Moderators: richierich, ua900, PanAm_DC10, hOMSaR
bunumuring wrote:Hey guys,
Any news on NZ's plans to replace its Hercules, Orions and 757s.
With the recent change of government, has anything been announced?
It seemed likely that the A400M was lined up to replace the Hercules and possibly Poseidons to replace the Orions. Wasn't some kind of approach made to the US about the latter?
Cheers,
Bunumuring.
Future Air Surveillance Capability – Maritime Patrol Aircraft
For 60 years the Defence Force’s fleet of six P-3K2 Orions have undertaken military deployments and contributed to stewardship of New Zealand’s maritime area of responsibility from the South Pole to the equator, including the fourth-largest Exclusive Economic Zone. The aircraft and their sensors have been upgraded several times but they are now beyond further upgrades. The Defence White Paper 2016
concluded that the Orions needed to be replaced in the mid-2020s. Replacement options have been considered, and we will shortly recommend to you a proposed first step towards modernising New Zealand’s military and whole of government maritime surveillance capabilities