ANNIVeRSARY AIR SHow! - Royal New Zealand Air Force

Maritime surveillance
No 5 SQUAdRoN
deTAcHMeNT To JoIN
2012 RIMPAc eXeRcISe
the rim of the Pacific (rIMPaC) multinational,
complex, conventional warfare
exercise, will be held in the exercise areas
around hawaii from July to august this year.
For the first time in over 25 years, the NZdF will participate
in RIMPAc, alongside several other nations, including Russia,
Australia, Japan, Tonga, Singapore, Mexico, chile, India and
columbia.
RIMPAc is the largest exercise of its type, spanning all
maritime-based warfare disciplines. It is set in a coalition
environment that includes live firing, specialist serials such as
amphibious training, and integration of littoral capabilities such
as mine hunting and naval gunfire.
The NZdF contingent will include a P-3k from No. 5 Sqn,
HMNZS Te kAHA with a Seasprite Flight from No. 6 Sqn
embarked, HMNZS eNdeAVoUR, diving and Mine counter
Measures Teams, a Rifle Platoon from 1 RNZIR, Tactical Air
control teams, and staff to augment the exercise HQ.
The orion detachment will deploy to kanehoe bay Naval
8 Air Force news
Two of No. 5 Sqn orions
in this blended image of
58 minutes of 15 second
exposures taken on 3/4
March. The celestial south
pole is at top right, around
which the stars appear
to rotate. Photo by Rod
Mackenzie, base Auckland
Photo Flight
Air Station, to work alongside US Navy and other partner P-3
detachments. our aircraft and crews will undertake both antisubmarine
warfare and anti-surface warfare missions during
the exercise, flying planned and reactive sorties intended to
meet the RNZAF’s training objectives.
The ground combat element will integrate the platoon from
1 RNZIR with US Marines and other nations’ troops, operating
off a large US Navy amphibious ship.
Te kAHA and eNdeAVoUR will be among 42 surface ships,
and our frigate and its embarked Seasprite—from No.6
Sqn—will have the opportunity to exercise against up to six
submarines. All told 25,000 personnel; a US aircraft carrier
Strike Group and over 200 land- and ship-based aircraft will be
involved.
MAJ Mark walters, Joint Training and International
engagement officer, says RIMPAc will be a great opportunity
for the NZdF. “our relationships with our coalition partners
are developed by such major exercises, which assist with
interoperability when we’re called to stand with them on
operations.”