The Royal New Zealand Navy has shared first photos of the upgraded Anzac-class frigate HMNZS Te Kaha.
The most notable change following the upgrade was the ship’s new fore & aft masts which house a suite of electronic warfare equipment necessary for the Lockheed Martin Canada-developed CMS 330 combat management system.
Lockheed Martin Canada’s CMS 330 combat management system was initially developed for Canada’s Department of National Defence and then modified for the Royal New Zealand Navy with Canada’s support.
Showing off. HMNZS Te Kaha reveals her new superstructure to photographer Lieutenant Timothy O’Brien as he cruises Esquimalt Harbour in a kayak. Te Kaha, sitting beside HMNZS Te Mana, was the first of the two frigates to start her Frigate System Upgrade in Canada. The new fore and aft masts boast a modern suite of electronic equipment, replacing 20-year-old technology.
HMNZS Te Kaha was the first of two NZ Navy frigates to undergo the extensive modernization, arriving at Seaspan’s shipyard in Victoria, British Columbia, in March 2018.
Showing off. Check out #HMNZSTeKaha's new superstructure. Te Kaha, sitting beside #HMNZSTeMana, was the first of the two frigates to start her Frigate System Upgrade in Canada. The new fore & aft masts boast a modern suite of electronic warfare equipment. #NZNavy pic.twitter.com/BGLWCyaMyy
— Royal NZ Navy (@nznavy) October 18, 2019
Under a contract signed between the New Zealand government and Lockheed Martin Canada in 2014, HMNZS Te Kaha was fitted with updated equipment and systems including the combat management system, radar and underwater sonar.
Cracker day to visit @nznavy frigates #TeKaha and #TeMana in Esquimalt, BC today. Checking in on upgrade progress. Great 🇳🇿🇨🇦 defence collaboration. Thanks to @RoyalCanNavy for hosting. pic.twitter.com/ylrSovsxx4
— Daniel Mellsop 🇳🇿 (@NZinOttawa) September 27, 2019
Te Kaha’s sister ship, HMNZS Te Mana, arrived in Canada for the same treatment in March 2019.
In addition CMS upgrades, the frigates are also receiving MBDA’s Sea Ceptor vertical launched, active Common Anti-Air Modular Missile (Maritime) – CAMM(M) which will replace the current RIM7P NATO Seasparrow missile system.
