Current Strength
The squadron has a total personnel strength of approximately 135, and operates the following aircraft:
- Utility Flight of 13 UH-1H Iroquois based at RNZAF Base Ohakea. UH-1H helicopters will remain in service, until the NH-90 is fully operational.
- Training Flight of 5 Bell-47 Sioux based at RNZAF Base Ohakea. These helicopters have now been retired.
- Training and Light Support Helicopter - 5 Agusta A109 LUH helicopters. A procurement to purchase a further 3 A-109 signalled by the Defence Force White Paper.
- Medium Utililty Helicopter - 8 (+1 for spares) NH-90 helicopters. 2 in service now with the rest due by early 2013.
The Ministry of Defense has an ongoing (as of 2008) helicopter replacement program that is to replace the Iroquois with 8 NH-90(+1 for spares) and 8 A-109 helicopters for NZ$771 million. The A-109 will also provide the Air Force with a light utility and counter-terrorist support role.
Read more about this topic: No. 3 Squadron RNZAF
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