NZ troops about to shoulder latest arms

US soldiers demonstrate the Javelin system NZ has acquired.

New Zealand soldiers are about to receive training in weapons that will provide them with a "protective envelope" against tanks and armoured vehicles.

Defence Minister Phil Goff said the 24 Javelin medium-range missile launchers were "world-class" equipment.

"The Javelin is a state of the art and technologically advanced anti-armoured weapon, effective in destroying any armoured vehicle out to a range of 2500m," he said.

Army Chief Major General Lou Gardiner said the Javelin system would provide a new level of protection for soldiers who worked in diverse and often difficult areas of operation.

"To put it simply, the Javelin will help us do our jobs better, soldiers will be able to operate more confidently and we strengthen our position as a technologically advanced Army," he said.

Previously the Army did not have an anti-armoured weapon that could be fired effectively from beyond the weapon range of tanks and armoured vehicles.

This meant deployed forces were vulnerable to fire from armoured vehicles, increasing the possibility of casualties.

The Javelin system would provide a "protective envelope" for soldiers, vehicles and equipment.

Its "fire and forget" capability allowed its crew of two soldiers to reload or move to another position while the missile was still in flight.

The missile automatically guides itself to the target after launch, allowing the gunner to take cover and avoid counterfire.

It climbs above its target for improved visibility and then strikes where the armour is weakest, on top of a tank's turret.

To fire, the gunner places a cursor over the selected target. The weapon's command launch unit then sends a lock-on-before-launch signal to the missile.

Mr Goff said the weapons were part of the Army's $26 million modernisation project announced in 2001.

The cost included a number of missiles, spare parts and manuals, and covered the cost of initial training for operators, ammunition technicians and those maintaining the system.

The weapon was used in Iraq by the United States Army units, and Britain and Australia have also bought the system.

The Javelin Command Launch Unit (CLU) consists of a launch tube assembled to a targeting and control unit.

The targeting unit has sensors allowing the weapon to fire under adverse weather conditions, day and night.

The missiles arrived in Auckland a week ago and had been moved to Waiouru. Training would be done at Waiouru between July and December.

The Army said the Javelin system came with indoor and outdoor simulators which meant 92 per cent of operators overseas achieved a first-time hit with live ammunition.

Javelin missiles

Length: 1.2m
Max range: 2500m
Max weight: 22kg
Piercing armour: 600mm
Set-up time: 1 min

- NZPA