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UNITED KINGDOM AND NATO
03 Jan 24. AtkinsRéalis made defence prime for UK DIPS cybersecurity. AtkinsRéalis have been appointed a prime contractor for cybersecurity under the Defence and IT Professional Services (DIPS) Framework. AtkinsRéalis announced on 3 January 2024, that it has been appointed a prime contractor to the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) for the provision of capabilities through the Digital and IT Professional Services (DIPS) Framework, covering a range of cybersecurity services that protect digital assets and improve the resilience of services. DIPS is a four-year framework within the MoD’s Digital Strategy of Defence, running until November 2027, intended to deliver IT specialist services and accelerate a digital transformation for UK Armed Forces worldwide. Within the DIPS Framework, AtkinsRéalis has been appointed a prime contractor for 3 lots relating to solution architecture, cyber security and project management. The company will also be a subcontracting partner for 2 lots relating to system design and intelligence services. Across 6 lots and 17 suppliers, DIPS has potential value of up to £1.2bn ($1.51bn). According to the GlobalData ‘Cybersecurity in Defense’ report, the global cyber security revenues are predicted to experience strong growth throughout he first half of the 2020’s reaching $198bn by 2025, with a focus on security intelligence and management, expected to achieve a compound annual rate of growth of 17% over the time period.
“This framework will ensure that the MOD has access to a breadth of expertise and capability that will be essential to modernise its digital landscape at pace and take early advantage of emerging technologies,” said Dave Clark, AtkinsRéalis market director for Aerospace and Defence. “Together with our multi-disciplinary partner companies, we will work collaboratively and alongside MOD colleagues to help continue the transformation of its digital and cyber capabilities.”
The relationship between AtkinsRéalis and the the MoD has included contracts within similar projects, such as the £40m deal under the Design as a Service (DaaS) framework for Defence Digital, from November 2017 to March 2020, and orders worth £1.5bn over 5 years under the MoD’s Engineering Delivery Partnership through its Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) function. (Source: naval-technology.com)
EUROPE
03 Jan 24. Polish PM flags wrinkle in multibillion-dollar arms buy from S. Korea. The new government of Prime Minister Donald Tusk has unearthed what he termed a “problem” with the loan Seoul was expected to give Poland for buying South Korean weapons worth billions of dollars. The issue came up during a review of the preceding government’s defense acquisitions, Tusk said, as quoted by local news agency PAP. At the same time, Tusk vowed to increase defense Poland’s defense spending and complete weapons purchases initiated by the previous Cabinet. Tusk, who was sworn in on Dec. 13, said his government’s “intention is to maintain record spending on armament, and, of course, we very much care about spending this money efficiently.”
“I do not know who misled whom, whether it was [former National Defence Minister Mariusz] Błaszczak or whether the Koreans have pulled out,” Tusk said, according to PAP. “In the end, it turned out that there was a misunderstanding, but I don’t want to put the blame on anyone.”
Before being was ousted after Poland’s Oct. 15 parliamentary election, the government of the Law and Justice party had signed a number of deals to buy numerous weapons from South Korea. These include FA-50 light attack aircraft, K9 howitzers, K2 Black Panther tanks, and K239 Chunmoo multi-barreled missile launchers.
Błaszczak, the former defense minister, shot back on X, formerly Twitter, saying Tusk was “looking for savings,” accusing the new prime minister of “preparing soldiers and the public opinion for withdrawals from weapon contracts.”
In reaction to Błaszczak’s remarks, Deputy National Defence Minister Paweł Bejda attempted to downplay similar concerns, but also hinted at the government’s plan to have more weapons produced by Poland-based factories.
“We don’t want to make a revolution. We are looking at all sorts of contracts, we will talk about increasing the [weapon] production capacities in Poland, so that at least 50 percent of armament spending stays at Polish plants,” Bejda told local news site Money.pl.
