Garrison and Training Support (GATS) Vehicles Project

The capability covers the NZDF’s domestic operational and training support vehicle fleets.

A number of specialist vehicles (such as fire appliances, medical response and aircraft refuelling vehicles) are overdue for replacement. These provide critical capabilities within New Zealand either delivering or supporting outputs such as emergency service activities, humanitarian and disaster relief, as well as day to day support to military training and domestic operational needs.

Current Status

To ensure that these capabilities are maintained, the GATS projects has been split into two phases:

• Phase One will deliver improved availability and reliability of domestic operational and training support vehicle fleets, increasing operating safety and efficiency and reducing maintenance costs. For the fleets being replaced under Phase One, at 30 June:

  • Domestic Fire Appliances: six appliances have been delivered through Lower Hutt based company, Fraser Engineering Ltd (NZ).

  • Medical Response Vehicle: 11 of 12 vehicles have been delivered through Hamilton based company, Action Manufacturing. A training simulator has also been acquired. Interim Operational Release was achieved in June 2022.

  • Rural Fire Appliances: a contract was signed with Volvo (Australia) in December 2020 for 11 appliances. All 11 were accepted during the reporting period.

• Phase Two: The progressive replacement of the remainder of the GATS fleets.

Background

Airfield Response Appliances (ARA): In November 2020, a contract was awarded to Oshkosh Airport Products, USA for two ARAs (of the total fleet of eight). 

Domestic Fire Appliances (DFA): The Project is working with Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) for the acquisition of six new Type 3 appliances. Under the arrangement with FENZ, maintenance of the NZDF fleet will be managed by FENZ.

Medical Response Vehicles (MRV): In May 2020, a contract was awarded to Hamilton-based Action Manufacturing for a fleet of six MRVs, which was later increased to 12. These are based on the Iveco Daily 4x4 and replace the 30 year old Unimog-based medical vehicles.

Mobile Bulk Aviation Fuelling Capability (MBAFC): In August 2020 a contract was awarded to Holmwood Highgate (Australia) for a fleet of six MBAFCs, based on the Volvo FMX cab/chassis with a 40,000 litre fuel capacity (13,000 litres in the truck tank and 27,000 in the trailer). 

Rural Fire Appliances (RFA): In December 2020, a contract was awarded to Volvo Group Australia for a fleet of 11 RFAs based on the Volvo FL280 dual cab as the Primemover truck. Wellington based Fraser Engineering Ltd, will undertake the design and engineering work including the integration of the existing NZDF demountable fire pod. 

Contact: industry@defence.govt.nz

Last updated: October 2023