NZDF Space Forces
New Zealand has neither the wealth nor the need to maintain deep space forces such as
SDVs, LSDVs, or SCVs. However both for it's own self-defense and to support ground operations
it does maintain a small presense in Earth orbit, the 8th (Space Control) Squadron.
- The keystone of 8th squadron is the Endeavour SDP.
Custom built by Columbia Aerospace, the Endeavour's facilities are buried deep in an
asteroid. Positioned in geosynchronous (but not geostationary) orbit,
Endeavour always remains above the +12 hour time zone (specifically a
longitude of 178 E), but wanders north/south by about 40-degrees.
- Kahu Flight (Kahu is the Maori word for hawk) is a squadron of 6 Tempest TCAVs
(p. SSS30) stationed at Endeavour. To reach orbit requires an external booster, however
they can reenter atmsophere anywhere in the world and safely land at a number of NZDF or
allied bases.
- Nelson Flight is a collection of 19 space based laser satellites, along with
a classified number of communications and survelliance satellites - usually estimated at
about two dozen. The primary purpose of Nelson flight is to support ground forces, although
they are also charged with providing ballistic defense.
Nelson flight's satellites are all fully automated, however the flight
does have around two hundred personel at it's ground stations in Ohakea and
Wigram.
- Canterbury Flight consists of assorted support and transport vessels that maintain
the other flights. It's vessels include 2 Pegasus class TAVs (p. TS192),
15 Tahmas transports (p. SSS9), and 13 Bumblebee workpods (p. SSS7).
The squadron trains extensively with Australian space forces, and to a lesser degree
with US and PRA forces. In the event of an all out conflict involving a major spacefaring
power it is doubtful that NZ space forces would survive more than a few hours. However
it is realistic to expect that the TCAVs could get away, and Nelson flight could at the very
least blunt any first strike aimed at New Zealand.