In 2024, the Polish Ministry of National Defence is to have a record budget of about PLN 118.1bn ($29.6bn), or an estimated 3.1 percent of the nation’s gross domestic product. Additional money for defense expenditure will be allocated from the country’s Armed Forces’ Support Fund. (Source: Defense News)
USA
02 Jan 24. New radars and missile interceptors on schedule for Army air defense. New radars and interceptors are headed to soldiers for testing in 2024 as the Army seeks to upgrade its air defense capabilities. After decades of relying on limited short-range air defense and Patriot batteries with technology dating to the early 1980s, the Army has pushed resources into new systems to defeat the growing threat of enemy missiles and drones. Defense News reported in November that the radar set to replace the current Patriot radar system defeated a cruise missile threat in a test. The Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensor, or LTAMDS, can detect and defeat ballistic missiles and other threats from all directions. That’s an improvement on sectioned radars of the past, which could leave uncovered gaps. In the test, Defense News reported, the LTAMDS detected and tracked a projectile mimicking the speeds and maneuverability of a cruise missile. The sensor passed data to the Army’s Integrated Battle Command System, or IBCS, which operates as the “brains” of the entire air defense complex. The IBCS triggered a Patriot Advanced Capability-3 missile to fire as the LTAMDS guided the missile to strike the target. Testing at the time led to the LTAMDS system reaching initial operational capability at the end of 2023. Six radars have been built and will continue testing in 2024. They’re scheduled to reach full operational capability by the end of 2024, Raytheon officials told Defense News. While the LTAMDS detects threats and guides missiles, the Army is also improving its air defense striking capabilities, chiefly through the Indirect Fire Protection Capability, or IFPC. That’s needed because current interceptors can’t keep up with the range of improved munitions and anticipated hypersonic weapons threats being developed by Russian and Chinese militaries. The IFPC system can hold 18 AIM-9X missiles in the launcher. The Army is on schedule to receive 12 IFPC launchers by early 2024, said Brig. Gen. Frank Lozano, program executive officer for missiles and space. The Army also plans to launch a second interceptor program that will replace the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 missile, Lozano told Defense News. The Army needs that missile to achieve certain altitudes and ranges with a rocket motor that can reach the target quicker, Lozano said. The weapon must also defeat electromagnetic warfare countermeasures and include enhanced seeker performance. The Army expects to field the interceptor between 2025 and 2030. (Source: Defense News)
22 Dec 23. L3Harris unveils plan to enhance US Air Force C-5 fleet readiness. The strategic partnership with New York State positions L3Harris as a player in C-5 sustainment. To bolster the US Air Force’s C-5 Galaxy fleet, L3Harris has stepped forward with a solution, leveraging strategic collaborations to overcome challenges in maintaining these aircraft. The US Air Force’s C-5 Galaxy fleet, comprising 52 aircraft, is set to receive a readiness boost as L3Harris unveils its plan to enhance fleet availability. As the largest aircraft in the Air Force inventory, the C-5 requires a meticulous sustainment programme, and L3Harris emerges as a strategic partner to address the complexities associated with its maintenance and modernisation. According to GlobalData’s “US Defence Market 2022-2027” report, the US Air Force procured the C-5M Super Galaxy transport and utility aircraft between 1970 and 1989. Lockheed Martin was contracted and delivered the last C-5 Galaxy in 2012. With a history of over 70 years providing missionisation, modernisation, and maintenance solutions to defence, commercial, and international partners. L3Harris has already established C-5 depot maintenance, modification, and paint service facilities in Waco, Texas, and is strategically collaborating with Oneida County’s Griffiss International Airport in Rome, New York, to expand its capabilities pending the award of the US Air Force’s C-5 Supplemental Depot Capability contract. Recognising the potential supply chain risks associated with the vast number of parts required for C-5 sustainment, L3Harris proactively engages with the industry to ensure a robust logistics management system. This mitigates risks and improves the efficiency of organic C-5 depot activities. An aspect of L3Harris’ initiative is the expansion of its workforce in the Rome, New York region to ensure a skilled and readily available team to support C-5 depot activities. This strategic recruitment approach positions L3Harris to mobilise resources supporting the first aircraft arrival. Upon contract award, L3Harris’ C-5 maintenance solution aims to promise a low-risk sustainment option for the US Air Force, having C-5-specific technological knowledge, two paint facilities, an existing customer relationship rooted in C-5 support, and infrastructure ready for imminent execution. L3Harris, in collaboration with industry partners and with the backing of state and county governments, envisions its depot capability as a cornerstone in enabling the US Air Force to fly and sustain the C-5 platform. This strategic partnership sets the stage for enhanced capabilities and readiness within the US Air Force’s C-5 fleet. In 2019, the US Air Force Rapid Sustainment Office (AF RSO) joined forces with Delta Air Lines and the Georgia Institute of Technology to share best practices for C-5 Galaxy modernisation and reliability processes. (Source: airforce-technology.com)
