NZDF General discussion thread

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Gibbo

Well-Known Member
New body armour for NZ troops

Kiwi troops get hi-tech armour | Stuff.co.nz

Don't know much about this sort of thing - does anyone know if there's likely to be armour in the limbs? If not then it seems protection is limited to the torso - is that 'standard'? Perhaps freedom of movement is considered more important!?!

50 kg is damned heavy - might make the kit unpopular in high temperatures such as Afghanistan - although some have suggested 50kg is a mis-print! I guess it's also the weight including the pack!?!
 
R

Rings85

New Member
There is a 2 page spread about this in the september issue of army news. Some nice pictures too.

The armour is a BAE RBAV (SF) variant. It has front, rear, and five smaller side and groin plates within the soft armour (including the upper arm). It is a MOLLE system and is adjustable to the wearer. Coyote brown in colour, it is also the same one used by US seals and rangers.

The 55kg is refering to rifle, ammo, armour, food (and water?), sleeping bag, and patrol pack.

Will be distributed to operational units first, and then through the wider army over the next 5 years, along with other parts of the soldier modernisation programme; weapon upgrades, night vision, and less than lethal.

This all makes me very happy given my AARC starts in feb.
 
R

r.e.b.c

New Member
Women in forces

:?2Ok Auzzies and Kiwis...honest answer!:?2

Do you believe women have a place in all roles within the forces, some roles (nursing/medic/admin etc etc) or none?
I'm realy interested in whether you interact with them the same as you do your male counterparts, given your answer to the above?
And if a partner/family member decides to become uniformed, would your reaction differ?

I understand we are a progressive couple of nations (well, we like to think so!;)) but I'm really interested in general opinion here.

Thanks very much!!:)
 
S

Sea Toby

New Member
r.e.b.c said:
:?2Ok Auzzies and Kiwis...honest answer!:?2

Do you believe women have a place in all roles within the forces, some roles (nursing/medic/admin etc etc) or none?
I'm realy interested in whether you interact with them the same as you do your male counterparts, given your answer to the above?
And if a partner/family member decides to become uniformed, would your reaction differ?

I understand we are a progressive couple of nations (well, we like to think so!;)) but I'm really interested in general opinion here.

Thanks very much!!:)
Click to expand...
Yes, in every position as long as women can do the same physical lifting as men per requirements.
 
G

Gibbo

Well-Known Member
r.e.b.c said:
:?2Ok Auzzies and Kiwis...honest answer!:?2

Do you believe women have a place in all roles within the forces, some roles (nursing/medic/admin etc etc) or none?
I'm realy interested in whether you interact with them the same as you do your male counterparts, given your answer to the above?
And if a partner/family member decides to become uniformed, would your reaction differ?

I understand we are a progressive couple of nations (well, we like to think so!;)) but I'm really interested in general opinion here.

Thanks very much!!:)
Click to expand...
I guess the key indicator is that the NZDF is very happy with the way female personnel have integrated (& more importantly been allowed to!!!). Up to 25% of Navy is female. They've well & truly proven themselves & long may it continue!
 
Todjaeger

Todjaeger

Potstirrer
Norm said:
Here is a NZ Army PDF of the new kit , came across it on the NZ Navy web site !

http://www.navy.mil.nz/downloads/pdf/public-docs/nz-soldier-survivability-gear.pdf

Seems to have a lot of pistol mags strapped around the left leg. interesting spot for the pistol as well.
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The pistol holster does seem awfully high. However, given how I was shown to shoot in CQ, having a holster up that high might actually be easier. Not sure without trying though.

I do wonder why the Army pdf was on the Navy site, but oh well...

-Cheers
 
R

Rings85

New Member
That PDF is the page layout from the army news issue above.

I presume the pistol location is to make it easier to get to in a vehicle, and mabye while lying down? It looks more comfortable than having a big metal weight strapped to your leg for days.
 
G

Gibbo

Well-Known Member
Todjaeger said:
The pistol holster does seem awfully high. However, given how I was shown to shoot in CQ, having a holster up that high might actually be easier. Not sure without trying though.

I do wonder why the Army pdf was on the Navy site, but oh well...

-Cheers
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Remember like most modern NZDF deployments NZPRT is a tri-service force so all personnel will no doubt be issued the new body-kits for Afghanistan.
 
recce.k1

recce.k1

Well-Known Member
Confirmation that Govt and Defence are looking at UAV survellience technology. ;)

Spy drones on NZ defence wish list - National - NZ Herald News

I wonder what the timeframes would be for this - longer term? Presumably NZ would buy into a US-Australia data/control system etc, and I take it that such a system would need to be developed over time?

Getting an armed variant (for maritime and army support) could be useful seeing we've lost the air combat force etc?
 
MrConservative

MrConservative

Super Moderator
Staff member
recce.k1 said:
Confirmation that Govt and Defence are looking at UAV survellience technology. ;)

Spy drones on NZ defence wish list - National - NZ Herald News

I wonder what the timeframes would be for this - longer term? Presumably NZ would buy into a US-Australia data/control system etc, and I take it that such a system would need to be developed over time?

Getting an armed variant (for maritime and army support) could be useful seeing we've lost the air combat force etc?
Click to expand...
This looks promising doesn't it. The P3 replacement post 2018. That it is in the Herald and Dr Mapp is quoted is significant. Could it be that the two tier approach that many of us here on DF have advocated. The Global Hawk and a Q300MM/CN235 Coastal Patrol aircraft mix.

Global Atomic are looking at Maritime version of the Avenger. Maybe in 10 years when this will be in the zone, then a mix of both USAV and UCAV.

I think the short term will be modest, but the medium term will see some capability return to the NZDF out of this White Paper.
 
