New Zealand Army

Raven22

The Bunker Group
Verified Defense Pro
Was yarning to a tanky over a few ales on the weekend and he seemed to think we are in fact not getting more bushmasters which got me thinking since it has already been stated to be an Au option that perhaps we could be going for the hawkei instead for the A pinz replacement? Possible since they are 2 different classes and the pinz leaning more towards the lighter side after all but I sincerely hope he is wrong.
I think you are pretty safe in thinking it is Bushmaster being bought, not Hawkei.
 

RegR

Well-Known Member
I think you are pretty safe in thinking it is Bushmaster being bought, not Hawkei.
Yip did'nt/would'nt think so as even what he was talking about in terms of what they wanted to use them for better suited bushmaster over hawkei which is why his statement confused me. I learnt not to believe it until it happens from past experience, when I was in seemingly in the know pers continued to maintain we were still getting humvees even when the pinnys were being loaded on the ship. Sometimes even military has no clue what the military is upto haha.
 

t68

Well-Known Member
I don’t know, but my guess would be that Thales won’t manufacture new vehicles, but will recondition/upgrade existing vehicles to whatever standard the Kiwi’s are after.

Does the ADF really have an oversupply of Bushmaster PMV’s to fulfill a NZ buy?

How many are they looking to buy?
 

Redlands18

Well-Known Member
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: t68

Raven22

The Bunker Group
Verified Defense Pro
Does the ADF really have an oversupply of Bushmaster PMV’s to fulfill a NZ buy?
They do, because FORCOMD are implementing one of their traditionally poorly thought out ideas of reducing the PMV fleet to save on servicing costs. Apparently too many vehicles aren’t being driven enough km to meet servicing forecasts. The idea that, while you might not drive many km on each vehicle, when you do use the vehicles you need ALL of them at once is lost on FORCOMD.
 

Novascotiaboy

Active Member
Having a read of the 2017 2018 Defence Capability report noted on another thread of DT it notes the three vehicles acquired by NZSAS as Bushmaster, Supacat and Jankel? What version of the Jankel product line was acquired? Any insight would be appreciated.
 

Cadredave

The Bunker Group
Verified Defense Pro
Having a read of the 2017 2018 Defence Capability report noted on another thread of DT it notes the three vehicles acquired by NZSAS as Bushmaster, Supacat and Jankel? What version of the Jankel product line was acquired? Any insight would be appreciated.
Best guess would be the Jankel TIV to replace the black role Nissan Patrols that are no longer supported by Nissan. There is no other product in their line up that our SAS need besides providing armour kits for Supacat. Give it a month or two and someone will take a photo of it.
 

40 deg south

Well-Known Member
Tactical Vehicles | Products | Jankel

Looks as if there are three armoured Toyotas in their Protected SUV range, and a Tactical Utility Vehicle (also Toyota-based) in their Tactical range.

It could be any of these, although given the description in the report of a 'Low profile/utility vehicle' I think the Tactical one is likely.

Looks as if they entered service in early 2018, so they are living up to their 'low profile' description!
 

40 deg south

Well-Known Member
NZ issues RfI to advance its networked army - DB - Digital Battlespace - Shephard Media

New Zealand has initiated Tranche 2 of its Network Enabled Army (NEA) programme following governmental approval in July. The project is digitising the New Zealand Defence Force’s (NZDF) command-and-communications technology, BMS and secure satellite communications.

Investment in Tranche 2 totals NZ$106 million ($68.2 million) till 2022. Defence Minister Ron Mark told Shephard the funding enables the C4 project, which was established under the first tranche of the NEA in 2015, to continue building capability.
Good write-up from Shephard Media on stage 2 of NZDF's big IT project.
 

40 deg south

Well-Known Member

There have been some photos of soldiers playing around with small civilian drones in the past, but this video on the NZ Army Facebook page shows a big step forward. The unit is described as a SkyRanger R70.

https://flir.netx.net/file/asset/19050/original

It's made by FLIR Systems in the USA, and is primarily designed for short-range surveillance in day and night. Although it does have the ability to drop a 2kg payload... Looking at the spec sheet above, the biggest limitations are endurance (<50 minutes) and range (8km). Still a potentially valuable tool, and a good way to get more experience on unmanned systems.

