4 mars 2015 NZ Defence Force

January 30, 2015 by Think Defence

The Throughout the evolution of the Type 26 Frigate there has been a great deal of discussion and speculation about it’s export potential. Brazil, Australia, New Zealand and even the US have been linked with the Type 26 and yet not a great deal has been forthcoming.

The emergence of the Type 26 coincided with a new approach from the MoD that placed ‘exportability’ into the decision making process for investment in bespoke design and development. The general concept put forward by the MoD was if the nation is investing large chunks of cash in designs from scratch it had better have some export potential or else it wouldn’t be authorised.

This approach was included in the National Security Through Technology strategy published in 2012, click here to read.

In the past, the MOD has sometimes set its equipment requirements so high that the resulting systems exceeded any potential export customer’s needs or budget. As highlighted in the SDSR, we believe one way to increase the UK’s share of global defence exports is to consider export-related issues early in the MOD’s own acquisition cycle, while ensuring that our Armed Forces continue to receive the equipment capabilities and support they need. This approach was strongly supported in the Green Paper consultation responses.

There are some major equipment projects that will never be exported, Successor and Astute for example, or some crypto as another. For others, the discussion centred on how operational capabilities could be maintained whist still offering the same equipment for export in a competitive global market. It was recognised that exportability could not be tacked on at the end of the development cycle but had to be integral to the process from start to finish. Techniques such as modularity, open system exploitation and parallel development.

It also raised the prospect of compromising on specification in order to make equipment more exportable.

the MOD will adjust programmes, having considered the qualitative and quantitative benefits to be gained from exports, underpinned by robust market analysis of customer requirements in potential export markets.

A recent FOI release included a 2014 report from DSTL titled Embedding Exportability in the MoD which has a very interesting section on the Type 26, drawing a comparison between that and the Complex Weapons portfolio approach that has already seen some export success with the Common Anti Air Modular Missile (CAMM)

On Type 26 it said;

The Type 26 project team made an attempt at implementing exportability by identifying and consulting potential international partners/customers early in the projects lifecycle. This aspect was successful but did not occur early enough and there wasn’t a real appetite to compromise on UK requirements to accommodate export customers. The premise of achieving exports of the platform was also based on flawed market intelligence, leading to a poor export strategy.

Click here to read the full document, it is fascinating and complex subject with no easy soundbite solutions but at least on T26, the additional information is very interesting. It raises the same question the MoD has been grappling with for a very long time, should it compromise equipment specification (and thus, arguably operational effectiveness) for better exportability which offers the prospect of larger volume and lower overall programme cost. Or put another way, the balance between cost, specification and quantity.

18 déc. 2014 NZDefenceForce

18/11/2014 Sources : État-major des armées

Tous les ans, les forces armées de Nouvelle-Zélande organisent un déplacement international pour les officiers supérieurs, élèves de leur Ecole de Guerre, Advanced Command and Staff Course (Joint) – ACSC(J), et les majors des trois armées qui suivent le cours Joint Warrant Officers Advance Course (JWOAC).

Dans le cadre de ce voyage de fin de scolarité, les forces armées en Nouvelle-Calédonie (FANC) ont accueilli du 11 au 14 novembre cette délégation. Composée de 62 militaires et civils de quatorze des pays partenaires de la région, cette délégation était dirigée par le contre-amiral Wayne Burroughs, chargé de mission auprès du chef d’Etat-major néo-zélandais.

 Le but de cette visite, inscrite dans le programme de formation de haut niveau interarmées et international des forces néo-zélandaises, était de permettre aux élèves officiers de comprendre la position de la France dans le Pacifique et le rôle des FANC, mais aussi de mieux apprécier l’engagement et les missions des forces armées françaises à l’échelle régionale et mondiale.

A cette fin, la délégation a notamment bénéficié de conférences axées sur les FANC et leurs missions et sur nos derniers engagements en Libye  et au Mali ; d’une visite du musée de la Seconde Guerre mondiale, et de démonstrations par le régiment d’infanterie de Marine Pacifique Nouvelle-Calédonie (RIMaP-NC) au camp Broche à Plum.

 Les FANC constituent le point d’appui central du « théâtre Pacifique» avec un dispositif interarmées centré sur un groupement tactique interarmes (GTIA) et les moyens de projection associés. Avec les Forces armées en Polynésie Française (FAPF), dispositif interarmées à dominante maritime, les FANC ont pour principale mission d’assurer la souveraineté de la France dans leur zone de responsabilité, d’animer la coopération régionale et d’entretenir des relations privilégiées avec l’ensemble des pays riverains de la zone pacifique. Enfin, les FANC engagent régulièrement leurs moyens pour des opérations d’aide aux populations, en appui des autres services de l’Etat.

14 oct. 2014 NZDefenceForce

22 sept. 2014 NZDF

09/09/2014 Sources : EMA

Du 30 août au 5 septembre, après la phase initiale d’intégration de la force (FIT) qui s’est déroulée du 25 au 29 août, les nations participant à l’exercice Croix du Sud 2014, ont joué un « LIVEX », c’est-à-dire un entraînement aussi proche possible de la réalité, en grandeur nature. Il s’agissait ici d’une opération humanitaire et d’évacuation de ressortissants.

