learn how to fly and get used to them. Dorislav will be acquiring newer aircraft whenever possible to replace its remaining 5 Z-80Ls. The MoD also states that it is open to offers from any aircraft manufacturer, domestic or foreign, to sell a product of theirs to Dorislav.
The Z-80L may no longer be in service with Dorislav after 2218, but it will continue to live in the hearts of countless pilots who have flown this old yet reliable machine.