REST OF THE WORLD
03 Jan 24. Australia Details 2023 Progress on AUKUS Submarine Project. Submarine Construction Yard Works Caps Off a Momentous Year for AUKUS. The [Australian] Government has taken the next significant step towards building nuclear-powered submarines in Australia, marking the commencement of preliminary enabling work at the Submarine Construction Yard at Osborne, South Australia. Australian Naval Infrastructure Pty Ltd (ANI) this week signed a contract with Shamrock Civil to commence construction of a staging and laydown area to support the future construction workforce for the Submarine Construction Yard. Other preliminary work set to commence in 2024 includes the construction of a pedestrian bridge and road, which will support the movement of thousands of workers during the construction of the yard and build of Australia’s SSN-AUKUS submarines. The works were assessed through an Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 standard referral process,which included a period of public consultation. At the peak, up to 4,000 workers will be employed to design and build the infrastructure for the Submarine Construction Yard in Osborne. A further 4,000-5,500 direct jobs are expected to be created to build the nuclear-powered submarines in South Australia, when the program reaches its peak. This is almost double the jobs forecast for the Attack class program.
This announcement caps off a momentous nine months for the AUKUS pathway:
— In March, we announced the pathway through which Australia would acquire a conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarine capability.
— The Australian Submarine Agency was launched, which will be responsible for the management and oversight of the nuclear-powered submarine program.
— Australian submariners and industry workers have commenced training and placements in both the United States and United Kingdom.
— United States nuclear-powered submarines have visited HMAS Stirling in Western Australia, building our capacity in the lead up to Submarine Rotational Force-West (SRF-West) from 2027.
— The Australian and South Australian Governments reached agreement on a land exchange for the new Submarine Construction Yard at Osborne and the future site of the Skills and Training Academy.
— The South Australian Defence Industry Workforce and Skills Report and Action Plan was handed down, delivering a detailed strategy to grow and sustain the state’s defence industry workforce for the future.
— More than 4,000 Commonwealth-supported places in STEM courses were allocated across 16 Australian universities, to help grow the AUKUS workforce.
— Five pieces of legislation in support of the AUKUS pathway have been introduced to Parliament, including; the Defence Trade Controls Amendment Bill 2023, the Australian Nuclear Power Safety Bill 2023 and the Safeguarding Australia’s Military Secrets Bill.
— The United States Congress passed the 2024 National Defense Authorisation Act which, among other significant enabling provisions, authorises the transfer of Virginia class submarines to Australia, for the first time in US history.
— Australia’s acquisition of nuclear-powered submarines is the most significant industrial undertaking in our nation’s history. The important work that has happened over the past year will continue to progress at pace into the future.
Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said: “The start of enabling works at Osborne is another important milestone for the Australian Government as we progress at pace towards commencing construction of the first SSN-AUKUS by the end of the decade.
“The Submarine Construction Yard at Osborne will employ thousands of Australians to work on Australia’s SSN-AUKUS submarines and this announcement is a key first step towards realising those important local jobs.
“There is an enormous amount of work that has occurred over the last 12 months towards realising the AUKUS pathway and that progress will continue in 2024.”
Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy said: “This is yet another milestone that makes good on our commitment to construct conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines in South Australia.
“It underscores our comprehensive plan to deliver the AUKUS program at pace, including through local submarine construction, while ensuring Australians and their economic interests are protected.
“Not only will this create local jobs, it also helps deliver the most critical defence capability acquisition in our nation’s history.”
