The Defence Minister says leasing or replacing Defence Force planes is off the cards in the short-term.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon had to book a commercial flight to attend a summit in Australia, after the Defence Force Boeing was grounded due to a maintenance fault this morning.
A capability review on the over 30-year-old fleet is now due in June, to answer some of the questions about the dated planes.
Judith Collins told Checkpoint the government was in no position to afford replacements in the next month or so.
She is hopeful the fleet will be upgraded in the first term of the coalition government.
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