Impact of Operational Deployments, Upgrades and Introduction of New Equipments into Service on Output Expenses/ Outputs: Concurrency
The NZDF Output Expense Output Specification tables, for Output Expenses 2 to 14, inclusive, within the Information Supporting the Estimates for Vote Defence Force and NZDF Output Plan detail the full capacity of the force elements to undertake tasks against designated Employment Contexts. If the force elements, or parts thereof, of any Output Expense are actually deployed on operations the ability of the NZDF to deploy similar force elements, concurrently, to another operation may be significantly reduced. For example, while the NZDF had a battalion group committed to operations in East Timor, another battalion group could not have been concurrently deployed elsewhere. The limited range of capabilities and the limited quantity of force elements maintained by the NZDF means that there may be only limited capacity to deploy like force elements concurrently.
From the start of FY 2008/2009 (1 July 2008) significant elements of the NZ Army will continue to be in restoration mode - given the recent past and current high operational tempo of overseas deployments (Afghanistan, Timor Leste and Solomon Islands). While these elements (those under restoration) will remain available for further deployment, there are obvious inherent risks. For example, it is now not uncommon for Army personnel who return from an overseas mission to be preparing for another overseas deployment six months later. For many Army force elements this means that training in some Directed Level of Capability (DLOC) tasks that were not required on the previous mission are in danger of being considerably eroded.
The withdrawal of the P-3K Orion and C-130 Hercules aircraft on a rolling programme for upgrading in 2007/08 and beyond, and the modifications to the B757-200 aircraft, will automatically reduce the full capacity of the force elements that these aircraft belong to. While the minimum number of aircraft required by the NZDF Output Plan for OLOC may be available, the reduced capacity will have an effect on the duration of any operational deployment/s and the ability to rotate any such deployment/s.
Output Expense 3 (Naval Support Forces) and Output Expense 5 (Naval Patrol Forces) will not be at full capacity until such time as the new vessels for the Navy (under Project Protector) are fully introduced into service.
In addition to the foregoing, elements of the following Output Expenses will be involved in operational deployments at the start of FY 2008/2009. These deployments will obviously limit the ability of the NZDF to generate like force elements for concurrent operational deployments elsewhere:
- Output Expense 2. Navy elements (HMNZS TE MANA) on operations in the Gulf in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (May - July 2008).
- Output Expenses 7 to 9 (inclusive):
- Army elements (Company Group) deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, the New Zealand Provincial Reconstruction Team, Bamyan Province, Afghanistan.
- Army elements (Company Group) deployed in support of the Australian Defence Force-led operations (Combined Joint Task Force 631) in Timor Leste.
- Army elements (Platoon Group) deployed in support of operations in the Solomon Islands.
- Output Expense 13. Air Force elements - from time to time, C-130 Hercules aircraft support, including resupply, to current deployed forces.
- Output Expense 14. Air Force elements - detachment of Iroquois helicopters in support of operations in Timor Leste.
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