Dès le 30 août, un élément comprenant deux équipes de reconnaissance de plage (Australie – Nouvelle Zélande) et une équipe du génie (Régiment d’Infanterie de Marine Pacifique – Nouvelle – Calédonie (RIMaP – NC)) a été mis en place sur la plage de Druelu sur l’ile de Lifou. Cet élément qui opérait à partir de la frégate de surveillance (FS) Vendemiaire avait pour mission de préparer la mise à terre de la force embarquée sur le HMNZS Canterbury.

Le 31 août, à l’aube, une opération aéroportée sur l’aéroport de Lifou et une opération amphibie sur la plage de Druelu ont permis à la force de prendre pied sur l’ile. Une dizaine de rotations d’avions CASA CN 235 et Hercule C130 a ensuite eu lieu pour assurer la mise en place de la logistique, de l’EVAC INFO et du reste du personnel de la force. Dès midi, la force débutait son déploiement sur Lifou et apportait les premiers soutiens à la population en détresse. Au soir, le module EVAC INFO ainsi que la base logistique avancée étaient opérationnels. Parallèlement, le groupement de soutien (GS) de la base de défense ainsi que la Croix Rouge débutaient la mise en place de la portion centrale du CENTREVAC sur l’aéroport de la Tontouta, à 30 km au Nord de Noumea.

Tout était donc en place pour répondre rapidement à un ordre d’évacuation de ressortissants de Lifou et Tiga. Compte tenu de la dégradation de la situation humanitaire et sécuritaire, cet ordre fut donné dès le 1reseptembre midi. Ainsi les 2 et 3 septembre, un peu moins de 250 ressortissants étaient évacués de Lifou vers La Tontouta. Le retrait du dispositif a ensuite pu débuter le 3 septembre dans l’après-midi, une fois l’ensemble des ressortissants évacués, et le 4 septembre au soir, l’ensemble des troupes étaient présentes à Nouméa.

Cette année, la chaîne complète d’évacuation humanitaire a été mise en œuvre. Celle-ci a débuté avec la prise en compte initiale des réfugiés, au plus près de la zone dangereuse, avec le module EVAC INFO déployé à Lifou. Après l’évacuation par air en zone amie, les ressortissants ont été admis à la portion centrale du CENTREVAC renforcée par la Croix Rouge.

L’édition 2014 de l’exercice Croix du Sud a été un véritable succès, contribuant au renforcement de la position française dans le Pacifique. Illustration de cette réussite, aux côtés des acteurs traditionnels (Australie, Nouvelle-Zélande, Vanuatu, Tonga), des forces américaines d’Hawaï, des militaires britanniques déployés au Brunei, des Canadiens, des Japonais, des Singapouriens mais aussi des observateurs Chiliens et Fidjiens étaient présents. Ainsi, plus de 1 500 personnes ont participé à cet exercice.

Croix du Sud est l’exercice de référence régional en termes de projection de force et de conduite simultanée de deux types d’opération, militaire (RESEVAC) et humanitaire avec la mise en œuvre de l’accord FRANZ (accord tripartite conclu en 1992 entre la France, l’Australie et la Nouvelle-Zélande). Au niveau national, cet entraînement a confirmé la cohérence de la réorganisation des forces de souveraineté selon une logique de « théâtre ».

Les FANC constituent le point d’appui central du « théâtre Pacifique» avec un dispositif interarmées centré sur un groupement tactique interarmes (GTIA) et les moyens de projection associés. Avec les Forces armées en Polynésie Française (FAPF), dispositif interarmées à dominante maritime, les FANC ont pour principale mission d’assurer la souveraineté de la France dans leur zone de responsabilité, d’animer la coopération régionale et d’entretenir des relations privilégiées avec l’ensemble des pays riverains de la zone pacifique. Enfin, les FANC engagent régulièrement leurs moyens pour des opérations d’aide aux populations, en appui des autres services de l’Etat.

The amphibious ship Canterbury was part of New Zealand's Project Protector program. Two of the four inshore patrol vessels that are also part of the program could be replaced by a larger ship. (New Zealand Navy)

Aug. 12, 2014 - By NICK LEE-FRAMPTON – Defense News

WELLINGTON — New Zealand’s government is considering cutting half of the Royal New Zealand Navy’s inshore patrol vessel (IPV) fleet.

Two of the four 180-foot IPVs, commissioned in 2009, could be swapped for a larger ship, said Defence Minister Jonathan Coleman.

“Obviously, if we felt that what we had already was ideal we wouldn’t be looking at this potential change,” he said.

The four IPVs, ordered under the NZ $500 million (US $423 million) Project Protector contract, which included two 279-foot offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) and the 430-foot amphibious ship Canterbury, which participated in the recent Rim of the Pacific exercise, were ordered to help police, customs, fisheries and other government agencies protect New Zealand’s borders and exclusive economic zone.

However, staff shortages, particularly a chronic lack of technicians, have meant the Navy struggled to crew all the ships. The Navy has 2,059 regular personnel, down from 2,162 in 2010.

