New Zealand orders decoy system for its frigates

Deck-mounted decoy systems for defense against RF-seeking missiles have been ordered for the Royal New Zealand Navy.
Decoy systems for protection against RF-seeking missiles are to be procured by the Royal New Zealand Navy from Airborne Systems Europe.

 

The systems, Airborne's FDS3 corner reflector decoys, will be fitted onto the service's ANZAC-class frigates over a three-year period.

 

The contract from the New Zealand Ministry of Defense for the FDS3 is valued at more than $5.6 million.

 

"This NZ MOD contract follows on from the success of the $41.7 million U.S. Navy contract in 2013," said Chris Rowe, president of Airborne Systems Europe. "In addition to providing protection for the forces of our allies, it sustains high-quality jobs in the UK, and more particularly in South Wales."

 

The decoy system is comprised of a deck-mounted launch tube loaded with a decoy that inflates alongside the ship's hull and then free floats past the vessel's stern. Each decoy has a passive array of radar reflectors.

 

The number of systems to be delivered by Airborne Systems Europe was not disclosed.

Russia 'Offered New Zealand Nuclear Sub' to Settle Dairy Debt in 1990s

Russia offered New Zealand MiG fighter jets, tanks, and a nuclear submarine in 1993 in an attempt to wipe out the $100-million debt it owed New Zealand for imports of its dairy products, a new book said.

In his book "Till The Cows Came Home," set for release in November, Clive Lind says that New Zealand's prime minister at the time, Jim Bolger, turned them down because of his country's nuclear-free stance.

Russian officials had suggested that instead of using the submarine for military purposes, New Zealand could hook it up to the national grid and use it as a power plant for a coastal city, The Guardian reported Tuesday.

Diplomatic and trade relations between Russia and New Zealand were established in 1944. The Soviet Union eventually became the fifth biggest importer of New Zealand's food products. The country remained a major supplier of dairy and meat products to Russia after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Russian submarines heading to waters near NZ

The Russians are coming, again, in submarines to waters near New Zealand. 

The state-run Itar-Tass agency says Russia will send submarines armed with nuclear ballistic missiles to the South Pacific and the Southern Ocean. 

"The revival of nuclear-submarine patrols will allow us to fulfil the tasks of strategic deterrence not only across the North Pole but also the South Pole," an unnamed official in the military General Staff was quoted as saying. 

Given that the South Pole is 1500 kilometres from the sea, it suggests the new Borei-class submarines, with 16 long-range nuclear missiles, might end up in the Ross Sea. 

"As the Russian Navy receive the Borei-class missile submarines, they will not only continue to patrol the Arctic, Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, but will resume execution of combat missions in those regions of the world's ocean, where in the late 90s of the last century used to be the Soviet Navy, and where they have ceased to appear following the collapse of the Soviet Union," the report said. 

It echoes the Soviet days and in 1982, when a Russian submarine was photographed by the Royal New Zealand Air Force east of New Zealand. 

The air force still has submarine-hunting capacity in the form of its six P3 Orions, but it seldom practises finding them now. 

In 1972, the navy was ordered to sea as intelligence suggested a Soviet submarine was near New Zealand. 

Several ships and the air force were well out to sea when they heard, on what was then the NZBC, that a Soviet hydrographic submarine had docked in Suva that morning. 

Just before Christmas in 1982, the diesel-powered Soviet Foxtrot submarine Regul was spotted on the surface near Tahiti sailing with a research vessel. 

It continued towards the South Island and was last seen near the Chatham Islands. The Soviets said they were doing oceanographic work.

Three years later, there were headlines and claims that the French submarine Rubis was in the Waitemata Harbour, supporting the agents bombing the Rainbow Warrior. It was never proved.

German and Japanese submarines operated near New Zealand during World War II. 

U862 captain Heinrich Timm claimed later that while they were off Hawke's Bay, crew landed to get fresh milk from the dairy herd they saw. 

In the 1870s, New Zealand built 17 harbour forts around the country, fearing that Tsarist Russia, in the wake of the Crimean War, might invade. It was never clear why it wanted Auckland.