(Source: https://www.defense-aerospace.com/ Australian Department of Defence;)
03 Jan 24. China’s Warplane Productions Exceed Expectation in 2023, Contribute to National Defense Development. The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) have received a solid boost to their comprehensive combat capabilities amid a deteriorating security environment, experts said on Tuesday, after China’s aviation industry wrapped up 2023 with warplane productions that exceeded expectation.
Focusing on empowering the military with equipment and high-standard development, subsidiaries of the state-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), including the Chengdu Aircraft Industrial (Group) Co Ltd (CAC), Xi’an Aircraft Industry Group Company Ltd (XAC) and Shenyang Aircraft Company Limited (SAC), had exceeded targets in their annual batch production and delivery missions, according to an AVIC press release posted in its WeChat account at the end of 2023.
CAC delivered its last aircraft of 2023 on December 27, marking the full completion of its scientific research and production mission of the year, reads the press release, which came with a photo showing the takeoff of a J-20 stealth fighter jet, a top product of the Chengdu-based aircraft manufacturer.
The last test flight of 2023 for XAC was completed on December 20, according to the press release. The Xi’an-based firm is known for building Y-20 strategic transport aircraft and H-6 series bombers.
SAC wrapped up its annual batch production and test flight missions as far back as November 25 and broke a new record, the press release said, showing a photo of workers working on a J-15 carrier-based fighter jet. The Shenyang-based company is also known for making the FC-31 stealth fighter jet.
The aircraft manufacturers are motivated to accelerate modernization of aviation equipment development and make bigger contributions to realizing the centennial goal of the PLA in 2027, according to the press release.
Other AVIC subsidiaries, including those responsible for special mission aircraft, helicopters, amphibious aircraft, missiles and civilian aircraft, also completed their annual scientific research and production missions, the press release shows.
China’s growing warplane production capacity comes at a time when the aviation forces of the PLA Air Force, Navy and Army are raising their requirements for weapons and equipment as well as training level, analysts said.
Citing previous media reports as saying that China is retiring old J-7 fighter jets, Fu Qianshao, a Chinese military aviation expert, told the Global Times on Tuesday that the PLA is accelerating its pace in replacing legacy aircraft with new aircraft.
The increasing production capacity likely has new technologies to thank, like the application of pulse assembly lines that are not only faster but also guarantee better quality, Fu said.
China’s aviation industry has reached a new level that enables the Chinese military to have more advanced tools in dealing with potential national defense emergencies, Fu said.
Aircraft such as the J-20, Y-20 and J-15 are considered advanced even compared with their top-level international counterparts, so Chinese aviation weapons and equipment not only have quantity, but also quality, another Chinese military expert who requested anonymity told the Global Times on Tuesday.
China needs a strong military to safeguard national sovereignty, territorial integrity and development interests as the US is rallying its allies in forming a military encirclement to contain China, the expert said.
Air defense is a major aspect in national defense, so having sufficient, powerful aviation weapons and equipment is very important, particularly under the currently deteriorating geopolitical security environment, the expert said.
Song Zhongping, a Chinese military expert and TV commentator, told the Global Times that 2024 is expected to see more uncertainty in the world, but he is confident that the Chinese military can firmly safeguard national security even while shouldering heavier duties.
More domestically developed warplanes are expected to make appearances in 2024, experts said. (Source: https://www.defense-aerospace.com/ Global Times)
03 Jan 24. RoK Approves Plan to Purchase New Maritime Helicopters from Overseas. South Korea’s defense authorities on Friday approved a plan to purchase new maritime operations helicopters from overseas to replace the Navy’s aging fleet of choppers, the state arms procurement agency said.
The Defense Project Promotion Committee endorsed the basic strategic plan for the project worth 2.87trn won (US$2.23bn) from 2025 to 2032 to replace the aging Lynx helicopters, according to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA).
DAPA said the new helicopters are expected to enhance the Navy’s anti-submarine and anti-surface ship capabilities and will serve to respond to threats posed by North Korea’s submarine-launched ballistic missiles.
