A defence expert says New Zealand's new military aircraft will be a step up for search and rescue in the Pacific.
The New Zealand government announced last week it's spending $US1.6 billion on four Boeing P-8A Poseidon planes to replace the ageing fleet of P-3 Orion aircraft.
The new planes are expected to continue the job of protecting New Zealand and helping its Pacific neighbours when disaster strikes and people go missing at sea.
John Moremon of the Centre for Defence and Security Studies at New Zealand's Massey University told Sally Round search and rescue is an important job for the planes, taking up about a fifth of flying hours.
An image of the P-8A Poseidon aircraft that is set to replace the Air Force's Orion planes. Photo: Supplied / NZDF
