Kiwi Nowra Basing Benefits All Parties

The preamble to the agreement between the two governments setting up the arrangements reads:

” The Government of Australia and the Government of New Zealand having regard to the tradition of close and friendly relations between them, (and) taking account of the close cooperation between them in defence matters, desire to enhance this cooperation to mutual advantage through the provision of certain air defence support flying for the Australian Defence Force by Skyhawk aircraft of the Royal New Zealand Air Force. ”

That neatly sums up what appears to be an all plus arrangement.

Essentially, No 2 Squadron has two tasks, firstly to provide up to 800 hours annually of on-task flying in air support operations for the ADF, and secondly to undertake conversion training for RNZAF pilots. The on-task flying has priority over conversion training.

To meet these tasks, the squadron has an establishment of 53 personnel plus four single-seat Skyhawks and two dual seat Skyhawk trainers. Sixty-four dependants have accompanied the squadron to NAS Nowra and are rapidly settling into the local community.

Pilot strength is presently four: two experienced instructors including the CO plus two pilots under training. This is expected to increase to 3 QFls plus 2 staff pilots in the future, which will allow up to 4 pupils per course if needs be.

Postings for personnel are for two years; trainee pilots can expect to do a total of 12 months, six on course and six in consolidation flying before returning to New Zealand. As the only overseas posting for RNZAF personnel, a billet in No 2 Squadron will be much sought after for as long as the arrangement continues.

The main advantage in having the Skyhawks based at Nowra, from the ADF’s point of view, is that they will provide relatively fast strike aircraft, capable of carrying out realistic attack profiles on ships which are in the final stages of their work-up. It is perhaps ironic that the New Zealand Skyhawks are now filling the gap left by the demise of the fixed wing element of the RAN FAA.

Initial work-up training continues to be provided by the civil Learjets of Warren Seymour’s Fleet Support organisation. However these aircraft are not capable of simulating the speed or manoeuvrability of fast attack aircraft, hence the need for the Skyhawks.

Although the Skyhawks will principally be based at NAS Nowra, provision has been made for them to operate from other airfields when necessary. In addition, opportunities will be made for the squadron “to train with ADF formations, groups and units when such training is mutually beneficial”. It is recognised that most training opportunities will involve operations with the RAAF Tactical Fighter Group, something eagerly looked forward to by the New Zealanders.

The Modernised Skyhawk

Turning to the Skyhawks themselves, it was immediately apparent on viewing the cockpit that these were vastly different aircraft to those last flown by the RAN.

To go back in time, when the RNZAF acquired the ten ex-RAN A-4Gs (three TA-4G, seven A-4G) in mid 1984, it was necessary to convert them to the A-4K standard as then flown by the RNZAF. This entailed:

• the addition of a drag chute

• the addition of VHF comms (all civil ATC in NZ is VHF, there is no military ATC)

• some minor instrument panel and switch position changes

• removal of the dorsal humps from the A-4Ks

Some time prior to the acquisition of the RAN A-4Gs, the RNZAF had initiated a study to improve its strike capability. Replacement proposals were considered including the F-16, F/A-18, F-20, secondhand RAF Jaguars and the A-7E. At the same time proposals were requested for a Nav/Attack update (without radar) for the Skyhawks. Finally, due to the political and financial climate it was decided to modernise the Skyhawk fleet and Project Kahu came into being. Kahu is Maori for Hawk, an appropriate name indeed.

As a starting point, the are winging program was initiated using the spare wings and jigs which came with the large stockholding of spares obtained from the RAN.

Phase two of project Kahu (the avionics modernisation) commenced with requests for tenders being issued worldwide. Responses were received from the United States, France, Israel and the United Kingdom. After the usual delays associated with projects of this magnitude, Lear Siegler (now Smiths Industries) of Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA was awarded the contract to modernise 22 aircraft at a total cost of $US61m. The contract included a complete rewire of all aircraft plus spares, training and technical data to enable the RNZAF to produce its own manuals. T he contract also specified that as much work as possible should be undertaken in New Zealand.

The design philosophy called for as many functions as possible to be automated to reduce pilot work load in low altitude operations. T his meant adopting a HOTAS (hands on throttle and stick) approach.

Navigation Attack System

The system is based around two Lear Siegler computers which communicate between themselves and other system components. Data from these computers is shown on two screens mounted side-by-side in the instrument panel in the position previously occupied by the flight instruments and the APG53 radar display. Information is also fed to the Head Up Display (HUD) which is now the primary source of flight and weapon aiming control.

A feature of the modernised Skyhawk is the Mission Data Ground Terminal (MDGT ) which enables a pilot to plan his mission in the operations room on what is essentially an IBM PC. Using a Data Transfer Module, a small solid state memory unit, all mission information is then transferred to the aircraft system. Following the mission, the computer interface unit downloads to the Data Transfer Module all relevant mission details, including system unserviceability. The latter can then be determined from a printout using the MDGT. The System is capable of handling 49 navigation turning points, all frequency details, weapon loads and aircraft performance details.

One final aspect of the aircraft which was found particularly interesting was the fitting of an ILS system, giving the aircraft much greater flexibility in the New Zealand environment.

Weapons

The Kahu Skyhawk is capable of being armed with AIM-9L Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, Maverick air-to-ground missiles, Laser Guided Bombs and unguided rockets as well as the standard pair of 20mm cannons. To assist in debriefing missions all key activities such as air-to-ground, air-to-air, radar, Maverick (video) can be recorded on the Airborne Video Tape Recorder which is mounted in the right hand console adjacent to the pilot’s elbow. The video turns on automatically when the pilot selects a weapon system. The system can also be used to record flight details such as navigation turning points and even to provide a picture of the flight path flown in the circuit.

The Skyhawk has always been a capable aircraft, not in the major league, but able to provide limited air defence and with a formidable ordnance-carrying capability. The Kahu update is classically new wine in an old bottle but it will certainly provide the RNZAF with an effective aircraft well into the next century.

Maintenance

Aircraft will be returned to New Zealand for depot type maintenance, where specialised support equipment is held. Unfortunately, because of the unique nature of the avionic fit, it is not possible to utilise the facilities of the NAS Nowra Avionic Workshop and “black boxes” will have to be returned to New Zealand for test and repair.

Conclusion

As No 2 squadron has only recently arrived in-country it is too early to comment on how this unique arrangement in Australian/ New Zealand defence cooperation is working. However all indications are that it will prove to be mutually beneficial to both countries and will further cement the defence ties between us.

Australian Aviation Thanks Commodore Rob Partington, CORE NAS NOWRA, and Squadron Leader Steve Moore, CO No 2 Squadron RNZAF and their respective teams for a most enjoyable and instructive visit to Nowra.