02 March 2013

NZ: Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) ANZAC class frigates Modernization

HMNZS Te Kaha foreground (Wiki Info - Image: Wiki)

The Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) ANZAC class frigates (ANZACs) have performed to their original design specification in almost all areas since their inception. However, as with any long-term complex defence system, they must be maintained and upgraded through life to preserve capabilities, address obsolescence, respond to emerging threats and react to changes in how and where the Ships are operated.

A critical component for the RNZN is the capability to conduct combat operations and to support them. The ANZACs are key to this and it has been determined that the ANZACs require upgrades to their Combat Systems. As such, Her Majesty the Queen in right of New Zealand (through the Ministry of Defence) (the Crown) has initiated the Frigate Systems Upgrade (FSU) project (the Project).

The Project will generate a reliable and supportable ANZAC Combat System with enhanced operational availability and capability that will have a minimal drawdown on the constrained personnel and training resources within the RNZN.

The FSU as a whole will consider the replacement/addition of the following combat subsystems:

  • Radar suite including Identification, Friend or Foe (IFF) system;
  • Infra-Red Search and Track / Optronics (IRST/O) system;
  • Electronic Support Measures (ESM) suite;
  • Communications Electronic Support Measures (CESM) system;
  • Underwater Systems (UWS);
  • Combat Management System (CMS);
  • Tactical Data Link (TDL) system;
  • Local Area Air Defence (LAAD) missile system;
  • ASMD Soft Kill (ASK) suite; and
  • Torpedo Self Defence (TSD) system.


The Crown seeks to contract the services of a CSI to procure combat subsystems and integrate all new (both Contractor Furnished Equipment (CFE) and Government Furnished Equipment (GFE) subsystems to the legacy combat subsystems onboard the ANZACs to provide the complete capability defined by the System Requirements.

To facilitate this, this RFT seeks tender responses from suitably qualified and experienced CSIs, which will then be evaluated. Shortlisted Tenderers may be invited to attend an individual workshop with the Crown, the purpose of which is for the Crown to seek any clarifications on the Tenderer’s tender and to gain a fuller understanding of the Tenderer’s proposed solution.