HMNZS Te Kaha with new mast conducted sea trial after upgrade at Lockheed Martin Canada (photo : RNZN)
On 7 September HMNZS TE KAHA left Esquimalt Harbour under her own power for the beginning of her sea trials period.
It was a big milestone for the Frigate Systems Upgrade team in Canada. Since 2018, TE KAHA – followed by HMNZS TE MANA – has been undergoing its upgrade by Lockheed Martin Canada. Very evident in this aerial image are the new fore and aft masts, boasting new radars, electronic detection equipment, laser warning system and aircraft identification system.
In total, TE KAHA will undertake seven weeks at sea conducting trials, which increased in complexity as the ship put all its new hardware to the test. At time of writing, the ship was looking forward to working with a jet aircraft to verify tracking sensors and the firing of the ship’s main armament, her MK45 five-inch gun.
