New Zealand to Buy Lockheed Martin Super Hercules for Air Force
05 June 2020 - 10:29AM
Dow Jones News
By Stephen Wright
WELLINGTON, New Zealand--The New Zealand government said it will
purchase five Lockheed Martin C-130J aircraft to replace the air
force's aging Hercules transport fleet.
The five Super Hercules aircraft will be delivered and operating
by 2025 under a 1.52 billion New Zealand dollar ($980 million)
contract that includes a mission flight simulator and other
equipment, the government said Friday.
The U.S. State Department cleared the possible acquisition of
the aircraft and related gear in November on the grounds it would
improve the security of an ally and support U.S. foreign policy and
national security.
New Zealand has an expansive maritime economic zone that is many
times the size of the country and also claims territory in
Antarctica where it has a research station. Its defense forces also
provide humanitarian support, fisheries patrols and security in the
South Pacific where China is increasingly vying for influence in
small island nations.
New Zealand's current fleet of five Hercules aircraft were
purchased in the 1960s. In recent years, the aging planes have
suffered frequent breakdowns and become increasingly expensive to
maintain.
The country is also replacing its Orion surveillance planes, in
operation since the 1960s, with a fleet of long-range Boeing P-8
Poseidon aircraft that will be delivered from 2022.
Write to Stephen Wright at stephen.wright@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
June 04, 2020 20:14 ET (00:14 GMT)
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