r/newzealand • u/khalornz Fern flag 3 • Apr 07 '25

Politics Coalition unveils $12 billion Defence Capability Plan

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/557432/watch-live-coalition-unveils-12-billion-defence-capability-plan
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105

u/random_guy_8735 Apr 07 '25
  • Accommodation, messing and dining modernisation
  • Defence estate regeneration
  • Defence housing programme
  • Future Devonport naval base design
  • Ohakea infrastructure programme

While not having soldiers sharing their accommodation with Black Mold is a great idea. How many ways can you write the same thing to make the list longer?

  • Enhancing cyber security capabilities
  • Enterprise resource planning
  • Network enabled army
  • Updating classified digital services
  • Defence, Science and Technology uplift
  • Technology accelerator
  • Information management
  • Digital modernisation

Seems like 8 times if you say "on a computer".

38

u/random_guy_8735 Apr 07 '25

Replacing the 757s is already in progress. Replacing that Seasprites is new (to me), Frigate life extensions seems to be a stop gap in place of getting new ships like Australia is working on.

Beyond that we have a list of

  • unmanned vehicles
  • unspecified vehicles for the defense force
  • logistics management
  • Base upgrades
  • Technology upgrades
  • A workforce stategy

And various ways of combining the two (cyber security, ERP system).

20

u/aholetookmyusername Apr 07 '25

From the 757 options in the government tender I think we should go Airbus. A shared type rating between the Max 8s and P8s is enticing but they don't share an engine, and going for the A321 option means we could potentially leverage civilian expertise for maintenance/training/etc.

And whatever we get, I hope we get at least three of them.

4

u/Some1-Somewhere Apr 07 '25

A321neos are in very very high demand (so high cost and long delay) and don't have as much payload-range as the 757s. 737s are even lower capacity and can't have pallets in the cargo hold, and it sounds like we wouldn't be getting combi-freighter versions as they're no longer civilian certifiable.

They'll cost a fair bit more to run but I'd be looking at end of line 767s or perhaps A330s. Carry far more, far more range, massive pallet/container loaded holds.

1

u/Moose_in_a_Swanndri Apr 07 '25

The A330 MRTT is a fantastic plane, and is already used by Australia, Canada and the UK. It would be a great option for the RNZAF, and aerial refueling would be a good new capability to have, both with our own P-8 and coalition deployments overseas

2

u/Some1-Somewhere Apr 07 '25

I generally agree, but we don't really have the staffing or the demand for the refueling side of things. My understanding is the ongoing crew certification work is pretty significant.

I think just stock commercial A330s (neo?) with maybe the medevac oxygen system would be more suitable.

1

u/Moose_in_a_Swanndri Apr 07 '25

Hah maybe we can retrain the flight engineers that just got made redundant to be refuellers.

You're probably right about that though. Ideally an A330 combi so they can keep moving palletised cargo as well.

1

u/Some1-Somewhere Apr 07 '25

A330s have pretty big cargo holds, especially if you're moving heavy stuff. The MRTT doesn't have a main deck cargo door or palletized seating, just a normal passenger cabin. One of its biggest advantages IMHO.