Wellington [New Zealand], December 13: New Zealand's first Poseidon air force aircraft serves defense and disaster responses, the country's Defense Minister Peeni Henare said while marking its arrival at the Royal New Zealand Air Force's (RNZAF) Base at Ohakea on Tuesday.
This is the first of four new P-8A Poseidon aircraft purchased by the New Zealand government through its investment to modernize the country's defense force, Henare said.
The government has invested a record 2.53 billion NZ dollars (1.62 billion U.S. dollars) to upgrade the defense capability in Budget 2018 and that included 2.3 billion NZ dollars (1.47 billion U.S. dollars) purchase to replace the aging P-3K2 Orion which have been in service with the RNZAF since the 1960s.
The P-8A aircraft series will replace the Orions, conducting maritime surveillance, resource protection, natural disaster support and search and rescue operations, said the defense minister.
"One of the primary security concerns of the Pacific is that of climate change which is also one of my top priorities as defense minister," he said, adding with the ability to travel faster and with greater reliability than the existing aircraft, the P-8A will be a key capability to support national and international disaster responses as a result of climate change.
Tuesday's official welcome ceremony for the first P-8A was attended by 450 guests including ambassadors, local community members, and defense personnel.
The remaining aircraft are scheduled to arrive by mid-2023.
Source: Xinhua
