New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) has confirmed staff will attend the Indo Pacific International Maritime Exposition, in Sydney.
The trip will include looking at new defence technologies and opportunities to make purchases, a spokesperson said.
‘‘NZDF personnel will attend the expo for a number of reasons including professional networking, viewing new technology and innovation, looking at procurement opportunities, knowledge sharing and international relationship development,’’ the spokesperson said in emailed responses to questions from the Otago Daily Times (ODT).
The Indo Pacific, as it is known, is a naval and defence-heavy maritime industry exposition held every two years in Australia.
This year’s expo, in Sydney’s International Convention Centre, November 7-9, will attract more than 25,000 visitors including 39 Chief of Navy, or their representatives, from around the world.
Among them will be New Zealand defence personnel, although the NZDF has declined to say who will attend.
As part of the expo, a global firm with a New Zealand connection will be hosting an event that might well be attended by NZDF personnel.
DroneShield, an Australian-based counter-drone technology company with military clients around the globe, will be hosting a specialist session, Unmanned Systems and Protecting Against Them.
Speakers at the session will include Australia’s director general of future land warfare Brigadier James Davis, retired Australian Army Major General Paul McLachlan and DroneShield’s Russian-born and New Zealand-raised chief executive, Oleg Vornik.
The NZDF spokesperson said Kiwi personnel ‘‘may visit the DroneShield exhibition if the opportunity arises’’.
New Zealand’s navy, army and air force have each used DroneShield technologies, as well as other companies’ products, designed to detect and disable unmanned aerial systems.
‘‘All three services have utilised the DroneShield systems as part of experimentation efforts in order to understand their effectiveness and utility in different scenarios and contexts.
‘‘The NZDF first had access to DroneShield products in 2020 via a demonstration from the vendor . . . to help inform any potential future acquisitions.’’
The spokesperson said NZDF has ‘‘no formal in-service capability at this stage’’, although the ODT understands NZDF has bought several DroneShield portable drone detection and defeat systems.
The widespread use of drones and counter-drone technologies in conflicts worldwide, including those involving NZDF personnel overseas, would inform New Zealand’s future use of them.
‘‘There has been no clear and obvious increase in the nefarious use of these systems to disrupt NZDF domestic operations.
‘‘The NZDF will continue to monitor events and lessons from overseas operations, from our partners and allies and from developments in the market, and respond accordingly.’’
