New Zealand Defence Force

[donald_of_tokyo]

Good photo of RNZN IPV operation. Beautiful photo. From RNZN facebook page.

Interesting is the IPV HMNZS Taupo is deploying both of the two RHIBs at once. I thought it was one for inspection and and the other is waiting on the IPV.

[new guy]

Good photo of RNZN IPV operation. Beautiful photo. From RNZN facebook page.

Interesting is the IPV HMNZS Taupo is deploying both of the two RHIBs at once. I thought it was one for inspection and and the other is waiting on the IPV.

Any details of incident pictured?

[NighthawkNZ]

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

[R686]

Good photo of RNZN IPV operation. Beautiful photo. From RNZN facebook page.

Interesting is the IPV HMNZS Taupo is deploying both of the two RHIBs at once. I thought it was one for inspection and and the other is waiting on the IPV.

Any details of incident pictured?

That looks like it's about to become a dive wreck.

[NighthawkNZ]

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

[NighthawkNZ]

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 Australian coast on July 24th ahead of exercises that will include the first firing of the ship’s new Sea Ceptor missile system. In 2022 Te Mana returned home to Aotearoa New Zealand after completing a lengthy upgrade in Canada. The deployment to Australia forms the final link in a lengthy chain that will result in the ship being re certified for combat operations.

Full article found here.

Hopefully we get some good video of the firing...

[R686]

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 Australian coast on July 24th ahead of exercises that will include the first firing of the ship’s new Sea Ceptor missile system. In 2022 Te Mana returned home to Aotearoa New Zealand after completing a lengthy upgrade in Canada. The deployment to Australia forms the final link in a lengthy chain that will result in the ship being re certified for combat operations.

Full article found here.

Hopefully we get some good video of the firing...

In over a decade......you have to joking right?



Just a quick search you might be right.

https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU1207/ ... arship.htm

[R686]

This article confirms the last time RNZN fired a missile.

Still shocked it's been so long.

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/20 ... le-firing/

[donald_of_tokyo]

This article confirms the last time RNZN fired a missile.

Still shocked it's been so long.

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/20 ... le-firing/

With the plan to move from Sea Sparrow (run down of maintenance and stocks?), Frigate re-fits and zero firing ranges in New Zealand for test shots I'm not really surprised.

[donald_of_tokyo]

This article confirms the last time RNZN fired a missile.

Still shocked it's been so long.

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/20 ... le-firing/

With the plan to move from Sea Sparrow (run down of maintenance and stocks?), Frigate re-fits and zero firing ranges in New Zealand for test shots I'm not really surprised.

Not surprised either. I was following RNZN for two decades, and they rarely fire a missile. But, they to fire guns frequently.

By the way, this photo on the article is very nice. Well balanced armaments of; 5 inch gun, 2x 12.7 mm mini-typhoon, 2x 12.7 mm manually operated guns, 2x triple anti-sub torpedo tubes, 3x RHIBs, 20x CAMM with 2 data-link antenna, 20mm CIWS and SH-2G(I) helicopter.
Sensors and counter measures are also well packed; Spherion-B hull sonar, 4x radar decoy tubes (DLF), 2x MASS (chaff and flare), 2x ESM, SMART-S 3D radar, link-16 antenna, 4x laser warning, sharp-eye 2D radar, SeaSentor torpedo decoy launcher, satellite-com data links, and SeaSentor torpedo-warning towed sonar and decoy.

If she be added with CAPTAS-2, it would have been a perfect GP frigate.

[NighthawkNZ]

Roadmap for future of defence and national security released
https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/roa ... y-released

The first two parts of the Defence Review have just been released.
Defence Policy and Strategy Statement 2023

Future Force Design Principles

What I will say is... at least some of the pollys are starting to wake up from their slumber sleep... we will just have to wait and see what the go is... and what the other parties say as we do have a election soon.

