Act vows to restore air strike force

Act has joined National in promising to restore the Air Force's combat capability.

Party leader Richard Prebble said squadrons could be "reconstituted" using the old Skyhawks and Aermacchi trainers.

National has said it would not stop the planned sale of those aircraft, although it has not announced what the replacements would be or how much they would cost.

Mr Prebble said the early election meant it was still possible to bring back a strike capability quickly and at relatively low cost. "The Skyhawks have not been sold and the Aermacchi trainers are also still available.

"Contrary to media reports, the Skyhawks are not obsolete, having recently been upgraded. Act's information is that the planes could be fully recommissioned for as little as $30 million."

He said Act would then look at future replacements by reactivating New Zealand's Anzus membership.

"As a member of Anzus, New Zealand would be able to purchase, on favourable terms, a new generation of fighter planes. This would give us air fighter capability for another 20 years."

National's leader Bill English announced his party's defence policy this month, but did not give a date for restoring the strike force.

He said at the time there was "no possibility" of keeping the Skyhawks because they were at the end of their life.

The Government has estimated that restoring the air combat force could cost up to $3 billion.

- NZPA

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