New Zealand Issues RFI for New Transport, Surveillance Aircraft

New Zealand's Ministry of Defence issued a request for information Aug. 18  for aircraft to ensure continued air mobility and air surveillance operations beyond 2020. 

Currently the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) relies on a fleet of five Lockheed C-130H Hercules and two Boeing 757-200 Combi aircraft for air transport and six Lockheed P-3K2 Orions for air surveillance.

The first Hercules replacement is to be delivered by February 2020 to allow initial operational capability to be declared in February 2021, with full operational capability achieved by February 2024.

The first B757-200 replacement aircraft will be required by Feb. 1, 2025 to allow IOC to be declared one year later.

With regard to the P-3K2 Orions, their withdrawal from RNZAF service is planned for the 'middle of the next decade,' and the replacement is expected to deliver 'at least the current rates of effort, between 2,500 to 3,200 hours of airborne operations per year.'

All three aircraft types currently operate worldwide, including support for the New Zealand civilian presence in Antarctica, more than 2500 miles (4000km)  from New Zealand.





 

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