ROYAL NEW ZEALAND AIR FORCE (RNZAF)

ROYAL NEW ZEALAND AIR FORCE (RNZAF)

NEW ZEALAND Armed Forces: Land Forces, Air Forces, Naval Forces. ACTIVE 9,500 Personnel (Army 4,500; Air 2,500; Navy 2,500) RESERVE 2,300.

ROYAL NEW ZEALAND AIR FORCE (RNZAF) • Te Tauaarangi o Aotearoa

Air Force 2,500 Active Personnel. Organization: 1 command (Air Component Command Control), 3 air wings. Flying hours ε180 hrs/year.

Forces by Role & Equipment by Type

Ordered Aircraft

5 Lockheed Martin C-130J-30 Super Hercules (Inducting/Delivering to replace legacy C-130H);

• AIRCRAFT 0 combat capable. Total ε22 Aircrafts.

Special Mission 1 squadron with 4 MPA ac;

1 squadron with 4 Boeing P-8A Poseidon (Maritime Patrol/ISR) ;

Transport 1 squadron with 7 Tpt ac;

1 squadron with 2 Boeing 757-200 (Strategic Transport); 5 Lockheed Martin C-130J-30 Super Hercules (Tactical Medium Transport) ;

Training 1 squadron with 11 Trg ac;

1 squadron with 11 Beechcraft T-6C Texan II (Advanced Pilot Training);

1 squadron with 5 Leonardo AW109LUH (Light Transport/Utility/Training);

Liaison / Training:

1 unit with 2 Beechcraft Super King Air 350 (Multi-engine training/Liaison) ;

5 Lockheed Martin C-130H Hercules (Storage) ;

• HELICOPTERS 0 attack/armed capable. Total ε21 Helicopters.

ASW 1 squadron with 8 Helo;

1 squadron with 8 Kaman SH-2G(I) Super Seasprite (ASW/Anti-Surface - Navy Opcon) ;

Transport 1 squadron with 8 Helo;

1 squadron with 8 NHIndustries NH90 TTH (Medium Transport/HADR) ;

Multi-Role/Training 1 squadron with 5 Helo;

• UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEMS (UAS): 0 armed capable. Total ε some Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs).

ISR 1 unit with some Tactical UAV;

• AIR-LAUNCHED WEAPONS

MISSILES (AShM): ε some AGM-119 Penguin Mk2 mod 7 (Operated via SH-2G Super Seasprite) ;

• RADAR

Long-range Surveillance: Raytheon AN/APY-10 integrated on P-8A Poseidon;

• AIR DEFENCE

SAM: None; Guns: Limited point-defence systems on naval vessels;

FACILITIES: Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) Headquarters: Wellington

  3 Main Airbases - Whenuapai, Ohakea and Woodbourne    

  RNZAF Airfields and Airbases Organisation:

  Whenuapai (NZWP) Airbase and Air Component Command:

  5 Squadron (Keitou Kalawaca Na Wasaliwa): P-8A Poseidon (Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN))      

  40 Squadron (Ki Nga Hau e Wha): C-130J-30 and B757-200

  Woodbourne (NZWB) Airfield and Airbase: Ground Training Wing:

  Aeronautical Training Squadron (Hiranga a Mahi - Te Utanga a Pukenga): CT-4E

  Ohakea RNZAF Base:
  3 Squadron: NH90 and AW109LUH;
  6 Squadron: SH-2G Super Seasprite;
  14 Squadron : T-6C Texan II); Central Flying School (T-6C) ;

Note: New Zealand has 40 airports with paved runways (3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 12 914 to 1,523 m: 24 under 914 m: 1) and 5 airports with unpaved runways (1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 32 under 914 m: 47)

Capabilities & Role: As of July 2026, the RNZAF has successfully modernized its primary airlift component through the full induction of the C-130J-30 Super Hercules, replacing the retired C-130H fleet to support regional HADR (Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief) and expeditionary operations. The doctrine emphasizes software-defined maritime domain awareness and high-end ASW capabilities via the P-8A Poseidon fleet, which provides a critical data-link bridge to Five Eyes and coalition partners. Autonomous system integration is increasingly utilized for coastal and South Pacific littoral surveillance, focusing on fisheries protection and environmental security.

Official Website: https://www.airforce.mil.nz/