Business case documents, obtained under the Official Information Act by a New Zealand television channel, show two of the four patrol vessels would be sold and replaced by one longer-range ship, effectively a third OPV, in about five years.

Coleman says he will put the case to Cabinet next year if the government wins next month’s election.

07/31/2014 by Courtney Woo - airbushelicopters.com

Members of the NH90 team in New Zealand have a lot to celebrate: They have just completed the retrofit of four NH90 TTH helicopters at the Royal New Zealand Air Force’s (RNZAF) operational base in Ohakea.

The purpose of the retrofit was to upgrade the first four NH90s from initial to final configuration. The RNZAF operates a fleet of eight NH90 TTH, four of which were delivered already in the final form. With the retrofit, RNZAF’s current NH90 fleet has reached its final configuration.

The retrofit was performed between September 2013 and July 2014 at the customer’s premises and following a preparatory phase in France.

The team involved took advantage of the retrofit lay-up period to perform calendar maintenance and to retrofit some spare  parts and an attrition frame.

More than 30 employees from Airbus Helicopters and partner companies, stationed at the Ohakea base, worked hand-in-hand with a network of logistical experts from Airbus Helicopters and its suppliers. The close collaboration of these teams among each other and with the customer was instrumental in completing the retrofit on time.

Similar retrofit programs are underway in other countries, with a total of 10 aircraft having already been completed. Seventeen more NH90s are currently undergoing retrofit at five different locations in France, Italy, Finland, Germany and Australia.

The NH90 retrofit program brings together specialists from different areas, such as configuration, production, engineering, procurement and support, whose transversal collaboration plays a key role in ensuring the success of the upgrades.

17.07.2014 by NZDefenceForce

United States Marine Corps units from 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, Kilo Company, Marine Wing Support Detachment 24 and United States Army, 27 Field Artillery embarked HMNZS CANTERBURY. The ship sailed to Pohakuloa Training Area as part of Exercise RIMPAC 2014. In total there were 230 persons embarked.

Jul 2, 2014 ASDNews Source : CAE

    T-6C ground-based training system for Royal New Zealand Air Force

    Visual system upgrade on German Air Force Eurofighter simulators

    CAE Medallion-6000 image generator for T-50IQ simulator

    KC-135 boom operator weapon systems trainer for undisclosed international customer

CAE today announced that it has won a series of contracts valued at approximately C$110 million to provide a range of training systems and services for global defence customers. These include contracts to provide the T-6C ground-based training system and services for the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF), a contract to upgrade the visual systems on the German Air Force's Eurofighter simulators, a contract from Korea Aerospace Industries to provide the visual system for a T-50IQ full-mission simulator, and a contract to provide a KC-135 boom operator weapon systems trainer for an undisclosed international customer.

"We are well positioned across a range of opportunities around the world, involving defence and security forces that increasingly recognize the benefits of simulation-based training," said Gene Colabatistto, Group President, Defence and Security, CAE. "CAE is a skilled and experienced training systems integrator, and we are focused on pursuing long-term, integrated training solutions."

Read more

20.06.2014 NZDefenceForce

Battle lab is a project established to trial and test the viability of new equipment the NZ Army may wish to acquire in the futur

27/05/2014 MBDA

The New Zealand Ministry of Defence signed a contract on 21st May with MBDA for the provision of Sea Ceptor for the Local Area Air Defence element of the Royal New Zealand Navy’s ANZAC Frigate Systems Upgrade (FSU) project. This contract confirms the selection of the system by the RNZN for its ANZAC frigates that was announced in October 2013.

Steve Wadey, MBDA UK Managing Director and Group Executive Director Technical, said: “I am delighted that New Zealand has confirmed its selection of Sea Ceptor for the ANZAC FSU project. This first success in the global market outside the United Kingdom for Sea Ceptor is due not only to its advanced operational and through-life cost advantages, but also to the invaluable support provided by the UK Government and the Royal Navy during discussions with the New Zealand Ministry of Defence. Cooperation between the Governments and the Navies of the United Kingdom and New Zealand will continue to be important to delivering an excellent Sea Ceptor capability throughout the life of the project.”

Notes to Editors

The appeal of Sea Ceptor is creating significant interest in a number of markets around the world and its versatility makes it the ideal choice for the ANZAC upgrade. As an active radar system, Sea Ceptor does not require the dedicated tracker/illuminator radars on which semi-active systems depend. Sea Ceptor deploys the CAMM (Common Anti-air Modular Missile) which, due to its soft launch technology, requires no efflux management system. This minimizes the system’s mass and footprint thereby allowing for greater flexibility regarding ship installation positions. CAMM missile canisters are compatible with a wide range of vertical launch systems.

CAMM features in a family of next generation, all-weather, air defence weapon systems with applications for sea and land environments providing 360° air defence coverage against multiple simultaneous targets, both airborne and surface. This flexibility extends to installation options, a choice of launchers, including the widely used MK 41, and system compatibility with a range of sensors. Cost is a major advantage of CAMM and customers will benefit from a “10 year canister” solution for maximum ease of inventory service management and minimum through life costs.