The United States has announced the approval of a US$1.5 billion (NZ$2.6b) sale of MH-60R helicopters and related equipment to New Zealand.
Former Defence Minister Judith Collins and Foreign Minister Winston Peters last August unveiled the plans to purchase five MH-60R Seahawk helicopters to replace the existing maritime fleet.
The nearly 20-metre Seahawks require three crew, can reach speeds up to 333km/h, fly up to 963km and can carry up to 1500kg. They are armed with an Mk54 anti-submarine torpedo, AGM-114 Hellfire air-surface missiles, crew-served machine guns and Advanced Precision Kill Weapon Systems.
Collins said at the time they would "ensure New Zealand has a critical combat capable, interoperable and dependable fleet", with the Seahawks being versatile and adding combat and deterrent capability.
"The MH-60R Seahawk is a great aircraft for what New Zealand needs and fulfils our objective of having a more integrated Anzac force."
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The Seahawks were "by far the best option", were already used by Australia, the United States and seven other countries, and would increase "lethality and defensive capability" of the Navy, she said.
"In a world where tensions are rising, distance no longer provides New Zealand the protection it once did, and defence is not something that can be mothballed until you need it."
The US State Department said in a statement on Friday in the US: "The proposed sale will improve New Zealand's capability to meet current and future warfare threats by providing greater security for its critical infrastructure."
"New Zealand will use the enhanced capability to strengthen its homeland defence," it added.
The State Department said in a separate statement that it had approved a US$69 million (NZ$119m) sale of MK 54 torpedoes to New Zealand.
The State Department has notified Congress about the proposed sales, which still need to be approved by lawmakers.
