Royal New Zealand Air Force

[Redlands18]

'Not ideal': NZ Defence Force plane lets down PM Luxon (msn.com)
What is it going to take before the NZG wakes up that these aircraft are a disaster waiting to happen, one going down over the Indian Ocean with the PM on board? or worse yet the far harder to replace, 100 Defence personnel on board? Time to retire these aircraft, strike a deal with Air NZ to provide an aircraft as needed, until replacements arrive.

 

[ngatimozart]

'Not ideal': NZ Defence Force plane lets down PM Luxon (msn.com)
What is it going to take before the NZG wakes up that these aircraft are a disaster waiting to happen, one going down over the Indian Ocean with the PM on board? or worse yet the far harder to replace, 100 Defence personnel on board? Time to retire these aircraft, strike a deal with Air NZ to provide an aircraft as needed, until replacements arrive.

The problem is not so much the aircraft per se, but the fact that only two were acquired, so if one falls over and the other is unavailable for any reason, these situations will continue to occur.

 

[RetirementIsGood]

And the Minister says she has no money to replace them or even lease something as a stopgap.

Defence Force plane replacement or lease 'just so expensive' - Minister
Defence Minister Judith Collins says buying a new plane to replace the ageing 757s - or setting up a lease arrangement - is too costly right now.

Defence Force plane replacement or lease 'just so expensive' - Minister

 

[Rob c]

'Not ideal': NZ Defence Force plane lets down PM Luxon (msn.com)
What is it going to take before the NZG wakes up that these aircraft are a disaster waiting to happen, one going down over the Indian Ocean with the PM on board? or worse yet the far harder to replace, 100 Defence personnel on board? Time to retire these aircraft, strike a deal with Air NZ to provide an aircraft as needed, until replacements arrive.

Whether it is a disaster with one going down in the Indian ocean could depend on who is in it. If it is full of pollies and left wing jurno's it could be a blessing. But seriously i ask my self why airlines around the world are still using 757's successfully and the VP of the us sometimes uses one and we run into trouble. I think this may be defence putting pressure on pollies to stump up the money. The question of availability was asked some time ago, with reference to airlines and the excuse was that the air force had higher standards than airlines. WHY is this so with a long proven airliner.

 

[Gibbo]

The problem is not so much the aircraft per se, but the fact that only two were acquired, so if one falls over and the other is unavailable for any reason, these situations will continue to occur.

Absolutely banged the nail on the head there... 2 wasn't enough. Now Collins is saying how huge 10 of millions is... yet they admit their roads of national significance wil have cost blowouts before they've even started... maybe use some of that money & scale down the RoNS. Love him or hate him, Hipkins is right...the wrong choices are being made! What a friggin joke only weeks after fronting up & talking up defence in front of the Aussies to only then say there's no money to do anything & oh, by the way we want you to spend 6% less! How do we honestly expect this activity to pivot to rebulding & enhancing the NZDF!?!

 

[John Fedup]

Pollies aren’t VIPs IMHO. As they refuse to invest in new aircraft with sufficient numbers maybe it is time to fly commercial and sell the 757s. Perhaps Trump’s 757 maintenance team should be hired, his plane doesn’t seem to fail (wouldn’t admit it I guess).

 

[Bevan]

Long time lurker, first time poster.What has happened with the plane breaking down is resulting in some interesting commentary, particularly Hipkins trying to say the wrong choices are being made - the dude was Prime Minister for 306 days and didnt do anything to replace them - Luxon has been PM for less than 100 - think we can give him to the first budget at least. Hipkins also saying they were looking to replace them is laughable, not aware of any announcement while they were in power and we know how they loved to make announcements.

One positive though is at least according to this article, the defence review has been brought forward so we may start seeing the plans from June. 'Embarrassing': PM misses meetings with world leaders after yet another NZDF plane breakdown

 

[John Fedup]

NZ isn’t the only country with VIP aircraft breaking down. Junior has had two recent incidents, India and Jamaica. The new fleet of MRTT will address this and similar aircraft for NZ is a solution.

 

[Rob c]

With a limited budget for defence , my view is that we have a lot of catching up to do in most areas and VIP should be at the bottom of the list.

 

[Challenger]

I think this may be defence putting pressure on pollies to stump up the money.

That did occur to me, and what an excellent way to do it.

