Royal New Zealand Navy Future Plans

Current planning framework

The MoD Long-Term Development Plan (LTDP) is a planning tool to enable decisions on defence acquisitions to be taken in the context of the Government’s defence policy, the priority of projects and affordability. The LTDP links the Government’s defence policy objectives, which were set out in theDefence Policy Framework released in June 2000, with the capability requirements announced in the Defence Statement of 8 May 2001. This LTDP contains a comprehensive list of projects, with preliminary costing, timings, and priorities. The LTDP has a rolling forward focus of 10 years and was constructed as an active document and is updated regularly.

The LTDP:
* Describes major acquisition projects required over the next 10 years to provide military capabilities that meet the Government’s defence policy objectives;

* Reflects relative priorities of the projects, measured against the Government’s defence policy and security needs and interests;

*Works within agreed financial limitations; and

*Sets out planning and decision-making processes incorporating management of both operational and financial risks to ensure that investment in defence provides best value for money.

The LTDP sets out several categories of projects. These are:

*Projects Approved in Principle by Government
*Projects Necessary to Avoid the Failure of Policy
*Projects Necessary to Provide a Well-Equipped Land Force
*Projects Necessary to Avoid Significant Risks to Policy
*Projects that have Benefit but are Less Critical to Achieving Policy Objectives

Allocation of a project to a particular category does not necessarily reflect the order in which they will be started.

hipbuilding plans

Project protector

Project Protector is the Ministry of Defense acquisition project to acquire one multi-role vessel, two offshore and four inshore patrol vessels, to be operated by the RNZN to conduct tasks for and with New Zealand Customs, the Department of Conservation, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Ministry of Fisheries, Maritime Safety Authority of New Zealand & New Zealand Police.

* The new multi-role vessel, HMNZS "Canterbury", has replaced the previous "Canterbury". "Canterbury" has a 9000 tonne displacement, is 131 meters in length and is capable of 19 knots. Accommodation is for a total of 360 personnel; a crew of 53, 10 flight personnel, four government agency officers, a permanent team of 7 army personnel, plus provision for 35 trainees and 250 embarked troops. The vessel was built at the Merwede shipyard in Rotterdam in 2005-2006 and was launched on February 11 2006. It entered service in June 2007. [http://www.navy.mil.nz/visit-the-fleet/project-protector/project-update.htm] .

* Two "Protector class OPVs" (To be called HMNZS "Otago" and HMNZS "Wellington") are being acquired.

* Four inshore patrol vessels (To be known as Lake Class Inshore Patrol Craft, using the previous names of "Taupo, Pukaki, Hawea, Rotoiti") are to replace the MOA class patrol vessels. The proposed IPV would have a 340 tonne displacement, be 55 meters in length, capable of 25 knots with a range of up to 3000nm. Accommodation is for a crew of 20, 12 additional personnel, and four government agency officers.

* Two Medium Landing Craft (LCM): For use on HMNZS Canterbury the two LCM have a Length of 23mtrs and a displacement: Empty of 55 tonnes: Loaded with 2 NZLAV: 100 tonnes. Operated by a crew of 3, using two Azimuth thrusters generating 235kW. The MRV can be loaded from either of Canterbury's two 60 tonne cranes or via the stern ramp. To aid stern ramp loading the MRV is fitted with Flippers to ensure that the LCM are aligned with the MRV. A ballasting system is fitted to allow for safe operations during loading. Once loaded the LCM can conduct over the bench landings

Units not yet commissioned

The original delivery schedule is now out of date.

HMNZS Taupo (P3570) is the final Project Protector vessel under construction and is expected to be launched mid-2008.

Expected commissioning dates for units delivered but not yet commissioned:

2008

* mid year: HMNZS Hawea (P3567)
* mid-late: HMNZS Otago (P148) and HMNZS Wellington (P55)
* late: HMNZS Pukaki (P3568)

ystem and platform upgrades

Projects necessary to avoid the failure of policy

"ANZAC Self-Defence Upgrade" This project proposes to upgrade the ANZAC frigates’ self-defence systems to protect the Naval Combat Force against increasingly sophisticated anti-ship systemsand to address equipment obsolescence.

"Torpedo Replacement" This project proposes to replace the torpedoes for the ANZAC frigates, P-3Orions and SH-2G Seasprite helicopters to maintain the ANZAC’s basic self-defencecapability against sub-surface threats and the P-3’s area anti-submarine capability.

Projects that have benefit but are less critical to achieving policy objectives

"Remote Mine Detection" The Maritime Forces Review identified a requirement to protect New Zealand's major ports by developing a capacity to detect and dispose of mines and other explosives underwater. The Review concluded that the mine countermeasures role should be retained. The capability of the Navy to detect mine-like objects is becoming increasingly difficult as current equipment reaches the end of its economical life. Upgrading this capability would significantly improve the safety of personnel and ships over the current inadequate, emergency only, systems.

External links

[http://www.navy.mil.nz/visit%2Dthe%2Dfleet/project%2Dprotector/ Project Protector Official Website] [http://www.navy.mil.nz Official RNZN Website]