Air Force P3 Orion has mission extended in Gulf of Arabia

The P3 Orion. Photo / Supplied

The Royal New Zealand Air Force P3 Orion aircraft which has been supporting counter-piracy operations in the Gulf of Arabia has had its mission extended for a further 12 months, Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee says.

"The Orion has performed a valuable role that has been welcomed by our international partners" he said.

"As a trading nation we have a direct interest in ensuring that global shipping routes are protected from piracy and transnational crime. Our decision to extend the deployment of a P3 Orion to the Gulf until December 2015 is a reflection of the importance New Zealand attaches to multilateral security efforts," Mr Brownlee said.

As part of a detachment to the United States Naval Forces Central Command, the aircraft will contribute to a range of maritime security operations.