Source: Peace Action Wellington
New Zealand is assisting the global surge of weapons sales. Data about global weapons sales released today shows Lockheed Martin once again topping the list of arms dealers. The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute compiles an annual list showing the top 100 arms-producing and military services companies in the world.
New Zealand is buying five new Seahawk maritime helicopters from the US for $400 million each. These are manufactured by Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin subsidiary. Australia recently paid $82m each for the same choppers.
“The former Chief of Defence Force, Kevin Short, is now Lockheed Martin NZ Director of Strategy & Business Development. He certainly is getting a great deal for Lockheed,” said Valerie Morse, member of Peace Action Wellington.
“Minister of War Judith Collins has committed $12 billion for new weapons purchases. She appears to happy to buy anything the US and Australia are using, at whatever cost. These new suite of weapons are primarily to assist the United States to wage an offensive war against the Chinese, and not for the territorial defence of New Zealand”
“A major part of the defence industry strategy includes the development of a home-grown space industry. This has been driven by Rocket Lab, a US-based company partly owned by Lockheed Martin.”
“Lockheed Martin with representatives like Kevin Short are selling New Zealand into a US-led war the while our hospitals, schools and public services crumble.”
Notes:
See the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute media statement here: https://www.sipri.org/media/press-release/2025/sipri-top-100-arms-producers-see-combined-revenues-surge-states-rush-modernize-and-expand-arsenals
The SIPRI Top 100 arms-producing and military services companies in the world, 2024
https://www.sipri.org/visualizations/2025/sipri-top-100-arms-producing-and-military-services-companies-world-2024
