iscover
New Zealand Army personnel have partnered with the defence industry to bolster the country’s military drone capability.
Ten qualified drone pilots were trained on first-person view drone platforms at Burnham Military Camp on a course led by 2nd/1st Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment (2/1 RNZIR).
New Zealand-based drone companies Kiwi Quads and Fenix provided drones that could be 3D printed and assembled on site.
Drones are increasingly common in the modern warfare environment and the NZ Army is working to integrate them alongside more traditional systems and other emerging technology, according to NZ Army UAS lead, Captain Richard Adams.
“Our participation in that coalition (Ukrainian Drone Capability Coalition) has been key to understanding this technology as it rapidly evolves,” CAPT Adams said.
“UAS are now a ubiquitous part of modern military operations, from humanitarian assistance operations to high-intensity combat.
“We must continuously adapt with urgency to ensure our personnel are given the tools they need.
“Based on reporting from Ukraine, drones now account for approximately 70 per cent of casualties on the modern battlefield. The ability to both effectively operate drones, and protect against them, is crucial.
“We are actively looking to introduce these systems. The work being done at 2/1 RNZIR is a key step in identifying those soldiers who have the aptitude and ability to operate these systems.
“Providing the necessary training to develop their skills further puts us in the best possible position to adopt this capability at pace.”
The NZ Army has previously tested their drone-piloting skills with a tri-service team competing in the United Kingdom during the 14-nation Military International Drone Racing Tournament last month.
Drones, or uncrewed aerial systems (UAS), are envisioned to become a critical part of the NZ Army’s intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance capabilities, and perform a crucial role in overall combat.
Course instructor Sergeant Lachlan McDonald said these kinds of FPV drones are low-cost, easy to build and offer an additional effect to ISR or delivery of an offensive strike on a target.
“It is an exciting time, with new technology rapidly emerging around the world and changing the way combat occurs on the modern battlefield; we want to keep pace with that innovation and find ways to deliver the most effective warfighting unit,” he said.
The NZ Army is an active participant in and supporter of the Ukrainian Drone Capability Coalition, for which the New Zealand government has contributed $8 million to date.