Addition
FLIR SkyRanger R60 - Cratos

Here is a blurb from the NZ distributor.
 

RegR

Well-Known Member
With the plan to increase army size by essentially a battalion group I wonder what this will mean in terms of mobility requirements? Will the "excess" NZLAV now not be considered surplus? Will fleet numbers of support vehicles now be increased to cater? Will future projects ie bushmaster adjust accordingly otherwise we could be left wanting. That goes for all equipment, infrastructure and support actually so could be a good time for a buy up or just stretch resources.

Be interesting to see where they base the new Bn? Co-locate with one of the existing bns or set up a new camp like wellys or Hamilton? either way expansion somewhere.
 

t68

Well-Known Member
With the plan to increase army size by essentially a battalion group I wonder what this will mean in terms of mobility requirements? Will the "excess" NZLAV now not be considered surplus? Will fleet numbers of support vehicles now be increased to cater? Will future projects ie bushmaster adjust accordingly otherwise we could be left wanting. That goes for all equipment, infrastructure and support actually so could be a good time for a buy up or just stretch resources.

Be interesting to see where they base the new Bn? Co-locate with one of the existing bns or set up a new camp like wellys or Hamilton? either way expansion somewhere.

Increase to NZA?

Is this an actual increase or just trying to get to the authorised strength?
 

ngatimozart

Super Moderator
Staff member
Verified Defense Pro
With the plan to increase army size by essentially a battalion group I wonder what this will mean in terms of mobility requirements? Will the "excess" NZLAV now not be considered surplus? Will fleet numbers of support vehicles now be increased to cater? Will future projects ie bushmaster adjust accordingly otherwise we could be left wanting. That goes for all equipment, infrastructure and support actually so could be a good time for a buy up or just stretch resources.

Be interesting to see where they base the new Bn? Co-locate with one of the existing bns or set up a new camp like wellys or Hamilton? either way expansion somewhere.
Actually Reg, at the present point in time I think that increasing the size of the army is a stuff up and not a priority. What is a priority is upgrading and increasing the maritime surveillance, strike capabilities, sealift and airlift of the RNZN and RNZAF. The NZLAV and the new tricks can't swim or fly on their own, so until the RNZN & RNZAF are given the capabilities to both transport, protect and sustain the army whilst it is in transit to its battles, and fighting its battles then what's the point if it's sunk at sea or shot out of the sky? Brutal but honest.
 

oldsig127

The Bunker Group
Verified Defense Pro
The NZLAV and the new tricks can't swim or fly on their own, so until the RNZN & RNZAF are given the capabilities to both transport, protect and sustain the army whilst it is in transit to its battles, and fighting its battles then what's the point if it's sunk at sea or shot out of the sky? Brutal but honest.
You want brutal but honest? There are elements in your government whose entire concept of defence revolves around stopping them at the beaches. No need for the Army to sail or fly, just drive.

The notion of arming to keep the threat at arms length doesn't seem to bring any response but accusations of buying "big boy's toys" (an epithet that they themselves would consider sexist if hypocrisy wasn't so rife in political circles)

Australia has had it's cycles of such thinking, currently and fortunately the domain of a few "academics"

oldsig
 

RegR

Well-Known Member
Increase to NZA?

Is this an actual increase or just trying to get to the authorised strength?
1000+ would explain the workload of select pers in certain units but since not too many units have (or will admit to) critical manning just yet then I feel it may actually be a mooted increase, pro word mooted, like anything I will believe it when I see it. Like police could merely just be smoke and mirrors and only just keep pace with attrition.
 

RegR

Well-Known Member
Actually Reg, at the present point in time I think that increasing the size of the army is a stuff up and not a priority. What is a priority is upgrading and increasing the maritime surveillance, strike capabilities, sealift and airlift of the RNZN and RNZAF. The NZLAV and the new tricks can't swim or fly on their own, so until the RNZN & RNZAF are given the capabilities to both transport, protect and sustain the army whilst it is in transit to its battles, and fighting its battles then what's the point if it's sunk at sea or shot out of the sky? Brutal but honest.
Agreed Ngati but just like an election process/promise/problem it's an easy sell and a great throw away line. I am sceptical it will happen in any realistic timeframe anyway so will just fall by the wayside. I think they have shown their hand wrt transport with the non selection of C17 and impending C130 purchase somewhat offset by the extra sealift announcement however but then I see that more as an availability soloution more than anything, the added options are more lessons learnt, natural progression and bonus features really.
 

ngatimozart

Super Moderator
Staff member
Verified Defense Pro
You want brutal but honest? There are elements in your government whose entire concept of defence revolves around stopping them at the beaches. No need for the Army to sail or fly, just drive.

