The Defence Force's project to transform the way the army operates has made some key choices after a decade of research, design and groundwork, government papers show.
The network-enabled army project began in 2015 with then-Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee announcing it would "digitise the Army to provide modern command, communication, battle management, and surveillance capabilities".
A key aim is to get "orders and messages ... transmitted instantaneously" on the battlefield, and between the NZ army and other militaries' forces.
Three rounds of work since 2015 have spent over $300m to test what would work here.
Ministerial papers from last year released this month show a fourth round of $104m was coming after a "refresh" that followed Budget 2025.
In the refresh Defence chose an option - one of four - that spreads the benefits of the likes of secure radios, servers and inflatable satellite dishes around more troops.
Ministers were told the time and money invested since 2015 had been worth it.
READ MORE
- Enough Tinkering: NZDF must make drones the main effort
- The Victory Option: A Frigate Replacement for the Royal New Zealand Navy
- Defence Force look to buy Antarctica equipped drones
- Budget 2026: Defence boost of $1.5b for ageing fleet, new drones
"The time spent in research, design, and then delivery of the proof of concept has ensured that the NEA programme deliverables are well suited to the New Zealand context and has avoided expensive redesigns and rework," one of two papers said.
About 120 infantry troops and 10 headquarters staff had been equipped and trained in the proof-of-concept.
Defence did a detailed business case and sought funding in Budget 2025 - and got $104m - for the fourth part of the programme.
The papers show it then did the "refresh" last year and changed the mix of what would be bought to spread it around more, without changing delivery times or costs.
This included getting new secure radios through an amended Foreign Military Sales deal with the US government, and getting more inflatable satellite dishes from US defence contractor Cubic (the same contractor working on the much-delayed National Ticketing System for the Transport Agency).
Out of the four options - one was "status quo" - they chose a "Deployable Network" that lets NZDF respond from disaster relief to combat, and with partners.
"The upgraded equipment will ensure that the army is best equipped against contemporary battlefield threats."
Those threats have been metamorhphising as air, land and sea drones multiply.
"This option also lays the foundation for fully networking the army in future investments in the programme."
A lower option was $8m cheaper but reduced the benefits. A fourth more costly option was for even more radios, devices and command posts.
The programme is also tapping Danish firm Systematic for a battle management system first bought by NZDF back in 2015 and US contractor L3 Harris's Australian arm.
"The programme considered opportunities for New Zealand industry as part of this investment" as required by the Defence Capability Plan, said a paper last September.
"There are presently no local manufacturers who produce military standard equipment" to standard.
However, the latest $104m investment was part one of three parts - NZDF was now working on part two - and New Zealand firms might get involved later, it said.
Treasury has rated the latest project "high risk" and subject to external Gateway reviews.
