The New Zealand Defence Force has attacked a 'submarine' with a live torpedo as part of an international military training exercise.
Navy frigate HMNZS Te Kaha, her Seasprite helicopter and two P-3k2 Orions from the Air Force each fired a torpedo at a remote underwater vehicle which was standing in for an enemy submarine.
One of the NZDF P-3k2 Orions used in the exercise (Supplied)
It's the first time the Air Force aircraft has dropped a torpedo in five years, and they're getting immediate feedback on how they did.
The Rim of the Pacific Exercise (RIMPAC), held in Hawaii this year, has a range which provides "almost instantaneous feedback" about how accurate the drop was.
(NZDF)
New Zealand doesn't have the same ability, because No 5 Squadron Commanding Officer Wing Commander Daniel Hunt says it's too expensive.
"This allows us to externally validate our processes and procedures and ensure we have an effective combat capability.
"In New Zealand we do not have a range with this sort of fidelity and the cost of owning one would be prohibitive, which is why attendance at RIMPAC is such a major event for the team," he says.
(NZDF)
Orion pilot Flight Lieutenant Jonathan Pound said the training run literally put a lot of pressure on the team.
"Sonar buoys have to be laid in a particular pattern to hunt a submarine. For us, this involved precision flying from 2000 feet to as low as 200 feet above the sea.
"It also included steep turns - a 60 degree angle of bank - which meant the Orion was essentially on its side and the crew was experiencing 2G, twice the force of gravity."
(NZDF)
RIMPAC started on June 30 and runs until August 4. It involves 27 countries, five submarines, more than 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel.
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