Four new planes cost $2.3b

The New Zealand Defence Force will buy new maritime surveillance aircraft, with submarine-hunting capabilities, worth $2.3 billion.

Defence Minister Ron Mark announced the purchase of four P-8 Poseidons yesterday. The planes will be delivered by 2023, and will replace the P-3 Orions.

The P-8s would give New Zealand increased reconnaissance and weaponising capabilities, especially when it comes to hunting submarines. South Korea, Australia and India have also opted for the P-8A Poseidon.

Mark said maintaining a maritime patrol capability was essential for New Zealand’s national security, and for its ability to contribute to global security efforts.

In April 2017, the United States Government’s State Department approved the sale of up to four of the planes, with an estimated cost of $2.2b. Mark said the higher price was because of potential foreign exchange changes.

New NZDF chief Kevin Short, who is a former P-3 navigator, said the Government had decided it wanted the full spread of military capability options – ‘‘unless you buy that upfront, you never have that option’’.

‘‘We are a military force, and what we wanted . . . is a response option. There are plenty of aircraft out there that have a range of endurance and censors, but not many have the response.

‘‘The response being, at some stage, just the mere threat of being able to carry weapons and do something that is aggressive. That allows us to operate at the high end of the spectrum, which our friends and allies want us to do.’’

The squadron currently operating the Orions would shift from Whenuapai in Auckland, to RNZAF Base Ohakea, near Palmerston North, to operate the P-8s as Whenuapai did not have the required facilities.

Acting Prime Minister Winston Peters said the Government did not have plans to shut Whenuapai. But, Short said, eventually the NZDF would likely have to reconsider the base, as its runway couldn’t be extended.

National Party defence spokesman Mark Mitchell said the new aircraft would advance the nation’s capabilities. The former Government had begun the plans to purchase the planes, so it was good to see the decision made.