New Zealand – The Defense Post

Mar- 2026 -

26 March

Sea

New Zealand Rolls Out Jet-Powered USV With All-Electric Powertrain

New Zealand is expanding its naval capabilities with WHAI, an all-electric, jet-powered unmanned surface vessel designed for near-silent operation and a reduced thermal signature.

3 March

Asia Pacific

Ethan M. Encarnacion

From Air to Sea: New Zealand Gears Up for New Multi-Domain Uncrewed Systems

The New Zealand Defence Force is exploring a new kind of squadron: a lineup of drones that operate across air, land, and sea.

Feb- 2026 -

14 February

Asia Pacific

Staff Writer With AFP

NZealand Mosque Killer Appeal Causing ‘Distress’ to Victims: Lawyer

Appeal hearings for a white supremacist who shot dead 51 people at two New Zealand mosques in 2019 caused "immense distress" to his victims, a lawyer representing the state said Friday as proceedings wrapped up.

Jan- 2026 -

9 January

Sea

Jodesz Gavilan

Babcock Trials Composites for Faster Navy Repairs

Babcock has successfully trialed a new composite repair technology on ships from the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal New Zealand Navy.

Nov- 2025 -

28 November

Asia Pacific

Giulia Bernacchi

Babcock, New Zealand’s Company-X to Provide Military Training Solutions Globally

Babcock International has entered into a partnership with Company-X to provide virtual reality training systems to defense forces worldwide.

14 November

Asia Pacific

Lightfish long-endurance autonomous surface vessel.

Giulia Bernacchi

Elysium to Resell Seasats’ Autonomous Vessels in Australia, New Zealand

Seasats has partnered with Elysium EPL, appointing it as the exclusive reseller of Seasats’ autonomous vessels in Australia and New Zealand.

Oct- 2025 -

24 October

Asia Pacific

3 Field Engineers take a platoon on a boat familiarisation, including a tactical drop off and a quick departure from a site. Exercise Cassino is a 2/1 Battalion exercise held in the Marlborough Region in order to assess the High Readiness Tactical Unit's ability to deploy on stability and support operations

Rojoef Manuel

New Zealand Army Wraps Up Largest South Island Exercise With Combat Drills

The New Zealand Army has completed its largest South Island exercise of 2025, shifting from extraction rehearsal to combat operations in a two-week training event designed to test how quickly soldiers can adapt to real-world missions.

23 October

Asia Pacific

Rojoef Manuel

New Zealand Mulls Japan’s Next-Gen Mogami Frigates as Pacific Pressures Grow

New Zealand is exploring the possibility of introducing Japan’s upgraded Mogami-class stealth frigate, known as the New FFM, as part of its fleet renewal plan.

6 October

Asia Pacific

Giulia Bernacchi