MELBOURNE — New Zealand has selected the Lockheed Martin MH-60R Seahawk and the Airbus A321XLR as its future naval helicopter and transport aircraft respectively, the New Zealand Defence Force announced today.
New Zealand Defence Minister Judith Collins said in the announcement that the buy, consisting of five helicopters and two aircraft, would ensure the country would have a “critical combat capable, interoperable and dependable fleet.”
The acquisition would cost $2.7 billion New Zealand dollars ($1.57 billion USD), said the New Zealand Defence Force in its announcement.
The MH-60R helicopter, which is the US Navy’s primary shipboard anti-submarine and surface warfare helicopter and is also operated by neighboring Australia, will be acquired under the US Foreign Military Sales program.
Collins said the maritime helicopters are versatile and add combat and deterrent capability for New Zealand’s navy, and were selected without a competitive tender, with the final business case to be considered by New Zealand’s cabinet next year.
“These five Seahawks will increase the offensive and defensive capability and surveillance range of Royal New Zealand Navy’s frigates and ensure we are interoperable with our ally Australia and other partner defence forces,” she said.
The MH-60R will replace eight Kaman SH-2G Super Seasprite helicopters that were acquired from Australia in 2013.
Meanwhile, the two A321XLRs will be acquired from Airbus under a lease-to-buy arrangement with capital costs projected at $620 million and a further $80.86 million in operating costs spread over four years.
The A321XLRs, which are a re-engined, extended range variant of the A321 that is widely used around the world by commercial operators as airlines and cargo aircraft, will replace two Boeing 757s currently operated by the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) as passenger and cargo transports.
Collins said that one of the factors in selecting the A321XLR is its ability to return safely to New Zealand from Antarctica if it was unable to land due to conditions during one of the country’s regular supply flights to the icy continent.
“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.”
In addition to the new naval helicopters and transport aircraft, New Zealand has also flagged the acquisition of a new anti-ship missile capability in its Defence Capability Plan announced in 2024.
The new missile will be launched from a new frigate that it will also be acquiring under the plan, as well as from the RNZAF’s existing Boeing P-8A multi-mission/anti-submarine aircraft.