• Minister of Defence Marise Payne meeting her NZ counterpart Ron Mark in Wellington. Credit: Marise Payne via Twitter
    Minister of Defence Marise Payne meeting her NZ counterpart Ron Mark in Wellington. Credit: Marise Payne via Twitter
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The New Zealand Labor Government elected in October last year has won more time to determine whether a pre-approved purchase of up to four Boeing P-8A Poseidons is in the country's best interests.

The RNZAF is seeking to replace its six ageing P-3K Orion maritime surveillance aircraft and its US State Department pre-approval for the Foreign Military Sale was due to expire at the end of this month. US Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis has agreed to an extension after talks with the new Government, thus preventing NZ from being forced to accept newer terms that might not be as attractive as the original offer.

NZ Defence Minister Ron Mark told newsroom he was known for being Parliament's strongest critic on procurement and the Government was not going to rush and make an imprudent decision.

The former National Government had delivered a Defence Capability Plan in 2016, but despite this work had been unable to reach a decision prior to the election.

“I’m looking deeply, I’m requiring everybody to review all the cases that they’ve put up on the P-3 replacement, I want to see those, and I am testing them.”

Minister of Defence Marise Payne meeting her NZ counterpart Ron Mark in Wellington. Credit: Marise Payne via Twitter
Minister of Defence Marise Payne meeting her NZ counterpart Ron Mark in Wellington. Credit: Marise Payne via Twitter

Recent visits to NZ by Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Defence Minister Marise Payne have indicated that Australia would likely support NZ opting for the P-8. The subject certainly came up during talks between PMs Turnbull and Ardern and it’s possible Australia would seek to assist with training as a sweetener.

Australia and NZ are part of the Quadrilateral Defence Coordinating Group along with France and the US which provides maritime surveillance support in the Pacific - there would certainly be interoperability synergies to be had if three of the four members were using the same aircraft.

Minister Payne also readily accepted Minister Mark's request for her to travel to NZ recently (for the annual Australia-New Zealand Defence Ministers’ Meeting) in a RAAF P-8A so that he could see the platform for himself.

Former Nationals Defence Minister Mark Mitchell said Australia's actions were unsurprising. “At the end of the day, the Australians, they're invested - they want us to get the P-8s as well, so they'll be bending over backwards to do what they can for us to secure them."

ADM Comment: At the Avalon Air Show last year, ADM reported that the former NZ Government had initially requested pricing and availability information on the purchase of two P-8A aircraft, though it is more likely they would settle for at least three. The other main contenders are Saab with its Swordfish MPA and Airbus DS with the C295MPA, but were the NZ Labor Government to renew its interest in those offers it would fly contrary to the preference of the RNZAF and the former Government. Deputy Editor At Large Nigel Pittaway reported from the Singapore Airshow recently that Boeing had confirmed it was still engaged in negotiations with the newly elected Government for the sale of three or four P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft.

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