Antonov Airlines Successfully Delivers P-8 Poseidon Simulator to Royal New Zealand Air Force

Report by Danial Vorbach

All images by New Zealand Defence Force/Gareth Ruhe 

April 17, 2025

In a remarkable feat of specialized heavy transport logistics, Antonov Airlines has successfully completed the delivery of a critical P-8 Poseidon flight simulator to the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF). The operation showcased the Ukrainian cargo airline’s expertise in handling oversized and sensitive military training equipment.

The simulator, essential for training RNZAF pilots on the advanced P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, required precise handling due to its delicate electronic components and substantial dimensions. Antonov Airlines deployed one of their AN-124 Ruslan aircraft for this mission, one of the largest cargo planes in operation globally with its distinctive nose-loading capability perfectly suited for such specialized cargo.

The delivery marks a significant milestone in New Zealand’s defense modernization program, as the P-8 Poseidon represents a substantial upgrade to the RNZAF’s maritime surveillance capabilities. The simulator will be installed in the RNZAF’s newly constructed Poseidon Training Facility at Base Ohakea, a purpose-built complex designed specifically to house the advanced simulator and support equipment.

An integrated project team, led by the Ministry of Defence, is working with Boeing to build the facility, which will include the life-sized flight simulator housed inside No. 5 Squadron’s purpose- built Te Whare Toroa building.

“The P-8A Poseidon aircraft training facility will be a critical tool for the New Zealand Defence Force, improving training capabilities, reducing risk to crew and aircraft, and providing significant savings in Poseidon operating costs,” said Sarah Minson, Deputy Secretary of Capability Delivery at the Ministry of Defence.

The facility will bring together, for the first time, a range of simulation training tools required to train both the aircrew and maintainers in No. 5 Squadron, who operate the Poseidon fleet.

“Simulation training tools provide a safe and secure space for crew to learn and maintain skills on aircraft systems, reducing risk as well as the number of hours required for flight training. They also increase the availability of aircraft for NZDF operations,” said Sarah Minson.

“This state-of-the-art training facility represents our commitment to ensuring RNZAF personnel receive world-class training on the P-8 platform,” Minson added. “The arrival of the simulator via Antonov Airlines is a crucial step in our training capability development. It allows us to train our crews domestically rather than sending them overseas, which significantly enhances our operational readiness.”

The successful transport operation involved extensive pre-planning, custom securing systems, and precise climate control throughout the journey to protect the simulator’s sensitive components.

This delivery highlights Antonov Airlines’ continued role as a critical logistics provider for military and defense equipment globally, despite the challenges faced by the Ukrainian company in recent years. The airline’s specialized fleet remains instrumental in moving oversized cargo that would be impossible to transport through conventional shipping methods.

The simulator is now being installed at the new training facility, where it will soon become operational for training purposes.