A400M and C295W to be pitched to New Zealand

The eventual retirement of the RNZAF’s C-130Hs will see Airbus Military pitch the A400M and newly-launched C295W to the New Zealand government.

Announced at its annual briefing to trade media, Airbus Military said while it views New Zealand as a longer-term proposition, it is confident the two aircraft could fill the gap to be left by the ultimate retirement of the RNZAF’s five C-130Hs and indeed enhance the nation’s airlift capabilities.

Airbus Military was upbeat about the potential its new products could offer, and will embark on initial discussions within an undisclosed period, believed to be in the nearer-term to seed the products as potential candidates.

One observer at the briefing noted the C295 could also provide a pragmatic solution to New Zealand’s future maritime patrol needs when the Orions fall due for replacement. Airbus Military is offering the C295W as both a tactical airlifter and maritime patrol aircraft.

The last of the RNZAF C-130Hs to undergo a 15-year life-extension was re-delivered only in February this year, five years later than expected, under a program that was originally approved in 2003.

Airbus Military’s advance campaigning comes as it readies to launch the A400M into service in the coming weeks. The manufacturer’s head of programs, Rafael Tentor, who was A400M project head, said it had been “a long and winding road” to get to this point of delivery, but the A400M was “now the right aircraft at the right time”.

NZ ship to help combat overseas piracy

 HMNZS Te Mana is heading to the Gulf of Aden

A navy frigate is again being sent to the Gulf of Aden, near Africa and the Middle East to help combat piracy.

Defence Minister Jonathan Coleman says HMNZS Te Mana will join the international Combined Maritime Force (CMF) in November for a three-month deployment after a work-up period in Australia.

It will deploy with the Australian frigate HMAS Melbourne, before heading to the Gulf of Aden which is between Yemen and Somalia.

From the middle of next year, an air force Orion maritime patrol aircraft will join the CMF for three months.

 

"Piracy in the Gulf of Aden Indian Ocean region affects all countries with shipping trade going through the Suez Canal," Dr Coleman said.

"New Zealand has a direct interest in supporting the maritime security taskforce and protecting shipping lanes, with a large volume of our trade carried by shipping."

The CMF is a naval partnership of 27 nations.

It operates across 2.5 million square miles of international waters and includes the main shipping routes from the Far East to Europe and the United States.

A New Zealand frigate was part of the operation in 2008, and in 2010 navy captain Jim Gilmour commanded a counter-piracy taskforce

New Zealand - Navy frigate tests missile off Hawaii

The New Zealand Navy frigate, Te Kaha, has test fired a missile worth almost a million dollars off the coast of Hawaii for the first time.

Currently stationed around 280 kilometres from Honolulu, the frigate is part of the New Zealand contingent participating in the bi-annual Rim of the Pacific Exercise (RIMPAC) international maritime warfare exercise.

RIMPAC is hosted by the United States Navy's Pacific Command, in conjunction with the Marine Corps, the Coast Guard, and Hawaii National Guard forces.

In a rare chance, the HMNZS Te Kaha tested the ship's most powerful weapon - a missile worth around $800,000 - in a special US navy firing range.

"For us obviously this is a pretty big deal, certainly from the ship's perspective.

"The idea is to test the missile firing and systems aboard the ship but more importantly the people involved in firing the missile," said Te Kaha Commander Jon Beadsmore.

In the three hour long test process, a remote control target is released around 60 kilometres away.

Te Kaha uses radar to track the target, then fires a sea sparrow homing missile to intercept it.

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The US invites allied military forces from the Pacific Rim nations to participate in RIMPAC.

Most of the 22 RIMPAC nations will participate, with this year's exercise to involve combatants from the US, Canada, Japan, and Australia.

Over the next week all manner of missiles and torpedoes will be test fired.

Te Kaha's turn on the range was called resounding a success.

"The missile was fired, gathered nicely into the control beam of the controlling radar, and proceeded towards the target," Beadsmore said.

