Navy Lookout – New Zealand is approaching a pivotal decision on the future of its surface combatant fleet as the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) looks to replace its Anzac-class frigates in the mid-2030s. Two designs have emerged as the most likely contenders: Japan’s upgraded Mogami-class and the British Type 31 frigate.

Naval News – The New Zealand government published its Defence Capability Plan (DCP) on 7 April, a document that had been delayed for many months. The DCP is essentially a blueprint listing investment in the military for the next 15 years, aligning with national strategy. The plan includes much-needed boosts to naval capabilities.

Breaking Defense – New Zealand, the small island state south of Australia, has long spent little on defense, but the conservative government there has decided to double its spending over the next eight years, committing to $9 billion NZD ($5 billion USD) in new spending in the first four years.

BBC – A New Zealand naval ship which crashed into a coral reef before it caught fire and sank had been left on autopilot, an official inquiry has found.

Radio New Zealand – What caused the crash, what’s next and how much will the ship cost to replace? Here’s what we know.

(Thanks to Alain)

USNI News – Royal New Zealand Navy hydrographic dive and survey ship HMNZS Manawanui (A09) sank on Sunday after running aground off the southern coast of the island of Upolu, Samoa. The ship ran aground on Saturday evening while on a survey mission in the area. All aboard were rescued.

Naval News – New Zealand possesses an exclusive economic zone spanning 4.3 million km², which the government claims is the world’s fifth largest.

Defense News – On Nov. 15, the New Zealand 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.

Naval News – The Royal New Zealand Navy commenced an industry engagement exercise with the release of a request for information on 8 September. The document, entitled Maritime Fleet Market Research for the Defence Capability Plan, revolves around how the navy can better manage its fleet with limited dollars.

Defense News – New Zealand’s Defence Ministry has issued a request for information to replace nearly the entire naval fleet, which currently includes nine ships in six different classes.

Naval News – It will be the first time in more than a decade that a New Zealand warship has fired any kind of missile and marks an important milestone in certifying the New Zealand frigate force for operations.

Defense News – New Zealand’s military has tested some of its beach-landing equipment in an overseas environment for the first time — a type of exercise one officer admitted hasn’t happened for a while amid recruitment woes and the pandemic.

Naval News – New Zealand’s second P-8A Poseidon arrived home on March 20th. Meanwhile the New Zealand Ministry of Defence confirmed MK 54 Torpedoes are included in the P-8A Poseidon purchase.

Defense News – A third of Royal New Zealand Navy ships are docked due to a shortage of sailors, causing a loss of “significant flexibility.”

Defense News – Three of the Royal New Zealand Navy’s nine ships are now docked at the Devonport naval base indefinitely, due to insufficient personnel.

USNI News – Australia and New Zealand have deployed ships and aircraft for humanitarian aid and disaster relief efforts following the eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai underwater volcano on Saturday. 

US Naval War College Review – The ongoing effective revival of ANZUS relations is vital to allowing the New Zealand Defence Force to fulfill the ever-increasing range of tasks expected of it. Impending capability-replacement decisions provide an opportunity to increase the capacity of the NZDF to operate with the United States in an environment that makes maritime cooperation especially important.

BMPD – On December 23, 2020, in Kaliningrad, a ceremony was held to raise the Navy flag on the second large landing ship of project 11711 Pyotr Morgunov (serial number 0302). The ship was accepted into the Russian Navy.

(Thanks to Alain)

– Naval News – The Royal New Zealand Navy commissioned the HMNZS Aotearoa, the service’s new fleet tanker and sustainment vessel.

– Reuters – New Zealand has agreed to buy four Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol planes, Defence Minister Ron Mark said on Monday, strengthening surveillance capabilities as it works to counter the rise of new powers, such as China.

– The Guardian – The Royal New Zealand Navy paid hundreds of thousands of dollars over four years to a ship services company run by a man now imprisoned in the US for an enormous corruption and sex scandal.

Defense Technology International – The New Zealand navy has just launched the third of four Inshore Patrol Vessels (IPVs), the Pukaki, marking another step in the countryís plan to field seven Protector fleet ships before year end.
more…