New Zealand to spend $3bn upgrading helicopters and ‘embarrassing’ defence planes | New Zealand
The government will spend about $ 3 billion ($ 1.7 billion) to raise the aging fleet of New Zealand, including the change of “shameful” planes that have left many ministers during international travel.
Defense Minister Judith Collins said that NZ will spend $ 700 million to buy a 2 billion dollar MH-60R SEAHAWK helicopters and two Airbus A321xlr aircraft of 2 billion dollars.
At a press conference on Thursday, “These are a vital down payment for our future security and the generation made once in a world where tensions are increased and the distance no longer provides the protection of New Zealand,” he said.
Inside April, New Zealand has promised to increase defense expenditures by $ 9 billion in the next four years, and in the next eight years, as part of the defense capability plan, GDP aims to spend almost 2% as the share of GDP.
Increasing the defense fleet is part of these planned commitments.
“Defense is not something that can be in casserole until you need it, Coll said Collins. “Today, we need a ready and equipped power to do everything asked, tomorrow and beyond, and to protect, deterrence, defend and respond to New Zealand.”
The Defense Forces are organizing plans for New Zealand leaders when they start an international journey, but the 30-year-old fleet has struggled with problems in recent years-Prime Minister Christopher Luxon was previously “incredibly embarrassing”.
Last year, Luxon had to travel to Australia on a last -minute commercial flight for a summit after being based on the maintenance problems of Rnzaf Boeing 757.
Former prime minister Dame Jacinda Ardern and Sir John Key were grounded during trips around the world after the breakdown of the 757s and Hercules planes. Last year, former Prime Minister Chris Hipkins had to bring a spare plane to a trip to China for fear that the plane he traveled was unreliable.
The two new Airbus aircraft set to replace the Boeing 757 plane were long -range aircraft that could safely return from Antarctica if they could not descend due to the conditions on the ice.
The planes would be acquired in the regulation of a six -year lease agreement and will be ready to use in 2028.
Collins said that new seaside helicopters will enable New Zealand to fulfill the goal of having a more integrated power and would be a more reliable option for the deployment of defense personnel.
Helicopter, “New Zealand fleet will increase the fatigue and defense ability” will be equipped with torpedo and missiles, he said.
Foreign Minister Winston Peters said the government’s investment has shown that it responds to the “sharply worsening security environment”.
“Global tensions are increasing rapidly and we need to invest in our national security to ensure our economic welfare.”
On Thursday, New Zealand’s Spy Agency has recently faced a report that the country has recently faced the most challenging national security challenges, and especially with increasing foreign intervention and espionage threats from China.
