Shield AI and Insitu Pacific weigh New Zealand polar patrol UAV bids
The NZDF uses smaller UAVs, including the Skydio X10D (pictured), while seeking a polar-capable system for maritime surveillance. (Gordon Arthur) (Gordon Arthur)
Shield AI and Insitu Pacific are considering bids for New Zealand's polar patrol unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) tender, as the country pursues several other uncrewed-systems initiatives.
The New Zealand Ministry of Defence issued the request for tenders (RFT) earlier in October. It closes on 8 November. The requirement falls under Tranche 1, Phase 1 of the Royal New Zealand Navy's Maritime Fleet Renewal Programme.
The preferred tenderer is expected to be identified by late January 2027, with a contract expected to be signed in early May 2027 and the new UAVs introduced within a year.
Adam Hogan, Shield AI's vice-president for Australia, Asia and the Middle East, told Janes he believes the company's V-BAT is relevant to both the Australian and New Zealand navies. “The littoral environment plays well for this platform, both because of the range and because it's vertical take-off and landing, so you don't need a significant set of infrastructure to deploy it.”
Andrew Duggan, managing director of Insitu Pacific, suggested the ScanEagle might suit the polar UAV requirement. “They're not looking for what I call extended-range performance. It's more about anti-icing and operating in the Antarctic.” He said the Integrator is “probably overkill”, but the ScanEagle “would be more appropriately sized”.
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