Wikipedia

List of equipment of the New Zealand Army

This is a list of equipment of the New Zealand Army currently in use. It includes small arms, combat vehicles, aircraft, watercraft, artillery and transport vehicles. The New Zealand Army is the principal land warfare force of New Zealand, a part of the New Zealand Defence Force. Since the ANZUS breakup and the end of the Cold War, the New Zealand Army has been deployed to a number of conflict zones, often as part of a coalition force or part of a United Nations peacekeeping operation.

Infantry section equipment

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A standard New Zealand infantry section consists of ten soldiers, divided into two five-men infantry fireteams. While equipment formations can be tailored as required by section and platoon commanders, infantry sections are usually issued with the following:[1]

Weapons

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Vision systems

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Uniforms

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Main article: Uniforms of the New Zealand Army

Weapons

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Pistols

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Name Origin Type Calibre Image Details
Glock 17   Austria Semi-automatic pistol 9×19mm Parabellum   Standard issue pistol. Glock 17, 4th gen.

Assault rifles

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Name Origin Type Calibre Image Details
LMT MARS-L   United States Assault rifle 5.56×45mm NATO   Adopted in 2015 to replace the Steyr AUG as the standard service rifle of the New Zealand Army.[2] This weapon comes in 2 different barrel lengths and can take many modular attachments hence the name given by the NZDF to this rifle the Modular Assault Rifle System - Light (this is the same with LMT's own MARS-L, but is referred as the Modular Ambidextrous Rifle System - Light instead for its US civilian models). The rifle is generally equipped with the Trijicon ACOG scope with an RMR red dot mounted on top. Most recent design upgrade with enhanced features based on the AR-15/M4/M-16 family of firearms. Equipped with M7 bayonet.
M4 carbine   United States Assault rifle, Carbine 5.56×45mm NATO   Used by New Zealand Special Air Service.[3][4][5]

Precision rifles & sniper rifles

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Name Origin Type Calibre Photo Details
LMT 308 MWS   United States Designated marksman rifle, Sniper rifle 7.62×51mm NATO   The New Zealand Army adopted the rifle in October 2011. It differs from its UK counterpart in the use of a Leupold adjustable 4.5-14× scope, canted iron sights and a foldable foregrip.
Barrett M107A1   United States Anti materiel sniper rifle 12.7×99mm NATO   A semi-automatic sniper and anti-materiel rifle chambered in .50 BMG.[6] M107A1 to be introduced in 2018 [7]
Barrett MRAD   United States Bolt action sniper rifle .338 Lapua Magnum   Introduced in 2018 to replace the Accuracy International Arctic Warfare 7.62×51mm bolt action sniper rifle.[8] Equipped with an ATACR 5-25×56 F1 Nightforce scope. Dual calibre configuration with 7.62×51mm NATO for training and .338 Lapua Magnum for operations.[9]

Machine guns

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Name Origin Type Calibre Photo Details
Minimi   Belgium Light machine gun 5.56×45mm NATO   The New Zealand Defence Force uses the Minimi under the designation C9 Minimi. This gun has been used as the Army's Light Support Weapon (LSW) since 1988.[10] The 7.62 Minimi TR was selected in Feb 2012 to replace the C9 LSW Minimi and will be known as the 7.62 LSW Minimi in NZDF service.[11]
FN MAG 58   Belgium General-purpose machine gun 7.62×51mm NATO   The New Zealand Defence Force originally purchased the British-made L7A2 version of the MAG in 1976. These are now being replaced by several versions of the Belgian-made MAG-58, which was originally introduced into service as part of the introduction of the NZLAV. The FN-made MAGs are now used in the infantry light machine gun (LMG) role as a flexible mounted machine gun on the LOV and NH-90 and as a heavy sustained fire machine gun.[12]
Browning M2HB-QCB   United States Heavy machine gun 12.7×99mm NATO   Heavy machine gun not used at the infantry section level but rather as a heavy support weapon usually mounted on vehicles. It uses the .50 BMG cartridge and has an effective range in excess of 2,000 metres.

