Unmanned air patrols suggested

By GREG ANSLEY and FRAN O'SULLIVAN


New Zealand may need to consider new unmanned robot aircraft to patrol the Pacific as soaring costs bite into the ability of the Air Force's fleet of P3 Orions to protect national interests and gather crucial intelligence.

The suggestion, from one of Australia's leading defence analysts, follows the Government's decision to go ahead with a limited upgrade of the Orions' mission systems rather than a complete overhaul to match new RAAF capabilities.

Wellington has also left open proposals to eventually arm the Orions with anti-ship missiles such as the Harpoon, and the possibility of buying a fleet of smaller aircraft to patrol coastal waters.

Facing similar cost problems, Canberra intends buying long-range Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and is using smaller, Australian-built UAVs in the Solomons.

RNZAF Orions are already being given another 25 years of life with new wings, and Wellington has accepted the need for long-range maritime patrols.

Australia was deeply concerned at earlier suggestions that New Zealand may axe the Orions, effectively ending New Zealand's commitment to watch over a vast slice of the South Pacific.

But Defence and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade argued to the Maritime Forces Review that axing the Orions would suggest to Canberra that New Zealand was opting out of border control and would send "negative signals" to an increasingly unstable Pacific.

The Orions are also central to New Zealand's participation in Five Power Defence Arrangements with Britain, Australia, Malaysia and Singapore.