https://www.avionews.it/item/1256677-ne ... craft.html
New Zealand cuts funding for aircraft
Kaman SH-2 "Seasprite" military helicopters at risk of grounding
Warning from the leaders of the armed forces against the New Zealand government's decision to cut spending in the defense sector.
The risk is that cost savings could ground maritime military helicopters to "get them off the books".
This is what emerged during a hearing at the parliamentary defense committee,
during which the men in uniform warned a "risk of failure" for the defense forces.
"We reduced production to bring the books back to balance. It was tough".
"We are working hard to get people to say that this is the amount of money available.
If you go beyond that, here are the implications":
Defense should "divest" from some capabilities, for example the fleet of "Seasprite" helicopters,
explained the Chief of the Defense Staff, Kevin Short, Air Marshal of the Royal New Zealand Air Force (Rnzf).
The New Zealand government has called for potential spending cuts of 6.5-7.5% across various agencies, armed forces and state bodies.
But the Australian Defense Force must also reshape its fleet to address a "singular threat" by China.
"I don't know what the government's comfort line is,
I just think they will take away options that the executive itself wouldn't want", concluded Short.
https://www.nighthawk.nz/index.php/news ... pter-fleet
While he did confirm that the SH-2G(I) fleet’s retirement is now being considered,
he also stressed that the loss of the type would negatively affect the capabilities available to Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) vessels.
At present, six of the RNZN’s nine ships are operational – with three vessels set to be out of action for at least three more years –
but the NZDF does not want to scale back its naval force in these cuts.
There were rumors that the NZDF were thinking of leasing some of the RN's WildCats as an interim.
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