New Zealand to spend $3bn upgrading helicopters and ‘embarrassing’ defence planes

Government says country will buy five Seahawk helicopters and two Airbus A321XLR aircraft

New Zealand will spend nearly NZ$3bn ($1.7bn) upgrading its ageing defence fleet, including replacing its “embarrassing” planes that have left multiple prime ministers grounded during international travel, the government has announced.

The defence minister, Judith Collins, said NZ$2bn would be spent buying five MH-60R Seahawk helicopters and another NZ$700m to buy two Airbus A321XLR aircraft.