6.2 earthquake hits off New Zealand

A 6.2 magnitude earthquake has hit under the Tasman Sea, some 60 kilometers south-west of New Zealand’s North Island.

The quake hit at an estimated 236 kilometer deep, according to the US Geological Survey.

New Zealand’s capital, Wellington, which is on the neighboring South Island, is 161 km south-east of  the epicenter of the quake. Some city residents have posted on Twitter that they’ve felt slight tremors.

“When I first moved to Wellington in the mid 90s I remember lots of sharp quakes, but not rolling, rumbling ones like that,” says Twitter user @grantrobertson1.

“A FULL twenty seconds of shaking in Wellington, not strong but just going on and on and on. Over now,” says @BarnabyHM.

The tremors were also reportedly felt in Christchurch, the island’s largest city, which is located hundreds of kilometers to the south.

There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries caused by the quake.

­Earthquakes are common in New Zealand, which is part of the geologically active part of the Pacific Ring of Fire. The most recent powerful quake in the country happened in December 2011 near Christchurch, causing huge damage in the region, with a magnitude of 6.0. This followed just 10-months after another quake which devastated the city and killed 185 people.

Kaman Confirms SH-2G(I) Negotiations with New Zealand

Kaman Corporation confirmed today that The U.S. Department of State has granted authorization that would permit the Company to negotiate a possible sale of SH-2G(I) Super Seasprite Helicopters to the Government of New Zealand. The potential sale would include eleven SH-2G(I) helicopters, a full motion flight simulator, training aids, spares inventory, publications and the introduction into service and through life support of the aircraft.

New Zealand officials have been working over the past year to determine the most effective way of meeting their future maritime helicopter requirements and the Cabinet has recently directed defence officials to engage in further discussions with Kaman.

The Kaman SH-2G(I) Super Seasprite is the latest version of the multi-mission maritime helicopter and would potentially replace the country's existing fleet of SH-2G's. These helicopters would significantly enhance New Zealand's vertical lift capabilities with exceptional performance and low operating costs. Kaman continues to support the Ministry's objective of extending the Naval Helicopter Capability through 2025. As stated in their Defence Capability Plan, this capability would fulfill a vital national role in the provision of extended reach, surveillance, and air-delivered weapons capability for the ANZAC frigates. These aircraft are also capable of operation from offshore patrol vessels, and the multi-role vessel when required to do so.

Negotiations regarding a potential program between the New Zealand Government and Kaman are in process and are confidential. No investment decisions have been made by New Zealand at this time and Kaman continues to work with other potential customers on the sale of the aircraft.

New Zealanders “misinformed” about Malvinas war says Argentine ambassador

New Zealanders have been misinformed about the battle for the Falkland Islands between Great Britain and Argentina in 1982, the South American country's ambassador to New Zealand has told an audience in Palmerston North.

Ambassador Escalona: ”I would like to imagine we would resume negotiations”

“In New Zealand, we find that mainly what the people read in the media is dispatched from news agencies and stories from the United Kingdom papers” Ambassador Fernando Escalona said, according to reports in the Kiwi media.

Speaking at a public meeting in the city this week, Mr Escalona outlined the history of the conflict and what his country thought of the situation.

The Falklands/Malvinas Islands were originally in the hands of the Spanish, before being given to Argentina. In the 1830s they were taken over by the British and have been in their hands since.

Mr Escalona said various United Nations resolutions had been put in place, asking the United Kingdom and Argentina to come to an agreement over who controls the Islands, but little ground has been made.

When asked by a person in the audience where things would be in 10 years time, Mr Escalona was diplomatic. “I would like to imagine we would resume negotiations.”

But the two sides had not talked about the Islands' sovereignty, which had made things difficult, he said.

“We are open to negotiation, but it's very difficult without delegates to see what would be a possible solution.

”I would like to be optimistic, but we have the reality.“

Another audience member asked Mr Escalona what Argentina had offered the United Kingdom in return for sovereignty of the Islands.

”There has to be discussions, there are many, many different options and they have to be explored” said the Argentine ambassador.

