Pacific 2008: RNZN to upgrade its frigates | ADM Dec 07/Jan 08

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By Nick Lee-Frampton

The RNZN's two Anzac-class frigates, Te Kaha and Te Mana, are about to undergo the first major platform habitability and capability upgrade of their careers.

The New Zealand Cabinet has approved funding for an upgrade of the platform systems on the RNZN's two Anzac frigates, Defence Minister Phil Goff announced 22 November.

Included in the upgrade - expected to cost between NZ$50 million and NZ$60 million depending on contract negotiations - are control and monitoring systems, stability management and diesel propulsion as well as HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning).

"It is part of the ships' planned mid-life upgrade, which was included in the 2006 Defence Long-Term Development Plan," Phil Goff said.

"The project will improve operational efficiency and effectiveness across the frigates' full range of tasks [and] maximise the efficient distribution of technical personnel on the Anzacs, with positive flow-on effects across the Navy," he said.

Work on the upgrade program is scheduled to begin in 2009 and the NZ Ministry of Defence will now prepare the necessary tender documents for industry involvement, Mr Goff said.

Bruce Green, deputy secretary of defence, told ADM that work will now begin on writing specifications and requirements:

"We will be engaged with industry sooner rather than later."

Mr Green said (26 November) he was attending a meeting in Auckland the following day to discuss the matter and that he could not add any more to what Phil Goff had announced.

More power
A naval source told ADM that the technology of the Anzac frigate's diesels is 25 years old and will only power the frigates up to 20knots, to go faster they need to engage the gas turbines. Improving the diesels will allow them to power the frigates a further two or three knots faster:

"It doesn't sound much, but it will make a significant difference because it will reduce fuel consumption and reduce maintenance on the gas turbines."

Improving the control & monitoring system is 'another can of worms,' the source said.

"Is it just a software change or is the march of technology such that new cable runs are required? I suspect this is going to be a more intricate problem than the mechanical upgrade of the diesel engines."

What is described as an automated platform management system is included in the upgrade program to enable 'full control over all platform systems from the bridge position, reducing the number of technical personnel needed to man the frigates' machinery control and engine rooms.'

ADM understands that up to 12 marine technicians may no longer be required, which brings a wide range of financial savings, including training costs.

The HVAC are modular systems so upgrading them should be relatively straightforward.

Previous deployments to the Arabian Gulf had revealed what then Assistant Chief of Navy (Capability), Captain John Tucker described as "short falls" with the frigate's HVAC systems.

Moreover, the existing HVAC system uses R22 as the refrigerant gas although this is known to be an ozone depleting substance and under current NZ legislation cannot be imported.

An upgrade is therefore necessary to meet environmental standards.

Other upgrades?
Other upgrades likely for the frigates in the near future include improved navigation radar and updating the Sea Sparrow system and the Phalanx CIWS.

Phased array radar is possible and in the next decade new torpedoes certainly will be required to replace the current Mk46 Mod 2 weapons, which will reach the end of their operational life in 2013.

The RNZN has two Anzac frigates, commissioned in 1997 and 1999 respectively.

Both frigates are based at Devonport Naval Base in Auckland.

The standard operating pattern is that each frigate in turn is deployed for six months.

Copyright - Australian Defence Magazine, December 2007/January 2008

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