ANTISUBMARINE PLANES FOR N.Z.

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30274, 29 October 1963, Page 14

ANTISUBMARINE PLANES FOR N.Z.

Plans To Buy Hercules Not Favoured (From Our Own Reporter,' WELLINGTON, October 28. Plans to purchase five maritime-version Lockheed Hercules aircraft for anti-submarine work have been dropped by the R.NJZA.F. It is now believed that the Air Force will recommend the purchase of five Lockheed Orion aircraft for the anti-submarine role. The report on the Hercules machines, compiled by an Air Force team which recently made intensive inquiries in the United States is unfavourable. The report is now in the hands of the Government.

The Air Force rejection of the Hercules for anti-submarine work does not in any way affect the order, already placed, for three transport versions of the Hercules.

The principal reason for the rejection of the maritime version is that the basic Hercules machine has not yet been adapted for antisubmarine work anywhere in the world. It is technieaUy possible to do this, but the R.N.ZA.F. would have to pay the cost of the development work which is likely to go bur beyond the purse of the Government. Approval in principle fof the purchase of five maritime version Hercules was given by the Cabinet last June and the sum approved in principle was £13.5 million. It is now Certain that five antisubmarine machines could not be obtained for anything like this figure. In addition, the highly expensive adaptation of the machine for anti-submarine work would leave the Air Force in five years with obsolescent submarine detection equipment. The Orion, which is in ser-

vice with the United States Navy, is an adaptation of the Lockheed Electra for military purposes, and has the same type of engine as the Hercules. . Anti-submarine detection equipment now being manufactured in America is designed for installation in the Orion air frame. It is argued that the acquisition of Onions by the Air Force would allow it to keep up to date with advances in detection equipment at a far smaller cost than if this equipment had to be modified for installation in the Hercules.

According to a top political source, the Air Force report on the Hercules and the report recommending a substitute, will be referred to the Defence Board for study and a report to the Cabinet. This will be the first major task to be undertaken by the new board which had its first meeting last week. In future all equipment proposals emanating from the armed Services will be considered by the council before reaching the Cabinet.

The Defence Board comprises the three Chlefis of Staff and the chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee, Rear-Admiral P. Phipps, the Secretary of Defence, Mr J. K. Hunn, the Secretary to

the Treasury and the Secretary of External Affairs. The Secretary of Defence is chairman of the board.

It is understood that five Orions could be purchased for about £13.5 million, the same figure as the starting point of the maritime Hercules. It was emphasised that greater efficiency, through standardised maintenance procedures and availability of spare parts would be obtained by equipping both maritime and transport sections of the Air Force with basically the same machine—the Hercules.

As the Orion has the same engines as the Hercules, although mounted in a different air frame, much of this argument could still apply.