Defence Business: Smarter small arms for NZ | ADM November 2011

Nick Lee-Frampton | Wellington

It is axiomatic that an armed force be armed, so it is unremarkable that in 2002 the New Zealand Army initiated the process to renew its assorted small arms.

Unremarkable, too, that a contemporary military procurement should be delayed by several years, as this one has been, with completion of the overall programme slipping from 2009 (as originally envisaged) to around September 2015 today.

But first things first: this is not a Ministry of Defence (MoD) acquisition. Deputy Secretary of Defence Des Ashton told ADM that the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) is handling it.

However, as required under various statutes, the Evaluation Division of the MoD reviewed the NZDF In-service Weapon Replacement/Upgrade Programme (WRUP) and its report was published in April 2011.

Briefly, it shows how the original NZ$8 million (A$6.4 million) project to replace light machine guns, Special Forces miscellaneous weapons and light anti-armour weapons has expanded to include 10 weapon systems and accessories, with the associated budget now exceeding NZ$37 million (A$29.5 million).

The shopping list with original and completion dates and estimated costs as at 2007 and 2010 is shown in Table 1.

Note that notwithstanding the overall cost increase, due to a change in calibre from 5.56mm to 7.62mm for the light support weapon, there have been several price cuts. For example, both the upgrade to the Steyr rifle and acquisition of ‘tactical’ shotguns have dropped in cost by more than half a million dollars and the costs of a tripod and sights for the ‘sustained fire machine gun’ have fallen by almost NZ$1.0 million (A$0.8 million).

Equally, the most recent figures are now more than a year old and may well have changed.

In some cases the intent is to improve rather than replace, thus the Steyr is to have its optical sights upgraded. In other cases the intent is to acquire new weapons and timelines have been established.

The MoD report says the NZDF’s pistols ‘need to be replaced by 2011.’ Similar deadlines are attached to other weapons. For example, the grenade launcher ‘needs to be replaced by 2014’ and the existing sights for the Carl Gustaf are described as ‘obsolete.’

Nevertheless, almost all the individual projects have fallen a year or two behind earlier schedules although remaining within completion by 2015.

Whatever an individual project’s time frame within the NZDF, the MoD report identifies inadequate staffing as a major factor in delaying project implementation: The prime reasons for the delays in project progress are shortages of project staff and that none of the Army project personnel, including the Programme Manager, were fully project trained,” it says.

According to the report it was originally envisaged that 19 personnel would be required to staff the small arms project. However, in July 2009 there were only four according to the report, although by late 2010 numbers had increased to ‘six permanently assigned personnel.’

Project charters, initially due in September 2007, were not approved until May 2009. Project management plans were due in October 2007 but none had been completed when the MoD compiled its report.

“The project investment case for the light support weapon was 14 months late. The investment cases for the tactical shotgun and Steyr have taken more than two years to prepare. That for the tactical shotgun was approved in November 2010,” says the Ministry.

No less concerning, the report says only three of the 10 projects within WRUP are being worked on and “Only the light support weapon and tactical shotgun projects are under procurement.”

“Completion of the overall programme by late 2015 is in question,” says the report.

Yet, it appears NZDF war fighters have received some upgraded and new weapons.

In September 2011, Lieutenant-Colonel Vern Bennett, deputy director, land capability delivery, told media that NZDF troops in Afghanistan have ten 7.62mm marksman rifles, one per patrol, and that both improved sights have been fitted to the deployed troops’ Steyr rifles, with shotguns due to arrive next year.

Ten marksman rifles is a start, although the WRUP report mentions that “approximately 100” will be acquired “… to deliver precision fire beyond the range of the current Steyr rifle.” Completion of delivery was due this year but has slipped to December 2013.

CAPT Gibbs explained the difference between a marksman and a sniper for ADM.

“The marksman is a member of an infantry section. [His] role is to provide dismounted infantry [with] precision fire at ranges in excess of that of the Steyr. The sniper is a highly trained infantryman with further specialist training in shooting, observation and field craft. The snipers are fewer in number and are directed at a higher level of command.”

According to the WRUP report up to 50 ‘new, more powerful’ sniper rifles are required, at an August 2010 cost which amounts to NZ$44,000 (A$35,068) per weapon.

Why, ADM asked CAPT Gibbs, are the NZDF sniper weapons apparently so expensive?

“The budget is not the sum cost of the 50 weapons. [It] includes the full range of expenditure required to bring the new weapon systems into service. This budget will include provision for the weapons, sighting systems, integrated logistic support and introduction into service. The actual breakdown of costs within the project budget are commercially sensitive.”

ADM asked CAPT Gibbs if the anti-material weapon is a .50 cal machine gun? “It will be a precision fire weapon, not a machine gun. The calibre will be determined during the conduct of the project.”

As for the Steyr, the report says only a fraction of the rifles will be upgraded: “The current integrated sight on the Steyr is not powerful enough to identify accurately adversaries and is ineffective at ranges greater than 200m. To improve the effectiveness of the operator and weapon, approximately 3,000 of the present holding of around 13,000 weapons will be upgraded.”

The 5.56mm Steyr entered NZDF service in 1988 and after more than two decades of service it is not surprising that an upgrade of some sort is required.

ADM has read criticism of the Steyr’s trigger, that the awkwardness of changing the magazine can lead to loss of situational awareness and that wearing body armour can obstruct sighting the weapon.

However, the upgrade is apparently focused on the Steyr’s sights and its accuracy over ranges of more than 200m. Yet ADM understands that few armies routinely teach infantry to shoot much beyond 200m, which is why there is a requirement for marksmen and snipers.

Subject: Defence Policy