Navy Successfully Tests New Capability of Offshore Patrol Vessels

Seasprite undergoing trials above HMNZS OTAGO

The Navy has successfully conducted trials of flying an SH-2G Seasprite helicopter from the deck of one of its Offshore Patrol Vessels, HMNZS OTAGO, marking a significant milestone in achieving the ship's full operational potential.

The trials have been conducted over the past month during which the Seasprite conducted 161 landings and takeoffs from OTAGO’s flight deck.   The landings and takeoffs were done by day and by night in varying wind and sea conditions in the Hauraki Gulf and the Bay of Plenty sea areas.

"Operating helicopters from ships underway at sea is one of the most challenging activities any Navy undertakes," says Chief of Navy, Rear Admiral Tony Parr. "We have been flying helicopters from the frigates for many years, but now we are learning how to operate these aircraft from a different ship with different characteristics."

The trials proved that the Seasprite can conduct an airborne surveillance task from the OPV of up to 2.5 hours duration, which should enable 4500 square nautical miles to be covered in a single sortie by day or night.

 "The trials have proven the helicopter can operate off the ship across a wide range of sea and wind conditions.  Although it will be some time before the full potential is released the Navy can now begin helicopter operations during which time we will continue to learn and develop our capability."

The two Offshore Patrol Vessels—OTAGO and WELLINGTON— are large, complex vessels that operate from the freezing cold of the Southern Ocean to the tropical heat of the Pacific Islands, giving New Zealand a broad patrol and surveillance capability.

"The ability to land a helicopter on a ship underway at sea by day and night in different wind and sea conditions requires a rigorous and demanding test programme to determine what the limits of operation might be," said Admiral Parr. "The team in OTAGO, which included a number of RNZAF Seasprite technicians, were often operating in challenging conditions.   Nevertheless the trials were completed in a thoroughly professional, safe and timely manner. 

"There will still be a considerable period of learning as we gain experience operating the aircraft on actual deployments."

New Zealand - Lack of staff link to navy curbs denied

Inshore Patrol Vessel HMNZS Rotoiti.

Half of the navy's in-shore patrol vessels will not be in use over the next 12 months, but the Government insists a lack of staff is not the reason.

One of the four vessels will be on "reduced activity" because of a reallocation of staff and another will undergo maintenance, leaving only two of the vessels, which are used in border security, fully operational.

The "reduced activity" comes amid the Government's call for the Defence Force to find more than $350 million in annual savings by 2015, mainly through back-office cuts.

Defence Minister Jonathan Coleman told One News there would be two boats doing "the job we need".

"But at the moment we just haven't got the people available to do the crewing on the third boat, because they will be ... taking annual leave [and] taking the opportunity to get some continuing education."

Defence had earlier said switching more than 300 uniformed staff to civilian roles had a greater impact than expected, but a spokesman for Mr Coleman said those roles were basically re-established as civilian ones.

"[Defence] nominated around 400 jobs across the defence force ... They're all non-deployable back-office jobs as opposed to jobs on a ship ... [and] they replaced them with people who aren't in uniform."

"All those jobs have just about been replaced by civilians," he said.

The four vessels, which have been in operation since 2009, assist in maintaining border security alongside the police, the Department of Conservation, Fisheries and Customs.

Resignations from Defence are at a record high, rising from 112 and 105 in November and December respectively, to 204 in January, One News reported.

New Zealand - Reject Aussie choppers on Navy shopping list

The Navy's troubled fleet of five Seasprite helicopters may soon be replaced by up to 11 refurbished older helicopters rejected by Australia in 2008 because they were considered unsafe and unsuitable.

But Defence Minister Jonathan Coleman said the air worthiness issues the Australians identified had been corrected and there were still plenty of "off-ramps" before any deal was done.

Australia ordered the helicopters in 1997 under the John Howard Government but the project was delayed when modifications ordered by Australia failed to meet performance standards or were too difficult to implement in the refurbished air frames.

According to AAP, seven of the 11 helicopters were originally built in 1963 to 1965 and the other four in the mid-1980s.