U.S. aerospace company Lockheed Martin’s MH-60R and France-based NHIndustries’ NH-90 are candidates for the project, according to a defense official.
The committee also endorsed a basic strategic plan for the development of a short-range air-to-air missile to be equipped on the country’s homegrown KF-21 fighter jet under development.
The 591.9bn-won project will run from 2025 through 2035 in an effort to develop an advanced homegrown missile for the KF-21, which is scheduled to begin being delivered to the Air Force in 2026.
It also approved a basic plan worth 740 bn won to purchase new command helicopters from overseas from 2025 through 2030 and an 890 bn-won basic development plan to improve the military’s UH-60 and HH-60 special operations helicopters’ capabilities from next year to 2030.
(Source: https://www.defense-aerospace.com/ Yonhap News Agency)
03 Jan 24. Indonesia delays buying used fighter jets, cites fiscal limits. The Indonesian government has delayed a plan to purchase 12 Mirage 2000-5 fighter jets previously used by Qatar, due to limited fiscal capacity, a spokesperson for the defence minister said.
Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak made the comments in a panel interview with broadcaster TV One earlier this week, saying the delay was decided by the defence and finance ministries.
“The government … has delayed the purchase of Mirage jets because our fiscal capacity, for the time being, cannot support such purchase,” Dahnil said on TV One, adding that the military would order a retrofit for its existing Sukhoi and F16 aircraft instead.
Dahnil, as well as spokespeople for the defence and finance ministries, did not respond to Reuters request for comments.
Indonesia inked a deal with a unit of Czech defence company Czechoslovak Group (CSG) to buy 12 Mirage 2000-5 fighter jets in January 2023, valued at 733m euros ($801.68m), the defence ministry said last year.
The secondhand jets were set to be delivered within 24 months after the deal was signed. They were intended to be used while Indonesia waits for the arrival of some of the 42 Rafale fighter jets that Jakarta had bought in 2022 for $8.1bn.
The plan to buy the Mirage planes has been criticised by some lawmakers because the jets were considered old.
The decision to delay the Mirage purchase came despite President Joko Widodo’s approval of a 20% increase in defence spending to the end of 2024 to upgrade military hardware to $25bn.
Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto, the frontrunner for presidential elections due in February, has overseen the military’s efforts to modernise its ageing fleet, which include purchases of 12 new drones from Turkish Aerospace and fighter jets and transport helicopters from U.S. companies Boeing (BA.N) and Lockheed Martin (LMT.N).
($1 = 0.9143 euros) (Source: Google/Reuters)
02 Jan 24. Singapore’s Navy inks modernization deals amid personnel shortage. Singapore has hired ST Engineering to upgrade the country’s Formidable-class frigates, part of the Navy’s overarching effort to become more flexible and to integrate unmanned technology into the fleet.
The contract, announced by the firm Dec. 14, comes as Singapore’s military grapples with limited troop size and training spaces. The country has embarked on numerous joint training exercises and sent troops to various countries to ease the problem, but end strength remains a challenge.
The company is also on contract to deliver six multirole combat vessels to replace the Navy’s aging missile corvette fleet. The Navy commissioned ST Engineering for the job in March, using designs from Sweden’s Saab Kockums and Denmark’s Odense Maritime Technology.
Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen had previously told lawmakers that “autonomous technologies have been built into the Navy’s new multirole combat vessels to function as a ‘mothership’ with unmanned platforms that can work together to conduct a range of missions.”
The Navy anticipates a 30% decrease in the number of personnel in the next 20 years, according to the Defence Ministry, presenting a challenge to the country’s security efforts. The military, however, hopes unmanned platforms will fill the gap.
The Defence Ministry did not respond to Defense News’ request for comment by press time, but the defense minister told lawmakers in February the sea service “will shift towards a future force structure where about half of its vessels will be unmanned.”
As such, the military is focusing on what it calls “pocket plays” — multipurpose platforms capable of combat operations and low-intensity operations, such as humanitarian assistance, disaster response, counterterrorism and counter-piracy.
“This is what we call scalable, naval modular technology,” said Collin Koh, a senior research fellow at the Singapore-based Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies think tank, which is part of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies.