Shotguns

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Name Origin Type Calibre Photo Details
Benelli M3   Italy Shotgun 12-gauge   NZ Defence Force;[13] initially introduced in Army service in 2006.[14]

Grenade Launchers

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Name Origin Type Calibre Photo Details
M203   United States Grenade launcher 40×46mm   Attaches to the IW MARS-L (RM Equipment M203PI) and M4 (Colt M203-A1) rifles.
Heckler & Koch GMG   West Germany/
/   Germany 		Automatic grenade launcher 40×53mm  

Mortars

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Name Origin Type Calibre Photo Details
L16A2   United Kingdom
  Canada 		Mortar 81mm   50 in inventory
Hirtenberger M8   Austria Mortar 81mm [15][16]
Hirtenberger M6   Austria Mortar 60mm   32 in inventory[16]

Anti-material weapons

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Name Origin Type Calibre Photo Details
66 mm Short-Range Anti-Armour Weapon (M72 LAW)   United States Anti-tank rocket launcher 66mm   A single shot disposable anti-armour weapon, 3200 in stock March 2021 [citation needed].
L14A1 Carl Gustav Medium Direct Fire Support Weapon   Sweden Recoilless rifle 84mm   43 M3 Carl Gustav as of June 2015,[17] primarily used in the anti-armour role.
Javelin Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM)   United States Guided anti-armour missile 127mm   24 launchers 120 missiles, another 170 missiles acquired 2019 [citation needed].

Artillery

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Model Image Origin Type Number Details
L119 light gun     United Kingdom 105 mm towed field gun 24 in inventory[17] L119 version - uses US M1 type ammunition
Ordnance QF 25-pounder     United Kingdom 3.45-inch (87.6 mm) towed field gun 7 in inventory[17] In September 1977, the 25-pounder was withdrawn from full operational service. However, the field gun is still used by the ceremonial saluting battery at Point Jerningham, Wellington to mark official events. It is also used as New Zealand's official funeral gun carriage.[18]

Electronic warfare

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Name Image Origin Type Number Details
AN/TPQ-49 Lightweight Counter Mortar Radar   United States Counter-mortar radar 4 [19]

Vehicles

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Model Image Origin Type Number Details
Armoured vehicles
NZLAV     Canada Infantry fighting vehicle 73 (+8 surplus) Wheeled infantry fighting vehicle, a variant of the Canadian LAV III. Originally 105 NZLAVs, including 95 Infantry Mobility Vehicle (IMV), 7 Light Obstacle Blade Vehicle (LOB) and 3 Recovery Vehicle (LAV-R).

In 2003 the New Zealand armed forces purchased 105 LAV (Light Armored Vehicle) from Canada, of which 102 were standard vehicles (LOB is a standard NZLAV with a bulldozer blade attached) and 3 were redesigned for recovery.

In 2010 the government said it would look at the possibility of selling 35 LAVs, around a third of the fleet, as being surplus to requirements.[20] In 2012, 20 NZLAVs were made available to be sold, and in 2019 this amount was raised to 30.[21]

On 20 April 2022, New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) announced that they had sold 22 NZLAVs to Chilean Navy. After the sale to Chile, NZDF still had 8 NZLAVs in their inventory for sale. One NZLAV has been written off after being damaged in Afghanistan and one NZLAV is being used in Canada (source country for NZLAV) as a test vehicle. 73 NZLAVs remain in service with NZDF as of April 2022.[21]

Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicle     Australia Protected vehicle 48 The New Zealand Special Air Service operates five Thales Bushmasters designated the Special Operations Vehicle-Protected Heavy (SOV-PH) purchased from Australian Defence Force stock.[22][23] The Army acquired 43 Bushmasters variant NZ5.5 to replace the existing fleet of armored NZLOVs (that is, armored Pinzgauer vehicles) with the last of deliveries arriving by August 22, 2024.[24][25][26][27]
Transport vehicles
Polaris MRZR     United States Utility Task Vehicle 6 The MRZR is a militarised version of the Polaris RZR recreational vehicle. It is diesel powered, fitted with run flat tires and an infra-red light to aid driving using night vision goggles.[28] Issued to the High Readiness Company of the 1st Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment (1 RNZIR)[29]
Supacat HMT Extenda     United Kingdom Special operations vehicle 6 The New Zealand Special Air Service operate an undisclosed number of Supacat HMT Extenda vehicles designated the Special Operations Vehicles-Mobility Heavy (SOV-MH) that entered service in 2018.[30][31] The SOV-MH replaced the Pinzgauer Special Operations (MV-SO) vehicle.[30]
Pinzgauer High-Mobility All-Terrain Vehicle     Austria All-wheel drive vehicle 321 The NZ Army operates 321 Pinzgauer vehicles over eight variants to fulfill the Light Operational Vehicle (LOV) role.[32] They are currently being replaced under the Projected Mobility Project.[33]
Mercedes-Benz Unimog     West Germany
/   Germany 		Medium vehicle 82 Planned to be replaced under the Garrison Support & Training vehicle project. Used for support during the 2021 Canterbury Flooding.
RMMV Medium and Heavy Operational Vehicle     Austria
  Germany 		Medium/Heavy vehicle
Bridging Vehicle
Heavy recovery vehicle 		197 The NZ Army operates 194 MAN HX58/60/77 Medium and Heavy Operational Vehicles (MHOV), they were brought into service in the mid-2010s in order to replace parts of the aging Unimog U1700 fleet.[34]

The Rapidly Emplaced Bridge System provides a bridging capability to support the NZLAV.[35]

Mercedes-Benz Actros     Germany Heavy vehicle 4 In 2010 New Zealand purchased 4 Actros to haul adjustable-width quad-axle low-loader semitrailers primarily for the transportation of NZLAVs (Light Armoured Vehicles).
Engineering vehicles
M1089 Wrecker     United States Wrecker 5 To be replaced by the RMMMV HX44M.[36]
JCB HMEE     United Kingdom Combat tractor 6 In 2011 six JCB High Mobility Engineer Excavator (HMEE) combat tractors were delivered to the Army, they are operated in support of Combat engineers.[37]
CAT 938K   United States
  United Kingdom 		Track laying vehicle 2 Equipped with the FAUN M30H Trackway Dispenser.[38]
BPRV   United States
  New Zealand 		Beach preparation and recovery vehicle 2 Based on Caterpillar D555 'forestry skidder'. In service with the Amphibious Beach Team, 5 Movements Company.[39]
Manitou MLT/MHT-X Series   France Telehandler at least 14 Nine MLT-X 625 75H

One MHT-X 10130 (as of 2021) Four MHT-X 10230[40]

Support vehicles
Nissan Navara     Japan Support Vehicle 30[citation needed]
Mitsubishi Triton     Japan Support Vehicle 130[citation needed] [41]
Toyota RAV4     Japan Support Vehicle
Yutong ZK6760     China Bus 2 12 on order[42]
Iveco Daily     Italy Ambulance 12[citation needed]
Scania P93     Sweden Fire truck 3[citation needed]
Scania G93     Sweden Fire truck 2[citation needed]
MAN TG   Germany Fire truck 1[citation needed]
International 1810   United States Fire truck 1[citation needed]

Watercraft

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Name Image Origin Type Number Details
FC530 MilPro Zodiac     France Rigid inflatable boat Both FC470 (4.7m) and FC530 (5.3m) variants in service.[43]

Aircraft

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Name Image Origin Type Number Details
AeroVironment RQ-20 Puma     United States Unmanned aerial vehicle 1 A single Puma is in operational service.[44]
Skycam Kahu     New Zealand Training and limited battlefield surveillance at least 6[45] Kahu was developed by the Defence Technology Agency. It served as a vehicle for technology development and enabled the NZDF to gain first-hand experience as an RPAS operator. Kahu has also been deployed operationally on a limited basis.[46]
DJI Mavic Pro     China Training and Experimentation Purposes 26 Used as a concept, training and experimentation platform to assist the army in assessing future use cases for UAS systems. These systems are used only in unclassified training space, never connected to the Internet or NZDF networks, and are not for deployment.[47]
DJI Phantom 4   1
Black Hornet     Norway Reconnaissance and battlefield surveillance Used by the New Zealand Special Air Service.[46]

Future equipment

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Equipment is trialed for the New Zealand army under the Battle Lab program.

