The first of four new Air Force planes costing $2.3 billion has touched down in New Zealand.
But the aging fleet of P3 Orions these are replacing are going out of service quicker than expected.
The new Boeing P8-A Poseidon arrived a day ahead of a welcome ceremony at Ōhakea Air Force base in Manawatū yesterday.
It is scheduled to begin operating in January, and the remaining three are expected in New Zealand by May.
The new planes replace six 1960s-era P3 Orion aircraft, which have only weeks left before the final three still in service are phased out at the end of January.
The new Boeing P8-A Poseidon arrives at Ōhakea Air Force base in Manawatū on Tuesday. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
Chief of Air Force, Air Vice-Marshal Andrew Clark, said these were going to a "peaceful retirement".
"They'll be one going to the Air Force museum in Christchurch. The rest are going through a disposal process at the moment."
Chief of Air Force, Air Vice-Marshal Andrew Clark Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
A Defence Force spokesperson told RNZ the Orions were being retired five months quicker than planned due to staff attrition.
That meant it was "not possible to safely maintain all of the RNZAF's current outputs requiring the P-3K2 Orion aircraft while also preparing for the introduction into service of the new P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, and at the same time delivering the outputs expected of the air force by the government with its other fleets of aircraft", the spokesperson said.
"The situation is exacerbated by the need to also transfer experienced staff in some areas to support the upcoming introduction of the new C130-J-30 Hercules fleet in 2024."
Meantime, the Hercules aircraft could be called on as backup for tasks such as search and rescue, or the air force might ask other countries for help.
The new Boeing P8-A Poseidon at Ōhakea Air Force base. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
The Orion fleet would be stored at Woodbourne air base in Marlborough until their future was decided.
"The first three retired airframes are already there," the spokesperson said.
Clark said the new Poseidon would have many roles over a huge area extending across the Pacific, from the equator to Antarctica.
"The versatility side is really the range of tasks that we have to cover off in our region. That's anything from search and rescue, disaster relief through to fisheries patrols, then right to the other side of the spectrum as well, which is being prepared for combat," he said.
"This aircraft, like the P3 before it, is capable of being involved in conflict and of defending our region as well.
"That includes very capable censors for detecting vessels and also submarines. It also improves the ability to launch weapons, if necessary."
Defence Minister Peeni Henare at at Ōhakea Air Force base in Manawatū yesterday Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
Given the growing Chinese influence in the Pacific, the Poseidons were a boost to New Zealand's ability to respond quickly around the region.
Defence Minister Peeni Henare said he had been in discussions with China in the past few weeks.
"The prime minister's made our point clear on China and the Pacific and... as I've met with them, I've been clear that we are of the Pacific here in Aotearoa-New Zealand, and that those who come into our region, we expect them to uphold the same principles that ourselves and other Pacific nations do," he said.
"We also expect transparency when they come into this area of our's."
For flight crew, such as tactician Reece Tamariki, the new planes are a big improvement.
"After 10 years of flying the P3, it's a lot smoother on the new aircraft," he said.
"It's a lot faster, so you can get to the job and on task a little bit faster than the P3."
A new hangar for the Poseidons will be completed at Ōhakea later next year, and over the next 18 months 250 military personnel will transfer to the base.
