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New Zealand to buy new Boeing maritime patrol planes
WELLINGTON, July 9, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – New Zealand announced plans Monday to
spend NZ$2.35 billion (US$1.6 billion) on four Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime
patrol aircraft from the US government.
Defence Minister Ron Mark said they would replace the country’s ageing
fleet of six P-3 Orions which have been operating since the 1960s.
“The purchase enables New Zealand to continue to deploy in a wide range of
airborne maritime situations independently and, when required, work with
partners including Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States,” he
said.
Mark added that approximately half of the budget would go towards
purchasing the planes while the rest would be spent on costs such as
infrastructure and flight simulators.
The new planes will begin operations in 2023.
The purchase comes just weeks after close neighbour Australia announced
plans to invest US$5.2 billion to develop and buy high-tech US drones for
joint military operations and to monitor waters including the South China
Sea.
BSS/AFP/MSY/1017 hrs