Joint Uncrewed Surface Vessel operation with Customs | Royal New Zealand Navy

Añadido: 2026-05-28

[00:00:00]The Navy recently conducted a joint operation with the New Zealand Customs Service in Northland in order to identify and monitor contacts of interest suspected of smuggling narcotics.

[00:00:09]For this we use our latest capability, the uncrewed surface vessels Tahi and Rua. At just over 7 m long, they're solar-powered with a sail and can travel up to 5 knots, which is around 10 km an hour by wind, sun, or even wave action.

[00:00:23]And because they don't have crew and don't require fuel, >> [music] >> they can stay at sea for weeks at a time. Even if they're operating in New Zealand waters or out in the Pacific, we can control them from this control room at Devonport Naval Base.

[00:00:34]Their high-spec [music] camera technology and surveillance equipment provides real-time imagery and footage of the contacts of interest. Once identified and we've determined we need closer inspection, we can inform the Customs team who will [music] then investigate as required.

[00:00:47]Uncrewed platforms, and in this instance uncrewed surface vessels, are important part of the Defense [music] Force's move to deploying smarter, more sustainable, and more effective autonomous assets in an increasingly uncertain environment.