  • Electric Utility Motorcycles - UBCO electric bikes are currently being trialed by Battle Lab for the purposes of reconnaissance and surveillance, airfield security and other transport roles.[48][49]
  • Electric Staff Vehicles - In efforts to reduce its carbon footprint, the army is trialing the electric Hyundai Ioniq, in addition to installing electric vehicle charging stations at Trentham Military Camp.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "New Zealand Rifle Platoon Organization (2017)". Battle Order. Retrieved 2021-08-27.
  2. ^ "Hated army assault rifles unlikely to be sold". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 2014-06-20. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
  3. ^ "Unofficial New Zealand Special Air Service page". Retrieved 2009-03-25.
  4. ^ "Split second decisions: police rules of engagement". The Sunday Star-Times. 1 February 2009. Retrieved 15 October 2011.
  5. ^ "Replacement due for police rifles". New Zealand Police. 19 May 2005. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
  6. ^ Davis, Sgt Mick (5 December 2013). "Snipers Hit the Mark: Snipers get fired up at SASR concentration in WA". Army (News). Directorate of Defence News. p. 11. Retrieved 23 December 2013.
  7. ^ Force, New Zealand Defence (18 October 2017). "Defence Force buying two new weapons".
  8. ^ "New Weapons for Snipers and Special Forces" (PDF). New Zealand Army News (487): 4–5. October 2017. ISSN 1170-4411. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 January 2020.
  9. ^ New Sniper Rifle for the NZ Army (Television production). New Zealand Defence Force. 22 November 2017. Retrieved 16 September 2021 – via YouTube.
  10. ^ "NZ Army - Our Equipment - Machine Guns". Archived from the original on 2011-05-24. Retrieved 2011-06-24. New Zealand Army official site
  11. ^ Martin (Ed.), Judith (February 2012). "New Light Support Weapon for NZ Defence" (PDF). NZ Army News. No. 428. p. 5. Retrieved 14 May 2012. The New Zealand Defence Force has selected the FN Herstal 7.62mm Minimi TR as a replacement for the 5.56 mm LSW C9, currently in service. The weapons are being acquired now, with NZ delivery due to start from April this year, and introduction to service and issuing to units planned to occur in last quarter of 2012. The 7.62 LSW Minimi will be issued to certain Army and Air Force Units. This will replace the C9 capability, with priority being given to field force units and regional equipment pools.
  12. ^ "Machine Guns". Army.mil.nz. 2008-02-11. Archived from the original on 2012-03-27. Retrieved 2011-06-24.
  13. ^ "New Shotguns for Defence" (PDF). NZ Army News. NZ Defence Force. September 2011. p. 5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 January 2012. Retrieved 31 January 2012.
  14. ^ "Heed The Need". NZ Army News. NZ Defence Force. 14 November 2006. Archived from the original on 16 December 2010. Retrieved 31 January 2012. The Army is purchasing a small number of Benelli M3 Tactical shotguns, which are expected to deploy with 1 RNZIR and 2/1 RNZIR soldiers on stability and security-type operations.
  15. ^ "NZ revamps artillery with new sensors and digital backbones | Shephard". www.shephardmedia.com. Retrieved 2022-04-21.
  16. ^ a b Jacobs, Maxine (2021-06-18). "Defence staff feel the fire in Waiouru weapons show". Stuff. Retrieved 2022-08-16.
  17. ^ a b c "Written Question #896: Rt Hon Winston Peters to the Minister of Defence". February 2016. Retrieved 17 December 2022.
  18. ^ "Military Hardware". 2018-07-02. Archived from the original on 2018-07-02. Retrieved 2021-04-18.
