Wellington has firmed a contract for a pair of Airbus A321XLR aircraft that will replace its Boeing 757-200s in the long-range transport mission.
The aircraft will be obtained under a six-year lease-to-buy arrangement with Air Lease Corporation, says the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF).
The jets will be obtained in a commercial, off-the-shelf condition, and will be ready to enter Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) service soon after their arrival in 2028.
Overall project costs are NZ$620 million ($348 million) with four-year operating costs coming at $80.9 million.
The aircraft, which will have a livery like that of the 757s they are replacing, will be based at RZNAF Auckland. They will be operated by No. 40 Sqn, which also operates the Lockheed Martin C-130J tactical transport.
“Strategic air transport plays a vital role for a country like New Zealand – responding to events of any description, whether humanitarian recovery, defence personnel deployments or important trade delegations [which] will continue to enhance New Zealand’s interest,” says the NZDF.
In August Wellington announced a plan to obtain the two A321XLRs along with five Sikorsky MH-60R naval warfare helicopters, which will replace Kaman Aerospace SH-2G(I) Seasprites.
New Zealand has moved to improve its defence capabilities in recent years, including the replacement of its Lockheed P-3K2 Orions with Boeing’s P-8A Poseidon, and the C-130H with the C-130J.
