Lockheed to Supply New Zealand’s ‘Super Hercules’ Weapons System Trainers
The US Defense Department has awarded Lockheed Martin a $38-million deal to supply C-130J Super Hercules Weapons System Trainers to the Royal New Zealand Air Force.
The September 30 agreement covers engineering, manufacturing and development, production, integration, testing, and delivery of training devices for the US foreign military sales partner.
In 2019, the US State Department approved New Zealand’s request to buy five Lockheed Super Hercules aircraft and related equipment for an estimated cost of $1.4 billion.
Lockheed Martin is expected to complete delivery by September 2025.
“The proposed sale will improve New Zealand’s capability to meet current and future threats by enhancing its current airlift capability,” the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said in a 2019 statement.
The DSCA also said the sensors and performance improvements would heighten the Asia-Pacific nation’s maritime surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities.
“Additionally, the extra cargo capacity and aircraft performance will greatly increase New Zealand’s Antarctic mission capabilities while simultaneously increasing safety margins,” the agency added.
