U.S. continues technical defence ties with N.Z.

Press, 28 November 1987, Page 10

U.S. continues technical defence ties with N.Z.

By

DAVE WILSON

The Minister of Defence/Mr Tizard, says technical cooperation between the United States and New Zealand is continuing, in spite ofthe A.N.Z.U.S. rift, becanse it is not in the interests of the Americans for New Zealand’s defence forces, to be deficient ' t •

The Minister made the comment at Burnham Military Camp yesterday during a familiarisation visit after assuming the Defence portfolio.. At a press conference Mr Tizard said that although exercise links with the United States had been cut, technical co-Operation continued.

"We maintain many points of contact, usually In a multi-sided ? atmosphere involving other allies.”

Mr Tizard said the Government’s decision to buy new military equipment from Australia (the Aus-trian-designed . Steyr rifles), Belgium (the new Army machine-gun) and South Korea (the new Navy tanker) should not be seen as any conscious

move away from buying American-made equipment “We are looking at whatever source can supply the best equipment for our needs and in that respect there are now real possibilities for New Zealand industry to become involved in supplying defence heeds.” The proposed Australia/New Zealand joint warship building programme could see New Zealand manufacturers supplying components.

"There is a real possibility a New Zealand defence industry could be established if we make the decision to go ahead and build the vessels.”

A significant contract for the supply of butts for the new Steyr rifle was

another example of local industry replacing imported items, while Mr Tizard was particularly Impressed with the demonstration of a new, locally made,: laser weapons effect simulator.

The New Zealand designed and made system, involving laser signals and bleepers to simulate hits and misses in combat was demonstrated, for Mr Tizard and he also donned the equipment for some practical tests.

Mr Tizard said that in terms of its defence forces being up with the times New Zealand was probably more up to date than it had ever been.

“You only have to look back at the outbreak of the Second World War

when they were stripping the Boer War guns from the wall of Auckland Grammar School to compare the state of the forces then and now.” Mr Tizard said the problem with defence spending was that the vote had to compete with other claimants for Government money, while the forces were trying to maintain steady development

The Government had just called for tenders to improve the Orion's acoustic and electronic surveillance equipment work that could cost up to 175 million and Mr Tizard said that by late next year the Government would have narrowed the options for a planned replacement of the Air Force's Strikemaster jet trainer.

He expected whichever aircraft type Was duMen as the replacement would not enter service until the 1890 s. The six Strikemasters now havingnew wings fitted would have to stay in service well into the next decade. Mr Tizard said a new bin before Parliament, that would allow a single service commander 7 to command all three services in an engagement, was not a move towards a Canadian style- of integrated defence forces.

“It means’ that on a particular : occasion the Chief of Defence Staff can authorise a joint - forces commander to oversee a particular operation.. We are not talking about? integration ofthe Armed Forces in the way that Canada has moved.”