New Zealand Defence Force

[Timmymagic]

HMNZS Te Kaha fires a Sea Sentor Surface Ship Torpedo Defence, or SSTD system.

Nice find. First time I've seen a pic of SSTD in operation.

[NighthawkNZ]

HMNZS Te Kaha on her way home
Home before Christmas After almost three years away in Canada, HMNZS Te Kaha departed for home yesterday after completing a significant frigate upgrade that has futureproofed her surveillance and combat systems. Rear Admiral Bob Auchterlonie, Commander Canadian Maritime Forces Pacific, farewelled HMNZS Te Kaha and her crew as she sailed out of Esquimalt Harbour.

Te Kaha’s Commanding Officer, Commander Brock Symmons, said a major part of the success of the deployment to Canada has been the shared culture and values with the Royal Canadian Navy. "As the ship departs Esquimalt, there is a definite sense of excitement to be starting the passage home and seeing loved ones after a long tasking, but also a degree of sadness that we are leaving our Canadian friends and colleagues."

We and the Ministry of Defence thank Lockheed Martin for the superb work on the upgrade, Maritime Forces Pacific / Forces maritimes du Pacifique for their support, CFB BFC Esquimalt for hosting ship and crew, and the people of Victoria for looking after our sailors so well.



http://nighthawk.nz/index.php/news/defe ... r-way-home

All I can say is they didn't even buff and polish her... maybe that cost extra...

[donald_of_tokyo]

LM Canada press release. Nothing new in the document, but a good photo showing the antenna/sensor distributions on top of her bridge.

- CAMM data-link
- Super High Frequency AN/WSC-6(V)9 (or 9?) Satellite Communication Terminal
- Toplite EO sensor
- mini-typhoon 12.7mm turrets
- VAMPIR IRST
- FAR 3320W navigation radar(s)
- Elisra ESM
- SMART-S 3D radar
- Link 16 DLPS
- SPAWAR C ESM
- MASS Offboard ECM
- SharpEye 2D radar (on top of the main mast)

Identifying them is important because, even if they are listed as "adopted" on the program chart, it is very important to actually identify it (because some of them will be omitted silently... )

PS Back above the flight deck, we can see HMNZS Te Mana (very small)

https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-ca/fe ... aland.html
see also https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-ca/anzac.html

[NighthawkNZ]

To be fair the Mini Typhoons have been there since 2006(ish)

[NighthawkNZ]

Just a few more photo's of HMNZS Te Kaha
http://nighthawk.nz/index.php/news/defe ... ack-at-sea

[donald_of_tokyo]

Just a few more photo's of HMNZS Te Kaha
http://nighthawk.nz/index.php/news/defe ... ack-at-sea

Among them, the following is very interesting.

The SMART-S 3D radar location is much high up in HMNZS Te Kaha than Canadian Halifax class, even though the latter is much larger. On the other hand, the modified Halifax class has another 2D radar on top of the mast, might be a bit higher than NZ's 3D radar.

PS Frankly speaking, I think Canadian frigates are more "well-balanced looking". But, as I am (have been from 1989) a big fan of RNZN, I am very glad to see NZ is beautifully maintaining, keeping it modern, and actively using its ANZAC class frigate.

From above link. (originally from Canada navy?)

[NighthawkNZ]

Royal New Zealand Navy frigate HMNZS Te Kaha and US Navy destroyer USS Michael Murphy conducted combined operations in the eastern Pacific, December 8 through 9. Te Kaha is underway for the first time since her nearly three-year frigate system upgrade.



http://nighthawk.nz/index.php/news/defe ... rn-pacific

SAN DIEGO - The Royal New Zealand Navy Anzac-class frigate HMNZS Te Kaha (F77) and Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Michael Murphy (DDG 112) conducted combined operations in the eastern Pacific, Dec. 8-9.

Te Kaha is underway for the first time since her nearly three-year frigate system upgrade. “One of the last operational activities Te Kaha did before the starting the upgrade was working with the Nimitz Strike Group,” said Cmdr. Brock Symmons, commanding officer of Te Kaha. “It is quite fitting that one of the first activities we do post upgrade is renew those friendships and levels of interoperability with the United States Navy.”

Without breaking their respective COVID-free environments, the two ships improved interoperability through bilateral ship maneuvers and communication drills.

