The Royal New Zealand Navy is to issue tenders for the mid-life upgrade of the MEKO 200 frigates HMNZS Te Kaha and HMNZS Te Mana. The Defence White Paper 2010 identified the ANZAC frigates would require a Self-Defence Upgrade (SDU) package to address obsolescence in surveillance systems and anti-missile protection for the design, which dates back to the 1980s.
The proposed project to update their Combat Management Systems, replace radars and sensors and upgrade their self-defence missile system is a measure already being taken by the Royal Australian Navy with their ASMD programme.
The New Zealand ANZACs have recently received a Platform Systems Upgrade involving the replacement of their diesel engines and improvementsto domestic systems such as air-conditioning, heating and ventilation. Their Phalanx close-in weapon systems were also updated to the latest Block 1B.
