NZDF General discussion thread

StingrayOZ

Super Moderator
Staff member
NSM was specifically designed to be lightweight, easy to install and to fit into existing weight and space margins. It may even be doable for Australia to do this for them, as the CMS is already integrated. It's basically physically putting launch boxes onto the ship. If weight and space is an issue, its possible to configure it as 2 lots of 2xNSM launch boxes. But even the NSM x4 launcher is a much much lighter than the harpoon x4 launcher. I suspect that the NZ ships are still within the original engineering space/weight margin allocations for the Meko ships designs. They haven't customised the hell out of them like Australia has.

Australia has bolted on NSM onto Hobarts and Anzacs. This isn't beyond that capability and experience. But I would presume almost anyone could, the Norwegians, the Poms, the germans, the Canadians would all be happy to bolt them on.

Canadians can workout consoles and software for firing. They can probably do that from Canada via software. They are multifunction after all. If if that took ~12+ months to sort out, and a test firing wasn't scheduled for 18 months, it shouldn't really impact NZ operation and deployment, as software development can happen away from the ship, and outside of the ship in drydock.

Personally I think if the NZ increases defence spending, it should be spread across all 3 services. You don't need to rob peter to pay paul, and that just breeds infighting and hostile solos. It doesn't have to be equal. The NZ army can acquire useful maritime capabilities as well. Including its own NSM launchers. It could look at artillery, amphibious vehicles, air defence, helicopters, all of which would be useful in a maritime domain as well. Plenty of other armies have acquired significant capabilities in this space.

As for air force, NZ wouldn't be interested in 36 slightly used Superhornets would they?
 

kiwi in exile

Well-Known Member
Re land vs nonland capabilities. If we are talking bout defending our or nearby island nations from an invasion force we have already failed to a large extent.
 

Hawkeye69

Member
I read that Australia now have more MR-60R Seahawks than decks to land them on, I would not be surprised if both Australia and NZ Government officials have not been in some form of discussion on a NZ short term lease of a few of the excess platforms while we await our new builds.Pilot conversion training could easily take place in Australia.

You will see I show no faith in the Wildcat, its a lemon product from europe.
 

kiwi in exile

Well-Known Member
Re. NSM Australia will manufacture the joint strike missile variant. Us acquiring this from them would be a win-win in terms of interoperability, trans Tasman relations and supply security. Makes it a good competitor with LRASM for nzdf. Would be prudent to have capability and training, experience operating both from our p8s at least.

Integration to our ANZACs make sense if it is quick light and cheap, or in Australia and our ships are not out of action for long.

My preference is to steam ahead with the replacements, pending the RAN GP frigate decision my
 

StevoJH

The Bunker Group
I read that Australia now have more MR-60R Seahawks than decks to land them on, I would not be surprised if both Australia and NZ Government officials have not been in some form of discussion on a NZ short term lease of a few of the excess platforms while we await our new builds.Pilot conversion training could easily take place in Australia.

You will see I show no faith in the Wildcat, its a lemon product from europe.
Not exactly.

Don't forget training requirements, plus the Supply Class and Canberra Class.

Theoretically the two Canberra class could carry and operate the entire fleet between them.
 

Todjaeger

Potstirrer
Not exactly.

Don't forget training requirements, plus the Supply Class and Canberra Class.

Theoretically the two Canberra class could carry and operate the entire fleet between them.
Not to mention the maintenance requirements. In the original Australian MH-60R order back in 2011, 24 were ordered to ensure that there would be eight available for service from RAN vessels, the normal 3:1 ratio to permit aircraft & crews being rotated for training and maintenance cycles as well.
 

John Fedup

The Bunker Group
NSM was specifically designed to be lightweight, easy to install and to fit into existing weight and space margins. It may even be doable for Australia to do this for them, as the CMS is already integrated. It's basically physically putting launch boxes onto the ship. If weight and space is an issue, its possible to configure it as 2 lots of 2xNSM launch boxes. But even the NSM x4 launcher is a much much lighter than the harpoon x4 launcher. I suspect that the NZ ships are still within the original engineering space/weight margin allocations for the Meko ships designs. They haven't customised the hell out of them like Australia has.

Australia has bolted on NSM onto Hobarts and Anzacs. This isn't beyond that capability and experience. But I would presume almost anyone could, the Norwegians, the Poms, the germans, the Canadians would all be happy to bolt them on.

Canadians can workout consoles and software for firing. They can probably do that from Canada via software. They are multifunction after all. If if that took ~12+ months to sort out, and a test firing wasn't scheduled for 18 months, it shouldn't really impact NZ operation and deployment, as software development can happen away from the ship, and outside of the ship in drydock.

Personally I think if the NZ increases defence spending, it should be spread across all 3 services. You don't need to rob peter to pay paul, and that just breeds infighting and hostile solos. It doesn't have to be equal. The NZ army can acquire useful maritime capabilities as well. Including its own NSM launchers. It could look at artillery, amphibious vehicles, air defence, helicopters, all of which would be useful in a maritime domain as well. Plenty of other armies have acquired significant capabilities in this space.

As for air force, NZ wouldn't be interested in 36 slightly used Superhornets would they?
Perhaps another 5EYE might be interested;) although IOTUS would probably block it.
 
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