Our ageing maritime helicopters will be replaced at a cost of more than $2 billion with five choppers that can go further and carry larger loads, Defence Minister Judith Collins says.
The government this afternoon also earmarked $957 milion over four years in Defence Force spending as part of a wider $12b plan to upgrade equipment and capabilities.
“The replacement of the Seasprite helicopters will also extend the navy’s ability to support non-combat tasks such as humanitarian assistance and disaster relief,” Collins said.
It comes after the government in April released the details of its $12b Defence Capability Plan – which indicated the country’s spending on defence would hit more than two per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) within the next eight years. That long-awaited plan, released on April 7, revealed $9b of the funding was new.
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“New Zealand is not immune from the increasing tensions being felt throughout the world,” Collins said. “Today’s announcement sets us on our path for defence spending to reach 2 percent of GDP by 2032/33.”
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