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List of equipment of the New Zealand Army

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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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Model Image Origin Type Calibre Notes
Combat Knife
M7 bayonet  United States Bayonet — [2]
Handguns
Glock 17, 4th gen  Austria Semi-automatic pistol 9×19mm Parabellum Standard issue pistol.[3]
Assault rifles & Battle rifles
LMT MARS-L

Modular Assault Rifle System - Light

 United States Assault rifle 5.56×45mm NATO Standard issue assault rifle.[2]

Adopted in 2015 to replace the Steyr AUG.

Ordered in 2 different barrel lengths, and equipped with:

  • Trijicon ACOG scope
  • RMR red dot mounted on top
  • M7 bayonet
M4 carbine  United States Carbine 5.56×45mm NATO [4][5][6]

Used by New Zealand Special Air Service.

Precision rifles
LMT 308 MWS  United States DMR

Designated marksman rifle

7.62×51mm NATO Standard issue DMR.[7]

Adopted in October 2011.

Equipment

  • Leupold adjustable 4.5-14 × scope
  • canted iron sights
  • foldable foregrip
Barrett MRAD

Multi-role Adaptive Design

 United States Bolt action sniper rifle 7.62×51mm NATO (for training)

8.6×70mm (operational calibre)

Introduced in 2018, replacement of the Accuracy International Arctic Warfare.[8][9][10]

Equipment:

  • ATACR 5-25×56 F1 Nightforce scope
Barrett M107A1  United States Anti materiel sniper rifle 12.7×99mm NATO Introduced in 2018 [11][12]
Machine guns
FN Minimi TR

Known as "7.62 LSW Minimi" in NZ forces

 Belgium Light machine gun 5.56×45mm NATO Standard issue Light Support Weapon in the Army since 1988.[13]

Selected in February 2012 to replace the C9 LSW Minimi and will be known as the 7.62 LSW Minimi in NZDF service.[14]

FN MAG 58  Belgium General-purpose machine gun 7.62×51mm NATO The Belgian FN MAG replaced the L7A2 variant of the FN MAG that was purchased in 1976.

Used on vehicles as heavy sustained fire machine gun.[15]

Browning M2HB-QCB  United States Heavy machine gun 12.7×99mm NATO Used as heavy support weapon, mounted on vehicles, and some on tripods on some advanced positions.
Shotguns
Benelli M3  Italy Pump action shotgun 12 gauge [16][17][18]

Introduced in 2006

Grenade launchers and ammunition
M203  United States Under-barrel renade launcher 40×46mm LV [19]

Used with the

Heckler & Koch GMG  Germany Automatic grenade launcher 40×53mm HV [20]
Anti-tank weapons
M72 LAW

"66 mm Short-Range Anti-Armour Weapon"

 Norway

 United States

Anti-tank rocket launcher 66mm 3200 in stock March 2021.[citation needed].

A single shot disposable anti-armour weapon,

Carl Gustav M3

"L14A1 Carl Gustav Medium Direct Fire Support Weapon"

 Sweden Recoilless rifle 84mm [21]

43 in service as of June 2015[22]

Javelin MRAW

"Medium Range Anti-Armour Weapon"

 United States ATGM

"Anti-tank guided missile"

127mm [23]
  • 24 launchers and 164 missiles ordered in 2004[24][25]
  • 10 missiles ordered in 2014[26]

Indirect fire

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Mortars

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Model Image Origin Type Calibre Number Details
Hirtenberger M6  Austria Infantry mortar 60mm 32 [27]
Hirtenberger M8  Austria Mortar 81mm [28][27]
L16A2  Canada

 United Kingdom

Mortar 81mm 50 [29]

Artillery

[edit]
Model Image Origin Type Calibre Number Details
L119 light gun  United Kingdom Field gun 105 mm 24 in inventory [22][30]

Ammunition used: US M1

Ordnance QF 25-pounder  United Kingdom Ceremonial gun 3.45-inch (87.6 mm) 7 in inventory[22] [31]

Retired from operational service in September 1977.

