The Government has confirmed plans to purchase five MH-60R Seahawk helicopters and two Airbus A321XLR aircraft, locking in previously signalled upgrades to the Defence Force’s air fleet.
The $2.7 billion investment, part of the Defence Capability Plan announced in April, included more than $2 billion for the maritime helicopters and $700 million for the planes, which will replace the ageing Seasprites and Boeing 757s.
Defence Minister Judith Collins and Foreign Minister Winston Peters announced the acquisitions at a media conference at the Beehive this afternoon, describing them as essential steps to ensure New Zealand’s defence assets were “critical combat capable, interoperable and dependable”.
Watch the live stream of the media conference at the Beehive here.
The MH-60R Seahawk, already in use by the US and Australian navies, was nearly 20m long and has a top speed of 333km/h.
Collins said the helicopters — capable of carrying anti-submarine torpedoes, Hellfire air-surface missiles and crew-served machine guns — were versatile and added combat and deterrent capability to the naval fleet.
“These five Seahawks will increase the offensive and defensive capability and surveillance range of New Zealand’s frigates and ensure we are interoperable with our ally Australia and other partner defence forces.”
Air Force to get new choppers, VIP aircraft in $2.7b fleet update, watch on TVNZ+
Procurement of the choppers would proceed “at pace” through the US Foreign Military Sales programme, bypassing a wider tender process, she said.
Cabinet was expected to consider the final business case next year.
Meanwhile, the Airbus A321XLRs would replace the NZDF’s ageing Boeing 757s.
The aircraft, with a range of up to 8700km, would be acquired under a six-year lease-to-buy arrangement with capital costs of $620 million and operating costs of $80.86 million.
“New Zealand needs reliable aircraft to deploy our personnel, deliver military equipment and humanitarian aid, support the evacuation of civilians, and transport government trade and diplomatic delegations quickly, over long distances, and often at short notice, Collins said.
“The decision to acquire the extra long-range aircraft reflects the importance of having an aircraft capable of such things as returning safely from Antarctica if it is unable to land due to conditions on the ice.”
MH-60R Seahawk helicopters and Airbus A321XLRs will replace ageing Seasprites and Boeing 757s. (Source: 1News)
Peters said the decisions showed the Government was responding to a “sharply deteriorating security environment”.
“Global tensions are increasing rapidly, and we must invest in our national security to ensure our economic prosperity.
“The DCP provides the foundation for our uplift in defence spending, and two-yearly reviews of the plan will allow us to adapt to an ever-changing security environment.”
Technical specifications
The MH-60R Seahawk, manufactured by Sikorsky (a Lockheed Martin company), is a multi-role maritime helicopter designed for anti-submarine and surface warfare. Measuring 19.76 metres in length, it can reach speeds of up to 333km/h and has a range of 963 kilometres. Operated by a crew of three, the Seahawk can carry over 1,500 kilograms in utility mode and is equipped with a suite of weaponry including Mk 54 anti-submarine torpedoes, AGM-114 Hellfire missiles, crew-served machine guns, and the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS).
The Airbus A321XLR is a long-range commercial aircraft powered by Pratt & Whitney engines. It has a wingspan of 35.8 metres, a length of 44.51 metres, and stands 11.76 metres tall. With a maximum cruise speed of Mach 0.78 and a range of up to 8,700 kilometres, it is configured to carry 122 passengers in a standard layout. The aircraft can transport up to 9,100 kilograms of cargo or 42 cubic metres in its holds, and depending on the mission, it can operate with a crew ranging from three to 15.
