Thursday, 21 August 2025, 3:12 pm
Press Release: New Zealand Government

Hon Judith Collins KC
Minister of Defence

Hon Winston Peters
Minister of Foreign Affairs

Seahawk helicopters and Airbus planes are set to replace aging New Zealand Defence Force aircraft in the first major investment decisions to be made as part of the Government’s Defence Capability Plan (DCP).

Defence Minister Judith Collins and Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters today announced investment decisions of $2.7 billion, with the MH-60R Seahawk the preferred option to replace the existing maritime helicopters. The Airbus A321XLR (extra long range) aircraft will replace the aging 757 fleet.

“This decision will ensure New Zealand has a critical combat capable, interoperable and dependable fleet,” Ms Collins says.

“The MH-60R Seahawk is a great aircraft for what New Zealand needs and fulfils our objective of having a more integrated Anzac force, and the new planes will give us reliable aircraft to deploy personnel and respond to international events.”

Mr Peters says these decisions show how the Government is responding to the 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.”

The $2 billion plus investment in maritime helicopters and $700 million investment in the new Airbus A321XLRs are both part of the $12 billion in planned commitments outlined in the 2025 DCP announced in April.

Ms Collins says the maritime helicopters are versatile and add combat and deterrent capability to our 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,” she says.

“We will now move at pace to procure helicopters directly through the United States’ Foreign Military Sales programme instead of going to a wider tender, with Cabinet expected to consider the final business case next year.

“The two new Airbus A321XLR aircraft will be acquired on a six-year lease to buy arrangement, with capital costs of $620 million and four-year 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.

“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.

“Our Defence Force personnel have proven time and time again they do an outstanding job and we must ensure they have the tools that are up to the task.”

Notes:

MH-60R Seahawk technical specifications

Manufacturer: Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation (a Lockheed Martin company)

Length: 19.76m

Max Speed: 333km/h (180kts)

Range: 963 km (520 nautical miles)

Cargo: In utility mode it can carry 1500+ kg

Crew: Three

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 42m3

Standard crew: Seven but can be as few as three or as many as 15 depending on mission type.

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The Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) for the first time deployed its MC-12K King Air aircraft to Fiji to conduct maritime surveillance patrols.

19 August, 2025

New Zealand and Fiji engage frequently on challenges facing the region, and the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) deploys aircraft and ships to work with Southwest Pacific partners such as Fiji on maritime patrols.

The RNZAF’s No. 42 Squadron regularly conducts maritime patrols with the MC-12K King Air in New Zealand’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ), working with other government agencies to detect and deter IUU fishing.

Air Component Commander, Air Commodore Andy Scott said Fiji was an important security partner.

“By working closely together, combining assets and expertise, we hope to counter IUU activities and help protect Fiji’s fishing stocks. IUU fishing is of concern to all our Pacific neighbours as this impacts regional security, and people’s livelihoods,” he said.

“The MC-12K King Air is an extremely versatile aircraft in both training and for operational missions. Demonstrating our ability to deploy this aircraft to the Pacific and conduct patrols with Fiji’s officials in Fiji’s EEZ is another string to its bow. 

“It has been a busy period in Fiji, as the Royal New Zealand Navy also has two uncrewed surface vessels deployed to Fiji conducting border protection tasks on behalf of the Fijian Government. 

“Recently we also had a P-8A Poseidon aircraft deployed there patrolling Fijian waters and other areas of the Pacific. Our P-8A crews regularly deploy to the Pacific, conducting maritime patrols with Forum Fisheries Agency nations and conducting patrols of high seas pockets to detect and deter IUU fishing activities.”

The RNZAF, for the first time, deployed its MC-12K King Air aircraft to Fiji to conduct maritime surveillance patrols.

RNZAF Squadron Leader Craig Clark said the deployment of the MC-12K to Fiji was a major step forward in the squadron’s ability to project capability into the Southwest Pacific in support of wider NZDF efforts in the region.

“We expected our focus during the deployment to be mainly on fisheries, but the Fijian authorities are also very interested in pleasure craft activity in their waters as they strive to combat transnational organised crime in their region,” he said. 

“The MC-12K is ideally suited to investigating vessels in the vicinity of remote islands around Fiji, often tucked into small bays or inside reefs. The crew were quickly able to pivot to any task requested of them by Fijian authorities, who were impressed by the agility and effectiveness of the MC-12K.”

Over two weeks of maritime surveillance, the crew conducted six patrols, investigating and taking imagery of almost 100 vessels. They also took key Fijian leaders up in the MC-12K to demonstrate the capability on two further flights. 

“What was also incredibly valuable was having our geospatial intelligence analysts embedded alongside their Fijian counterparts during the deployment,” Squadron Leader Clark said. 

“Our analysts learned a great deal from the Fijian analysts, and vice versa. This kind of interoperability and cooperation is at the heart of our partnership with Fiji.”

Squadron Leader Clark said it was important New Zealand could support the security and resilience of Pacific countries and of the Pacific region as a whole.

“What happens in the Pacific is important to us, and being familiar with the Southwest Pacific and our Pacific neighbours is essential, especially in the context of greater geostrategic competition and with the threat of climate change and trans-national organised crime being of great concern in the region.’’

Royal New Zealand Air Force and Republic of Fiji Navy personnel with the MC-12K King Air aircraft which has been conducting maritime surveillance patrols in Fiji.