Royal New Zealand Air Force P-3K Retired

The Royal New Zealand Air Force retired its final two P-3K2 Orion maritime patrol aircraft, which were flown to Base Woodbourne at the end of a farewell tour of the South Island. Their arrival completed the withdrawal of a fleet of six aircraft that had served since the 1960s and had been progressively upgraded, most recently with new mission systems and sensors. The Orions flew maritime surveillance, fisheries protection, search and rescue and disaster relief missions across the South Pacific and into the Southern Ocean. Four P-8A Poseidons were acquired to take over the role.