Luftwaffe exercise delivers benefits for New Zealand

Exercise Tūhono Rangi, a landmark joint training operation with the German air force (Luftwaffe), has wrapped up for the New Zealand Defence Force, marking a significant step in strengthening interoperability and international defence cooperation. 

CAPTION: RNZAF Combat Operations Support Squadron support Exercise Tuhono Rangi at RNZAF Base Woodbourne, an exercise in support of visiting Luftwaffe A400M. NZDF image supplied.

Over the past two weeks, Operations Squadron Combat Support Services personnel from the Royal New Zealand Air Force, New Zealand Army, and Luftwaffe worked side-by-side at multiple locations, including Air Force Bases Woodbourne, Ohakea and Auckland, and the Waiouru Military Training Area.

The exercise involved low-level tactical flying, parachuting, air drops and the integration of combat support, security forces, and logistics specialists from both nations.

New Zealand Air Component Commander Air Commodore Andy Scott said the exercise was a milestone for the NZDF.

“Tūhono Rangi provided a rare opportunity to train alongside a key NATO partner,” Air Commodore Scott said.

“It enhances our ability to operate together in coalition operations and other complex environments, such as humanitarian relief.”

The Commanding Officer of Operations Squadron, Squadron Leader Matt Williams, said the visit had enabled several key trades to achieve a long list of training objectives.

“There have been many highlights. For example, we re-established the Deployable Bulk Fuel Installation and requalified the fuel-specialist trade.

“Those teams delivered a massive amount of fuel in support of the Luftwaffe flying programme – more than 600,000 litres.

“We now have a significant support capability ready to deploy on our operations and to support those of partners.

“Our air-load, rescue-firefighter and security-forces teams also all reached important milestones in operational readiness,” he said.

Luftwaffe contingent commander Colonel Markus Knoll highlighted the significance of the deployment.

“Training in New Zealand’s challenging terrain and airspace has been invaluable for our crews,” Colonel Knoll said.

The deployment included three A400M Atlas aircraft, an Airbus A330 and an Airbus A321, making this the largest Luftwaffe presence in New Zealand to date.

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