Ice patrol, littoral support for NZDF
The release of New Zealand’s Defence White Paper on 8 June has confirmed what has long been suspected with the intended addition of an ice-strengthened OPV for its naval fleet.
Key points highlighted in the white paper detail the aims for the new OPV and an ice-strengthened naval tanker; better sea-to-shore capabilities with the addition of a littoral operations support vessel ‘that can operate in low to medium threat environments’; improved air surveillance with the upgrade of the P-3K Orion maritime patrol aircraft; and expanded cyber capability.
In April details emerged about the expected requirement of such a vessel,
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