NZ Defense Minister said NH90 is “a challenging piece of kit”

New Zealand’s Defense Minister Gerry Brownlee said the NH90 helicopter is “a challenging piece of kit.” He made the remark while commenting on recent efforts by New Zealand to provide aid to Vanuatu.

First flight of a RNZAF NH-90
By New Zealand Defence Force from Wellington, New Zealand (20120214_OH_K1001337_0012) [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

According to Brownlee, the NH90 was not deployed as the military considered the aircraft “too difficult” to transport, the fleet was also not yet cleared for “island-hopping”.

He added that he is not labeling the NH90 as a white elephant but New Zealand must be “very careful that (it) don’t end up buying more unsuitable equipment.”

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