Defence Long-Term Development Plan (LTDP)
(October 2008 Update)
10. Projects Necessary to Avoid the Failure of Policy
P-3 Air-to-Surface Weapons
Description
- This project proposes to equip the P-3 aircraft with an air-to-surface weapon capability.
Policy Value
- Equipping the P-3 aircraft with an air-to-surface weapon capability would significantly enhance the value of these aircraft in fulfilling policy roles relating to the territorial sovereignty of New Zealand and Australia, play an appropriate role in the maintenance of security in the Asia-Pacific region, and participating in Five Power Defence Arrangements.
Capability Gap
- The P-3 provides targeting information but does not have an air-to-surface weapon capability. The inability to take immediate action against surface threats limits the P-3’s ability to provide force protection for New Zealand naval vessels, particularly the ANZACs, Multi-Role Vessel and Patrol Vessels. This deficiency applies equally across the open ocean and littoral environments.
Links to other Capabilities
- This project has links to the following projects and capabilities:
- P-3 Mission Management, Communication, and Navigation Systems Upgrades
- Multi-Role Vessel
- Patrol Vessels
- ANZAC Class Frigates
Current Status
- A study will be conducted to determine the most appropriate air-to-surface weapons for the P-3 Orion.
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Timing
- The timing of this project is dependent on the completion of the P-3 mission systems upgrade and needs to be considered in coordination with the P-3 Self-Protection project to ensure the availability of aircraft for operational tasking.
Costs
- The indicative cost of this project is around $35 - 45 million. Whole-of-life costs are not yet able to be calculated.
NZDF Torpedo Replacement
Description
- This project proposes to replace the torpedoes for the ANZAC frigates, P-3 Orions and SH-2G Seasprite helicopters to maintain the ANZACs basic self-defence and the P-3s capability against sub-surface threats. Together, these help to protect escorted vessels from sub-surface threats and the P-3s area anti-submarine capability.
Policy Value
- The role of the Naval Combat Force with embarked SH-2G Seasprite Helicopters is to meet military tasks, in support of the Government's regional and global objectives. The ANZACs are important to the protection of Australia/New Zealand territorial sovereignty, for participating in Five Power Defence Arrangements, supporting our relationships with regional partners, and undertaking peace support and other operations in the Asia-Pacific and beyond. These environments contain significantly higher threats to surface vessels than New Zealand's immediate environs, including air and sub-surface threats. Torpedoes provide a basic self-defence capability against sub-surface threats, and enable the ANZACs and other escorted vessels to be safely deployed in these environments.
- The P-3s require a torpedo replacement to maintain their current capability to fulfil the above policy roles.
Capability Gap
- The current torpedoes are becoming increasingly obsolescent and will reach the end of their life between 2009 - 2014, increasing the risk to the ANZACs and other vessels they protect in areas where sub-surface threats may be encountered. The absence of a torpedo capability would impact on the ability of the NZDF to provide support for peace enforcement operations and limit the utility of the ANZACs as a contribution to the protection of New Zealand/Australia territorial sovereignty.
- The absence of a torpedo capability would also mean that the P-3 aircraft would be unable to contribute to the protection for New Zealand naval or other friendly vessels against submarine threats.
Links to other Capabilities
- This project has links to the following projects and capabilities:
- ANZAC Class Self-Defence Upgrade
- Multi-Role Vessel
- P-3 Air-to-Surface Weapons
- P-3 Mission Management, Communication, and Navigation Systems Upgrades
- HMNZS Endeavour
Current Status
- Preliminary work is underway within Defence to scope this project. Options to mitigate the decaying inventory are being investigated. A scoping study is under development to align this project with the introduction into service of the first upgraded ANZAC Class Frigate. It is expected that the type of torpedo to replace the Mark 46 series will be determined by costs, primarily platform integration costs.
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Timing
- The current Mark 46 Mod 2 torpedo will not be supportable beyond 2009. A replacement will need to be in service before the expiry of the maintenance life of current torpedoes in 2012-14.
Costs
- The indicative cost of this project is around $70 - 80 million. The estimated life is about 15 years. Whole-of-life costs are not yet able to be calculated.
NZDF Satellite Communications Capability
Description
- This project involves the acquisition of a guaranteed secure satellite communications capability for the NZDF.
Policy Value
- Strategic communications in the form of high band-width capability is required to support NZDF deployments. The NZDF needs to be able to provide guaranteed secure communications to its operational deployments in a manner which is interoperable with potential coalition partners, particularly Australia. The NZDF also needs to be able to provide immediate strategic communications into the Pacific in support of whole-of-government operations, such as humanitarian assistance.
Capability Gap
- Currently, the NZDF does not have a guaranteed secure strategic communications capability. To support existing missions, satellite capability is organised on an ad-hoc basis using commercial or coalition partner satellites. Neither system is able to guarantee secure, uninterrupted capability. The future growth of the NZDF's command and control capability will require significantly more secure band-width than currently utilised.
Links to other Capabilities
- Linked projects are:
- Joint Command and Control Systems
- P-3 Mission Management, Communication, and Navigation System Upgrades
- Joint Communications Modernisation
- Land Command & Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance
Current Status
- Preliminary work was undertaken on this project in 2006/07. Further work to determine options to meet this capability requirement is underway.
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Timing
- This project is expected to start delivering increased communications capability from 2010.
Costs
- Capital and operating costs will be dependant on whether lease or purchase options are selected. More detailed costs will be available once the specifications have been confirmed. This project is expected to cost between $45 - 65 million. Whole-of-life costs are not yet able to be calculated.
