New Zealand warship HMNZS Te Kaha has joined the United Kingdom’s Carrier Strike Group in the Indian Ocean as part of a major international military deployment.
The strike group, led by the Royal Navy’s flagship HMS Prince of Wales, is in the Indo-Pacific as part of Operation Highmast, which will see 13 nations deploy ships, aircraft and more than 4,500 military personnel across the region.
Supplied
HMNZS Te Kaha linked up with the multinational fleet last week after completing a two-month deployment with Combined Task Force 150, a New Zealand-led mission focused on maritime security and counter-narcotic operations in the Arabian Sea.
Commodore Shane Arndell, the Royal New Zealand Navy’s Maritime Component Commander, said Te Kaha’s involvement will significantly boost the ship’s combat readiness.
“The ship already has runs on the board since leaving New Zealand in February and successfully completing a two-month deployment working for the Coalition Maritime Forces Task Force 150 in the Arabian Sea, so they’ll be hitting the ground running,” Arndell said.
New Zealand warship joins UK strike group in Indo-Pacific military operation
“Being able to work collaboratively with our global partners and demonstrate maritime interoperability is critical for us as a nation, and Operation Highmast will deliver some key outcomes for our Navy and New Zealand Defence Force.”
The UK-led Carrier Strike Group includes participation from NATO allies such as Canada, Denmark, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and the United States, as well as regional partners Australia, India, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand.
The group will now take part in a series of major exercises and high-profile port visits across Asia and the western Pacific rim, aimed at strengthening cooperation and reinforcing the international rules-based order.
Commander of the UK Carrier Strike Group, Commodore James Blackmore, said the addition of HMNZS Te Kaha was a welcome boost.
“It’s fantastic to have our New Zealand friends with us as we look to develop our combined operational capabilities,” Blackmore said.
“It was a privilege to visit HMNZS Te Kaha when she joined the Strike Group. Having such a professional crew integrating with us as we reinforced the rules-based international order in the Indo-Pacific will certainly enhance our outputs.”
