New Zealand as some of you may know is a small country just south of Australia. Due to New Zealands politicans in recent times New Zealands whole military has become severaly out dated. New Zealands old 1960's equipment is just no longer up to scratch.

New Zealand up to till last year (2004) maintianed A-4 skyhawks (around 22 were flying at the time before they were retired, they carried the most advanced weapons they could but they had the old engine and the main aircraft structure had passed its recommened life). New Zealands national government in 1998 (US equivalent is republican) realising the importance of a combat air strike capability planned to lease off the United States 13 F-16a's and 15 F-16b's. The government planned to save up some money over the coming years to buy the craft out right and get the upgrade to the newer C/D model.

In 1999 a New government was elected, a labour government (us equivalent is democratic) decided that New Zealand no longer needed an air strike capability and ended the lease contract with the US. The rather stupid PM Helen Clark showing she doesn't really care about her country walks around in military unifrom occasinally pretending she has a defence force yet she still hasn't replaced New Zealands ageing equipment.

New Zealands airforce also has P-3 orions which are having constant problems. New Zealands other major aircraft are C130 hercules and iroquis helicopters. In the recent tsunami disaster one of New Zealands hercules got grownded after a major crack was found in its wings (very embarassing for what supposibly is a first world country).

New Zeland also has a three way defence agreement with United States and Australia but the US and NZ part ended when New Zeland went nuclear-free. Since the f-16 deal went through New Zealands once tradional ally the US appears to no longer care (the f16 deal was actually an attempt by the US to see if the three way agreement could be bought back).

Get some su-37,f- 117 nigthawks and few mig-31s and you would have the strongest air forces in the world

well that would be nice to have thoes aircraft but can new zealand afford to purchase and maintain them, all they could afford is some hang gliders with some bolt-acton rifels attached to them, well at least they have a good steath cross section lol

I think best and the cheapest aircraft in it's class would be Mig-29's. Even North Corea could get them.

Sorry for mistakes Engllish isn't my language.

Well hercboy im guessing you may be Australian (tell me if you are not). New Zealand may not have much of an air force now but if some of the opposition parties get elected this year they have confirmed that they are interested in doing a major upgrade which could cost anywhere up to 2 bil us dollars.
I was thinking f-16s, migs or saabs. How ever in the area of survallience and transport i think new hurlceus and orions may be the best option. Is the blackhakw the chopper which is the best value for money.

P.S for the next smart &*# who thinks nz is poor, for our size our gdp and living standards makes us one of the richest countries in the world.

yeah mate im austrailia, nar some transels would do them good but the blackhawks at stationed where i live and i did work experiance on them and they do seam like a reall good work horse but im pissed of that australia spend billions for a hellicopter that the navy can use the sea something and these were shitty ones that needed to be upgraded and NZ got offered some for less and were fully upgraded

They had a competition on the navy site when the seaspiirt helicopter first entered service for a ride around the Auckland harbour in it but no i didnt win it.

Did you those four or five naval helicopters we have are probably the most deadly weapon that we have.

There was actually to my knowledge a NZ paratrooper who left the airforce because he had problems with the iroquois being so old. They are due to be dismantled in 2008 but I don't think Helen Clark cares so hopefully she will get voted out in the election this year.

i reccon thay should scrap the air force all togeather and have some other stuff but let the army take care of them like a few C-130's, few blackhawks and some attack hellies

What if Mig-29's come, nobody would stop them.