Overseas backlash as Orions sidelined

By JOHN ARMSTRONG and GREG ANSLEY

The Prime Minister is courting a backlash from New Zealand's allies after flagging that military surveillance flights over South Pacific waters by the Air Force's Orions might be abandoned completely.

Facing charges of "isolationism," Helen Clark yesterday admitted that the cabinet ignored warnings from Foreign Affairs and Defence officials that scrapping the $550 million upgrade of the Orions would upset New Zealand's defence partners.

Defence Minister Mark Burton conceded that Australia wanted the expensive refit of the six aircraft with sophisticated submarine detection electronics to proceed.

His usually guarded Australian counterpart, John Moore, expressed "disappointment" after Monday's cabinet decision was announced by Mr Burton in Parliament yesterday.

Australia is putting its own Orions through a major upgrade.

Canberra is already concerned at the low priority New Zealand gives to its blue-water Navy, and defence sources questioned the Government's commitment to transtasman and regional security.

The New Zealand cabinet has accentuated that concern by deciding to investigate backing out of military maritime patrols altogether.

The establishment of a special ministerial committee, chaired by Helen Clark, reflects Government concern that the Air Force is devoting too much time to anti-submarine exercises - when there is no military threat - and not enough to fisheries protection, Customs patrols and other civilian activity.

The setting up of the committee was included in yesterday's ministerial statement on defence, which also confirmed that $735 million would be spent on 105 light-armoured vehicles and 1853 radios for the Army.

While the modernising of the Army was welcomed by all parties, the scrapping of the Orion upgrade brought charges from National and Act MPs that the Labour-Alliance Coalition was dragging the country into "isolationism."

Act's Richard Prebble said the decision was a very radical change in foreign policy, while National's defence spokesman, Wayne Mapp, said the re-equipping of the Army was being used as deliberate cover to downgrade the Air Force into some kind of "freight service."

The Orion upgrade - dubbed Project Sirius - would have replaced obsolete radar on the aircraft with state-of-the-art electronics and acoustics for surveillance of surface and underwater activity.

Critics say the anti-submarine detection is an expensive luxury to satisfy the Americans; supporters argue that at a minimum it is life-saving in terms of search and rescue.

Defence sources in Wellington predict that cancellation of the project will be viewed by Washington as a sign New Zealand is not serious about contributing to regional security in the Pacific.

The US Ambassador, Carol Moseley Braun, was unavailable for comment yesterday.

Helen Clark said it was no secret Defence and Foreign Affairs officials wanted the upgrade. It was also their job to advise "what others might think." Her experience from cancelling the lease of the F-16s was that such warnings proved exaggerated.

She said the Orions had been deployed in a combat arena only once in the past 35 years. Given that the anti-submarine capability was not being called upon, retention of that level of sophistication had to be questioned, especially given pressures on Government spending.

Mr Burton offered some solace to Air Force personnel, saying replacing the Hercules and the 1960s-vintage Iroquois helicopters was "absolutely essential work." However, he could not give a timetable.

The purchase of the Canadian-built light-armoured vehicles has drawn criticism about Defence Force tendering procedures shutting out cheaper alternatives. Mr Burton said an independent audit had revealed no major problems. The cost includes spares, training, infrastructure, simulators and ammunition.

Defence decisions

* Army gets 105 light armoured vehicles, costing $611 million.

* Army gets 1853 hand-held radios costing $124 million.

* $550 million upgrade of Orioins scrapped.

* Cabinet investigates whether to continue maritime military patrols.

* Hobsonville Air Force base to be sold.

* Iroquois helicopters shift to Ohakea.

* SAS moves to Papakura Army Camp.

* Whenuapai Air Base under review.

* Navy to keep Devonport base.

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