First C-130J Aircraft Delivered to Royal New Zealand Air Force

Lockheed Martin delivered the first of five C-130J-30 Super Hercules tactical airlifters to the New Zealand Ministry of Defence (MOD) and New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) on August 8, 2024, during a ceremony at their facility in Marietta, Georgia. This delivery marks the beginning of New Zealand's $NZ1.5 billion (approximately $902.3 million USD) program to replace its aging C-130H(NZ) fleet, which has been operational since the 1960s.

The newly delivered aircraft, designated NZ7011, first took flight in April 2024 and is part of a contract signed in 2020 under the US foreign military sales program. The Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) will operate the new C-130Js under the supervision of 40 Squadron at RNZAF Base Auckland. These aircraft are set to take over the roles previously held by the older C-130H fleet across New Zealand and the Indo-Pacific region.

The C-130J Super Hercules is a modern, versatile aircraft designed for a wide range of missions, including humanitarian aid, disaster relief, and military operations in collaboration with allies. Lockheed Martin's vice president and general manager of Air Mobility & Maritime Missions, Rod McLean, emphasized the new fleet's enhanced capabilities, noting that they offer New Zealand increased alignment with allies, greater operational reach, and proven performance in demanding tactical airlift operations.

The C-130J is a powerful and advanced aircraft, measuring 97.9 feet in length, with a wingspan of 132.7 feet, and a cargo bay length of 41 feet. It can carry up to 90 people or payloads weighing up to 42,000 pounds. Powered by four Rolls-Royce AE 2100 turboprop engines, each delivering 4,637 horsepower, the aircraft can reach a maximum speed of 362 knots, with a range of 1,800 nautical miles and an operational altitude of up to 40,386 feet.

In addition to the aircraft, the program includes corresponding flight simulators and supporting capabilities, with the construction of associated training platforms initiated in Montreal, Canada, in 2023. Lockheed Martin also accepted a $38-million contract in 2022 to deliver another simulator to train future C-130J aircrew, ensuring comprehensive training and readiness for the RNZAF’s new fleet.

The RNZAF’s C-130J fleet will continue to support New Zealand’s global missions, from humanitarian assistance to military operations, enhancing the country's defense capabilities and its role in international security.

New Zealand receives first P-8A Poseidon

New Zealand received the first of four Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft

The milestone comes four years after the New Zealand Government entered into an agreement with the U.S. Navy for the P-8A.

Boeing Defence Australia will provide sustainment services for New Zealand’s.

New Zealand’s three remaining P-8 aircraft are all in advanced stages of production and will be delivered in 2023. The aircraft will replace New Zealand’s current fleet of six P-3K2 Orions and will be based at Royal New Zealand Air Force Base Ohakea.

navalnews

Boeing gets contract to build 6 P-8As for South Korea and 4 New Zealand

The U.S. Navy awarded Boeing [NYSE: BA] a $1.5 billion production contract for the next 18 P-8A Poseidon aircraft. The contract includes eight aircraft for the U.S. Navy, six aircraft for the Republic of Korea Navy and four aircraft for the Royal New Zealand Air Force.
The Republic of Korea Navy and Royal New Zealand Air Force acquired the aircraft through the Foreign Military Sales process and will receive the same P-8A Poseidon variant designed and produced for the U.S. Navy. The Royal New Zealand Air Force is expected to begin receiving aircraft in 2022 and the Republic of Korea Navy is expected to begin receiving aircraft in 2023.
boeing

Japan in talks with New Zealand for C-2 P-1 aircraft

Japan is in negotiations with New Zealand to export the Self-Defense Forces' patrol and transport aircraft, in hopes of beating out U.S. and European competition to score its first large-scale arms contract.
The deal will also involve the maintenance of the planes, and is potentially worth billions of dollars. Tokyo in September provided unclassified information on the P-1 maritime patrol plane and C-2 transporter, both developed by Kawasaki Heavy Industries, in response to Wellington's requests.
Representatives from Japan's defense ministry and Kawasaki Heavy are in New Zealand for negotiations. Japan could come up with a proposal in the first half of 2017 concerning the price, production process and maintenance of the planes. It will also consider jointly producing certain parts with New Zealand.
New Zealand will choose the winning bid as early as this summer out of a pool including American and European proposals. The Japanese government will also negotiate a treaty with New Zealand to allow the transfer of defense equipment and technology, a prerequisite to the potential deal.
The P-1, deployed by the Maritime SDF, was designed as a successor to the mainstay P-3C patrol aircraft. It can pick up even faint submarine signals through underwater sensors, and is also known to be fuel efficient and extremely quiet.
The bidding "will be a one-on-one fight with Boeing's P-8 patrol plane," a Japanese official said.
The C-2, meanwhile, can carry heavy loads over long distances. It was first delivered to the Air SDF in June 2016, with plans for deployment this March. The aircraft shares the same parts in the wing and other areas with the P-1, which will allow New Zealand to save money if it adopts both models. Airbus and several other companies are considered Japan's main rivals for the transporters.
The Japanese government adopted three principles on the transfer of defense equipment and technology in April 2014, greatly relaxing the requirements for arms exports. But it has done little under the new rules. Japan was outbid by France on Australia's new fleet of submarines in April, and lost a bid on anti-submarine patrol aircraft for the U.K. to the U.S. in November 2015.
nikkei

