I’d never actually looked to see what ships had CEC, I didn’t realise it was purely an Aegis thing. The Type 45 Destroyers were supposed to be upgraded with CEC at one point, however it was cancelled.
This is neither practical or a compromise, you are deliberately ignoring the reason the RAN & Australian Government have stated why the first three will be built in Japan, a lesson that is now impacting the RN as they lose Type 23 hulls with the first replacement not due within the next 18 months at the earliest if everything goes according to plan.
He does from time to time come up with a good idea, but then buries it in rubbish so that it lacks any usefulness. or integrity.
If the AH140 was chosen it would seem to be yet another example of a NZ Government prioritizing the "cheapest" deal over what arguably is a more capable platform, a lower risk Japanese build option and ongoing training/operating synergies with our closest ally...
www.naval-technology.com
Ref:: THE POST - Taranaki Businesses eye up defence spending opportunities. Could be a very positive move At least a start.
The rumour mill in the Army was we were getting Humvees to replace the Series 3 LR tbh no one outside the team looking at the replacements knows anything, one little leak and watch the effluent hit the fan, IMHO its going to come down to interoperability, logistics, whole of life costs & closer defence ties with Australia & Japan.
Could it be a case that two things can be true at the same time? That is as the AH140 was first off the blocks it had the inside running (which aligns with Rob's sources). But now with the Australia choosing the second generation Mogami it has now forced the NZ Govt to reassess its options and even at this early assessment stage it is clear that the Mogami option provides several attractive factors that you have outlined.
Also of note it quotes the DefMin stating that "Penk has said the country is looking at all options to modernize its navy and add further new ships".
www.japantimes.co.jp
Elsewhere in the article he appears to be surprisingly forthright on where current thinking is pointing to!
Our Foreign Minister ole Winnie made a comment very recently along the lines we are part of Asia or words to that affect and how Defence & Trade regardless of who is in power cannot be separated so to me it shows his thinking, Im old enough to know that he is just one voice in Government regardless which way it goes this Country needs to go back to a four Frigate based Navy fully armed for one purpose war fighting.Could it be a case that two things can be true at the same time? That is as the AH140 was first off the blocks it had the inside running (which aligns with Rob's sources). But now with the Australia choosing the second generation Mogami it has now forced the NZ Govt to reassess its options and even at this early assessment stage it is clear that the Mogami option provides several attractive factors that you have outlined.
The only question I had then was that of manufacturing offsets (and costs). Whilst an AH140 purchase could provide some NZ industry involvement, it seemed to me a Mogami purchase would likely be a one-way transaction to Japan's advantage (i.e. no local involvement and therefore basically $billions to be sent overseas, a bug bear for small nations like NZ). However this article from the Japan Times is suggesting that the Japan Govt is aware of these issues, so that may not be the case, potentially.
Also of note it quotes the DefMin stating that "Penk has said the country is looking at all options to modernize its navy and add further new ships".
I think we all here should keep an open mind about the future RNZN fleet composition (and not assume the likes of 1:1 replacements as some people state matter-of-factly here)!
Japan faces U.K. rival in race to build warships for New Zealand
A deal with New Zealand would build on an agreement Tokyo recently signed with Canberra to build the first three of 11 Mogami-class ships planned for Australia.
I'm in full agreement that would be the ideal outcome. But looking at things realistically for a 2027 delivery from where would the ships come from who have proven designs and are building them - Spain? France? Italy?
www.rnz.co.nz
Short of something like divine intervention, I just do not see NZ being able to get a proper replacement frigate delivered, never mind into service, by 2027. Rather, gov't back in 2010 should be begun the planning process for the replacement frigate, with the plan being to have the replacements start entering service in 2027. Instead, the plan is currently to get them replaced during the mid-2030's which depending on exactly where within the mid-2030's that happens, means the current vessels will be 35+ years in service and possibly even as far as 40 years in service.
Pre-Budget announcement today, for the RNZN funding has been set aside to acquire long endurance ISR USV's for operating across the SW Pacific (more Bluebottles or something else?) and a polar capable UAS to operate from the surface vessels to strengthen maritime domain awareness.
Amongst other funding announcements were further pay and condition increases for personnel to better align with the private sector and mention of re-establishing some trades (which weren't specified).
Minister of Defence Chris Penk announces $1.6b investment for ageing maritime fleet and drones
Chris Penk said the government would invest in drone systems, ship maintenance, and work to replace an ageing naval fleet.
www.higheye.com
Thanks that's interesting. I guess we will follow with interest such NATO initiatives to further develop polar-hardened drones in response to increased Russian and Chinese interest in the Arctic. Or in this case perhaps it's also an opportunity for locally (or Trans-Tasman) developed solutions as apparently the primary user for these systems will be HMNZS Aotearoa initially when undertaking resupply and patrol in the polar regions of the Southern Ocean and Ross Sea?The reference to a polar capable UAS is interesting, the Netherlands based High Eye company have been show casing their Airboxer drone system to a number of countries in this field.
Military VTOL UAV | Long-Range Recon Drone | High Eye Airboxer
The Airboxer delivers extended recon & intel for military operations. Unmatched reliability, long-range & fuel efficiency.
www.rnz.co.nz
