20201029 NZDF R1054358 002

Network Enabled Army ISR

The NEA Programme is a long term (up to 12 year) transformational programme that will introduce into service a deployable, networked Command, Control, Communications, Computers (C4), Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) capability for the NZ Army’s Land Forces and Special Operations Forces.

The Network Enabled Army (NEA) Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) is a workstream within the wider NEA Programme.

NEA 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. The focus includes Information and Intelligence and Reconnaissance and Surveillance capability.

Current status

In August 2019 the Government approved the second tranche of $106 million for the NEA Programme from baseline NZDF funding. This provides for delivery of new equipment and systems under the C4 project across more Army units, and expands the focus of the overall NEA Programme to intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities.

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 (RGS).

Following an evaluation of the proposals, the outcome of the acquisition process was announced on GETS in October 2023(external link). Delivery of the systems is expected from 2024. 

UAS and 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. 

Updated: December 2023