The F16's would not only have to be cheap, the Americans would have to subsidise their day to day costs aswell. Sort of what Australia did with the Skyhawks.
Despite an arms embargo, Indonesia maintains more operational Hercules than the Kiwi's. Just to stay on topic!
gsf
Was the scenario too unrealisistic? The capabilities beyond the ADF? Or are you just another very secure resident of the far South Pacific?
The region is not benign. The protagonists in the simple scenario could have been the Phillipines, Malaysia and Indonesia. The terrorist group the brutal but disjointed Abu Sayyaf and the "innocuos" funding from Wahabi followers in Saudia Arabia.
The capabilities are operational with the ADF. The ad hoc cruise missile of the latest Block Harpoon to be supplanted by the controverial longer range weapons under evaluation- these will equip naval frigates ( probably not the sub's to avoid upsetting the neighbours ) and air forces.
Possibly scenarios in our region are frightfully easy to create- total anarchy in PNG, coup or revolution in Indonesia, natural disasters in the South Pacific, tension in the South China Sea etc.
New Zealand used to have the ability to integrate useful assets into a coalition to combat threats. Every budget more capability is lost and little enhanced or replaced. They are bludging!
Last edited by Gnadenburg; 28th Jan 2005 at 02:45.