  19. ^ "NZ revamps artillery with new sensors and digital backbones | Shephard". www.shephardmedia.com. Retrieved 2022-08-16.
  20. ^ "Govt to sell 35 army LAVs". 24 May 2010.
  21. ^ a b "Twenty two Light Armoured Vehicles sold to Chilean Navy". New Zealand Defence Force (Press release). 20 April 2022. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
  22. ^ New Zealand Defence Force; New Zealand Ministry of Defence (August 2019). Major Projects Report 2018 : 1 July 2017 - 30 June 2018 (PDF). New Zealand Government. pp. 85–97. ISBN 9781988515090. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
  23. ^ Nicholson, Brendan (2 February 2018). "Bushmasters give allies a safe ride". The Australian.
  24. ^ Defence Minister Ron Mark (8 July 2020). "New Armoured vehicles for New Zealand Army". The Beehive (Press release). Retrieved 2021-06-11.
  25. ^ "Next Steps Announced for Army Protected Mobility" (PDF). New Zealand Army News (514): 5. July 2020. ISSN 1170-4411.
  26. ^ "New Bushmaster Armoured Vehicles hit the production line". Ministry of Defence (Press release). 24 September 2021. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
  27. ^ https://www.defence.govt.nz/news/latest-report-on-major-projects-released/
  28. ^ "Operational Vehicles". New Zealand Defence Force. Retrieved 2021-06-11.
  29. ^ Dominguez, Gabriel (2020-07-08). "New Zealand Army receives first six Polaris MRZR vehicles". www.janes.com. Retrieved 2021-06-11.
  30. ^ a b New Zealand Defence Force; New Zealand Ministry of Defence (August 2019). Major Projects Report 2018 : 1 July 2017 - 30 June 2018 (PDF). New Zealand Government. pp. 85–97. ISBN 9781988515090. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
  31. ^ "Supacat Special Operations Vehicles Accepted in New Zealand". Supacat (Press release). SC Group. 18 January 2018. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
  32. ^ "New Zealand Army - New Zealand Defence Force".
  33. ^ "Protected Mobility Capability update - DEFSEC Media".
  34. ^ "New Zealand Army - New Zealand Defence Force".
  35. ^ "Operational Vehicles". New Zealand Defence Force. Retrieved 2021-06-12.
  36. ^ "New Zealand officially receives HX44Ms - Shephard Media". www.shephardmedia.com. Retrieved 2021-12-13.
  37. ^ "New Zealand Army - New Zealand Defence Force".
  38. ^ "Advance on the beach". issuu. Retrieved 2021-01-03.
  39. ^ "New Zealand Army | Army News - Issue 515, August 2020 page 9". Issuu. 19 August 2020. Retrieved 2021-01-03.
  40. ^ Woods, AJ (17 October 2022). "OIA 2022-4521" (PDF).
  41. ^ "Who we work with". www.mmnz.co.nz. Retrieved 2023-07-31.
  42. ^ "NZDF chooses Yutong and JW Group – JW Group New Zealand". Retrieved 2022-08-16.
  43. ^ "Zodiac Futura Commando FC470 and FC530". www.nzdf.mil.nz. Retrieved 2023-09-15.
  44. ^ "Defence Force seeks more drones for fleet". NZ Herald. Retrieved 2021-08-27.
  45. ^ "Surveillance: NZ Army gaining UAS experience | ADM Jun 08 - Australian Defence Magazine". www.australiandefence.com.au. Retrieved 2023-01-13.
  46. ^ a b "Integration of NZDF Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems into New Zealand Civil Airspace" (PDF). Defence Technology Agency. October 2018. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
  47. ^ "NZDF has no plans to ground drones banned by US military allies over cyber-safety fears". NZ Herald. Retrieved 2021-01-03.
  48. ^ UBCO | NZDF CASE STUDY, retrieved 2021-08-27
  49. ^ "Military mopeds: NZDF trialling electric bikes". New Zealand Defence Force. Retrieved 2021-08-27.
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