N.Z. link may hinder ship deal

Press, 9 January 1987, Page 9

N.Z. link may hinder ship deal

NZPA staff correspondent Sydney

As the Australian Department of Defence begins a worldwide search for a new ship for its Navy, the possibility of New Zealand collaboration proving a liability has been raised.

The department is seeking a design for a light patrol frigate which could be acceptable also to the Royal New Zealand Navy under a defence co-opera-tion plan.

New Zealand defence officials expressed interest in joining the ship project when they met their Australian counterparts in Wellington recently. The "Canberra Times” newspaper says that while there would probably be cost savings if both countries choose the same design, there could be difficulties in sharing technical information from United States sources because of the ban on the supply of United States defence information to New Zealand.

An Australian depart-

ment spokesman said that it was too early to say whether the ban would affect the project, as requests for design proposals had only just been sent out and the design eventually chosen might not be from the United States.

The department plans to commission eight ships to replace the Royal Australian Navy's ageing River class destroyer escorts. At sAust3.s billion ($4.48 billion) it is Australia’s most expensive defence project The specifications call for a ship with a cruising speed of 18 knots and a top speed of at least 27 knots. It is to be armed with a medium-calibre gun, a defensive missile system, and helicopter facilities.

The department is seeking information also on options to fit a shiplaunched torpedo system and anti-ship missiles for ship or helicopter launch. The ships will be built in Australia, but New Zealand manufacturers could have an input