NZ Defence Force Returns From US Desert Trials With New Tech Wishlist
The New Zealand Defence Force highlighted a need for more strike drones, stronger batteries and better integration after a four‑month US Army experiment in the Mojave.
Background of the desert trial
The United States Army’s Project Convergence Capstone ran from May to August, with a key desert phase in July at Fort Irwin, California. The series is designed to bind Five Eyes partners together around artificial‑intelligence‑enabled technologies.
Participants and scenario
New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) personnel joined a mock battle against the US Army’s Blackhorse unit, which simulated a “near‑peer threat” commonly understood to represent China. A few dozen NZ soldiers worked alongside Australian forces in the Black Prince 3 exercise, testing drones that carry explosives.
Key technical findings
Equipment limits: Wall Street Journal reporting noted that computer servers overheated and batteries failed in the desert heat, underscoring power‑generation challenges.
Drone lethality: The US tested a long‑range aerial munition that “independently identified and terminated” a high‑priority target and can operate as a “wolfpack” to overwhelm enemy air defenses, with fielding expected by next year.
Integration needs: NZDF debriefs stressed the growing importance of power generation, unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and sensor‑to‑shooter capabilities as critical enablers of future combat effectiveness.
Operational and human‑factor observations
Accommodation was described as “poorly coordinated.”
Troops did not receive a single full day of stand‑down during the six‑week period.
NZDF highlighted the need for better support for soldiers returning home from flights.
Strategic implications for New Zealand
NZDF concluded that future combat effectiveness will depend as much on technical expertise as on traditional soldiering skills. The force’s wishlist now includes more strike drones, higher‑capacity batteries and tighter integration of robots and autonomous sensors.
Next steps
The insights from the desert trials are slated to inform the upcoming review of New Zealand’s $12 billion Defence Capability Plan, due next year.
Overall, the desert wargames highlighted both cutting‑edge advances in drone warfare and the practical challenges of operating high‑tech equipment in extreme environments.