“The crew of Michael Murphy is honored to operate with our New Zealand allies,” said Cmdr. Scott Maloney, commanding officer of Michael Murphy. “Our navies working effectively together during a time of crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic is critical to maintaining regional stability and security throughout the region.”

The Royal New Zealand Navy and the U.S. Navy most recently operated together in the U.S. 3rd Fleet area of operation during RIMPAC 2020, a multinational maritime exercise that takes place in and around the Hawaiian Islands.

Michael Murphy is part of the U.S. 3rd Fleet, which leads naval forces in the Pacific and provides the realistic, relevant training necessary for an effective global Navy. U.S. 3rd Fleet constantly coordinates with U.S. 7th Fleet to plan and execute missions based on their complementary strengths to promote ongoing peace, security, and stability throughout the entire Pacific theater of operations.

[NighthawkNZ]

HMNZS Te Mana is coming along

https://twitter.com/AngusTopshee/status ... 8399395843

[NighthawkNZ]

Welcome Home HMNZS Te Kaha... well she made it... lol did break down or anything

Haere Mai Te Kaha Great to have you back just in time for Christmas. She’s been away a while, but today HMNZS Te Kaha sailed back into the Devonport Naval Base where over 800 excited and emotional family and friends were waiting on the wharf to welcome the ship and crew back.



Te Kaha has undergone an extensive mid-life upgrade in Victoria, Canada where new surveillance, combat and self defence systems have been installed making her a modern and effective combat platform well into the 2030s. For the 140 crew onboard, enjoying a Kiwi Christmas and summer away from the Covid lockdown conditions they went through in Canada will be top of their list.
He ponanga Kaha / Service with strength

[R686]

Welcome Home HMNZS Te Kaha... well she made it... lol did break down or anything

Haere Mai Te Kaha Great to have you back just in time for Christmas. She’s been away a while, but today HMNZS Te Kaha sailed back into the Devonport Naval Base where over 800 excited and emotional family and friends were waiting on the wharf to welcome the ship and crew back.



Te Kaha has undergone an extensive mid-life upgrade in Victoria, Canada where new surveillance, combat and self defence systems have been installed making her a modern and effective combat platform well into the 2030s. For the 140 crew onboard, enjoying a Kiwi Christmas and summer away from the Covid lockdown conditions they went through in Canada will be top of their list.
He ponanga Kaha / Service with strength

I think she needs to nip over to Sydney and put into the CCGD for a lick of paint while the crew are on BRL

[NighthawkNZ]

https://www.reddit.com/r/The_NZDF/comme ... long_side/

From my understanding... Canada or Lockheed Martin only had the contract to do the upgrades not any maintenance...

Te Kaha is still technically in refit and is now probably going to go (I assume) into a quick general maintenance mode for your coat of paint and other general maintenance.

The crew can not paint when the ship is at sea like we use to back in the day due to international environmental laws and must be done in a dry dock. Also the special paint that is used which is not carried onboard, as well as contractual rights of dockyard...

The ANZAC's can fit into the drydock at the Devonport Dockyard to the maintenance...

[donald_of_tokyo]

Welcome Home HMNZS Te Kaha... well she made it... lol did break down or anything

Very beautiful ship, she is. Also, thanks for many photos on your web.

I personally think the modified Te Kaha/Te Mana is exactly the "minimum but good-enough" equipped hull as an ocean-going GP/light frigate of the day. Her armaments are similar to "LIFEXed Type-23 GP frigates (= without ASW optimization, CODELAG quiet propulsion, with a large now sonar, CAPTAS-4 and AW101 ASW hero)". Nothing special, but nothing truly "lacking".

# Personally, I always think adding a even smallish Low Frequency Active Passive sonars, such as CAPTAS-2, or even CAPTAS-1 (or FLAPS of Atlas), will be very "nice" to see, to make her really the "world's-best GP frigate".

[NighthawkNZ]

Welcome Home HMNZS Te Kaha... well she made it... lol did break down or anything

Very beautiful ship, she is. Also, thanks for many photos on your web.

I personally think the modified Te Kaha/Te Mana is exactly the "minimum but good-enough" equipped hull as an ocean-going GP/light frigate of the day. Her armaments are similar to "LIFEXed Type-23 GP frigates (= without ASW optimization, CODELAG quiet propulsion, with a large now sonar, CAPTAS-4 and AW101 ASW hero)". Nothing special, but nothing truly "lacking".

