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.
- https://www.state.gov/releases/bureau-of-political-military-affairs/2026/06/new-zealand-mh-60r-multi-mission-helicopters/
- https://www.state.gov/releases/bureau-of-political-military-affairs/2026/06/new-zealand-mk-54-torpedoes/
There are those that are wondering why they cost so much when other countries got them cheaper. When you look closer many of they other examples already had the Romeo and were buy more ie; Australia and already had the training, spares, and infrastructure and weapons and were just buying the helo's. New Zealand has to start from scratch. Over 150 million NZD is weapons alone, ie Hellfire, Torpedo's, and APKWS etc. Now add in training spares and simulators etc
The Government of New Zealand has requested to buy
- five (5) MH-60R Multi-Mission Helicopters;
- seven (7) Link 16 Multifunctional Information Distribution Systems Joint Tactical Radio Systems (5 installed, 2 spares);
- fourteen (14) Embedded Global Positioning System/Precise Positioning Service/Inertial Navigation Systems with Selective Availability Anti-Spoofing Module (10 installed, 4 spares);
- five (5) Airborne Low Frequency Sonar systems;
- two hundred twenty-five (225) Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) missiles;
- two hundred twenty-five (225) WGU-59A/B APKWS II guidance sections (single variant);
- sixty-five (65) AGM-114R Hellfire missiles;
- four (4) M36E8 Hellfire Captive Air Training Missiles;
- five (5) digital magnetic anomaly detection systems;
- five (5) M240D 7.62mm machine guns.
The following non-major defense equipment items will also be included:
- T700-GE-401D engines;
- M514 impulse cartridge/cartridge actuated devices;
- MJ20 cartridge actuated thruster/cartridge actuated devices;
- WB53 fire extinguisher cartridge/cartridge actuated devices;
- CCU-136A/A impulse cartridges;
- GAU-21 crew-served guns (including pintle and laser pointer);
- M299 guided missile launchers;
- LAU-61 digital rocket launchers;
- AN/ARC-210 RT-2036 radios with communications security;
- AN/AAR-47 missile warning systems;
- AN/APX-123 identification friend or foe (IFF) transponders;
- AN/ALE-47 dispenser, electronic countermeasures; advanced data transfer systems;
- AN/AAS-44C(V) multi-spectral targeting systems;
- KIV-78 – Mode 4/5 IFF cryptographic applique; Joint Mission Planning Systems;
- AN/ARQ-59 Hawklink radio terminals;
- AN/SSQ-53 directional frequency analysis and recording sonobuoys;
- AN/SSQ-62 directional command activated sonobuoy system sonobuoys;
- AN/SSQ-36 bathythermograph sonobuoys;
- training simulators/operational machine interface assistants; aviation maintenance weapons loading trainer; tactical operational flight trainer;
- AN/ALQ-210 electronic support measures systems;
- APS-153(V) multi-mode radars; spare engine containers;
- spare and repair parts;
Other
- Support and test equipment;
- communications equipment;
- ferry support;
- publications and technical documentation;
- personnel training and training equipment;
- U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services;
- obsolescence engineering, integration, and test activities required to ensure readiness for the production of the New Zealand MH-60R helicopters;
- training equipment; studies and surveys; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services;
- and other related elements of logistics and program support.
The second package covers the potential sale of 20 Mark 54 MAKO 324-mm lightweight anti-submarine torpedoes for up to 69 million USD.
The non-MDE package also includes;
- construction of an ammunition storage and issuing facility;
- Recoverable Exercise Torpedoes, or REXTORPs; helicopter torpedo-release accessories;
- classified and unclassified torpedo spare parts; torpedo containers;
- torpedo support equipment, including test equipment and tools;
- weapon system support services;
- unclassified documentation and other publications;
- other technical assistance, including technical support;
- technical program management;
- infrastructure support;
- test equipment maintenance;
- exercise firing support;
- contract management and initial follow-on technical support;
- in-country torpedo training;
- and other related elements of logistics and program support.
