New Zealand said it will spend NZ$2.7 billion (about US$1.6 billion) to buy five MH-60R Seahawk maritime helicopters from Lockheed Martin’s Sikorsky unit and two Airbus A321XLR transport jets, replacing ageing Seasprite helicopters and 30-year-old Boeing 757s. Defence Minister Judith Collins and Foreign Minister Winston Peters said NZ$2 billion is earmarked for the helicopters and NZ$700 million for the long-range jets, which will be acquired under a six-year lease-to-buy arrangement. The acquisition is the first major procurement under April’s Defence Capability Plan, which pledges an additional NZ$9 billion over four years and aims to almost double defence spending to 2 percent of GDP within eight years. Collins said Wellington will use the U.S. Foreign Military Sales programme to expedite the helicopter purchase, with a final business case expected next year. Peters linked the decision to what he called a "sharply deteriorating security environment". An intelligence report released the same day warned of the toughest national-security challenges in recent times, citing rising foreign interference and espionage risks, particularly from China. Officials said the new aircraft will bolster combat readiness, improve interoperability with partners such as Australia and the United States, and ensure reliable strategic airlift for government and humanitarian missions.