Royal New Zealand Air Force

www.airforce.mil.nz

Te Hokowhitu o Kahurangi

The Royal New Zealand Air Force provides the people of New Zealand with an effective, responsive, dependable, and affordable Air Force that advances the security interests of New Zealand.

RNZAF military air operations include maritime surveillance and reconnaissance with six P-3K Orion aircraft, strategic and tactical air transport with two Boeing 757 and five C-130 Hercules aircraft, and helicopter support with fourteen UH-1H Iroquois helicopters. The RNZAF also supports fi ve SH-2G(NZ) Seasprite helicopters that are part of the Naval Helicopter Force. These aircraft support both military operations and civil authorities. At the tactical level, force elements are designed to be self-sufficient in operating level maintenance, maintenance management and retail supply.

Organisation

The Chief of Air Force retains overall command of the RNZAF and is responsible for raising, training, and maintaining the operational and support capabilities. The Air Force command structure is based on functional groupings rather than geographic locations, with elements of the operational, training, and support organisations located at RNZAF Bases Auckland, Ohakea, and Woodbourne. The Assistant Chiefs of Personnel, Plans, and Capability, and the Chief Financial Officer and their staffs are all centred in Wellington.

The operational squadrons are assigned under permanent operational command to the Commander Joint Forces New Zealand, who exercises that command through the Air Component Commander and No. 485 Wing. Headquarters No. 485 Wing, No. 5 Squadron (P-3K Orions), No. 40 Squadron (C-130 Hercules and Boeing B757), No. 6 Squadron (SH-2G Seasprite helicopters), and the Expeditionary Support Squadron are located in Auckland. No. 3 Squadron (Bell UH-1H Iroquois and Bell 47G Sioux helicopters) is located at RNZAF Base Ohakea.

The Air Force’s Training Group units are located at RNZAF Bases Woodbourne and Ohakea. Training Group Headquarters and Ground Training Wing, and the units responsible for officer, recruit, and specialist ground trade training are all located at RNZAF Base Woodbourne. Flying Training Wing, No. 42 Squadron (King Air B200), Pilot Training Squadron and Central Flying School (CT-4E Airtrainer) are located at RNZAF Base Ohakea.

The Air Force’s support organisation is arranged on the three main operating bases at Auckland, Ohakea and Woodbourne. Operational Support Group commands the Operational Support Wings at each Base. The Wings coordinate activities and provide support services to units at the Bases. Logistics Group commands the Maintenance and Materiel Support Wings that are centred at Auckland, the Directorate of Aeronautical Configuration (centred at RNZAF Ohakea with a subordinate unit at Auckland), and the staff functions in Air Staff. Maintenance Wing has subordinate units at Ohakea and Materiel Support Wing has subordinate units at all three bases.

Outputs and Outcomes

The three RNZAF Force Element squadrons, the Expeditionary Support Squadron, and units from throughout the RNZAF utilised their capabilities to meet the Government specified outputs and therefore contributed to the Defence Intermediate Outcomes in the following manner.

Intermediate Outcome 1: Secure New Zealand.

• Protected from Terrorism. All three RNZAF Force Elements maintained a capability to assist with counter terrorist response by providing transport support and surveillance standby capabilities.
• Protected from Transnational Illegal Activities. No. 5 Squadron conducted surveillance flights of New Zealand’s EEZ and the Southern Ocean.
• Protected persons and infrastructure from Civil Instability and Disasters. All three RNZAF Force Elements maintained the capability for transport support, reconnaissance and search and rescue response for civil authorities. Personnel from across the RNZAF were also available to assist civil authorities if requested.

Intermediate Outcome 2: Reduced Risks From Regional and Global Insecurity.

• A Secure, Peaceful and Stable Australia. RNZAF Force Elements participated in or supported units deploying to exercises with or in Australia.
• A Secure, Peaceful and Stable South Pacific. Nos. 3 and 40 Squadrons provided transport support to land forces (including aeromedical evacuation) for disaster relief, and to extract civilians in emergencies. The multi-national mission to the Solomon Islands was supplied by inter-theatre flights by No. 40 Squadron. No. 40 Squadron also deployed NZDF personnel to Tonga in late 2006. No. 5 Squadron conducted surveillance patrols of the EEZs of Pacific Island nations, participated in a regional EEZ policing and enforcement operation, provided a surveillance capability for disaster relief, and conducted numerous search and rescue missions in the South Pacific.
• A Secure and Stable Asia-Pacific Region. No. 5 Squadron, with transport support from No. 40 Squadron participated in exercises with South East Asian countries and Australia. No. 40 squadron provided transport support to the Combined Joint Task Force in Timor Leste. Later in the year, No. 3 Squadron deployed two UH-1H Iroquois helicopters to Timor Leste.
• A more Secure and Stable World. No. 40 Squadron conducted tactical training in Canada and the United States. No. 40 Squadron also supported New Zealand and other forces globally, but most notably in the Middle East. Personnel from throughout the RNZAF also contributed to this outcome by deploying as individuals or small teams to various multinational and United Nations Missions.

Future Direction

As at 1 July 2007, RNZAF nominal strength (Regular Force, civilians and General Service Hands) was 2,834. The intention is to grow nominal strength to 2,996 by the end of FY 2007/2008.

The Defence Long-Term Development Plan includes major projects to upgrade most of the Air Force’s capabilities and some infrastructure over the next few years:

• Air transport is a critical enabler for a range of military and Government tasks. Each of the new Boeing 757 aircraft will be modified with a cargo door, strengthened floors, a communications and navigation upgrade, and air stairs. The C-130 Hercules will undergo a life extension with upgrades to the flight deck and aircraft systems, and some structural refurbishment, to guarantee airworthiness and improve availability and reliability through to at least 2017.
• New sensors, mission management, communication and navigation systems will be fitted to the P-3K Orion fleet to improve its capability and reliability for a wide range of military and civilian tasks. The interim electro optical system has been fitted to three P-3K Orion aircraft.
• The Iroquois will be replaced by the NH-90 to fulfil the medium utility helicopter requirement. The Sioux helicopter will be replaced with new aircraft to meet training and light utility requirements.

The project to consolidate the RNZAF’s operational capability at Ohakea (Project Takitini) continues to progress following engagement of BECA as prime consultant in the Project Management Office. User Requirements, Functional Design Briefs and Concept Designs have now been completed for most subprojects. An Interim Report was provided to the Minister of Defence in April 2007 and infrastructure costs are being refined.

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