Is the honeymoon over for Labour ?

[Beagle]

The P8 Posideon aircraft are about the only real option to replace the P3 Orions.
The P8 is based on the very well known and proven Boeing 737-800ERX airframe which replaces the P3 Orion which was based on another passenger aircraft the Lockheed Electra. The first P8s when into service in 2013 in the US so it's a very current aircraft and used by the US and Australia.

The P3 has been around since 1960 and when it is finally replaced in 2023, the RNZAF P3s the bulk of which saw initial service in 1966 will have been in service for 57 years!!!

The moot question is whether the P8 should be weaponised given that to do so will require moving the squadron to Ohakea from Whenuapai (given that torpedo carrying aircraft really should be that near houses nor should the munitions) as this is a very costly part of the programme - and somewhat at odds with what the RNZAF actually uses the P3 aircraft currently for most of the time (SAR and Fisheries Patrol).

On the other hand, Ron Mark looked as pleased as Punch about spending money but really looked aggrieved when someone rained on his parade by asking if the aircraft were instead of paying teachers more....

Thanks for your post. I agree its been a phenomenal testament to the engineering capabilities of the RNZAF engineers to keep those Orion's going for so long but at what appears to be around $500m per replacement aircraft including weaponizing them that's a lot of coin when teachers, nurses and others are struggling to make ends meet. I guess the issue I have is that lets be honest, if they ever have to use those multi million dollar torpedo's we're at war and with our extremely limited ability to defend ourselves...

I guess this is about maintaining some degree of credibility with our allies...never mind that we can't afford to have proper mental healthcare facilities and treatment programs for the tens of thousands of suicidal youth and meth addicts in N.Z. or build enough shelter for the tens of thousands of homeless..as long as we're keeping up appearance with our Allies and donating $900m odd extra to Winston Peter's slush fund for the Islands and Shane Jones $1b slush fund for the regions everything will be alright...