Statement of Intent 1 July 2005 - 30 June 2008
Part 1: Strategic framework (continued)
The Defence Long-term Development Plan
A strong focus of our work over the next five years will be implementing the Defence Long-term Development Plan with the New Zealand Defence Force. Issued in June 2002, and updated in June 2003 and November 2004, the Defence Long-term Development Plan sets out the capability projects required to modernise and improve the New Zealand Defence Force.
The Defence Long-term Development Plan is a planning document that assists the Government in making decisions about defence capability over a ten year period, covering current policy, priorities and affordability. The Ministry of Defence regularly reviews the Defence Long-term Development Plan, in association with the New Zealand Defence Force, to ensure it is achieving its goals. We will report the results to ministers on an annual basis and seek their decisions on spending priorities.
The 2004 Defence Long-term Development Plan update included a new category, 'Projects Approved and in Acquisition Phase'. This new category was developed in recognition of the increasing number of projects that have reached or passed the end of their contract negotiation phase.
Capability projects within the Defence Long-term Development Plan fall into six categories:
- projects approved and in the acquisition phase
- projects approved in principle by the Government
- projects necessary to avoid failure to achieve policy objectives
- projects necessary to provide a well-equipped land force
- projects necessary to avoid significant risks to policy
- projects judged as having benefit but which are less critical to achieving policy objectives.
Many of the projects in the Defence Long-term Development Plan are now underway following decisions made by the Government over the past five years. The projects will significantly improve the capabilities of the New Zealand Defence Force to perform the roles and tasks prescribed by the Government. These projects are more fully discussed in the following pages.
Capability Management Framework (CMF)
The CMF is a governance and management system designed to support defence and government decision makers in developing effective, long-term investments in defence capabilities. It articulates practices and procedures that have been operating since mid 2002 and provides clarity in responsibility, accountability and process for defence policy development, capability definition and acquisition through to the introduction into service and the disposal of capabilities. The outcome of this framework is to provide a well-informed, cost effective and professional defence force that embraces continual improvement and management excellence.
The CMF encapsulates an integrated approach to capability development, defining responsibilities for sole, prime and shared responsibilities between the Ministry of Defence and New Zealand Defence Force.
Key stakeholders must ensure that unity of effort is the focus and that a collaborative, helpful and co-operative manner pervades the construction of capabilities for defence. There is thus a value of individual responsibility and accountability, but shared ownership of the process. The end result must be a comprehensive, robust, logical, synergistic process to ensure cost effective long-term investments in defence capabilities.
Two projects reflecting the operation of the CMF currently are outlined in the following tables.
New helicopters for the New Zealand Defence Force
The Ministry of Defence is working with the New Zealand Defence Force to procure a new fleet of utility and training helicopters for the Air Force's No 3 Squadron. The 14 Iroquois utility and five Sioux training helicopters are more than forty years old and need to be replaced by aircraft that meet the New Zealand Defence Force's current and future needs.
Utility helicopters provide essential support to the Army, particularly in the South Pacific and in peace support operations. They have been used extensively on New Zealand's missions in Solomon Islands, Timor Leste, and Bougainville. They also provide important support to the police and civil authorities in New Zealand, in activities as wide ranging as disaster relief, search and rescue, fire fighting and counter-drug operations.
Training helicopters are needed to train Air Force pilots and crew in basic helicopter flying and operations. They also ensure adequate progression to the larger utility and maritime helicopters.
The Ministry has been working with Antarctica New Zealand, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, the Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management, the Department of Conservation, the New Zealand Customs Service, the New Zealand Fire Service, the Ministry of Fisheries, the Maritime Safety Authority, the New Zealand Police, among others, to ensure the new helicopters are suitable to meet the wide range of tasks they are expected to perform.
The Ministry has been involved in identifying candidate helicopters which could meet New Zealand's requirements. It has also been involved in formulating recommendations for Cabinet on how, and from where, the helicopters might be procured and introduced into service with the Defence Force at the best value for money.
The new medium utility helicopter will be NH Industries' NH90 helicopter. Discussions have commenced with NH Industries on costs, numbers and delivery availability.
Modernising and mobilising the Army
The Government's Defence Policy Framework, issued in June 2000, highlighted the need to upgrade and modernise the Army; particularly to improve its mobility including through the purchase of a number of new vehicle types.
The 2001 Government Defence Statement confirmed this priority with the initiation of the acquisition of new light operational vehicles (LOVs) to replace the 30-40 year old Landrovers.
LOVs are the primary means of transport used by the Army and Special Forces in peace support operations, including in support of the light armoured vehicle. In addition, the LOVs may provide support for evacuation operations in the South Pacific.
The Ministry's Acquisition Division was charged with identifying and procuring these new LOVs. After a competitive tender process, Automotive Technik Limited of the United Kingdom, was selected as the preferred tenderer. A contract was signed with Automotive Technik in 2004 for the supply of 321 Pinzgauer vehicles comprising six variants including: command and control; special operations; ambulance; and general service vehicles. The first vehicles were delivered in October 2004. Final deliveries are expected to conclude in March 2006.