“There is a lot of premium being placed on automation and on reducing manpower needs. That is why we are leaning toward this whole idea of a smaller number of platforms that are larger, but at the same time they do not require as much crew [as] previous assets,” he told Defense News.
The big picture
Singapore has, in recent years, steadily allocated about 3% of its gross domestic product toward military efforts, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. And from 2018 to 2022, the Southeast Asian nation increased its defense spending by 10% to nearly $11.7bn, the Swedish think tank found.
Singapore’s defense fund is expected to reach $15.8bn by 2027, according to analytics firm GlobalData.
Indeed, the country’s military modernization efforts have always been strategic and backed by steady funding, according to Bernard Loo, a senior fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies. He said there is a tendency for all platforms under one ship class to come from the same contractor as long as suppliers — whether domestic or international — meet Singapore’s “geostrategic and geopolitical circumstances.”
“As long as the suppliers can provide them with the kind of capabilities built around particular conditions that [Singapore] identified as essential, and it can be done in a cost-effective manner, then [the country] will go down that particular path,” Loo told Defense News.
Since the military unveiled its modernization plan, meant to take shape by 2040, Singapore has embarked on upgrading its naval fleet by acquiring platforms from international companies and modernizing maritime patrol capabilities with a mix of commercial and indigenous technologies.
In the next five years, Singapore’s government anticipates a deluge of naval platforms. It plans to put into active service this year four Invincible-class submarines under a deal with Germany’s ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems. It will also begin receiving offshore patrol vessels from German shipbuilder Fassmer starting in 2028, the same year ST Engineering is contracted to begin delivering the multirole combat vessels.
Singapore does tap foreign markets for missiles, torpedoes and submarines, but its Navy depends heavily on domestic companies to fill demands. Most of the fleet, including offshore patrol vessels, multipurpose auxiliary vessels and platform landing ships, was constructed by local businesses.
ST Engineering, the country’s largest defense company, supplies about 38% of the Navy’s equipment and has inked several important contracts over the last year. As part of its work on the six Formidable-class frigates, the company will upgrade their marine and electrical systems.
The company is the 45th largest contractor in the world when ranked by defense-related revenue, according to Defense News’ Top 100 list. In an email to Defense News, the firm’s head of international defense business activities, Chua Jin Kiat, noted ST Engineering is focused on cloud computing, artificial intelligence and autonomous technology.
And there’s room for expansion: The country’s aerospace and defense markets are expected to grow by 12% from 2023 to 2028, according to research firm Mordor Intelligence.
The government and private companies have already tapped tertiary institutions for defense-related research, Koh noted, which could broaden science, technology, engineering and math research through partnerships with countries like Japan and South Korea.
“These days, the defense industry is not just about selling weapons or building jet fighters,” Koh said. “In fact there are dual-purpose — civilian and military — items, which opens up … a lot of opportunities.” (Source: Defense News)
28 Dec 23. New Zealand naval chief talks future fleet, unmanned tech. The Royal New Zealand Navy recently introduced three high-speed, 41-foot Littoral Manoeuvre Craft to its fleet of nine ships, and is now testing the Australian-made 22-foot uncrewed surface vessel Bluebottle. But it has been difficult for the service to operate all of its maritime platforms amid recruiting and retention woes. In January 2023, a third of the Navy’s ships were docked due to a shortage of sailors, causing a loss of “significant flexibility,” the service’s top officer, Rear Adm. David Proctor, told Defense News at the time.
On Nov. 15, the Defense Ministry closed a request for information about replacing nearly the entire naval fleet. The Navy’s flagship — its 568-foot replenishment vessel HMNZS Aotearoa — has been in service for three years, but the remaining eight ships — two frigates, two inshore and two offshore patrol vessels, a sealift ship, and a dive and hydrographic ship — will reach the end of their service lives in the mid-2030s.
Defense News recently checked in with Proctor to discuss the state of the Navy, what’s planned for 2024 and ongoing efforts to strengthen the service. This interview was edited for length and clarity.
What responses have you received to the request for information for new ships?
