Axing missile system leaves NZ Army without air defence

PHOTO: NZDF/SUPPLIEDThe New Zealand Defence Force has quietly disposed of $29 million worth of air defence missiles which were never used or brought into service. As a result, the New Zealand Army no longer has any dedicated air defence capabilities. An Official Information Act (OIA) request made by the Otago Daily Times reveals Mistral short range air defence missiles were removed from New Zealand service more than a decade ago. The OIA response, attributed to Air Commodore AJ Woods, of the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF), said New Zealand initially bought 12 launchers and 24 missiles in 1997. In total, the system cost about $29 million and was never deployed operationally or live-fired on a regular basis.