The 25-pounder gun is used by the ceremonial saluting battery at Point Jerningham, Wellington for official events and official funeral gun carriage.

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.[32] In 2012, 20 NZLAVs were made available to be sold, and in 2019 this amount was raised to 30.[33]

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.[33]

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.[34][35] 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.[36][37][38][39]
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.[40] Issued to the High Readiness Company of the 1st Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment (1 RNZIR)[41]
Supacat HMT Extenda

"SOV MH - Special operations vehicle Mobility Heavy"

 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.[42][43] The SOV-MH replaced the Pinzgauer Special Operations (MV-SO) vehicle.[42]
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.[44] They are currently being replaced under the Projected Mobility Project.[45]
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:[46]
  • HX58 - 4×4
  • HX60 - 6×6
  • HX77 - 8×8Medium 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.[47]

The Rapidly Emplaced Bridge System provides a bridging capability to support the NZLAV.[48]

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).
Recovery vehicles
RMMB HX44M - Heavy recovery vehicles

Illustration

 Austria
 Germany 		Wrecker 3 Ordered in 2018, delivered in 2021, lift tow” capacity of 15 tons.[49]
Engineering vehicles
MAN / GDELS REBS Truck

Rapidly Emplaced Bridging System

Illustration

 Germany Bridge laying vehicle — [50]
JCB HMEE  United Kingdom p 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.[51]
CAT 938K  United States
 United Kingdom 		Track laying vehicle 2 Equipped with the FAUN M30H Trackway Dispenser.[52]
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.[53]
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[54]

Support vehicles
Nissan Navara  Japan Support Vehicle 30[citation needed]
Mitsubishi Triton  Japan Support Vehicle 130[citation needed] [55]
Toyota RAV4  Japan Support Vehicle
Yutong ZK6760  China Bus 2 12 on order[56]
Iveco Daily  Italy Ambulance 12[citation needed]
MAN TGM 15.290  Germany Fire truck 1[citation needed] [57]
Scania P93  Sweden Fire truck 3[citation needed]
Scania G93  Sweden Fire truck 2[citation needed]
Volvo FL280  Sweden Fire truck [citation needed] [57][58]
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.[59]

Electronic warfare and communications

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Name Image Origin Type Number Details
L3Harris AN/PRC-158  United States Tactical radio [60]
L3Harris AN/PRC-160  United States Tactical radio [60]
L3Harris AN/PRC-163  United States Combat radio [60]
L3Harris RF-7850S  United States Combat radio [60]
AN/TPQ-49 LCMR

"Lightweight Counter Mortar Radar"

Illustration

 United States Counter battery radar 4 [61]

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

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Name Image Origin Type Number Details
Quantum Vector VTOL  Germany Tiltrotor UAV Used for reconnaissance and fire correction by the Royal Regiment of New Zealand Artillery.[62]
AeroVironment RQ-20 Puma  United States Unmanned aerial vehicle 1 A single Puma is in operational service.[63]
Skycam Kahu  New Zealand Training and limited battlefield surveillance at least 6[64] 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.[65]
Skydio RQ-28A  United States Reconnaissancequadcopter Used for reconnaissance by the Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment.[66]
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.[67]
DJI Phantom 4 1
Teledyne FLIR Black Hornet Nano  Norway Micro aerial vehicle Used for reconnaissance by the Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment and New Zealand Special Air Service.[68]

Future equipment

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Equipment ordered

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Model Image Origin Type Quantity ordered Notes
Military vehicles
URO Vamtac ST5 ST5  Spain Utility light armoured vehicle 20 Successor to the Unimog and the Pinzgauer.