Royal New Zealand Air Force To Retire UH-1H Iruquois next July

The Royal New Zealand Air Force’s fleet of Iroquois helicopters has provided almost 50 years of service to New Zealand and has been a stalwart of Defence Force operations since its purchase. The Iroquois is scheduled to cease flying operations with the Air Force on 01 July 2015. Ahead of this withdrawal from service, No.3 Squadron from Ohakea who fly the Iroquois are making various stops around New Zealand in May.
The Iroquois is being replaced by the NH90 helicopter.
The RNZAF UH-1H Iroquois were first brought into service in 1966, two of the aircraft have been donated to the air force Museum, while an airframe will be donated to the Waiouru Army Museum for public display. Another airframe will be loaned to the Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology for training technicians. Ten airframes would be sold by tender for commercial use after they had cleared US State Department approvals as ex-US military technology.
defense-studies

Five C-17As Still for Sale

Boeing still has five C-17A for sale following confirmation that the Royal Australian Air Force would take another two.
In addition to the Australia pair, Canada has purchased one aircraft and two have been sold to an undisclosed customer in the Middle East.
New Zealand is another country linked to a potential C-17 purchase, having recently launched its Future Air Mobility Capability program to replace its 50-year-old Lockheed Hercules fleet.
defensenews

Airbus launches A400M media campaign in New Zealand

Airbus has launched a campaign to make New Zealanders aware of what it has to offer the Royal NZ Air Force to replace its ageing Hercules.
Airbus is taking out a series of adverts in press for its A400M plane it hopes to pitch when tenders are sought. Adverts highlight the plane's capabilities ahead of what is shaping up as an intense, high-stakes battle between manufacturers when the RNZAF seeks tenders to replace five Hercules, now more than 50 years old. The two air force Boeing 757s are also due for replacement early next decade.
New Zealand politicians have already flown on a jet-engine powered Boeing C-17 Globemaster used in Australia, seen by some analysts as having the inside running to replace the Hercules. Airbus says its advertising campaign is aimed at letting the public know there are alternatives.
nzherald

Airbus Eyes New Zealand as New A400M Customer in 2015

Airbus Defense & Space, said that they expect an export order for the A400M airlifter by the end of the year — the first since Malaysia signed for four aircraft in December 2005.
An A400M from the French Air Force was present at the 2015 Australian International Air Show.
The aircraft arrived at Avalon direct from Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia and was heading to Noumea in French New Caledonia at the conclusion of the show.
The A400M had flown in excess of 24 flying hours to Southern Australia without requiring anything more than routine maintenance along the way eyeing New Zealand:
"Our message to New Zealand is, with A400M you can cover all of the strategic requirements, which is mainly their Antarctic service" he said. "And at the same time, with the tactical capability of this aircraft, you can land on many of the various islands north of New Zealand, you can begin replacing, or sorting out your aging C-130 issues."
10 A400Ms have been delivered to the air forces of France, Germany, Turkey and the United Kingdom to date, with the first aircraft for the Royal Malaysian Air Force due to be handed overMarch.
defensenews

Royal New Zealand Air Force to Upgrade P-3K Orion

The New Zealand Ministry of Defence has revealed the total cost of the seven-year project is projected to be $332.3 million.
The P-3K Orion Upgrade Project would finish halfway through this year with only a software upgrade to go.
Equipment such as computers, mission systems, radar systems, wiring and antennas had been upgraded.
"The configuration of the aeroplane it was quite modern compared to some P3s in the world, but the computing power that was put in the original upgrade back in the 80s/90s was about the power of a commodore 64."
The planes were first introduced into service in 1965.
radionz

More T-6C trainers head for New Zealand

Beechcraft has transferred its second batch of two T-6C trainers to New Zealand.
Carrying the registrations NZ1404 and NZ1405, the turboprop-powered aircraft made stops in Canada, Greenland and Iceland, before passing through Glasgow, Scotland and making an overnight stop in Stansted, England on 23 September during the long range transfer. The pair follow an initial two trainers which completed the ferry flight to Ohakea air base in late August.
Ordered in January 2014 under an 11-aircraft deal, New Zealand’s T-6Cs are due to enter full training use in 2016.
The remaining seven aircraft contained within the order will be delivered in 2015, with the type to be flown by the Royal New Zealand Air Force’s 14 Sqn.
flightglobal

First RNZAF T-6Cs Touch Down

The first two Beechcraft T-6C Texan II trainers for the Royal New Zealand Air Force touched down at Whenuapai, RNZAF Base Auckland this week .
The two aircraft will be formally handed over to the RNZAF in October after intial pilot and maintenance training is completed. To be based at Ohakea, all 11 T-6Cs on order are due to be delivered by June 2015, allowing the first RNZAF pilot training course on the aircaft to begin in early 2016.
defense-studies

Russia offered MiGs, tanks to settle NZ debt

Moscow offered to give New Zealand a nuclear submarine to help settle Russia's debt for Kiwi dairy products, a new book reveals.
Also offered in lieu of cash in the mid-1990s were MiG jets and tanks.
Russia and New Zealand tied the diplomatic relationship knot in 1944, and Russia's appetite for Kiwi agricultural products such as dairy products, meat, and wool, at times since elevating it to New Zealand's fifth-largest export market.
By 1993 it was heading north again, with Russia accumulating a large debt for dairy products and wool.
By 1998 the debt had reached $100 million.
stuff.co.nz

A400M and C295W to be pitched to NZ

The eventual retirement of the RNZAF’s C-130Hs will see Airbus Military pitch the A400M and newly-launched C295W to the New Zealand government.
Announced at its annual briefing to trade media, Airbus Military said while it views New Zealand as a longer-term proposition, it is confident the two aircraft could fill the gap to be left by the ultimate retirement of the RNZAF’s five C-130Hs and indeed enhance the nation’s airlift capabilities.
australianaviation

New Zealand NH90s hit initial capability

The Royal New Zealand Air Force's fleet of NH Industries NH90 medium utility helicopters has cleared the first phase of operational testing and evaluation activities, enabling the type to undertake its first operational taskings for the service.

flightglobal