The notion of arming to keep the threat at arms length doesn't seem to bring any response but accusations of buying "big boy's toys" (an epithet that they themselves would consider sexist if hypocrisy wasn't so rife in political circles)

Australia has had it's cycles of such thinking, currently and fortunately the domain of a few "academics"

oldsig
I totally agree, and if some have their way there would be no defence force and no firearms in NZ. To many townies and most of those who lived through WW2 have died off, so the Kiwi baby boomers and their progeny don't care about defence, because they've never felt threatened. The ones who are most yappy about it and anti US, are the baby boomers who protested against the Vietnam War and passed that on to their progeny.
 

Cadredave

The Bunker Group
Verified Defense Pro
Actually Reg, at the present point in time I think that increasing the size of the army is a stuff up and not a priority. What is a priority is upgrading and increasing the maritime surveillance, strike capabilities, sealift and airlift of the RNZN and RNZAF. The NZLAV and the new tricks can't swim or fly on their own, so until the RNZN & RNZAF are given the capabilities to both transport, protect and sustain the army whilst it is in transit to its battles, and fighting its battles then what's the point if it's sunk at sea or shot out of the sky? Brutal but honest.
Sorry NG your so far of the mark, Army Combat Arms are nothing more than hollow units, people want a LPD or LHD fine but who is going to man it from Army when both Battalions can barely scrape two rifle companies per Battalion. I was talking to the RSM of 1RNZIR V Coy (HR) is full strength, A Coy is a Pl+ & W Coy has been disbanded Support Coy is also full strength to a point and CSS Coy is at minimum manning with 2CSS providing support when needed.

But what makes it worse this was a decision made post Afghan to concentrate recruitment on CSpt & CSS recruits and the reason given was simple Infantry can be trained relatively quickly. Riflemen yes they can but Infantry Commanders not so much we have surplus Section Comd, Pl Sgt, CQMS, WO2, Pl Comd, Coy 2ic and Coy Comds with no Infantry Soldiers that is the brutal reality of today's Combat Units.

No use having Naval & Air Mobility assets when you have no one to transport! and before anyone asks about the Reserve Battalions that ship sailed many years ago. So if they do raise recruitment it's going to take along time filling the gaps before they even get to the third Infantry BN.

CD
 
Last edited:

Novascotiaboy

Active Member
The three MAN wreckers were ordered in May. Anyone here heard or seen if they have arrived in country yet? There was one here in Halifax back in October on a rail flat bed but I couldnt find any identifying information on it. Was able to get very up close with it.
 

steve33

Member
Sorry NG your so far of the mark, Army Combat Arms are nothing more than hollow units, people want a LPD or LHD fine but who is going to man it from Army when both Battalions can barely scrape two rifle companies per Battalion. I was talking to the RSM of 1RNZIR V Coy (HR) is full strength, A Coy is a Pl+ & W Coy has been disbanded Support Coy is also full strength to a point and CSS Coy is at minimum manning with 2CSS providing support when needed.

But what makes it worse this was a decision made post Afghan to concentrate recruitment on CSpt & CSS recruits and the reason given was simple Infantry can be trained relatively quickly. Riflemen yes they can but Infantry Commanders not so much we have surplus Section Comd, Pl Sgt, CQMS, WO2, Pl Comd, Coy 2ic and Coy Comds with no Infantry Soldiers that is the brutal reality of today's Combat Units.

No use having Naval & Air Mobility assets when you have no one to transport! and before anyone asks about the Reserve Battalions that ship sailed many years ago. So if they do raise recruitment it's going to take along time filling the gaps before they even get to the third Infantry BN.

CD
Hi cadre when you say W company is that a rifle company that has been disbanded. ?

also wondering what does CSS mean.?
 
Top