New Zealand’s first P-8A drives fleet transition

New Zealand’s first P-8A arrives at RNZAF Base Ohakea on 13 December. (NZDF)

The arrival of the first new P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) in New Zealand will see Royal New Zealand Air Force’s (RNZAF’s) No 5 Squadron move to its new base at RNZAF Base Ohakea.

No 5 Squadron will transfer from Auckland to Ohakea after the retirement of the remaining fleet of three P-3K2 Orion aircraft at the end of January 2023 – six months earlier than planned.

It will also see the ramp up of the training of RNZAF aircrew and maintenance personnel. The first P-8A landed at RNZAF Base Ohakea on 13 December. It was flown by US Navy pilots with stopovers in Hawaii and Fiji en route to New Zealand.

A spokesperson said that a number of acceptance checklists will need to be run through before the aircraft can be brought fully into service with the RNZAF. This include adding a New Zealand-specific kit, including lifevests and first-aid equipment.