The New Zealand Army is set to modernise its battlefield communications with a $104 million investment in new digital devices and systems, Defence Minister Judith Collins has announced.
Collins said the investment comes at a critical time, as rapid technological change and a volatile global security environment demand that New Zealand soldiers remain combat-ready, deployable, and interoperable with international partners.
The upgrade will replace communications systems that in some cases are more than 20 years old. Soldiers will receive modern, military-grade radio systems, while deployable infrastructure will include satellite technologies and secure servers. These systems are expected to be fully rolled out from 2027.
“This war-fighting equipment will be modern, fit-for-purpose, secure and resilient,” Collins said. “Specialised communications devices will help personnel make faster, more accurate decisions through real-time information and secure voice and data communications.”
The new equipment is a key milestone in the multi-phased Network Enabled Army programme, designed to improve combat capability and safety for personnel. The upgrade will also enhance communications across deployed units, coalition partners, government agencies and New Zealand Defence Force commanders, whether overseas or at Defence Headquarters.
The announcement follows the release of the 2025 Defence Capability Plan, which mapped out $12 billion in planned commitments over the next four years and signalled that New Zealand will double defence spending by 2032/33.
Who does Collins think NZ soldiers are going to be fighting against? Does she seriously think that New Zealand is under threat of invasion? The only resources that New Zealand can offer to an invading force is wind, rain, grass and the animals that eat it.
Would make more sense to pull out of Five Eyes and declare New Zealand as a non aligned neutral country. Turn the military into a force dedicated to cleaning up after natural disasters.
Agreed but I don’t think this is about foreign threats, I suspect its fear of New Zealanders……There is no rational reason NZ even needs an army.
I totally agree with the 1st comment.
What is with Collins? She’s married to a Chinese guy and his business trades with China yet she is all in on the western demonisation of China. Yet China has only been a positive partner to NZ.
Spend the $104 million on education and healthcare for us instead!;
Onward virgin soldiers
Helpful in a national or regional emergency
Or like the navy as fisheries protection
Air Force search and rescue for hapless sailors
Only exception being to give credence and credibility – as a useful idiot to garner respect for Americas undeclared wars of attrition on foreign soil
NZ politicians do not make decisions by themselves. They are spokesmen for the western owners of all industries who have decided to take from other nations what is not for sale or too costly. In order to do this, secure and reliable communication is essential. We need to communicate to our allies. The people we sell our produce to and buy things we do not make.
Recently in the news, the US changed the name department of defence to department of war. Thats a clue as to what’s coming. Arguably, what is already here. When funding other nations to achieve a result doesn’t work, sending our beloved sons into harms way gets the job done. Very unpopular with the local community.
Typical scenario is claiming aggressive action from a nation when it was provocation that started it. The 1960’s Cuban missile crisis came about because Russia placed intermediate and long range nuclear missiles in Cuba.
In the same way as Cuba, NATO moving its first strike weapons of mass destruction extremely close to Russia’s borders. That is extreme provocation. Exactly the same as the Russian leaders of that time did to the US.
Both sides recognise the best outcome is to strike first in such a complete and overwhelming force is the only way to avoid or at least minimise any counter strike. Now you know why there are thousands of nuclear warheads.
Trump is doing what he can to negotiate peaceful western mining of those rare earth metals in Ukraine, but that isn’t happening or isn’t happening soon enough. I argue Zelensky must be replaced with a statesman or sadly taken out. Maybe a false or setup sex claim could secure the same outcome.
Yes I suspect the threat under consideration is groups of disgruntled New Zealanders, perhaps? Suffice to say, an abject waste of public money, when healthcare and education are in crisis. Time for this lot to be shown the door come 2026.