[donald_of_tokyo]

New Zealand RFP for new ships to replace ‘majority’ of naval fleet (other than AOR). Interesting move. I think "like-for-like" replacement looks not so bad, but new idea will also be interesting.

https://www.defensenews.com/naval/2023/ ... val-fleet/

[SouthernOne]

New Zealand RFP for new ships to replace ‘majority’ of naval fleet (other than AOR). Interesting move. I think "like-for-like" replacement looks not so bad, but new idea will also be interesting.

https://www.defensenews.com/naval/2023/ ... val-fleet/

It would be interesting to know whether "like for like" refers to hull types, weapons systems or something else like tonnage. RNZN ships tend to be lightly armed, so do you really need a specialized frigate hull?

[Tempest414]

Babcock could be in a really good place here with Type 31 in build and the new Swedish corvette / Light frigate program

For me I think they should go for 3 type 31's , 3 x 80m OPV's and 2 MRSS. Keep the T-31's simple with say 1 x 57mm , 2 x 40mm , 24 CAMM and 8 x NSM ships crew 110 also keep the OPV's simple with a SAAB X1 radar and 1 x 40mm with a good working deck / flight deck no Hangar ships crew 30

A deal with Babcock's to build the Type 31's and OPV's in the UK with Babcock investing in the Devonport maintenance yard to allow all refits and upgrades of the new ships through life

[NighthawkNZ]

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 as it has more punch and is standard and compatible with our allies in the area... Aussie, US, for ammo training, parts and maintenance etc

CAMM sure stick with it for the time being but also but move away from the GWS.35 VLS and go back to the Mk 41 VLS, quad pack them and if the NZG decide on any upgrades, ie; CAMM-ER or CAMM-MR or any other missile mix... ESSM etc then they can.

Will they ever get a ship launched Anti-Ship-Missile... who would know (but I doubt it) but sure NSM makes sense. but the is talk behind the scene that they need to upgrade the Penguin ASM.

CIWS they will most likely stick with any upgraded block with the Phalanx

Instead of the TACTICOS CMS they need to stick with the Lockheed Martian CMS330 and any upgrades.

They will definitely want hull mounted SONAR added in some form...

As for sensors they will strip a lot off the ANZAC's that are still relevant at the time which is hard to say what etc, the infred and laser warning systems, and a few other bits and bobs... Other things they will take off the ANZAC's some of the decoys, MASS, DLF Floating decoys, Sea Sentor.

As for the OPV's and flight deck with no Hanger... that is a big no, as even on the current OPV's they regularly get deployed with a SeaSprite as part of the operational deployment and need that hanger. HMNZS Manawauni is currently the only vessel with a flight deck and no hanger, but her operational protocols and deployments don't really required a helo to be deployed with her as part of her operations.

[Tempest414]

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 as it has more punch and is standard and compatible with our allies in the area... Aussie, US, for ammo training, parts and maintenance etc

CAMM sure stick with it for the time being but also but move away from the GWS.35 VLS and go back to the Mk 41 VLS, quad pack them and if the NZG decide on any upgrades, ie; CAMM-ER or CAMM-MR or any other missile mix... ESSM etc then they can.

Will they ever get a ship launched Anti-Ship-Missile... who would know (but I doubt it) but sure NSM makes sense. but the is talk behind the scene that they need to upgrade the Penguin ASM.

CIWS they will most likely stick with any upgraded block with the Phalanx

Instead of the TACTICOS CMS they need to stick with the Lockheed Martian CMS330 and any upgrades.

They will definitely want hull mounted SONAR added in some form...

As for sensors they will strip a lot off the ANZAC's that are still relevant at the time which is hard to say what etc, the infred and laser warning systems, and a few other bits and bobs... Other things they will take off the ANZAC's some of the decoys, MASS, DLF Floating decoys, Sea Sentor.

As for the OPV's and flight deck with no Hanger... that is a big no, as even on the current OPV's they regularly get deployed with a SeaSprite as part of the operational deployment and need that hanger. HMNZS Manawauni is currently the only vessel with a flight deck and no hanger, but her operational protocols and deployments don't really required a helo to be deployed with her as part of her operations.

