The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) has opened a new battle training facility (BTF) in Ardmore, Auckland, New Zealand.
The purpose-built facility will replace the outdated training facilities for Special Air Service (SAS) personnel in Papakura.
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Valued at $46m, the project involved the construction of a facility to accommodate all-weather and scenario training, live firing, and helicopter use.
The BTF will also include training spaces with structures, such as aircraft fuselages, ship’s bridges, and public transport.
It will support full-mission rehearsals and provide SAS personnel with an area for firing primary operational weapons.
New Zealand Chief of Defence Force lieutenant general Tim Keating said: "As a defence force our primary role is to protect our nation, therefore we need to be equipped to succeed. This means providing our men and women with the means and equipment to do their job in an effective, efficient, and safe manner.
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By GlobalData"Security threats have become more complex, so it’s vital the NZDF have modern facilities to train SAS personnel who are required to operate in high-risk and complex environments."
"This is a capability that is of significant benefit to the whole of the NZDF and it is future-proofed in its design and built to a world class standard."
Besides NZDF, other government agencies, such as New Zealand Police Special Tactics Group, will also benefit from the new training facility.
Image: The official opening of the New Zealand Defence Force’s new Battle Training Facility in Papakura. Photo: courtesy of New Zealand Defence Force.
