Defence Long-Term Development Plan (LTDP)
(October 2006 Update)
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8. Projects Essential to Avoid the Failure of Policy
ANZAC Class Self-Defence Upgrade
Description
- This project proposes to upgrade the ANZAC Class frigates' self defence systems to protect the Naval Combat Force, and ships under its immediate protection, against increasingly sophisticated anti-ship systems, and to address equipment obsolescence.
Policy Value
- The role of the Naval Combat Force is to meet military tasks, particularly in support of the Government's regional and global objectives. The ANZACs are critical to the protection of Australian/New Zealand territorial sovereignty, for participating in Five Power Defence Arrangements activities, supporting our relationships with regional partners, and undertaking peace support operations in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond. These environments contain significantly higher threats to surface vessels than exist in New Zealand's immediate area, including air and sub-surface threats. To continue operating in these environments, and therefore meet the Government's policy requirements, the ANZACs will require an upgrade to their defensive systems to meet the changing threat levels in these areas.
Capability Gap
- By the end of the decade, the increase in air, surface and sub-surface threats, and the sophistication of these threats, within the Australia/Asia-Pacific region and beyond will mean that the ANZACs defensive systems will become increasingly ineffective. Consequently, the operational capability of the ANZACs will decline to the point where their ability to operate in these environments would carry serious risks.
- The design of the majority of self-defence equipment on the ANZACs will be approaching 25 years of age by 2010. Support will become increasingly difficult and operating costs will rise. In some cases, such as the anti-air missile, existing systems are becoming increasingly difficult to support.
Links to other Capabilities
- This project has links to the following projects and capabilities:
- P-3 Air-to-Surface Weapon
- ANZAC Class Close-in Weapon System Upgrade and Refurbishment
Timing
- This project is timed to commence around 2010. The ANZAC Self Defence Upgrade will be conducted in a series of phases. The first phase will address Close-In Weapon System combat viability shortcomings; the second phase will address immediate interoperability and supportability concerns; and, at present, the full scope of the third and fourth phases cannot yet be fully determined.
Current Status
- The potential benefits of adopting those aspects of the Australian Defence Force's ANZAC class upgrade programme, that support NZDF policy based capability requirements, are being studied. The cost of maintaining current systems is also under investigation so that the benefits of the upgrade from a Total Cost of Ownership perspective can be considered.
Costs
- This project is expected to cost between $450-$500 million. The estimated life is 14 years, in service through life costs are $950 million, and the total cost of ownership is $1.4 billion.
C-130 Self-Protection
Description
- This project proposes to upgrade the C-130 self-protection system to provide the ability to detect and counter likely threats, primarily man-portable infrared (IR) missiles.
Policy Value
- The C-130 is a critical enabler for many NZDF operations. It provides essential air transport for a number of roles and tasks, including: supporting counter-terrorist operations; peace support operations; and evacuations of New Zealanders from trouble spots. Many of these operations involve the C-130s landing in locations that are under threat of hostile air defence weapons. Increasingly coalition forces in places such as Afghanistan will not allow aircraft to operate without a credible standard of self-protection.
- C-130s are expensive assets that carry a significant number of people. It is important therefore to protect those assets and minimise the risks to people onboard.
Capability Gaps
- The current C-130 self-protection fit was installed in the early 1990s. Since that time there has been a significant increase in the sophistication and availability of missiles. The current system is no longer appropriate for today's threat environment.
- In the last 15 years, 90 percent of all aircraft lost in combat have been attributed to infrared (IR) guided missiles. Specifically, these aircraft have fallen to man-portable missile systems. These shoulder-launched systems are widespread globally. Lack of a self-protection capability could limit the use of our C-130s in humanitarian or peace support operations globally.
Links to Other Capabilities
- This project has links to the following projects and capabilities:
- P-3 Self-Protection
- C-130 Life Extension
Timing
- The most practicable time to complete this project is during the C-130 Life Extension and Communications and Navigation Systems Upgrade project. Not conducting the projects concurrently risks increased costs and serious restrictions on the employability of the upgraded C-130 across the range of employment scenarios post upgrade.
Current Status
- Work is underway to determine the appropriate self-protection requirement and the most suitable time to equip the aircraft.
Costs
- This project is expected to cost up to $20 million. The estimated life, in service through life costs, and the total cost of ownership are to be confirmed.
P-3 Self-Protection
Description
- This project proposes to equip the P-3 with a self-protection capability to counter likely threats, primarily man-portable infrared (IR) missiles.
Policy Value
- The capability provided by the P-3 is critical to meeting many of the roles and tasks required of the NZDF across the range of the Government's defence policy objectives. The P-3 is one of the primary capabilities that contributes to our defence relationships with Australia and Five Power Defence Arrangements partners, and is of high utility for collective global security and humanitarian relief operations.
- P-3s are expensive assets and can carry up to 21 people. It is important to protect those assets and minimise the risks to people onboard.
Capability Gaps
- In the last 15 years, 90 percent of all aircraft lost in combat have been attributed to infrared (IR) guided missiles. Specifically, these aircraft have fallen to man-portable missile systems. These shoulder-launched systems are widespread globally. Lack of a self-protection capability could limit the use of our P-3s in peace support operations globally.
- The P-3 currently has no dedicated self-protection equipment. The aircraft's sensors inherently provide protection from long-range and/or obvious threats. Man-portable missiles are easy to conceal, however, and detection of IR sensors is not possible before the aircraft has closed within range of the weapon. It is therefore necessary to be able to detect the missile launch and use countermeasure techniques to defeat it.
Links to Other Capabilities
- This project has links to the following projects and capabilities:
- C-130 Self-Protection
- P-3 Mission Management, and Communication, and Navigation Systems Upgrades
- P-3 Air-to-Surface Weapons
Timing
- The most practicable time to complete this project is during the P-3 systems upgrade project. Not conducting the projects concurrently risks serious restrictions on the employability of the upgraded P-3 across the range of employment scenarios post upgrade.
Current Status
- Work is underway to determine the appropriate self-protection requirement and the most suitable time to equip the aircraft.
Costs
- This project is expected to cost around $40 million from 2013. The estimated life, in service through life costs, and the total cost of ownership are to be confirmed.
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