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.
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]
See main article: Uniforms of the New Zealand Army.
| Name | Origin | Type | Calibre | Image | Details | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LMT MARS-L | Assault rifle | 5.56×45mm NATO | Adopted in 2015 to replace the Steyr AUG as the standard service rifle of the New Zealand Army. 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 | Assault rifle, Carbine | 5.56×45mm NATO | Used by New Zealand Special Air Service.[2] [3] [4] | |||
| F88 Austeyr | Bullpup assault rifle | 5.56×45mm NATO | Used from 1988 until 2017. The first 5,000 weapons delivered were manufactured in Austria by Steyr Daimler Puch. The majority of weapons now in service are the Australian ADI-made Austeyr F88 variant. It is called the IW Steyr (Individual Weapon Steyr) in service of the New Zealand Defence Force.[5] On 12 August 2015 it was announced the Lewis Machine Tools 5.56 mm MARS-L will replace the Steyr AUG.[6] |
| Name | Origin | Type | Calibre | Photo | Details | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LMT 308 MWS | 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 | Anti materiel sniper rifle | 12.7×99mm NATO | A semi-automatic sniper and anti-materiel rifle chambered in .50 BMG.[7] M107A1 to be introduced in 2018 [8] | |||
| Barrett MRAD | Bolt action sniper rifle | .338 Lapua Magnum | Introduced in 2018 to replace the Accuracy International Arctic Warfare 7.62×51mm bolt action sniper rifle.[9] 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.[10] |
| Name | Origin | Type | Calibre | Photo | Details | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimi | 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.[11] 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.[12] | |||
| FN MAG 58 | 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.[13] | |||
| Browning M2HB-QCB | 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. |
| Name | Origin | Type | Calibre | Photo | Details | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M203 | Grenade launcher | 40×46mm | Attaches to the IW MARS-L (RM Equipment M203PI) and M4 (Colt M203-A1) rifles. | |||
| Heckler & Koch GMG | / / | Automatic grenade launcher | 40×53mm |
| Name | Origin | Type | Calibre | Photo | Details | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| L16A2 | Mortar | 81mm | 50 in inventory | |||
| Hirtenberger M8 | Mortar | 81mm | [16] [17] | |||
| Hirtenberger M6 | Mortar | 60mm | 32 in inventory |
| Name | Origin | Type | Calibre | Photo | Details | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 66 mm Short-Range Anti-Armour Weapon (M72 LAW) | Anti-tank rocket launcher | 66mm | A single shot disposable anti-armour weapon, 3200 in stock March 2021 . | |||
| L14A1 Carl Gustav Medium Direct Fire Support Weapon | Recoilless rifle | 84mm | 43 M3 Carl Gustav as of June 2015,[18] primarily used in the anti-armour role. | |||
| Javelin Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM) | Guided anti-armour missile | 127mm | 24 launchers 120 missiles, another 170 missiles acquired 2019 . |
| Model | Image | Origin | Type | Number | Details | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| L119 light gun | 105 mm towed field gun | 24 in inventory | L119 version - uses US M1 type ammunition | |||
| Ordnance QF 25-pounder | 3.45-inch (87.6 mm) towed field gun | 7 in inventory | 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.[19] |
| Model | Image | Origin | Type | Number | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Armoured vehicles | |||||
| NZLAV | 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.[21] In 2012, 20 NZLAVs were made available to be sold, and in 2019 this amount was raised to 30. 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.[22] | ||
| Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicle | Protected vehicle | 23 (+25 on order) | 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.[23] [24] The Army will acquire 43 Bushmasters variant NZ5.5 to replace the existing fleet of armored NZLOVs (that is, armored Pinzgauer vehicles) with deliveries expected in late 2022.[25] [26] [27] So far 18 Bushmasters have been delivered, with the remainder arriving throughout 2023.[28] | ||
| Transport vehicles | |||||
| Polaris MRZR | 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.[29] Issued to the High Readiness Company of the 1st Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment (1 RNZIR)[30] | ||
| Supacat HMT Extenda | 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.[31] [32] The SOV-MH replaced the Pinzgauer Special Operations (MV-SO) vehicle. | ||
| Pinzgauer High-Mobility All-Terrain Vehicle | All-wheel drive vehicle | 321 | The NZ Army operates 321 Pinzgauer vehicles over eight variants to fulfill the Light Operational Vehicle (LOV) role.[33] They are currently being replaced under the Projected Mobility Project.[34] | ||
| Mercedes-Benz Unimog | / | 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 | 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.[35] The Rapidly Emplaced Bridge System provides a bridging capability to support the NZLAV.[36] | ||
| Mercedes-Benz Actros | 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 | Wrecker | 5 | To be replaced by the RMMMV HX44M.[37] | ||
| JCB HMEE | 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.[38] | ||
| CAT 938K | Track laying vehicle | 2 | Equipped with the FAUN M30H Trackway Dispenser.[39] | ||
| BPRV | Beach preparation and recovery vehicle | 2 | Based on Caterpillar D555 'forestry skidder'. In service with the Amphibious Beach Team, 5 Movements Company.[40] | ||
| Manitou MLT/MHT-X Series | Telehandler | at least 14 | Nine MLT-X 625 75HOne MHT-X 10130 (as of 2021)Four MHT-X 10230[41] | ||
| Support vehicles | |||||
| Nissan Navara | Support Vehicle | 30 | |||
| Mitsubishi Triton | Support Vehicle | 130 | [42] | ||
| Toyota RAV4 | Support Vehicle | ||||
| Yutong ZK6760 | Bus | 2 | 12 on order[43] | ||
| Iveco Daily | Ambulance | 12 | |||
| Scania P93 | Fire truck | 3 | |||
| Scania G93 | Fire truck | 2 | |||
| MAN TG | Fire truck | 1 | |||
| International 1810 | Fire truck | 1 | |||
| Name | Image | Origin | Type | Number | Details | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AeroVironment RQ-20 Puma | 1 | A single Puma is in operational service.[45] | ||||
| Skycam Kahu | Training and limited battlefield surveillance | at least 6[46] | 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.[47] | |||
| DJI Mavic Pro | 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.[48] | |||
| DJI Phantom 4 | 1 | |||||
| Black Hornet | Reconnaissance and battlefield surveillance | Used by the New Zealand Special Air Service. |
Equipment is trialed for the New Zealand army under the Battle Lab program.