New Zealand to buy MH-60R helicopters, MK 54 torpedoes in $2.7b US deal
The United States has approved a US$1.5 billion sale of MH-60R helicopters and related equipment to New Zealand.
Former Defence Minister Judith Collins revealed New Zealand’s desire to buy the helicopters during a defence investment announcement in August last year.
She said five MH-60R Seahawk helicopters - equipped with MK 54 anti-submarine torpedo systems, Hellfire missiles, and machine guns - were the preferred option for replacing existing marine helicopters.
The Seahawks would increase the offensive and defensive capability and surveillance range of New Zealand’s frigates and be “interoperable” with ally Australia and partner defence forces, Collins said.
“The MH-60R Seahawk is a great aircraft for what New Zealand needs and fulfils our objective of having a more integrated Anzac force, and the new planes will give us reliable aircraft to deploy personnel and respond to international events.”
The US approval for the sale follows comments from US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth that amounted to accusing New Zealand of “freeloading” during a speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore last month.
Collins’ announcement last August, which also included plans to lease-to-buy two new Airbus A321XLR planes to replace the current 757s, followed the Government’s Defence Capability Plan promise earlier in the year to increase defence spending to 2% of GDP over eight years and funding $12b over four years to rebuild and modernise the New Zealand Defence Force.
The US State Department said today the MH-60R helicopters’ sale would improve New Zealand’s “capability to meet current and future warfare threats by providing greater security for its critical infrastructure”.
“New Zealand will use the enhanced capability to strengthen its homeland defence,” it added.
The State Department said it had also approved a US$69m sale of MK 54 torpedoes to New Zealand.
The State Department had notified Congress about the proposed sales, which still need to be approved by lawmakers.
Defence Minister Chris Penk was in Singapore last month to hear Hegseth’s public criticism of New Zealand’s military spend – and other nations that spend less than 3.5% of GDP on defence.
“For those who continue to free-ride on the generosity of the American taxpayer, hear us now: those days are over”, Hegseth said.
“Allies that refuse to stand up and carry their weight for our collective defence will face a clear shift in how we do business.”
- additional reporting by AFP