 

[Nighthawk.NZ]

One has to remember that the B757s aren't a standard model. They got upgraded engines...(will admit don't know the ins and out of that) and they were modified with side cargo door's to take pallets once you remove the seating... so they are pretty modular.

So they aren't just a VIP or troop transport. They have been down on the ice doing on the ice things to flying PMs around the world. They were pretty versatile... but now worn out.

If we can add I tanker capabilities to that mix would be a very versatile aircraft. And for crying out loud get more than two airframes. Yes I know that not going to happen but dreams are free... well at this stage they still are.

 

[Gibbo]

Pollies aren’t VIPs IMHO. As they refuse to invest in new aircraft with sufficient numbers maybe it is time to fly commercial and sell the 757s. Perhaps Trump’s 757 maintenance team should be hired, his plane doesn’t seem to fail (wouldn’t admit it I guess).

Except they do a lot more than just VIP & being down to 3 x C130H in service that would be cutting off the nose to spite the face.

 

[Hawkeye69]

I can see both the 757 and Seasprite been retired sooner rather than later and no interim replacements.

Wait till they get the Defense Review, they in cabinet and Treasury will shit their undies and file it for another decade.

 

[Nighthawk.NZ]

Firstly didn't even know they were considering ... considering guubberment cutbacks...
Secondly thought the Aussies were holding onto them for a few more years...

Defence Force turns down Australian helicopters

As the NZ military prepares to sell off decades-old aircraft, it has been revealed it passed up an offer to expand its fleet of helicopters

newsroom.co.nz

 

[JohnJT]

The first RNZAF C-130J-30 has had it's first test flight in Georgia.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1776042907851739173

 

[JohnJT]

An RNZAF P-8A is deploying overseas operationally for the first time.

New Zealand P-8A to Make Inaugural Deployment to Japan - Naval News

New Zealand will operationally deploy one of it's new P-8A Poseidon aircraft to Japan this month for the types first operational deployment.

www.navalnews.com

 

[recce.k1]

An RNZAF P-8A is deploying overseas operationally for the first time.

New Zealand P-8A to Make Inaugural Deployment to Japan - Naval News

New Zealand will operationally deploy one of it's new P-8A Poseidon aircraft to Japan this month for the types first operational deployment.

www.navalnews.com

Rare nocturnal kiwi spotted in daylight blending into the natural habitat of other like minded birds of the same feather.



Source: JMSDF

 

[Gooey]

As well as the USN, I'm looking forward to NZ confirming that it too is adequately equipping 5 Sqn's massive fleet of 4 reconnaissance aircraft with modern protection systems. Obviously, war stocks of modern ASW torpedoes would be good too.

BAE Systems to provide EW pods to US Navy Poseidon fleet
The US Navy has awarded a US$95 million (AU$142.3 million) contract to BAE Systems to provide advanced electronic warfare countermeasure pods to the branches’ fleet of P-8A Poseidon multi-mission maritime patrol aircraft.

BAE Systems’ survivability pod provides early threat detection and effective countermeasures to protect US and international high-value airborne assets, providing the Poseidons with an expanding operating range in contested environments.

BAE Systems to provide EW pods to US Navy Poseidon fleet

The US Navy has awarded a US$95 million (AU$142.3 million) contract to BAE Systems to provide advanced electronic warfare countermeasure pods to the branches’ fleet of P-8A Poseidon multi-mission maritime patrol aircraft.

www.defenceconnect.com.au

 

[kiwi in exile]

Obviously, war stocks of modern ASW torpedoes would be good too

Was there something somewhere in some small print about mk54s being part of the p8 deal?
Nothing about LRASMs though

 

[Gooey]

Entirely my memory, and sorry 'kiwi in exile' I can't find the reference, but I understand 20 Mk54 sometime shortly/to come.

Hence my comments about getting war stock level of numbers. For example: 4 acft x 5 internal points (assumption) x 1 sortie/day x 10 days = ROM 200 weapons. That might seem excessive to some bed wetters but with the demise of ACF the P-8 is it, toto, for our air force and therefore New Zealand. Everything else, by which I mean C-130, Boeings, & helos, are support missions.

LRASM would be a great stick to have for armed ISR/ASuW but not before we double the current fleet; IMHO, it would be better to concentrate on ISR & ASW before the considerable resourcing required for the LRASM missions.