Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

New Zealand Defence Force

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • 'He died who loved to live,' they'll say,
    'Unselfishly so we might have today!'
    Like hell! He fought because he had to fight;
    He died that's all. It was his unlucky night.
    http://www.salamanderoasis.org/poems...nnis/luck.html

    Comment


    • Rollout of NZ7011 the first RNZAF C-130J-30 at LM's Georgia plant. NZ7012 is now in the paint shop.

      ​​​​​​https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZTr0Fez-yU

      Comment


      • The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) is reportedly considering a move to axe its eight-strong fleet of SH-2G(I) Super Seasprite multi-role maritime helicoptersas part of a 6.5% cut in defence spending – equivalent to NZ$150m (US$91.23m) – that has been requested by the New Zealand government.

        While no formal decision has been made on how the NZDF will meet this goal or on the short-term future of the Royal New Zealand Air Force’s (RNZAF's) ageing SH-2G(I) fleet, the retirement of the air arm’s eight remaining Super Seasprites is definitely being considered as an option by the NZDF hierarchy. In a statement issued to reporters on February 15, RNZAF Air Marshal Kevin Short – New Zealand’s current Chief of Defence Force – noted that the NZDF would have to divest an entire capability to meet Wellington’s cost reduction goals. The RNZAF has operated eight SH-2G(I) Super Seasprite multi-role maritime helicopters - all of which were previously operated by the Royal Australian Navy - since March 2015, but the fleet's short-term future is now being considered.NZDF
        Commenting on the future of the Seasprites in relation to this spending cut request, Short said that they are “old helicopters” that are “costing us a lot of money”, adding that “if we have to push towards that [spending reduction goal], we would put those aircraft on the ground and get them off the books”. While he did confirm that the SH-2G(I) fleet’s retirement is now being considered, he also stressed that the loss of the type would negatively affect the capabilities available to Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) vessels. At present, six of the RNZN’s nine ships are operational – with three vessels set to be out of action for at least three more years – but the NZDF does not want to scale back its naval force in these cuts.

        Wellington announced it would acquire ten ex-Royal Australian Navy SH-2G(A) Super Seasprites from the Kaman Corporation (the type’s original equipment manufacturer) on April 19, 2013. While these airframes were initially operated by Australia, they were subsequently returned to Kaman in 2008 because of technical issues. Of the ten helicopters delivered – following their upgrade to SH-2G(I) standard – eight entered RNZAF service in March 2015, with the type being used for maritime patrol, surveillance and search-and-rescue (SAR) missions. The remaining two airframes were used as a source of spare/repair parts.

        Comment


        • However the Prime Minister has confirmed an increase in Defence budget.



          The report quoted in Key.Aero is lazy journalism. The comments by the CDF were taken out of context from a recent select committee hearing.

          What the CDF actually said was that in the case of the NZDF any cuts would be hard to do and would have consequences and he has already made those aware to the new Defence Minister who also hold the Intelligence agencies portfolio. He pointed out that some older equipment like the SH-2G Sprites and the Boeing 757K's have a heavy maintenance thus cost burden as they near their end of useful life. That they could cut them immediately and save their operational cost as an example (The Boeings have a cost of $77000 per flying hour and the SeaSprites $38000) and achieve the savings, but the result would be that inability to do their core roles.

          The CDF noted that the RFI for Sea Sprite replacements were underway and that the Boeing replacement is now under urgency following direction from the PM.

          Every Government department, ministry and agency has been tasked by the new Finance Minister to go over its books line by line to achieve between 6.5% - 7.5% cost savings target depending on the department. They are all to report back to Cabinet with their findings this month and that will inform the 2024-2028 four year budget allocations from May. Some departments will get cuts and others will possibly get increases. State spending is to be reprioritize​d into where the new government wants it.



          Last edited by Anzac; 1 March 2024, 08:03.

          Comment


          • The circumcision principle - you can cut 5% from anything…
            'He died who loved to live,' they'll say,
            'Unselfishly so we might have today!'
            Like hell! He fought because he had to fight;
            He died that's all. It was his unlucky night.
            http://www.salamanderoasis.org/poems...nnis/luck.html

            Comment


            • Prime Ministers aircraft breaks down again. It is becoming an international joke.

              ​​​​​​https://www.1news.co.nz/2024/03/05/p...e-force-plane/
              Last edited by Anzac; 6 March 2024, 03:53.

              Comment

              Working...
              X