New Zealand has announced a $1.58 billion investment to acquire MH-60R Seahawk helicopters and Airbus A321XLR aircraft. Defence Minister Judith Collins and Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters unveiled the investment as part of the government’s commitments outlined in the new Defence Capability Plan.
The MH-60R Seahawk is the preferred option to replace the aging SH-2G(I) Seasprite maritime helicopters, which have been deployed by the Royal New Zealand Air Force’s No. 6 Squadron for over a decade. Built by Lockheed Martin’s Sikorsky Aircraft, the Seahawks will be procured directly from the United States through a Foreign Military Sales program.
The Potomac Officers Club’s 2025 Navy Summit brings together top-tier experts from the U.S. Navy to explore the innovative solutions and strategic partnerships that help shape the future of naval operations. Grab the last few seats available for this exclusive event now.
According to Collins, the government will acquire five new Seahawks to enhance the “offensive and defensive capability and surveillance range” of Royal New Zealand Navy frigates and ensure interoperability with Australia and other partners. The purchase also includes two Airbus A321XLR extra-long-range transport aircraft to replace the current Boeing 757 fleet operated by the No. 40 Squadron.
Collins highlighted the need for reliable aircraft to deploy personnel, deliver humanitarian aid and support diplomatic missions. She noted the A321XLR’s capability to safely return from Antarctica without landing. The defense chief said the country will purchase the planes through a six-year lease-to-buy arrangement.
The fleet modernization effort is the latest in New Zealand’s investments in air capabilities.
On Tuesday, the government inaugurated a new 20,000-square-meter facility at RNZAF Base Ohakea for the air force’s P-8A Poseidon fleet. The complex, part of a $2.34 billion project to buy P-8A maritime surveillance aircraft, includes hangars, a warehouse, a flight simulator and a mission support center.