June 6 (Reuters) - The U.S. approved the $1.5 billion

sale of five Seahawk maritime helicopters to New Zealand, which

has pledged to nearly double its military spending as it seeks

to boost defence capabilities.

"The U.S. Department of State has made a determination

approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of

New Zealand for MH-60R Multi-Mission Helicopters and related

equipment," the department said in a statement on its website on

Friday.

The U.S. under President Donald Trump has been pushing

allies in Europe and the Asia-Pacific to boost military

spending. New Zealand, a close ally of neighbouring Australia,

is increasingly deploying across East Asia in ​support of

Western militaries and their partners amid China's rapid

military rise.

The purchase of the Seahawk helicopters, made by Lockheed

Martin's ( LMT ) Sikorsky unit, is part of a 2025 plan by New

Zealand's centre-right government to boost defence spending by

NZ$9 billion ($5 billion) over four years and nearly double

spending to 2% of gross ​domestic product in eight years.

Wellington allocated NZ$1.58 billion ($916 million) last

month in new defence funding as it upgrades the island nation's

forces.

"The proposed sale will improve New Zealand's capability to

meet current and future warfare threats by providing greater

security for its critical infrastructure," the State Department

said, adding that New Zealand would "use the enhanced capability

to strengthen its homeland defense".

($1 = 1.7253 New Zealand dollars)