# Personally, I always think adding a even smallish Low Frequency Active Passive sonars, such as CAPTAS-2, or even CAPTAS-1 (or FLAPS of Atlas), will be very "nice" to see, to make her really the "world's-best GP frigate".

The only thing the Kiwi ANZAC's really need are the ship launched long range Anti Ship Missile... especially after the upgrades. The Sonar did get minor upgrades etc... in the next few years... the MK 46 Torpedo's are most likely being upgraded to the Mk-56. And the Phalanx will get it is next block upgrades as well.

Pretty sure the ANZAC's are fitted for but not with for some sort of towed array... (I could be wrong on that)

[ArmChairCivvy]

The only thing the Kiwi ANZAC's really need are the ship launched long range Anti Ship Missile

Would you not think that the same number of missiles, put onto P-8s, would produce not only more effect but enable a much better coverage - as to where the frigates happen to be ( AND elsewhere, too)?

Don't know how to relate that investment (and this marginal addition to it) to the l-t defence investment budget, but as the NZD2.346bn ($1.6bn) deal to buy four P-8A Poseidon patrol aircraft must be a major undertaking, why not make the best of it?

"New Zealand Ministry of Defence has announced that it is on track to procure the first Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft in April 2023."

[NighthawkNZ]

The only thing the Kiwi ANZAC's really need are the ship launched long range Anti Ship Missile

Would you not think that the same number of missiles, put onto P-8s, would produce not only more effect but enable a much better coverage - as to where the frigates happen to be ( AND elsewhere, too)?

If the Frigate is in... say, up and around South China Sea, and shit hits the fan... it is a bit late to put the ASM's on the frigate and the P8's are not in the area and a bit far away... Also the P8's will be capable of it, but most likely no missile will be bought...

The ANZAC's are fitted for but not with for Harpoon, and would be very cheap to add... but personally I would prefer the Naval strike Missile the bigger brother to the Penguin (which we have for the SeaSprites)

Basically I am not sure how arming the P-8s (which they will be with Mk54 Torpedos) is going to protect the ANZAC's

Don't know how to relate that investment (and this marginal addition to it) to the l-t defence investment budget, but as the NZD2.346bn ($1.6bn) deal to buy four P-8A Poseidon patrol aircraft must be a major undertaking, why not make the best of it?

1.46bn USD and it is not just for 4 P-8A aircraft, that cost also includes a simulator, training & support as well limited spare parts etc.

The overall cost that was released by the previous Minister Ron Mark also included building new infrastructure hangers and other buildings and new taxi-ways and possible extending runway at Ohakea Air Base. Which is 2.346bn NZD

From the Beehive release

The new P-8As, training systems, infrastructure and introduction into service costs will total $2.346 billion.
https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/new ... l-aircraft

"New Zealand Ministry of Defence has announced that it is on track to procure the first Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft in April 2023."

Work started last year to Ohakea Air Base and whole new section to the base... :-/
http://nighthawk.nz/index.php/news/defe ... or-the-p-8

[seaspear]

All of the ANZACS were fitted for but not with towed sonar, apologies for using a R.A.N timeline on its ANZACS here but it would be similar servicelife
https://navalinstitute.com.au/can-the-a ... -relevant/

[NighthawkNZ]

All of the ANZACS were fitted for but not with towed sonar,

I thought as much...

[NighthawkNZ]

Professional Journal of the - ROYAL NEW ZEALAND NAVY
https://www.nzdf.mil.nz/assets/publicat ... online.pdf

The RNZN has released Vol 1. No.1 of their new 'Professional Journal of the Royal New Zealand Navy
An interesting read...

[ArmChairCivvy]

Lots of v relevant article headings.

To me it seems that NZ has combined the best from our 'old' and 'new' approaches

Volume 1 | Number One | December 2020

[article by Commander Des Tiller backgrounds the next round of strategic reviews for Defence. These reviews include a]
" new Defence Assessment, now underway, and the possibility of a new Defence White Paper.The Defence Assessment surveys changes in New Zealand’s strategic security setting and discusses implications for future defence policy.

Defence Assessments [SDSR/ IR] also consider major strategic trends as well as emerging threats and issues that could affect New Zealand’s national security interests. Additionally, they provide Government with broad advice on options to achieve the Government’s defence policy goals.Defence Assessments are conducted approximately every five years3 and generally precede the development of a Defence White Paper.

