Exercise Southern Katipo
A task force restores order
What would happen if an island nation in our region suffered civil unrest and a humanitarian crisis? That's the premise of New Zealand’s largest military exercise, Southern Katipo. We train alongside other nations to become a coalition combat force, helping to restore law and order in the fictional nation of Becara.
The five-week exercise, hosted by New Zealand, can involve up to 13 Pacific countries coming together as a Combined Joint Task Force. The scenario they face is civil unrest among ethnic rivalries, which has degenerated into violence.
In October 2017, the top of the South Island is used to portray the fictional nation of ‘Becara’. With the Government of ‘Becara’ unable to cope, the Combined Joint Task Force has to evacuate non-combatants from the Marlborough region, counter the militia and intercept shipments of drugs and arms, before re-taking towns on the West Coast that have fallen under militia control.
Two NH90 helicopters of the Royal New Zealand Air Force touch down and release New Zealand Army soldiers to secure an area in the town of Ward, as part of the exercise Southern Katipo.
C-130H(NZ) Hercules are tasked to evacuate people from the region and move troops around the districts. NH90 helicopters move troops to forward operating bases where fixed-wing aircraft are unable to land. Local volunteers step forward to act as refugees in need of transport from areas of fighting. Aid agencies, non-governmental organisations, NZ Police, and government departments process the displaced persons, adding to the realism of the exercise.
The exercise tests the Air Force’s resilience in every area from communications to logistics, giving confidence the Air Force could credibly contribute to a joint task force in a similar situation in the South West Pacific if it were to arise. It also has the long-term benefit of creating and strengthening relationships with defence forces from other countries.