new guy wrote: ↑16 Feb 2024, 10:11 lucky kiwis.

I wouldn't go that far... lol

Kiwi roundel complete ... The first of our Royal New Zealand Air Force C-130J-30 Hercules to come off the Lockheed Martin production line in Georgia, United States has received its official livery - featuring the RNZAF Kiwi Roundel and No. 40 Squadron’s mariner's compass. Five new aircraft are on tr...

Fresh coat of paint... just need to to slap on kiwi roundals and call it done... https://scontent.fhlz4-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/408686466_668440912137818_1951415418852262211_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=3635dc&_nc_ohc=5TC5Mj1lNTkAX9MdrPg&_nc_ht=scontent.fhlz4-1.fna&oh=...

Apparently they will be doing a test fire of the re-motored penguin missiles next year...

Missile away HMNZS Te Mana conducted two successful Sea Ceptor surface-to-air missile firings this week in the East Australia Exercise Area, completing the final part of the frigate’s testing and evaluation process. This was the first test firing of the Sea Ceptor since the Anzac-class frigates had ...

ESSM is just the newer version of Sea Sparrow it is still a self defence missile rather than area defence like SM2. And as regards Harpoon and ASuW you can stick Harpoon\Exocet\etc on pretty much anything. ESSM gives does give Local Area Air Defence with it's range of 27 nmi+ (50 km+) which is more...

Have they? The Halifaxes were predominantly designed as ASW vessels and only have sea sparrow self defence AAW capability. Australia has the Anzacs and the Hobarts which are a little strange in that the AAW destroyer has a towed array and what one would think is the ASW frigate has no towed array b...

The disgust that the utter bull***t that labour produces is unending. :roll: Which party got rid of the strike wing? Who over-ordered LAV's (probably a nice "donation" involved somewhere there...). To be fair both National and Labour are just as bad as each other... it is only the minor p...

https://twitter.com/AndrewLittleMP/status/1710157716650627566 Well there is the first C-130J-30 tracking along the production line... Only Labour has the record of safeguarding national security to deal with climate change & geostrategic competition and then Little had to go and say the rest of ...

As for there OPV needs a new class of 90 meter OPV could be built by Babcock's including the new Danish concept https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQhNUsgJdhw 90m OPV's are still a bit small... yes that is what roughly the current OPV's are at 85m... while they have survived the southern ocean... they...

Requiring to replace 90% of the fleet in around 2035 has been known for years... If NZG go for the Type 31 (which I am not 100% convinced it is the right hull at this time) it will need to up specked as what is the point of replacing the ANZAC's. They will want to keep the 127mm or 5" main gun ...

Roadmap for future of defence and national security released https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/roadmap-for-future-of-defence-and-national-security-released The first two parts of the Defence Review have just been released. Defence Policy and Strategy Statement 2023 Future Force Design Principles ...

New Zealand Frigate Arrives in Australia for Rare Missile Firing It will be the first time in more than a decade that a New Zealand warship has fired any kind of missile and marks an important milestone in certifying the New Zealand frigate force for operations. HMNZS Te Mana (F111) arrived off the...

4th and final P*a has arrived for the RNZAF... just need another 2 or more to be honest... ;-/

Photo was taken when HMNZS Taupo was on patrol in the Pacific Island around Fiji or Samoa

Take with a huge grain of salt but there are rumors that the RNZN maybe leasing some Wildcats due to Karman no longer supporting the Seasprite and that they were due for an avionics upgrade this year and replaced in 2028 as well as the number of available Sprites getting lower and spare parts are ge...

Timmymagic wrote: ↑26 May 2023, 21:52 Yes, but I don't think the NZ OPV's can handle it. We've got used to being a little spoiled in the UK when the RN decided to make all flight decks Merlin capable 30 years ago...a really sound decision.

You are correct the OPV can not handle the MH-60Rs they can barely handle the SeaSprites.

It's got to be very close, dimensions and weights are very similar. I know the ANZAC's have topweight issues but is it a helideck weight issue or hangarage clearances? The NH-90 can land on the ANZAC's deck but not fit in the Hanger... as for the OPV to big for the Deck let alone weight... The Sea ...

NZ's maritime helicopters are flown by their air force, and the NH90 is literally too big for most of their ships. The SH2G(i) Sea Sprites are flown by Navy pilots and have to do full naval training including Offier of the Watch etc... however they are maintained by the Air Force and there is usual...

A key C-130-J project milestone was celebrated this week, as representatives from New Zealand, Defence personnel and Lockheed Martin senior staff gathered for a bulkhead signing ceremony at the factory in Marietta Georgia, USA. https://www.defence.govt.nz/assets/gallery/NewZealandMODDepSecMinsonVis...

Ministry of Defence sets sights on new maritime helicopters and drones - RFI https://nighthawk.nz/index.php/news/defence/7027-ministry-of-defence-sets-sights-on-new-maritime-helicopters-and-drones The Ministry of Defence is poised to go shopping for proposals on acquiring drones, as well as look at...

Two former Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) Inshore Patrol Vessels, Rotoiti and Pukaki, are about to embark on a journey to their new home port in Ireland, leaving an economic boost in their wake. The ships are being craned on board a large sealift vessel over the next two days at Auckland’s Captain Co...

As does the RNZN...

Some pis from around the interwebs of the RNZAF P8a NZ408

RNZAF receives first P-8A Poseidon aircraft The first of four maritime patrol aircraft has touched down in New Zealand, just four years after the government secured approval for the acquisition from the United States. Prime contractor Boeing has announced the delivery of the Royal New Zealand Air F...