New Zealand Armed Forces

GarryB wrote:

Does NZ view Russia with the same eye as the US/Aus?

They do.

A bit of a shame really as we could do a lot more trade with them and I think they would be very interested in some of our farming technology. We could also offer them a low crime area for their GLONASS stations to improve the accuracy of their satellite navigation system, and also offer a basing area close to Antarctica.

There is zero chance of buying an Su-35, just as there is zero chance of buying an F-35.

It is over 1,000km to our nearest neighbour Australia... what possible use would we put fighter aircraft to?

What we should do is buy some Lada-M submarines and hunt Japanese whaling ships..   

Former Nigerian Mi-34S in New Zealand

New Zealand web resource nzcivair.blogspot.com reports that unspeakable New Zealand company acquired in 2013, six light piston helicopters, Russian-made Mi-34C from the presence of the Air Force Nigeria. Six helicopters have been delivered to New Zealand airfield Kraysterch in early December 2013. In Kraysterche four are in the best condition of the Mi-34C are currently undergoing repairs at the company Aircraft company Heli Maintenance. Another bought a helicopter is "damaged" condition and his fate is not yet determined, and the sixth Mi-34C will be used as a source of spare parts. Recall that Nigeria Air Force at the time became the largest operator of the Mi-34C acquired in Russia contracted in 1999 nine of these machines for use as training (Nigerian side numbers 550 NAF - NAF 558), together with six combat helicopters Mi-35P. All nine Mi-34S new construction of "Arsenyev Aviation Company" Progress "were put Nigeria in 2001-2002, implementation of this contract was scandalous consequences because, as it turned out, instead of specified contract Mi-35P new buildings were put Nigeria in the former machine operation Mi-24P Refurbished and resource gear set Nigerians Mi-34C new construction was not more than 300 hours (actually even less), whereby all Mi-34C were bred in Nigeria immobilized by the end of 2003. After this decade, about nine Mi-34C were in Nigeria in storage at the airport Unugu. In July 2011, it was announced on exhibiting them to sell. Acquired New Zealand company Mi-34C are former Nigerian side numbers NAF 550 (serial number 9783033701003), NAF 552 (9783034701001), N AF 553 (9783034002001), NAF 554 (9783034002002 damaged), NAF 556 (serial number not given) and NAF 557 (9783034102005). Plans for the use of Mi-34S new owner is not made ​​public, but according to unofficial information, helicopters will be used as training for the preparation of contract-based helicopter pilots Soviet types. Nigerian former first Mi-34C (former Nigerian number NAF 557), past repairs at Heli Maintenance, March 19, 2014 made ​​the first motor race ground, and started the procedure for obtaining for him a New Zealand Certificate of Airworthiness. It is reported that the helicopter has a release date of November 28, 2001 and a raid of 127 flight hours, with the last flight, committed in 2003. Ground race engine repair past the New Zealand company Heli Maintenance Mi-34C (former Nigerian number NAF 557, serial number 9783034102005), formerly owned by Air Nigeria. Kraysterch, 19.03.2014 (c) Dave Paull / nzcivair.blogspot.com

http://bmpd.livejournal.com/785932.html

GarryB wrote:And that is our problem... we have no money but all the new stuff that the US sells is super expensive.

We have an enormous amount of water around us and so we need a modern capable MPA... but what we don't really need is anti sub capability... it is not really an issue for us.

We might buy these planes but I suspect they will keep them cheap by not bothering to buy weapons or sonobouys.

...which would be fine we don't need armed MPAs really.

Of course I would love to see them buy a couple of A-42s rigged out for search and rescue and fishing monitoring roles, but of course that will never happen.

AlfaT8 wrote:

What, do you mean the Aero A.42, weren't those retired in the 40s and were bomber prototypes??

George1 wrote:

AlfaT8 wrote:

What, do you mean the Aero A.42, weren't those retired in the 40s and were bomber prototypes??

i think Garry means A-40 Albatros (Be-42)

NZ won't be able to stay completely/somewhat neutral or sit on 2 chairs.
Just like Finland & Sweden.

NZ won't be able to stay completely/somewhat neutral or sit on 2 chairs. Just like Finland & Sweden.

..we have spy stations spying on our neighbours..

for that, the US can use its embassy & bases in American Samoa/Micronesia.

Once US-China confrontation reaches a certain level, NZ will likely become a de-facto authonomy under Australian control.

Our location in the bottom corner of the Pacific is useful for their listening stations to listen in on all of the Pacific.
The Australian listening stations are directed more towards Asia.
They have no listening stations in American Samoa AFAIK.

our Meko class frigates are fitted for but not equipped with anti ship missiles. They are patrol boats in a very large ocean.