J

jchan77

New Member
Rnzaf

Heres a good plan for the RNZAF

Air Force:


Combat :

30 to 40 Modern Western Fighter Aircraft ( JAS-39 NG Gripen or F-16E)
18 Light strike/training jets (BAE Hawk)


Maritime Patrol:

6 Maritime strike aircraft - P-3 Orion

AWACS:

5 SAAB Erieye planes (Can be in jet or turbo prop platform)


Cargo Transport

10 eavy transportation aircraft (A400M or C-130J)


Helicopter Transport:

12 Medium sized helicopters (NH90 )
16 light helicopters (A109)


Unmanned Aerial Vehicles:

6 remote controlled reconnaissance UAVs (MQ-1 Predator or MQ-9 Reaper)
10 SAAB Skelder VTOL UAV (Good for search and rescue and peacekeeping missions)
 
B

battlensign

New Member
jchan77 said:
Heres a good plan for the RNZAF

Air Force:


Combat :

30 to 40 Modern Western Fighter Aircraft ( JAS-39 NG Gripen or F-16E)
18 Light strike/training jets (BAE Hawk)


Maritime Patrol:

6 Maritime strike aircraft - P-3 Orion

AWACS:

5 SAAB Erieye planes (Can be in jet or turbo prop platform)


Cargo Transport

10 eavy transportation aircraft (A400M or C-130J)


Helicopter Transport:

12 Medium sized helicopters (NH90 )
16 light helicopters (A109)


Unmanned Aerial Vehicles:

6 remote controlled reconnaissance UAVs (MQ-1 Predator or MQ-9 Reaper)
10 SAAB Skelder VTOL UAV (Good for search and rescue and peacekeeping missions)
Click to expand...
A good plan for the NZAF it might be - but they would have to actually care about their defence for any of that to be even remotely reasonable..................

Brett.

P.S 30 Modern fighters would be more likely than 40, if we use the F-16 proposal as a basis for comparisons.
 
J

jchan77

New Member
The Future of the RNZAF

New Zealand doesn't have any fighter jets right now. But they are better off with unconventional tatics like SAS Operations.

I have a new plan for the RNZAF's future if it's to upgrade itself.

Air Force

Combat:

• 30 to 40 Modern Western Fighter Aircraft (JAS-39 NG Gripen or F-16E)
• 18 Light strike/trainer jets (BAE Hawk)


Maritime Patrol:

• 6 Maritime strike aircraft - P-3 Orion


AWACS:

• 3 Saab Erieye planes (Can be in jet or turbo prop platform)


Cargo Transport

• 10 transportation aircraft (A400M or C-130J)


Helicopter Transport:

• 12 Medium sized helicopters (NH90 )
• 16 light helicopters (A109)


Unmanned Aerial Vehicles:

• 6 remote controlled reconnaissance UAVs (MQ-1 Predator or MQ-9 Reaper --- good for maritime patrol)
• 10 Saab Skelder UAV (Good for search and rescue, detecting enemy units and peacekeeping missions)

Ground Radar

• 10 Saab Giraffe AMB radar vehicles

Other Branches

• Saab CEROS 200/AESA radar on every naval warships
• Saab Trackfire RWS to be fitted on every armoured vehicles/tanks in the Army.
 
S

swerve

Super Moderator
A400M is almost twice the size of C-130J. You'd either need more C-130J, or fewer A400M, to do the same job.

I won't comment on the likelihood of your proposal being funded.
 
K

KiwiRob

Well-Known Member
Are you smoking something funny? Since when has NZ (except in wartime) ever operated that many aircraft or since when have we ever had the need for that many aircraft and who is going to pay for them let alone how are we going to find the people to crew and maintain them.

Since its a dream list we would obviously need at least 6 Chinooks, 24 Apache gun ships and maybe an LHD or two for the new Marine Expeditionary Brigade that should go along with our massively expanded military. Crikey with this much fire power we should probably activate all the 500,000 odd kiwi agents that have been infiltrating Australia in the last couple of decades and finally annex them, they could become the West Island. :D
 
J

jchan77

New Member
KiwiRob said:
Are you smoking something funny? Since when has NZ (except in wartime) ever operated that many aircraft or since when have we ever had the need for that many aircraft and who is going to pay for them let alone how are we going to find the people to crew and maintain them.

Since its a dream list we would obviously need at least 6 Chinooks, 24 Apache gun ships and maybe an LHD or two for the new Marine Expeditionary Brigade that should go along with our massively expanded military. Crikey with this much fire power we should probably activate all the 500,000 odd kiwi agents that have been infiltrating Australia in the last couple of decades and finally annex them, they could become the West Island. :D
Click to expand...

This is the group that wants their air force back ------------>>>>>>>>>> bebo.com - Profile from We Want Our Air Force Back <kiwiairforce>
 
MrConservative

MrConservative

Super Moderator
Staff member
The US State Department has finally allowed the 17 A-4K Skyhawks in storage at WB since 2001 to be sold. The have given NZ the 3rd Party FMS waiver and prospective buyers are due to visit WB for test flights sometime in the future.

They will be brave boys!!

To reactivate the A-4's will be quite an expensive business. I hope it is not the tax payer footing the Bill.

The Aermacchi 339CB is not part of the US FMS regime and will stay in NZ unless sold. No one apparently wants them at this stage. I suppose it is because of the out of date analog cockpit, lack of IFF ect... and the orphan RR Viper which is now unsupportable. The Viper was said to be a nightmare for 14 Sqd groundies. The solution I am told is to put in a fresh Honeywell 760TFE but they are a couple of million and a decent cockpit upgrade is another couple of million more.

They would need that for anyone to make them relevant as trainers or light strike.
 
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