The first of four new NZ Air Force maritime patrol planes has made its debut in its Kiwi livery.

Boeing this week rolled out the first of four P-8A Poseidon jets with a Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) paint job at its factory in Renton, Washington State.

The plane, a heavily modified variant of the Boeing 737 passenger aircraft, features the RNZAF's Kiwi roundel.

Like the six ageing P-3K Orions the four Poseidons are set to replace, they feature the Albatross mascot of the RNZAF's No 5 Squadron emblazoned on the tail.

Boeing said in statement the Kiwi P-8's first flight is scheduled for the coming weeks, after which its mission systems will be installed.

Like the ageing propeller-driven Orions they are set to replace, the P-8 features the Albatross of No 5 Squadron on the tail. Photo / Supplied, Boeing

The first aircraft will be delivered to the NZ Ministry of Defence in December, with the next three arriving in 2023.

Then-defence minister Ron Mark announced the P-8s as the P3's replacement in 2018 and said they would cost a total of $2.346 billion.

The Defence Force earlier said the RNZAF had already fully-qualified a P-8 crew who were gaining experience as instructors with the US Navy.

The P8 is derived from the Boeing 737 passenger aircraft. Photo / Supplied, Boeing

Two more crews have started training wih the US Navy in Jacksonville, Florida.

The P-8 is designed for anti-submarine and anti-surface ship warfare, along with surveillance, reconnaissance and intelligence roles.

The NZ P-8 in a hangar at Boeing's Renton, Washington, plant. Photo / Supplied, Boeing

It is already operated by the Indian Navy, and the Australian and UK Air Forces.