The six Lockheed P-3K2 Orion maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft of the Royal New Zealand Air Force are to be updated, again. About a year after the final aircraft of the No. 5 Squadron Returned to its home "pimped" and well, Auckland is now opting for newer hotel sensors.
According to a New Zealand defense source the detection and reconnaissance systems for targets underneath the surface (read: submarines) is way too old. If everything goes According to plan, Boeing is going to change that, for TENS of millions of dollars.
A decade ago the then Labour government Decided to modernize the planes, but not some of its play systems. The current center-right leadership now has to Decide about the Orion's capabilities.
The upgrade is expected in the new defense plans to Be Announced in April this year.