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{{ImperiumPortal}}
'''Planetary Defence Forces''' ('''PDF''' for short, also known as '''Planetary Defence Militia'''{{Fn|10}}, '''Planetary Militia'''{{Fn|9a}} or '''Planetary Guard'''{{Fn|9b}}) is a term referring to the primary military defence forces of an [[Imperium|Imperial]] world.
==Organisation==
The PDF is under the control of the local government rather than direct Imperial control: the raising, training, arming, leadership, etc, is entirely in the hands of the [[Imperial Governor]]. All Imperial planets in general are required to maintain a standing army in order to maintain government (and thus Imperial) control over the planet against any possible invasion or insurrection.{{Cite this}}
In response to any threat, the PDF has the responsibility to engage the enemy until Imperial reinforcements can be mustered from the nearby sector. Thus although rarely respected due to their inherent lack of experience, PDF are widely considered crucial to the [[Departmento Munitorum]] as the first line of defence for Imperial worlds against [[Xenos]] invasion and [[Chaos]]-inspired rebellion.{{Cite this}}
Just as significant is the PDFs' role as the main source of recruits for the [[Imperial Guard]]. Whenever required, the best soldiers in a PDF are transferred into the Imperial Guard, receiving further training as they are shipped to their destined location elsewhere in the galaxy. Typically one tenth of the PDF's personnel are given to the Guard, and these are usually the best soldiers as the penalty for a [[Governor]] for giving sub-standard soldiers is death. Those who are even more valuable are often formed into [[Tempestus Scions#Kill Squad Troopers|Kill Squads]], trained and equipped like [[Storm Troopers]]{{Fn|5}}
Many PDF forces base their appearance and equipment off of the venerated [[Cadia]]n regiments. Others base themselves off the appearance of other notable regiments, such as the [[Tallarn]], [[Mordian]]s and [[Valhalla]]ns, often motivated by similar climates or even due to assistance from those regiments during the founding of the PDF. Still, given the unique and underlying culture of many worlds, PDFs and by extension their [[Imperial Guard]] regiments are armed and appear as their world can best equip them, a sign of the diverse cultures that constitute the Imperium as a whole.{{Cite this}}
==Loyalties==
Although the PDF defaults all command to any Imperial forces that arrive, there are many possible reasons the PDF or elements of it may join in rebellion against Imperial authority; [[Chaos]] or [[Xenos|alien ]] (particularly [[Genestealer]]) infiltration of the planet, the ambitions of corrupt [[Planetary Governor]]s and other organisations in charge of the planet, can mean the PDF turns against the off-world Imperial forces. This is a cause of mistrust for PDF in general, and further reason for commanders to prefer to rely on non-local defences.{{Cite this}}
[[Inquisitor]]s are particularly known for a lack of trust for the local PDF, often quick to have nearby Imperial forces available should need call for it.{{Cite this}}
==System Defence Forces==
*[[Vervun Primary]]{{Fn|6}}
==See Alsoalso==
*[[Imperialis Militia]]
*{{Endn|3}}: [[Codex: Tyranids (5th Edition)]], pg. 13
*{{Endn|4}}: [[Cain's Last Stand]], Chapter 9
*{{Endn|5}}: [[Codex: Astra Militarum (6th Edition)]] - — ''Raising the Tithe''
*{{Endn|6}}: [[Necropolis (Novel)]], Chapter One
*{{Endn|7}}: [[Aeronautica Imperialis: Rynn's World Air War]], pg. 34
*{{Endn|8}}: [[The Emperor's Finest (Novel)]] - — [[Ciaphas Cain: Saviour of the Imperium (Omnibus)]], Chapter Two*9: [[Hunt for Voldorius (Novel)]]:
**{{Endn|9a}}: Chapter 4
**{{Endn|9b}}: Chapter 9
*{{Endn|10}}: [[Baneblade (Novel)]], Chapter 14
===Uncited===
*[[Death or Glory]] by '''Sandy Mitchell''', {{Cite This}}
[[Category:Astra Militarum and PDFs| ]]
[[Category:Imperial Armed Forces]]
[[Category:Planetary Defence Forces| ]]
