New Zealand expects to be flying new Sikorsky MH-60R naval helicopters in “a few years”, after the government formally announced selection of the type on 21 August. This is the first major acquisition to occur under the Defence Capability Plan (DCP) that was released on 7 April this year.
A total of five MH-60Rs will replace a fleet of eight Kaman SH-2G(I) Super Seasprite helicopters, of which only five are currently in flying condition. The Romeo deal and associated package such as weapons is expected to cost upwards of NZ$2 billion (US$1.17 billion).
A contract has not been signed yet, but this should be a mere formality after the platform was selected for purchase through the US Foreign Military Sale (FMS) avenue. The government promised to “move at pace” to get the FMS process under way. This means Wellington is foregoing a competitive request for tender, and Cabinet is expected to confirm the MH-60R’s final business case in 2026.
The Ministry of Defence had issued a request for information (RfI) for this Maritime Helicopter Replacement project on 24 April 2023. The RfI sought information on five aspects: the naval helicopters, accompanying unmanned aerial vehicles, through-life support, associated training systems, and mission support system integration. The helicopters are required to have a 25-year lifespan.
Defence Minister Judith Collins, holding a scale model of an MH-60R at a press conference, enthused, “Isn’t it wonderful?” Later, in parliament, other politicians were seen playing with the model and twirling its rotor blades. Collins claimed the MH-60R’s selection would ensure New Zealand has a “critical combat-capable, interoperable and dependable fleet”.
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The MH-60R had been competing against the NH90 in NATO Frigate Helicopter configuration, and Leonardo’s AW159. Airbus had been touting the advantage of commonality with the eight NH90s that the RNZAF has been flying since 2005.
The Royal Australian Navy is already operating the MH-60R Seahawk helicopter from Sikorsky, with 23 flying and another 13 coming.Last year, Sikorsky had told Naval News that it believed the MH-60R was an “excellent choice” for New Zealand. The company pointed out that it provides “synergy with the Royal Australian Navy’s MH-60R fleet,” and it has “a mature sustainment programme that keeps aircraft and mission availability high, and low cost per flight hour”. Sikorsky also highlighted “an active roadmap to continue modernising aircraft and mission systems capabilities to ensure anti-submarine/anti-surface warfare superiority into the 2050s”.
No. 6 Squadron of the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) will maintain the MH-60Rs, and it will be pleased to trade in the second-hand Super Seasprites acquired from Australia because that is all that could be afforded at the time. The helicopters will be crewed by Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) personnel, however.
Collins pointed out, “These five Seahawks will increase the offensive and defensive capability and surveillance range of Royal New Zealand Navy’s frigates, and ensure we are interoperable with our ally Australia and other partner defence forces.” New Zealand will arm them with Hellfire missiles and Mk 54 torpedoes, but the inclusion of APKWS rockets is unclear as yet.
The acquisition will have several phases. Tranche one will cover the helicopters themselves and weapons, and tranche two covers supporting infrastructure. A third tranche involves unmanned systems, since the RNZAF will adopt UAVs in the future to perform some roles that helicopters currently do, such as vertical replenishment or reconnaissance. This is one other reason why five MH-60Rs are replacing eight Seasprites.
Collins stated, “The MH-60R Seahawk is a great aircraft for what New Zealand needs, and [it] fulfils our objective of having a more integrated Anzac force, and the new planes will give us reliable aircraft to deploy personnel and respond to international events.”
The point that Collins made about creating a more aligned Anzac force is important. The Defence Capability Plan stated, “New Zealand will seek to procure the same assets and equipment as Australia where it makes sense to do so. This will help with interoperability.” Australia introduced the MH-60R in 2014, and it currently has 23 in service, with another 13 ordered in 2022.
“The Seahawk was by far and away the most suitable for what we have and what we need, and also the interoperability with Australia. We’ve been very clear that, where we can, we’ll buy the same as Australia unless there’s a clear point why we shouldn’t.”
Judith Collins, New Zealand Defence Minister
Furthermore, Rear Admiral Garin Golding, Chief of Navy, told Naval News, “We’re aligning our capability processes with the Australian Defence Force wherever feasible. This includes early engagement during business case development to assess whether a shared approach is viable. The goal is to ensure our forces can operate seamlessly together, whether in combat, humanitarian or constabulary roles. This alignment supports cost-efficiency and resilience, reduces bespoke solutions and increases shared training and sustainment opportunities.”
Following this same logic, the RNZN is likely scrutinising Australia’s recent selection of Japan’s Upgraded Mogami as its new general-purpose frigate. Australia and New Zealand ordered ten Anzac-class frigates between them in the 1990s, and there must be a possibility that the two partners would consider doing something similar as the RNZN”s two frigates come up for renewal in the mid-2030s.
Jennifer Parker, an expert associate at the National Security College at Australian National University, claimed New Zealand’s naval capability has “atrophied”. She believes New Zealand must therefore align acquisitions and training pipelines with Australia. “I think that would be the best to rapidly build capability, because once you get below a core threshold of capability, which New Zealand has gone below, it’s incredibly difficult yourself.”
Foreign Minister Winston Peters commented, “Global tensions are increasing rapidly, and we must invest in our national security to ensure our economic prosperity. The DCP provides the foundation for our uplift in defence spending and two-yearly reviews of the plan will allow us to adapt to an ever-changing security environment.”
On the same day, the government announced that two ageing Boeing 757-2K2 strategic transport aircraft would be replaced by an identical number of Airbus A321XLR extra-long-range aircraft.