Preparing Defence Assessments and Defence White Papers on a regular basis helps to ensure that the NZDF is able to keep pace with, and respond to, changes in the security environment. The last Defence Assessment was completed in 2014 and the most recent Defence White Paper in 2016.
- Defence White Papers set out the Government’s defence policy objectives in the light of the most recent Defence Assessment. They contain options for how the Defence Force should be structured and equipped to deliver these objectives and Government decisions on the broad funding levels that will be made available in order to meet these options.
-The Government’s Defence Capability Plan 2019 While capability issues are discussed in both Defence Assessments and Defence White Papers, the New Zealand practice in recent years has been to examine detailed capability requirements and funding implications in a series of follow-on reviews. The most recent of these capability 3 Ministry of Defence, Statement of Intent 2020-2024.reviews is contained in a Defence Capability Plan (DCP) published in June 2019.4 The DCP sets out the Government’s plans for investment in Defence capability out to 2030 along with an indication of potential investments in the period after 2030."

So us having ditched White Papers is a pity as options never (fully) emerge for discussion in the public domain; just the outcome (plus plenty of leaks).
Also having a written down intent of where to get to in the force structure and capabilities by the half-way mark of the 10-yr EP (equivalent) would make tracking progress more meaningful, or at least more easily understood

[donald_of_tokyo]

HMNZS Otago looks like added with new com-link radome, on top of her hangar.
What is it, and for what? Any info?

# Can be temporal until the 2 frigate come back fully operational?

[NighthawkNZ]

There have been system up grades and as well as communications upgrades on the OPV's and I believe Canterbury will be getting systems and communications upgrade soon.

[NighthawkNZ]

Really nice pic of HMNZS Aotearoa in the Bay of Islands ahead of Waitangi Day Celebrations.


For the first time, HMNZS Aotearoa arrives in the Bay of Islands, ahead of the Waitangi celebrations this weekend.
https://twitter.com/NZNavy/status/1357473130264944642

[NighthawkNZ]

A Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) C-130 Hercules will transport emergency relief supplies to Fiji following Tropical Cyclone Ana. The first of two flights left RNZAF Base Auckland shortly after midday.

New Zealand’s thoughts are with the people of Fiji who have been affected by the cyclone and the associated flooding. We are providing support to the Government of Fiji as it assesses the damage and responds to emergency needs.

Tropical Cyclone Ana made landfall in Fiji after several days of heavy rains and led to widespread flooding. Its impacts come less than two months after large parts of Fiji were devastated by Tropical Cyclone Yasa and at a time when the country is also managing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.





New Zealand will provide $1 million of assistance which includes essential relief items from New Zealand to assist affected families, including hygiene kits, mother and infant kits, water containers, water pumps, purification tablets and tarpaulins. The C-130 will deliver the supplies to Nadi. The crew follow strict Covid-19 prevention protocols, with the supplies delivered without making physical contact with locals in Fiji. The second flight is expected to be on Saturday.

New Zealand is also supporting local response activities, including provision of food for people sheltering in evacuation centres, materials to help families construct basic shelter, and the Fiji Red Cross’s relief efforts in partnership with the International Federation of the Red Cross.

New Zealand extends its sympathies to the people of Fiji affected by this cyclone, and in particular to the whānau of those who tragically lost their lives.

New Zealand remains committed to supporting our Pacific neighbours when disaster strikes.
http://nighthawk.nz/index.php/news/defe ... yclone-ana

[NighthawkNZ]

Haere rā HMNZS Aotearoa departs Devonport Naval Base to commence her deployment across the ditch to Australia.COVID-19 conditions and health authority permissions dependent, Aotearoa will be using this opportunity to:

1. Build core mariner skills amongst the ship’s company
2. Conduct Replenishment at Sea training with our friends from the Royal Australian Navy.

The crew have all been tested for COVID-19 and will be operating with HMNZS Te Kaha in New Zealand waters until they receive a clearance to sail to Australia.

Fair winds Aotearoa. Kia kaha.



https://www.facebook.com/NZNavy/posts/10160723435363009

[NighthawkNZ]

HMNZS Aotearoa during a RAS with HMAS Hobart & HMAS Paramatta

https://twitter.com/NZNavy/status/1366964400721072134