Upgrades at Ōhakea air base are under way as it prepares to home four maritime surveillance aircraft.
Groundwork will begin before Christmas and Defence Minister Ron Mark was at the base on Friday for a brief ground blessing ceremony.
The Government announced last year in July it would buy four Boeing P-8 Poseidon aircraft, along with two flight training simulators, at a cost of $2.34 billion. The project requires a revamp at Ōhakea, with two hangars, an operations centre, warehousing, and training and maintenance facilities planned.
The four aircraft are armed with torpedoes, harpoon anti-ship missiles and other weapons, and are able to drop and monitor sonobuoys.
The fleet will monitor the marine environment, hunt for drug smugglers and illegal whalers, respond to natural disasters, and help with search and rescue missions. It will also monitor North Korea's agreement to maintain peace.
Closer to home, the existing fleet had responded to the Kaikoura earthquake.
Mark said the first phase, which costs $64.5 million, consists of new roads constructed at the base and installation of power, lighting and drainage. Aircraft parking facilities and washdown areas will also be built.
Construction of the buildings will begin next year and should be finished in 2022.
Mark said the arrival of the Poseidons and No 5 Squadron, which will operate the planes, from Whenuapai in Auckland would have a big influence on the region.
A crew of trainers from New Zealand will be sent to Jacksonville, Florida, for 2½ years to learn how to fly the new aircraft and other pilots will go over in 2022 for transition courses.
"We have a responsibility to prepare the future for these service people and the ones that come after them," Mark said of the Government's decision to buy the fleet.
"Basing the P-8A fleet at Ōhakea will be a boost for the economy and vitality of Manawatū. The works I am starting today will feed into the region in the form of engagement of local services, manufacturing, equipment and materials industries.
"At its peak, the construction project will be employing around 300 people, many of whom will be recruited from the local area."
Chief of air force Andrew Clark said the Poseidons would replace an aging fleet of P-3K2 Orions and increase New Zealand's ability to contribute in an increasingly tense security environment.
"It is a challenging and exciting time to be part of the air force. There's much for us to do in the next three years."
The fleet would bring about 200 families to Manawatū, which Clark said was one of the best places in New Zealand. "But I went to Palmerston North Boys' High School, so I might be biased."
(Stuff)
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