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Orion upgrade likely to fly despite PM objection
STUFF
7th March 2004
The Government is poised to spend $300 million upgrading our six Orion maritime patrol aircraft with improved war fighting specifications, despite Prime Minister Helen Clark's initial objection, official documents suggest.
In a Sunday Star-Times Inquirer article today Nicky Hager unveils four years of behind-the-scenes manoeuvering by defence officials to win support for the upgrade.
Citing documents released under the Official Information Act, Hager suggests defence bosses quietly resisted the government's resolve that the Orions' main priority should be protecting New Zealand waters, concentrating on coastline security and hunting illegal fishing boats.
Instead the tendering process - awaiting a "best and final" costing from US supplier L-3 - will improve the aircraft's conflict capabilities, including powerful electronic surveillance designed to work alongside allied forces abroad.
Hager says cabinet twice rejected defence officials' preference for those improvements but has now appeared to acquiesce, suggesting a fundamental shift in the government's defence policy.
But Defence Minister Mark Burton rejected that claim, saying the upgrade was a result of a lengthy period of review.
It was always expected to recommend improvements to the Orions' conflict and national border-security capabilities. Orions have been used in Iraq and Afghanistan, alongside a multinational task force.
The maritime patrol aircraft, supported by 40 air and ground crew, completed their participation in Operation Enduring Freedom last month after a 10-month involvement.
Earlier this month an Orion flew over cyclone-hit Vanuatu to survey the damage.
National's defence spokesman Simon Power said the upgrade had been secretive but the government was right to focus on the aircraft's conflict capabilities or New Zealand risked being "left out of the loop" by other nations.
"There's a bigger issue here than counting dolphins off our coastline. The upgrade has to be about us being able to pull our weight abroad."
Final details of the tender process are expected to go before cabinet in July.
Clark would not be interviewed.
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