Dr Coleman said that what was on offer was up-to-date capability overall, not second-hand capability.

"The reality is we wouldn't buy it if it's not state-of-the-art capability that fits our need.

We not going for 'this is cheap, let's grab it.' There's been a hell of a lot of work that has gone into it."

He was not sure how old the air frames were but the technology on military aircraft was upgraded "and that is actually the key functionality".

The Cabinet has given Defence officials approval to negotiate with the American manufacturers, Kaman Corporation, for the SH-2G Super Seasprite helicopters and a flight simulator in what a Navy source said was a "very good deal".

He would not be specific about the price but it is thought the 11 helicopters, worth $1.4 billion in 2008, would cost New Zealand between $130 million to $230 million depending on numbers and extras.

That compares with the nine NH90 helicopters that are under delivery for $770 million.

The present Seasprites operate from the Navy's two Anzac class frigates, Te Kaha and Te Mana, and the multi-role ship Canterbury.

The Defence Capability Plan released last year foreshadowed a programme to upgrade or replace the Seasprite fleet over four years from 2012.

The botched deal cost Australian taxpayers more than $1 billion in 2008 when the Australian Government told the Kaman Corporation it was pulling out of the deal.

The helicopters were a vital part of the defensive role in the Australian Anzac-class frigates and were meant to protect the frigates from hostile ships and submarines.

Kaman's vice-president of investor relations, Eric Remington, said last week that as part of the settlement with Australia Kaman "took title to the 11 aircraft so that we may offer them for resale".

He said the company was in discussions "with a number of nations" to sell the helicopters but refused to confirm New Zealand was one of the countries in negotiation.

Kaman had earlier said it was focusing on the three countries flying Seasprites: New Zealand, Egypt and Poland. It was also talking to three unnamed potential buyers, Nato and some nations in South Asia, South America and Eastern Europe.

The company denied allegations in Australia that the Seasprites were ever unsafe and said the United States military had operated an earlier version for decades without any serious problems.

Rumours have been circulating in Navy and Defence circles for weeks that the deal was about to be settled.

New Zealand has five Seasprite helicopters which were bought new.

The fleet had been troubled by corrosion and a lack of staff to keep them flying.

Last year then-Defence Minister Wayne Mapp said the New Zealand Seasprites were safe and very capable.

A Ministry of Defence report had earlier indicated only one of the five helicopters was serviceable in October 2010 and earlier last year only two were flying.

The first of Australia's Seasprites arrived in 2003 but within two years many deficiencies had been identified, including an inability to fly in bad weather and low light and a failure to meet Australian airworthiness certification standards. The Australian machines were grounded in 2006.

Defence paper questions helicopter lifespans

One of the RNZAF's new NH90 helicopters at Wellington Airport.

New Zealand's new $771 million air force helicopter fleet may not last as long as expected.

Labour ordered eight NH90 helicopters in 2006 to replace the Vietnam War-era Iroquois choppers.

But the Defence Force has confirmed they are "prone to damage" from debris drawn into engines, and that without screens to lower that risk cannot operate in snowy conditions, and that they are also unsuitable for being transported on the C-130 Hercules.

Now a Defence Force paper obtained by the Sunday Star-Times this past week has raised questions over the longevity of the French-manufactured helicopters' airframe.

The paper says there is a "medium" risk the "fatigue life modelling utilised by NHIndustries may not be accurate, and may not take the Defence Force's statement of operating intent into consideration".

It warned Defence might have to reduce either the annual available flying hours, or the desired 30-year lifespan.

The paper also revealed a "high" risk that some core equipment, including fuel tanks, chaff and flare dispensers, ballistic protection, liferafts, rope rappelling devices and machine-gun mounts, would not be ready before the choppers were handed over. Those delays would "prolong the time" it took for the NH90s to reach their "directed level of capability".

Defence said it was working with NHIndustries to ensure equipment arrived as soon as possible, including investigating "alternate sources of supply".

