NEA Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) will deliver a system, including sensors and intelligence processing capability, to the New Zealand Army to improve situational awareness and support deployed commanders’ decision-making at all levels.
Reconnaissance and surveillance (R&S) capabilities enable the collection of information that can be processed into intelligence and used to support decision-making by the New Zealand Army.
The NEA Programme’s Tranche Two Single Stage Business Case in 2019 included the case for investment in R&S capability, with the decision to release funding to be made by the Minister of Defence. Following approval of the subsequent Project Implementation Business Case in 2021, the project was able to proceed to the delivery phase.
This project is delivering R&S collection capabilities; uncrewed aircraft and remotely piloted systems, along with remote ground sensors and associated through-life support, including maintenance, technical and operational support, upgrades and training.
Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) and Remote Ground Sensors (RGS)
These types of systems improve the ability to undertake reconnaissance and obtain timely and accurate information on local conditions when they are not otherwise available. The ability to see what is happening on the ground is an important tool to ensure accurate assessment of a situation, and is particularly useful in humanitarian and disaster relief response, and search and rescue situations.
Current status
Current status
In August 2019 the Government approved the second tranche of $106 million for the NEA Programme from baseline New Zealand Defence Force funding.
A request for proposals, released to the market in the 2021/22 financial year, closed in July 2022. Proposals were sought from suppliers for military-off-the-shelf capabilities across four different types of equipment for the New Zealand Army.
- Nano Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (small pocket sized systems)
- Micro Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (small multi-rotor systems)
- Small Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (long range, beyond visual range systems)
- Remote Ground Sensors
Three companies were contracted to supply UAS and RGS systems for New Zealand Army use from 2024.
EPE New Zealand Limited will supply a number of quadcopter Micro UAS, which are backpack portable and can be operational in less than 75 seconds. The company will also supply RGS systems, which combine seismic, acoustic and infrared sensors to detect and identify moving objects. Both systems will be used by 2/1 Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment (RNZIR).
United States based Quantum-Systems Inc. will deliver a number of Small UAS for 16 Field Regiment, which are backpack portable, have a wingspan of three metres when assembled, and can be operational within three minutes.
Australian company Criterion Solutions PTY will deliver a number of Nano UAS, which can be operational in less than 20 seconds and will be used by 2/1 RNZIR. These UAS have a single rotor air frame and fit into a pouch.
The systems will reduce risk to personnel by providing timely and accurate information for operations planning, as well as risk assessment activities.