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Australia and New Zealand military leadership have signed a new memorandum of understanding to enhance Australian Defence Force-New Zealand Defence Fore collaboration in the cyber domain.
Chief of Joint Capabilities Lieutenant General Susan Coyle and Commander Information Command New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) Brigadier Esther Harrop signed the agreement at a Five Eyes Defence Cyber Contact Group Conference in Melbourne.
Under the agreement, Australia will provide New Zealand with access to the Persistent Cyber Training Environment – Unclassified (PCTE-U), a US Department of Defense-developed platform that delivers cutting-edge, realistic cyber training and exercise design.
Director Joint Cyber and Influence Projects in the Space and Cyber Capability Division Captain Robert Smilie said the MoU was a timely and practical step to strengthen collective readiness in an increasingly contested domain.
“This agreement ensures Australia and New Zealand can train, experiment and respond at pace on a common platform,” Captain Smilie said.
“Cyber threats are real and immediate; targeting military networks, critical infrastructure and national resilience every day.
“By formalising the New Zealand Defence Force’s access to PCTE-U, we’re lifting regional preparedness, accelerating content sharing and building interoperable teams ready for the fight now.”
The MoU locks in a dedicated share of Australia’s PCTE resources for the NZDF and sets out the operational, security and administrative framework for its use, with potential to expand access under existing arrangements.
Under the agreement, New Zealand is expected to gain greater capacity to build and share high-quality cyber training content, while both forces strengthen cyber warfare development on a common platform.
Earlier this month, the Australian Defence Force deployed around 19 personnel for Exercise Cobra Gold 2026 in Thailand. Under that exercise, personnel were integrated into a multinational headquarters, with a focus on strengthening joint capabilities in space and cyber.
Chief of Joint Operations, Vice Admiral Justin Jones, AO, CSC, said the ADF’s participation demonstrated Australia’s role as a responsible, capable and reliable regional partner.
“The ADF personnel who deployed on Exercise Cobra Gold were provided a meaningful experience as an Australian joint integrated force within a multinational environment,” Vice Admiral Jones said.
“They contributed specialist expertise in not only military command and control, but importantly to the space and cyber operations, which are key to the security of the region.
“The participation of ADF personnel enhances individual experience and strengthens the collective capability and professional relationships that underpin effective multinational operations.”