A wide range of responses. Respondents included shipbuilders, system suppliers and maritime service providers, and the quality of information is an encouraging indication of interest in New Zealand’s defense. The responses are providing industry input to maritime fleet options in support of the Defence Capability Plan.
[Editor’s note: A New Zealand Defence Force spokesperson told Defense News after this interview the government received 49 responses to the RFI, but declined to provide further details.]
What’s next?
The development of the Defence Capability Plan is a process that explores a range of investment options to balance capability and resources. These options are assessed against extant defense policy. No decisions on specific ship types have been made at this point. The DCP will present investment options for government to consider.
Talk about the state of the Royal New Zealand Navy over the last year.
We have experienced a challenging year, with a declining workforce in 2023. Attrition is currently outstripping recruiting. But key measures and recruiting initiatives are underway to address this issue. The attrition rate is decreasing, indicating these initiatives are having a positive effect on addressing workforce issues.
How do you balance training against the deployment of forces?
The Royal New Zealand Navy is currently regenerating, following widely reported attrition and recruiting issues since the COVID-19 pandemic. This process is not without challenges as a result of the hollowness of the Navy.
In particular, the cohort where we are most short is needed to both keep the fleet at sea and to deliver specialist training ashore. This requires careful management and some compromise to maximize our ability to have ships at sea on operational deployments and/or providing at-sea training, while still being able to deliver world-class training ashore and transition to a sustainable training state.
What’s planned for the Navy in 2024?
The priorities for 2024 are to regenerate maritime capabilities in accordance with the Navy’s four-year regeneration plan, [which includes work on an integrated system to sustainably generate naval forces; a fresh focus on personnel capability to develop high-performing individuals and units; and a regeneration of combat capabilities]; continue the introduction and transition to new and upgraded capabilities; and improve maritime cooperation among Southwest Pacific partners by continuing to develop the effectiveness of the forum with Southwest Pacific heads of maritime forces.
As a small trading nation, New Zealand’s security is absolutely dependent on multinational organizations — like the World Trade Organization and the United Nations — and the rules-based international system to advance its interests. Specifically for the Royal New Zealand Navy, a number of key challenges and opportunities exist which, if achieved, would enable the service to improve its operational ability.
It is crucial that the Navy is able to continue reducing the current attrition rate and increase recruiting in order to regenerate the service and ensure the effective delivery of outputs.
As we continue to deliver our mission, which is to advance New Zealand’s interests from the sea as well as progress our strategic initiatives, we must also maintain our personnel and operational competencies as we transition to new capabilities. In addition, we must ensure that we put in place mechanisms that allow us to unlock the full potential and benefits from any new capabilities we are introducing. This will allow us to fully use the enhanced military platforms and technologies the government is investing in.
The frigate prepares to dock during the ceremonial homecoming of HMNZS Te Mana at Devonport Naval Base on July 8, 2022, in Auckland, New Zealand. (Dave Rowland/Getty Images)
Gaining the right balance between effectiveness and efficiency is required to successfully introduce the future Navy while minimizing cost to New Zealanders. This will be done by ensuring we do the right things the right way so we can optimize effort and prioritize resources — for example, personnel, maintenance, finances, and ships and shore infrastructure.
Greater focus on capacity building within our region and the development of a body of knowledge on maritime security and strategic matters will continue to enhance the Navy’s position as subject matter experts in the maritime security domain. Increased engagement with partner navies, nongovernmental organizations, academic institutes and other government agencies will enhance the Navy’s ability to make a difference and will promote a wider understanding of the value of the service.
Of course, it’s worth noting the volatile security environment as well as the need to be ready to provide the government with options covering the full spectrum of maritime military operations, including combat and lethal force in defense of New Zealand, our allies and our interests.
How is recruiting going?
The Royal New Zealand Navy acknowledges that a naval candidate in 2024 is vastly different to one who would have joined in 2004. Access to technology and a reliance on fast responses can mean candidates may expect those same timelines from their recruiter. However, standardized assessment processes are required for us to accurately evaluate candidates and make sure we abide by our security, medical and academic standards.