Ordered in November 2024 for €56 million.[69][70]

Vamtac SK95 CK3  Spain Utility medium sized vehicle 40
Staff vehicles
Hyundai Ioniq  South Korea 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.[71]
Electric Utility Motorcycles

Illustration

— 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.[72][73]

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. ^ a b "Modular Assault Rifle System – Light (MARS-L)". www.nzdf.mil.nz. Retrieved 2024-11-21.
  3. ^ "Glock G17 Gen 4". www.nzdf.mil.nz. Retrieved 2024-11-21.
  4. ^ "Unofficial New Zealand Special Air Service page". Retrieved 2009-03-25.
  5. ^ "Split second decisions: police rules of engagement". The Sunday Star-Times. 1 February 2009. Retrieved 15 October 2011.
  6. ^ "Replacement due for police rifles". New Zealand Police. 19 May 2005. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
  7. ^ "Designated Marksman Weapon (DMW)". www.nzdf.mil.nz. Retrieved 2024-11-21.
  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. ^ "MRAD Sniper Rifle". www.nzdf.mil.nz. Retrieved 2024-11-21.
  11. ^ Force, New Zealand Defence (18 October 2017). "Defence Force buying two new weapons".
  12. ^ "M107A1 Anti-Materiel Rifle". www.nzdf.mil.nz. Retrieved 2024-11-21.
  13. ^ "NZ Army - Our Equipment - Machine Guns". Archived from the original on 2011-05-24. Retrieved 2011-06-24. New Zealand Army official site
  14. ^ 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.
  15. ^ "Machine Guns". Army.mil.nz. 2008-02-11. Archived from the original on 2012-03-27. Retrieved 2011-06-24.
  16. ^ "Benelli M3 (NZ) Tactical Shotgun". www.nzdf.mil.nz. Retrieved 2024-11-21.
  17. ^ "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.
  18. ^ "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.
  19. ^ "Shoot, move, communicate and medicate". www.nzdf.mil.nz. Retrieved 2024-11-22.
  20. ^ "40mm Grenade Machine Gun (GMG)". www.nzdf.mil.nz. Retrieved 2024-11-21.
  21. ^ "Carl Gustaf M3". www.nzdf.mil.nz. Retrieved 2024-11-21.
  22. ^ a b c "Written Question #896: Rt Hon Winston Peters to the Minister of Defence". February 2016. Retrieved 17 December 2022.
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  24. ^ "NZ troops about to shoulder latest arms". NZ Herald. 2024-11-21. Retrieved 2024-11-22.
  25. ^ "Arms transfer database". armstransfers.sipri.org. Retrieved 2024-11-22.
  26. ^ "Arms transfer database". armstransfers.sipri.org. Retrieved 2024-11-22.
  27. ^ a b Jacobs, Maxine (2021-06-18). "Defence staff feel the fire in Waiouru weapons show". Stuff. Retrieved 2022-08-16.
  28. ^ "NZ revamps artillery with new sensors and digital backbones | Shephard". www.shephardmedia.com. Retrieved 2022-04-21.
  29. ^ "L16A2, 81mm Mortar". www.nzdf.mil.nz. Retrieved 2024-11-21.
  30. ^ "L119, 105mm Light Gun". www.nzdf.mil.nz. Retrieved 2024-11-21.
  31. ^ "Military Hardware". 2018-07-02. Archived from the original on 2018-07-02. Retrieved 2021-04-18.
  32. ^ "Govt to sell 35 army LAVs". 24 May 2010.
  33. ^ a b "Twenty two Light Armoured Vehicles sold to Chilean Navy". New Zealand Defence Force (Press release). 20 April 2022. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
  34. ^ 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.
  35. ^ Nicholson, Brendan (2 February 2018). "Bushmasters give allies a safe ride". The Australian.
  36. ^ Defence Minister Ron Mark (8 July 2020). "New Armoured vehicles for New Zealand Army". The Beehive (Press release). Retrieved 2021-06-11.
  37. ^ "Next Steps Announced for Army Protected Mobility" (PDF). New Zealand Army News (514): 5. July 2020. ISSN 1170-4411.
