The NZ Government’s plan to purchase the Boeing P-8A Poseidon came a step nearer on April 28, with US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) advice that the State Department had approved the purchase of up to four aircraft.
The US$1.46 billion deal covers up to four P-8As, together with engines, tactical mission software, Wescam MX-20HD EO/IR sensors, Boeing AAQ-2(v)1 acoustic systems, Raytheon APY-10 radars, Northrop Grumman ALQ-240(v)1 ESM system and other equipment.
“The Government of NZ intends to use these defence articles and services to continue its Maritime Surveillance Aircraft (MSA) capability, following retirement of its P-3K2 Orion maritime patrol aircraft,” the statement reads.
“The proposed sale will allow NZ to recapitalise, modernise and sustain its MSA capability over the next 30 years.”
Although DSCA approval does not necessarily mean that an order will result, it is nevertheless an indication of serious intent and also an indication that Wellington’s Future Air Surveillance Capability (FASC) competition may be terminated in favour of the Poseidon.
The FASC program aims to replace the recently upgraded but ageing P-3K2 fleet in the mid 2020s and is being run alongside a Future Air Mobility Aircraft Capability (FAMC) competition which will replace the RNZAF’s Lockheed C-130H Hercules and Boeing 757 fleets.
“In parallel with the air mobility capability replacement, Defence is also replacing its air surveillance capability under the Future Air Surveillance Capability project, with final operational capability planned over the 2023-2025 timeframe,” a spokesman for the NZDF said late last year. “A request for information for the FASC project will be issued separately.”
In our Avalon 2017 coverage in the April issue, ADM reported that the NZ Government had requested pricing and availability information on the purchase of two P-8A aircraft, however a Boeing spokesman declined to comment at the time.
In early April, the US manufacturer announced that it had been awarded a US$2.2 billion contract to produce at least 17 P-8As for the US Navy, the RAAF and Britain’s RAF, which also included options for a further 32 aircraft. A Boeing spokesman confirmed at the time that the options were earmarked for potential Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customers, but declined to comment on whether this included aircraft for NZ.
The latest move will come as a blow to Saab, who had hoped to sell its Swordfish maritime patrol aircraft, based on the Bombardier Global 6000 airframe, to the RNZAF. Again in our Avalon coverage, ADM reported that Saab was aiming at delivering the Swordfish at two-thirds of the direct unit cost of a Poseidon and 50 per cent of the lifecycle cost.
ADM also understands that senior RNZAF officers were again briefed on the Swordfish system at the recent Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace (LIMA) exhibition as recently as late March.
“The Saab Swordfish maritime patrol aircraft costs significantly less to acquire and operate, it is equal or superior to the P-8A in terms of capability,” a Saab spokesman said in response to the DSCA announcement. “And it will allow NZ industry to help maintain, modify, upgrade and support the Swordfish fleet over its entire service life.”