This has involved robust action plans to enhance the recruiting approach, such as the development and publishing of operating processes, technical upgrades to operating systems, updates to minimum entry requirements, and the ongoing development of recruiters’ skills.
How are you balancing the varying levels of experience between new and seasoned sailors?
After a period of heightened attrition, the average level of experience across the Navy has fallen. Significant overseas ship deployments in both 2022 and 2023 have helped begin to rebuild these, as will deployments planned for 2024 and 2025.
A small but significant number of highly experienced subject matter experts have been used to provide guidance in their areas to those at sea and at the beginning of their careers.
What could the service gain from the trilateral AUKUS agreement between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States?
It remains to be seen what opportunities might exist for New Zealand under the second pillar of AUKUS, [which involves cooperative efforts to develop and field undersea capabilities, among other advanced technologies].
Decisions on this matter will be for ministers.
How has New Zealand’s nuclear-free policy affected the Navy?
The impact has been in relation to our Navy’s engagement with the U.S. Navy. But the relationship has largely moved beyond past differences over nuclear policy that impacted ship visits for a period of time. The Wellington Declaration of 2010 and the Washington Declaration of 2012 have enabled a notable reengagement between the two navies.
How do you view China’s maritime growth?
China continues to modernize its military. New Zealand is fully invested in collective security approaches alongside our key partners and in supporting the international rules-based system.
What is the Navy doing with uncrewed platforms at sea?
The Navy and Defence Force currently use a number of small uncrewed systems for a variety of tasks, and are undertaking experimentation to investigate their potential for greater use in a broader range of roles. In support of the Defence Capability Plan, the fleet is considering uncrewed capability as part of a solution set for the future Navy.
[Editor’s note: The military spokesperson also told Defense News the Bluebottle uncrewed surface vessel is set to undergo an initial confirmation of standard operating procedures, which would allow the Navy to build confidence and experience with the system as well as launch trials to support other government agencies, while gradually increasing range and duration of use around the country’s waters. The level of endurance the platform offers at sea, alongside its onboard cameras and radar, could benefit maritime patrol missions. The spokesperson noted Bluebottle is a quiet platform able to carry a towed array sonar.]
[The Navy leased the Martac-made Mantas T12 uncrewed surface vessel for three months in mid-2022. The spokesperson told Defense News the service used the platform to better understand such technology. Martac’s chief marketing officer, Stephen Ferretti, told Defense News in 2022 the T12′s sensors include electro-optical/infrared cameras for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions, as well as multibeam, single-beam, side-scan and other sonar types for object detection and hydrographic surveying missions.] (Source: Defense News Early Bird/Defense News)
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Since 1946, Industrial Electronic Engineers, IEE, has specialized in the design, test, support and fielding of display products for use in demanding military and aerospace applications throughout the world. IEE has developed an extensive product portfolio that today includes enhanced flat panel displays, smart displays and handheld devices.
From rapid prototyping of custom designs to full-scale production runs, IEE, produces displays with advanced features like low-latency video processing, high-bright and NVIS backlighting, and lightweight rugged enclosures. Their SWaP-C products employ the latest lightweight composite materials; low power, high performance integrated ARM processors; standard Ethernet and USB communication, in a low cost, highly producible design.
In-house California facilities include optical bonding, clean rooms for display assembly, a dark room for optical measurements and environmental chambers for pre-compliance and customer acceptance testing. On-site manufacturing includes PCB assembly and flow soldering. IEE has manufactured handheld, in-vehicle, airborne and naval LCD displays for all military branches as well as leading aerospace firms both domestically and internationally.
IEE is ISO 9001:2015 and AS9100D certified.
IEE’s Advantage:
- Direct control of critical process steps that reduce cost, decrease production lead times and improves life-cycle management
- Unique advantage to serve to both smaller quantity, highly custom displays needs as well as high volume production outputs
- Expert in delivering the best value in form and fit replacement by modifying existing COTS products to meet legacy requirements
- Leading the next generation avionics efficiencies by leveraging open architectures and common software standards
- Field-proven, pre-engineered displays minimize lead-time and non-recurring engineering costs.
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