New Zealand will invest NZ$2.7 billion (US$1.6 billion) to modernize its military aircraft fleet, Defense Minister Judith Collins has announced. The package includes five Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk maritime helicopters worth NZ$2 billion, which will replace the Royal New Zealand Navy’s ageing Kaman Seasprite fleet.

The Seahawks will be procured through the U.S. Foreign Military Sales program, a move intended to accelerate delivery and ensure full interoperability with allies, particularly Australia and the United States, which already operate the type. Equipped with torpedoes and missiles, the MH-60R will give the Navy a significant boost in both anti-submarine and surface warfare capabilities.

Collins described the decision as essential for a “combat-capable, interoperable and dependable fleet” in light of a deteriorating global security environment. She said the government is moving “at pace” to ensure the Defense Force can respond credibly to regional threats.

The investment is a core element of the government’s Defense Capability Plan, unveiled in April, which commits NZ$9 billion over four years and aims to double defiance spending to 2% of GDP by 2030. This long-term strategy seeks to counter the effects of ageing equipment, strengthen New Zealand’s ability to operate alongside partners, and ensure its forces remain relevant in the Indo-Pacific’s shifting security landscape.

“Distance no longer provides protection,” Collins warned, pointing to rising strategic competition in the Pacific. The MH-60R purchase directly supports the broader strategy by enhancing interoperability, deterrence, and rapid response capacity, making New Zealand a more credible partner in coalition operations.

The Cabinet is expected to review the final business case in 2026, with deliveries likely later in the decade given high international demand for the helicopters.