New Zealand is set to invest $1.6 billion in modernizing its defense fleet, planning to acquire five MH-60R Seahawk helicopters and two Airbus A321XLR aircraft to replace aging equipment.
On August 21, Defense Minister Judith Collins and Foreign Minister Winston Peters announced that the government would spend 2.7 billion New Zealand dollars (approximately $1.6 billion USD) on the procurement. Of this, 2 billion NZD is allocated for the naval helicopters produced by Lockheed Martin’s Sikorsky division, while 700 million NZD will cover the new aircraft.
These purchases form part of the Defense Capability Plan announced in April, which aims to raise defense spending by 9 billion NZD over the next four years and nearly double it to 2% of GDP within eight years. Collins noted that the helicopters would be sourced directly through the U.S. Foreign Military Sales program to accelerate delivery.
The new Airbus A321XLR aircraft will replace the aging Boeing 757s under a six-year lease-to-own agreement. The current 757s, in service for over three decades, had become increasingly unreliable, causing repeated malfunctions that forced government officials to rely on commercial flights. Collins emphasized that the investment ensures New Zealand maintains a capable, interoperable, and reliable fleet. Peters highlighted that the decision responds to rapidly deteriorating security conditions, supported by a recent intelligence report warning of growing foreign interference and espionage threats, particularly from China.
