Defence has concluded a series of engagements with industry leaders to discuss the indicative investments outlined in the 2025 Defence Capability Plan and the pathway for working together more effectively.
“Defence Industry are a critical partner in both the supply of military capability and its operation through-life – in an environment where pace and responsiveness are critical,” Deputy Secretary Defence Policy and Planning Richard Schmidt says.
The forecast investment in Defence from the Government is significant - $12 billion of planned commitments over the next four years, including $9 billion of new spending, with a path to reaching 2 percent of GDP in the next eight years. These commitments are subject to budget and business cases.
“The implementation of the DCP will support the Government’s economic growth agenda, including by further optimising the use of New Zealand businesses in the defence industrial base, fostering exports, and promoting innovative and advanced technologies.”
The Government has allocated $2.7 billion of capital and $563 million of operating funding for priority projects identified in the Defence Capability Plan as part of Budget 25 covering the following projects (subject to Cabinet approval of final business cases):
- Maritime helicopter replacement: Replacing the Seasprite maritime helicopters with a new fleet of maritime helicopters to operate from Navy ships.
- Replacing the Boeing 757 fleet: Replacing two Boeing 757s to support military operations and deployments (including to Antarctica), humanitarian and disaster relief support, and trade and diplomatic missions.
- Javelin anti-tank missile upgrade: Replacing the Javelin anti-armour missile system launch units with the newer variant. The new units will ensure interoperability and provide the NZDF with the ability to engage targets at longer ranges.
- Network Enabled Army (NEA): New encrypted radios to provide deployed units with secure voice communication and additional equipment for deployable headquarters. This expands on the network developed by earlier investment in the NEA programme, and ensures NZ remains interoperable with Australia and other partners.
- Counter Uncrewed Aerial Systems: The counter-UAS system is a deployable system that can be set up in fixed locations and is able to disable drones/UAS that could pose a threat to personnel, aircraft/vehicles and infrastructure.
- Enhancing cyber security capabilities: Investment to further develop defensive cyber capabilities to ensure the NZDF can continue to defend against cyber threats posed by adversaries, while they are on deployment.
- Vehicles for NZDF - Garrison and Training Support (GATS): The NZDF operates a fleet of vehicles which move people, equipment and supplies between and within bases, support emergency services and disaster response, and support airfield operations.
- Design for Naval base enhancements at Devonport: This is the first of multiple tranches of investment and will allow for detailed design work to begin on specific and immediate infrastructure issues, as well as the demolition of some facilities that are no longer fit for use, making way for future construction.
- Defence housing programme – homes for families: To provide new housing and renovate housing at various defence locations.
- Information Management: Investment to continue to improve the NZDF’s ability to store and retrieve information, and to share information with our ally Australia, partners and other government organisations.
- Consolidated Logistics Project Infrastructure - Burnham Regional Supply Facility: The Burnham Regional Supply Facility will replace a range of existing logistics buildings with modern, fit for purpose facilities. The facility will enable the distribution, storage and organisation of equipment required to the support the training and deployment of NZDF’s personnel.
Engagements with industry leaders and representatives has taken place in Wellington and Auckland while work is also underway on a Defence Industry Strategy which will cover, among other things, simplifying procurement, focusing on reducing the time taken to deliver capability into service and optimising the use of New Zealand industry in supporting defence.
Material supporting industry engagement in the implementation of the Defence Capability Plan can be found here.