Warmly welcomed as the latest partner of the United Kingdom’s premier Naval deployment of 2025 is the Royal New Zealand Navy, whose frigate Te Kaha has joined the task group.
Fresh from two months of security patrols, including drug-busting operations alongside the Royal Navy in the Indian Ocean, the Kiwi warship is now getting used to working with the multinational force, led by HMS Prince of Wales.
The group is knuckling down to the Asia-Pacific phase of its Operation Highmast deployment, spending the bulk of the summer east of Suez conducting a series of exercises with allies and partners.
Te Kaha – Maori for ‘The Force’ – adds a Pacific flavor to a potent group already comprising ships from Norway, Canada, and Spain as a core of Royal Navy/Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels.
“Te Kaha already has ‘runs on the board’ following a successful two-month deployment with the Combined Task Force 150 in the Arabian Sea, so they’ll be hitting the ground running,” said Commodore Shane Arndell, the Royal New Zealand Navy’s Maritime Component Commander.
“Being able to work collaboratively with our global allies and partners and demonstrating maritime interoperability is critical for us and Operation Highmast will deliver some key outcomes for our Navy.”