Mark said the aircraft were acquired from the United States through its foreign military sales program and would cost NZ$2.34 billion ($1.6 billion), including training costs. They would be operational in 2023.
It also alluded to tension in the contested South China Sea, which Beijing largely claims as its own, in the face of competing claims from several Southeast Asian nations.
Five Eyes Defense Alliance
The Poseidon, widely considered the world’s most advanced aircraft in anti-submarine warfare, signals New Zealand’s readiness to help allies counter China in the South China Sea, analysts said.“As a defense partner, you need assets. It is no good saying that you uphold the international rules-based order, you need something that will be useful for Australia and the United States,” said Euan Graham, a defense policy expert at the Sydney-based think tank Lowy Institute.
“The most obvious way is to have the same system, the P-8.”
Australia has committed to buy 15 Poseidon planes to replace its Orion aircraft, set to be withdrawn from service next year. Boeing says 85 Poseidons now operate worldwide.
Last month, South Korea said it would buy the Poseidon, as it strengthens anti-submarine capabilities in the face of the threat from neighboring North Korea’s submarine-launched ballistic missiles.
“The complementary capability will consider smaller manned aircraft, remotely piloted aircraft systems or satellites, for additional maritime surveillance tasks,” he said.
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