New Zealand to Spend $2.7 Billion on New Military Aircraft

New Zealand plans to buy seven new military aircraft for $2.7 billion (US$1.57 billion)—$2 billion will be spent on five MH-60R Seahawk helicopters and an additional $700 million has been allocated for two Airbus A321XLR aircraft.

The purchase is part of the government’s Defence Capability Plan, announced in April, to boost its defence spending by $9 billion over the next four years and lift it to 2 percent of GDP over the next eight years, double its current level.

The country decided not to replace its fleet of Skyhawk fighter jets in 2001 due to high maintenance costs and changing defence priorities, but its remaining fleet has suffered very public failures since.

An RNZAF 757 broke down in Papua New Guinea in 2024 on its way to take Prime Minister Christopher Luxon to Tokyo on a trade mission, which he called “incredibly embarrassing” at the time. The Airbus A321XLR (extra long range) aircraft will replace the aging 757 fleet.

The two new aircraft were capable of returning safely from Antarctica if they were unable to land due to conditions on the ice, Defence Minister Judith Collins said.

They will be bought on a six-year lease-to-buy deal and will be ready to use in 2028, while the Seahawks will be bought directly through the United States’ Foreign Military Sales programme instead of going to a wider tender.

Increased Lethality

The Seahawks will be equipped with torpedoes and missiles, which would “increase the lethality and defensive capability of New Zealand’s fleet,” Collins said.

“The MH-60R Seahawk is a great aircraft for what New Zealand needs [and] will give us reliable aircraft to deploy personnel and respond to international events,” Collins told a press conference.

“[They] 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.

“These are once-in-a-generation investments which are a vital down payment on our future security and our prosperity in a world where tensions are rising and distance no longer provides New Zealand the protection it once did.”

Foreign Minister Winston Peters said the decision demonstrated the government’s response to the sharply deteriorating security environment.

“Global tensions are increasing rapidly, and we must invest in our national security to ensure our economic prosperity,” he said.

The New Zealand Security Intelligence Service released a report on Aug. 21 warning of the high likelihood of foreign interference, particularly from Beijing.

MH-60R Seahawk technical specifications

• Manufacturer: Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation (a Lockheed Martin company)
• Length: 19.76 metres
• Max Speed: 333 km/h (180 knots)
• Range: 963 km (520 nautical miles)
• Cargo: In utility mode, it can carry over 1,500 kilograms
• Crew: 3
• Weapon systems: Mk 54 anti-submarine torpedo, AGM-114 Hellfire air-surface missiles, crew-served machine guns; Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS)

Airbus A321XLR technical specifications

• Engines: Pratt & Whitney
• Wingspan: 35.80 metres
• Length: 44.51 metres
• Height: 11.76 metres
• Max cruise speed: Mach 0.78
• Range: 8,700km (4,700 nautical miles)
• Layout: standard commercial layout to accommodate 122 passengers.
• Cargo (in cargo holds): Capacity 9,100kg or 42 m3
• Standard crew: Seven, but can be as few as three or as many as 15 depending on mission type.