Summary
JOHN McDonald points out (April 15) that peacekeepers must be prepared for war and properly armed to protect themselves. I agree. In fact, on page 7 of the Government's Defence Policy Framework (June 2000), Mr McDonald would find the No 1 principle underpinning a modern, sustainable Defence Force for New Zealand is that they be "equipped and trained for combat and peacekeeping".
This government continues to invest heavily in the NZDF. Since the release of the Defence Long-Term Development Plan in 2002, we have replaced both of the RNZAF's 727s with 757-200 jet aircraft and upgraded the runway at Ohakea Air Base, announced a major 15-year life extending upgrade of New Zealand's five C-130Hs, a project to replace the Iroquois utility helicopter and the Sioux training helicopter, and the tenders for both the Mission Systems upgrade and the Communications and Navigation Systems upgrade on our P-3 Orion fleet-projects which are worth approximately $1 billion to the Air Force alone.See the full content of this document
Extract
Defence Forces
Project Protector will see the Navy replace the ageing frigate Canterbury...
See the full content of this document
Sponsored links
