U.S. sailors move an MK 54 torpedo on the flight deck of guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance in the 3rd Fleet area of responsibility on Dec. 6, 2025. (Jordan Steis/U.S. Navy)
The State Department has greenlit a $1.5 billion sale of five MH-60R Seahawk anti-submarine helicopters to New Zealand.
Along with the helicopters, the country is seeking 225 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System missiles, 65 AGM-114R Hellfire missiles and five M240D 7.62 mm machine guns, according to a June 5 announcement by the department.
The sale will include crew-served guns, guided-missile launchers, digital rocket launchers, radios and missile warning systems, according to the notice.
In a separate announcement that day, the department approved a $69 million sale of 20 MK 54 anti-submarine torpedoes to New Zealand. The Seahawk can launch the MK 54.
Foreign military sales must be approved by Congress before they are final.
“This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by improving the security of a major ally that is a force for political stability and economic progress in the Asia-Pacific region,” the notice said. “New Zealand will use the enhanced capability to strengthen its homeland defense.”
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told reporters at the recent Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore that New Zealand was “freeloading” off the American military.
New Zealand defense spending has increased in recent years but has yet to hit 2% of GDP.
An MH-60R Seahawk takes off from the guided-missile destroyer USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. in the 5th Fleet area of responsibility on June 11, 2026. (U.S. Navy)
The country fought alongside the United States in every major conflict of the 20th century and sent troops to Iraq and Afghanistan.
It effectively withdrew from the ANZUS mutual defense treaty with the U.S. and Australia in the mid-1980s after passing anti-nuclear legislation barring port calls by American aircraft carriers.
New Zealand remains part of the Five Eyes intelligence sharing group that includes the U.S., Canada, United Kingdom and Australia.
Nuclear-powered submarines, due to start operations from Western Australia next year under the AUKUS agreement, are also banned from New Zealand waters, according to the country’s government.
New Zealand already operates four Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft with anti-submarine capabilities.
The Seahawk has been deployed by the U.S. Navy since 2006, according to the service’s website.
“The MH-60R Seahawk is the U.S. Navy’s primary anti-submarine and surface warfare helicopter specially designed for all aspects of land or maritime operations from any aviation ship or air-capable vessel,” the site states.
The 64-foot-long helicopter has a crew of three and is capable of electromagnetic warfare, command and control, non-combat operations, naval surface fire support, medical evacuation, search and rescue, logistics, special warfare, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, according to the service.
