Sub-zero temperatures, snow-covered terrain and simulated missile attacks have formed the backdrop for one of the New Zealand Defence Force’s most demanding recent training exercises, as personnel prepared for the realities of modern combat operations.
Around 250 personnel from the Royal New Zealand Air Force’s No. 3 Squadron, supported by ground crews and the New Zealand Army’s High Readiness Task Unit (HRTU), took part in the large-scale exercise at the Tekapo Military Training Area.
The exercise was based on a fictional conflict scenario in the Pacific, testing how air and ground forces would respond in a rapidly changing operational environment.
Despite harsh winter conditions across the Mackenzie Basin, RNZAF NH90 helicopters conducted tactical air mobility missions while crews faced simulated enemy missile threats for the first time using a new training system.
Exercise Controller Squadron Leader Brad Cottam said the exercise introduced the Phantom system, a portable device that replicates the electronic signature of an enemy surface-to-air missile system.
When the simulated threat was detected, the NH90’s onboard self-protection systems automatically responded before a Smokey SAM pyrotechnic was launched, producing a flash and smoke trail to simulate a missile being fired.
Cottam said the technology provides a realistic but safe environment for aircrews to prepare for modern combat.
The training also tested pilots and support crews across a wide range of operational scenarios, including mountain flying, logistics, command and control, aviation maintenance and rapid refuelling while helicopter rotors remained running.
Lead operations planner Flight Lieutenant Jamieson Taylor said one of the biggest benefits was the opportunity for air and ground units to complete the entire planning process together before carrying out missions.
“It isn’t something we get to do often as we aren’t located together, so it was hugely beneficial for both sides.”
Taylor also acknowledged the essential role played by the many support personnel involved in the exercise, including fuel specialists, logistics teams, firefighters, intelligence staff, health personnel, communications operators, security forces and caterers.
“We couldn’t fly without the support from ground trades, therefore it is essential that we practise operating with them in a deployed scenario.”
Alongside the aviation component, soldiers from Alpha Company, 2nd/1st Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment, carried out combat infiltration exercises, reconnaissance missions, sniper operations and urban live-fire drills by both day and night.
Commanding Officer Major Jono Healey said months of preparation culminated in the demanding exercise, with soldiers progressively building their skills since April.
“The soldiers reached a stage where they could work just as comfortably in total darkness as daylight.”
For many of the unit’s newer soldiers, it was also their first opportunity to conduct live firing using night vision equipment.
Healey said integrating helicopter insertions, live firing and sniper operations significantly increased the complexity of the training while reinforcing the importance of interoperability between military units.
“Working with No. 3 Squadron was really beneficial and enabled us to understand each other’s needs and capabilities. This is essential, should we find ourselves working together overseas at short notice.”
He said the ability to deploy quickly while trusting the capability of other Defence Force units remains critical to operational success.
The exercise forms part of the New Zealand Defence Force’s ongoing efforts to maintain combat readiness and prepare personnel for increasingly complex security environments, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region.
By combining realistic battlefield simulations with demanding winter conditions, Defence Force planners say exercises like those conducted at Tekapo ensure New Zealand personnel are prepared to respond safely and effectively wherever they may be called upon.
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