The paper also said there was a "major risk" the helicopters' introduction into service would be delivered in three phases – "interim, final and final plus".

"This adds complexity and overheads, while reducing aircraft availability as they are taken off line, updated to the latest standard, then acceptance tested," it said.

"Operational test and evaluation effort is also increased."

The paper added the Ministry of Defence and Defence Force were "working closely together to mitigate this risk as far as possible".

The Star-Times revealed last weekend that Defence officials spent more than $1.5m on overseas travel while scoping the choppers.

Documents show the project team's travel costs were $172,035 in 2007-08, $295,290 in 2009-10 and another $106,591 in 2010. Further payments of $546,756 were made in 2010-11 and $426,768 in 2011-12 for travel related to the project, including costs for sending support teams overseas.

Earlier it had been revealed the initial purchase estimate had blown out from $400m-$550m to $771m.

Green Party defence spokesman Kennedy Graham called for a select committee to investigate the project. "Now we find out there are difficulties with the helicopters themselves, and on top of the bill, we spent hundreds of thousands on overseas travel," he said. "The Ministry of Defence needs to explain that."

Secretary of Defence (Acquisition) Des Ashton said it was "incorrect" to say there had been a budget blowout, saying the $550m figure was an early "budgetary estimate" before the evolution of the NH90.

"The question as to whether someone holds an inquiry is not mine to answer," he said. "I am more than comfortable with how the project was handled."

Defence paper questions helicopter lifespans

New Zealand's new $771 million air force helicopter fleet may not last as long as expected.

Labour ordered eight NH90 helicopters in 2006 to replace the Vietnam War-era Iroquois choppers.

But the Defence Force has confirmed they are "prone to damage" from debris drawn into engines, and that without screens to lower that risk cannot operate in snowy conditions, and that they are also unsuitable for being transported on the C-130 Hercules.

Now a Defence Force paper obtained by the Sunday Star-Times this past week has raised questions over the longevity of the French-manufactured helicopters' airframe.

The paper says there is a "medium" risk the "fatigue life modelling utilised by NHIndustries may not be accurate, and may not take the Defence Force's statement of operating intent into consideration".

It warned Defence might have to reduce either the annual available flying hours, or the desired 30-year lifespan.

The paper also revealed a "high" risk that some core equipment, including fuel tanks, chaff and flare dispensers, ballistic protection, liferafts, rope rappelling devices and machine-gun mounts, would not be ready before the choppers were handed over. Those delays would "prolong the time" it took for the NH90s to reach their "directed level of capability".

Defence said it was working with NHIndustries to ensure equipment arrived as soon as possible, including investigating "alternate sources of supply".

The paper also said there was a "major risk" the helicopters' introduction into service would be delivered in three phases – "interim, final and final plus".

"This adds complexity and overheads, while reducing aircraft availability as they are taken off line, updated to the latest standard, then acceptance tested," it said.

"Operational test and evaluation effort is also increased."

The paper added the Ministry of Defence and Defence Force were "working closely together to mitigate this risk as far as possible".

The Star-Times revealed last weekend that Defence officials spent more than $1.5m on overseas travel while scoping the choppers.

Documents show the project team's travel costs were $172,035 in 2007-08, $295,290 in 2009-10 and another $106,591 in 2010. Further payments of $546,756 were made in 2010-11 and $426,768 in 2011-12 for travel related to the project, including costs for sending support teams overseas.

Earlier it had been revealed the initial purchase estimate had blown out from $400m-$550m to $771m.

Green Party defence spokesman Kennedy Graham called for a select committee to investigate the project. "Now we find out there are difficulties with the helicopters themselves, and on top of the bill, we spent hundreds of thousands on overseas travel," he said. "The Ministry of Defence needs to explain that."

Secretary of Defence (Acquisition) Des Ashton said it was "incorrect" to say there had been a budget blowout, saying the $550m figure was an early "budgetary estimate" before the evolution of the NH90.

"The question as to whether someone holds an inquiry is not mine to answer," he said. "I am more than comfortable with how the project was handled."

ANZAC DAY