The Type 31 base hull offers a lot of good things to the RNZN with its speed range and low crew on top of this it can be fitted with 32 Mk-41 out of the box plus can take any kit the RNZN want to port over like 127mm , Phalanx , CAMM plus NH-90 helicopter. Hull mounted sonar is just a case of requesting it also its price and crew size means they might be able to push for 3 meaning better availability

As for there OPV needs a new class of 90 meter OPV could be built by Babcock's including the new Danish concept

[donald_of_tokyo]

Yet another Danish design, which could be a candidate for future RNZN, especially when with lower ambition.

Danish Polar Patrol vessel. 125m long, 18m wide. 2 gun position, 1 VLS, large mission-bay with CUBE-system, also CUBE systems astern, enabling ASW or mine laying. A helicopter hanger, ice-strengthen, and looks like having very good sea keeping.

One plan will be to replace 2 ANZAC class frigates and 2 OTAGO-class OPVs with 4 of this type. Maybe a 127mm gun will be not easy, but other than this, arming this design "as much as current TeKaha/TeMana" will be easy. May be with 2 57mm gun which will provide good defense against enemy "cheap swarm (both air and surface)", she can deploy many UAV-drones/loitering-ammunitions to replace the 127mm. With astern CUBE, they can add CAPTAS4-CI containerized system. Ice-strengthened hull will ease HMNZS Aotearoa from her antarctic operations.

Commonality within 4 hulls will save training and logistics. Even when one is in long-maintenance, the degradation rate is only 25%. Not 50%, like current 2 ANZAC frigates. If not enough money, two of the 4 hulls could be "lightly armed".

Not saying this is the best option, but just saying this design also can be a candidate.

[NighthawkNZ]

As for there OPV needs a new class of 90 meter OPV could be built by Babcock's including the new Danish concept

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 still need to be bigger around 125-130m... if they are wanting regular patrols down there... and yes that makes them larger than the 118m ANZAC's.

The current OPV's have not sailed down south for sometime and one of the reasons is damage to the vessels... although they survived etc...

And yes I know all these vessels can be modified to meet customers needs etc... The common hull design for the future fleet may mean we do away with the OPV's. It will depend on the next DCP which is due by years end early next year I believe...

[swoop]

Requiring to replace 90% of the fleet in around 2035 has been known for years...

Will they ever get a ship launched Anti-Ship-Missile... who would know (but I doubt it) but sure NSM makes sense. but the is talk behind the scene that they need to upgrade the Penguin ASM.

I can see an attitude of "fitted for, but not with" in relation to new systems.
The normal approach of trying to do the job on the cheap still permeates the forces.

[donald_of_tokyo]

Found a few impressive photo of Te Mana.

Ref: https://laodong.vn/photo/can-canh-2-tau ... 245639.ldo

[tomuk]

Found a few impressive photo of Te Mana.

mmm tasty mushrooms my favourite.

[NighthawkNZ]

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 his tweet which we all know is BS... but we will leave that part of his tweet for the proper thread... lol (mutter mutter muter curse swear @ labour )

[swoop]

and then Little had to go and say the rest of his tweet which we all know is BS... but we will leave that part of his tweet for the proper thread... lol (mutter mutter muter curse swear @ labour )

The disgust that the utter bull***t that labour produces is unending.
Which party got rid of the strike wing? Who over-ordered LAV's (probably a nice "donation" involved somewhere there...).

[NighthawkNZ]

The disgust that the utter bull***t that labour produces is unending.
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 parties that really want to do something with the NZDF Act, NZ First etc... (Except the Greens and probably the Maori Party they want to destroy the NZDF) that really want to do up the Defence Force. But the two majors parties are just as bad as each other over the last 30-40 years

[swoop]

But the two majors parties are just as bad as each other over the last 30-40 years

Just with one of the "big 2" worse than the other...