Military of New Zealand
From Open Encyclopedia
| Military of New Zealand | |
| Image:Nzdefence.gif The tri-service badge | |
| Military Manpower | |
| Availability (males age 17-49) | 984,700 (2005 est.) |
| Fit for military service (males age 17-49) | 809,519 (2000 est.) |
| Total troops | 8,610 (Ranked 126th) |
| Military expenditures | |
| Dollar figure (FY 03/04) | $1.147 billion (FY 03/04) |
| Percent of GDP (FY03/04) | 1% (FY 03/04) |
The military of New Zealand consists of three branches: the New Zealand Army; the Royal New Zealand Navy; and the Royal New Zealand Air Force. New Zealand's military developed from the United Kingdom, which provided security for the European settlers in New Zealand, and later when the colony achieved dominion status. An independent New Zealand military only developed in the early twentieth century, and later served with Australians alongside the British in both World War I and II. As New Zealand grew more independent of the British, closer military ties were developed with Australia and the United States. New Zealand is a signatory of the ANZUS treaty, a defence pact between it, Australia and the United States. Since the United States suspended its obligations to New Zealand in 1986, due to the latter's anti-nuclear policy that refused US ships access to port, New Zealand co-operates only with Australia under the treaty.
New Zealand's military has three defence policy objectives--defend New Zealand against low-level threats, contribute to regional security, and play a part in global security efforts. New Zealand considers its own national defence needs to be modest.
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Army
See main article New Zealand Army
New Zealand's Army consists of around 4,500 full time and 2,500 part time troops. Most troops are infantry. New Zealand does not deploy tanks, although it does have just over 100 LAV AFVs. The New Zealand SAS is the army's special forces unit. Other Army regiments are:
- Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment
- Queen Alexandra's Mounted Rifles
- Royal Regiment of New Zealand Artillery
- Corps of Royal New Zealand Engineers
- Royal New Zealand Corps of Signals
- Royal New Zealand Army Logistic Regiment
- Royal New Zealand Army Medical Corps
- Royal New Zealand Army Nursing Corps
- Royal New Zealand Army Dental Corps
- Corps of Royal New Zealand Military Police
- New Zealand Intelligence Corps
Navy
Image:HMNZS Te Mana.jpg See main article: Royal New Zealand Navy
The Royal New Zealand Navy consists of 2 Anzac class frigates, developed in conjunction with Australia. 8 other vessels are in use, consisting of patrol vessels and logistics. Several new modest vessels are being built locally, including a development of the ANZAC design.
Air Force
See main article: Royal New Zealand Air Force
The Royal New Zealand Air Force consists of 50 aircraft, consisting of P-3 Orion maritime patrol aircraft and Lockheed C-130 Hercules and other transport aircraft. The RNZAF does not have a strike force following the retirement of its A-4 Skyhawk and Aermacchi MB-339 squadrons. A plan to acquire 26 F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft was cancelled also. The NH90 helicopter has recently been ordered to replace Bell UH-1 Iroquois. The PAC CT/4 Airtrainer is locally produced.
Future
New Zealand states it maintains a "credible minimum force," although critics maintain that the country's defence forces have fallen below this standard. With a claimed area of direct strategic concern that extends from Australia to Southeast Asia to the South Pacific, and with defence expenditures that total around 1% of GDP, New Zealand necessarily places substantial reliance on co-operating with other countries, in particular Australia.
New Zealand is an active participant in multilateral peacekeeping. It has taken a leading role in trying to bring peace, reconciliation, and reconstruction to the Solomon Islands and the neighboring island of Bougainville. New Zealand maintains a contingent in the Multinational Force and Observers and has contributed to UN peacekeeping operations in Angola, Cambodia, Somalia, and the former Yugoslavia. It also participated in the Multilateral Interception Force in the Persian Gulf. New Zealand's most recent PKO experience has been in East Timor, where it initially dispatched almost 10% of its entire defence force and continues to be the second-largest force contributor.
New Zealand participates in sharing training facilities, personnel exchanges, and joint exercises with the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Brunei, Tonga, and South Pacific states. It also exercises with its Five-Power Defense Arrangement partners - Australia, the United Kingdom, Malaysia, and Singapore. Due to New Zealand's antinuclear policy, defense cooperation with the U.S., including training exercises, has been significantly restricted since 1986.
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