New Zealand deploying Orion in support of UN sanctions

On 20 April 2021, the New Zealand government announced it will deploy a Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) P-3K2 Orion maritime patrol aircraft in support of United Nations Security Council (UNSC) sanctions on North Korea. The Resolutions, adopted unanimously by the UNSC between 2006 and 2017, are intended to persuade North Korea to denuclearise and abandon its ballistic missile capabilities.

This will be the fourth such Orion deployment, following previous deployments in October 2020, October 2019 and September 2018. Consistent with prior deployments, the Orion will be based at Kadena Air Base (Japan). Its maritime surveillance patrol flights will be over international waters in North Asia and will take place in April and May 2021.

Minister of Defence, Peeni Henare, said that “New Zealand’s latest Orion deployment reflects the Government’s commitment to collective security in the Indo-Pacific region”.

The RNZAF operates six P-3K2 Orions with 5 Squadron Keitou Kalawaca Na Wasaliwa based at RNZAF Base Whenuapai in the north of the country.

Photo by DrowsySpotting via Jetphotos.com