I've heard on other defence forums rumours Nzdf could be fast tracking some of these big ticket items like the Sea guardian in significant numbers, or even that the SOPV hasn't been cancelled and we'll likely end up with two military speced ones off damen based on the Canadian Arctic patrol ones, to suppliment the frigate replacements? Is there any substance behind this happening or just someone's wish list?
Without any context provided it's a bit hard to be definitive except to say these two capabilities were already signaled in the DCP25 so at face value it's going to happen, one day, anyway, maybe, so its nothing new really.
But what we do know is that the next DCP iteration is being worked on now for release next year (I did read something about that recently but sorry can't put my hands on it for now). I wouldn't be surprised if the "Long-range remotely piloted aircraft" project is something that is prioritised (eg Sea Guardian or something else), but that's just a guess so we will have to wait and see.
The SOPV as Nighthawk mentions was never cancelled (it was simply a deferral from the 2020-2023 GOTD like many other projects that the then Finance Minister refused to release funding for like potentially leasing Wildcats or possibly obtaining surplus MRH90's, let alone advancing various other DCP19 projects). But a Damen sourced AOPS doesn't make sense because they don't appear to design such vessels - typically such vessels are of Norwegian or Danish design origin - unless it is something new (concept) that hasn't been released but why would the RNZN then take a risk on an unproven design? I'd be looking instead to the in service Canadian AOPS (which is a Vard design) or the proposed Danish future Arctic Patrol Vessel (Arktiske Patruljeskibe) which is being built to replace their Thetis-class Arctic OPV's, as potential options (don't quote me but apparently the RNZN showed some interest in the Thetis class for Project Projector in the early stages).