  38. ^ "New Bushmaster Armoured Vehicles hit the production line". Ministry of Defence (Press release). 24 September 2021. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
  39. ^ "Latest report on major projects released | Ministry of Defence website".
  40. ^ "Operational Vehicles". New Zealand Defence Force. Retrieved 2021-06-11.
  41. ^ Dominguez, Gabriel (2020-07-08). "New Zealand Army receives first six Polaris MRZR vehicles". www.janes.com. Retrieved 2021-06-11.
  42. ^ 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.
  43. ^ "Supacat Special Operations Vehicles Accepted in New Zealand". Supacat (Press release). SC Group. 18 January 2018. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
  44. ^ "New Zealand Army - New Zealand Defence Force".
  45. ^ "Protected Mobility Capability update - DEFSEC Media".
  46. ^ "Medium and Heavy Operational Vehicle (MHOV)". www.nzdf.mil.nz. Retrieved 2024-11-21.
  47. ^ "New Zealand Army - New Zealand Defence Force".
  48. ^ "Operational Vehicles". New Zealand Defence Force. Retrieved 2021-06-12.
  49. ^ "New Zealand officially receives HX44Ms | Shephard". www.shephardmedia.com. Retrieved 2024-11-21.
  50. ^ "MAN Truck and Rapidly Emplaced Bridging System (REBS)". www.nzdf.mil.nz. Retrieved 2024-11-21.
  51. ^ "New Zealand Army - New Zealand Defence Force".
  52. ^ "Advance on the beach". issuu. Retrieved 2021-01-03.
  53. ^ "New Zealand Army | Army News - Issue 515, August 2020 page 9". Issuu. 19 August 2020. Retrieved 2021-01-03.
  54. ^ Woods, AJ (17 October 2022). "OIA 2022-4521" (PDF).
  55. ^ "Who we work with". www.mmnz.co.nz. Retrieved 2023-07-31.
  56. ^ "NZDF chooses Yutong and JW Group – JW Group New Zealand". Retrieved 2022-08-16.
  57. ^ a b "LINTON FIRE BRIGADE - STATION 47". www.111emergency.co.nz. Retrieved 2024-11-21.
  58. ^ Matthews, Clinton (2023-09-04). "NZDF POD Volvo". Fraser Engineering. Retrieved 2024-11-21.
  59. ^ "Zodiac Futura Commando FC470 and FC530". www.nzdf.mil.nz. Retrieved 2023-09-15.
  60. ^ a b c d Fish, Tim (2022-12-01). "New Zealand's half-billion dollar bet on COTS to network its army". Breaking Defense. Retrieved 2024-11-25.
  61. ^ "NZ revamps artillery with new sensors and digital backbones | Shephard". www.shephardmedia.com. Retrieved 2022-08-16.
  62. ^ "Network Enabled Army (NEA) ISR – Reconnaissance and Surveillance | Ministry of Defence website". www.defence.govt.nz. Retrieved 2024-11-25.
  63. ^ "Defence Force seeks more drones for fleet". NZ Herald. 21 May 2021. Retrieved 2021-08-27.
  64. ^ "Surveillance: NZ Army gaining UAS experience | ADM Jun 08 - Australian Defence Magazine". www.australiandefence.com.au. Retrieved 2023-01-13.
  65. ^ "Integration of NZDF Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems into New Zealand Civil Airspace" (PDF). Defence Technology Agency. October 2018. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
  66. ^ narellehoffman (2023-12-19). "NZ MoD awards contract to EPE New Zealand Limited to enhance New Zealand Defence Force's Reconnaissance and Surveillance capabilities with Skydio uncrewed aircraft systems". EPE. Retrieved 2024-11-25.
  67. ^ "NZDF has no plans to ground drones banned by US military allies over cyber-safety fears". NZ Herald. Retrieved 2021-01-03.
  68. ^ "New surveillance drones for NZDF - Australian Defence Magazine". www.australiandefence.com.au. Retrieved 2024-11-25.
  69. ^ InfoDefensa, Revista Defensa. "La española Urovesa suministrará vehículos Vamtac a Nueva Zelanda por casi 56 millones". Infodefensa - Noticias de defensa, industria, seguridad, armamento, ejércitos y tecnología de la defensa (in Spanish). Retrieved 2024-11-21.
  70. ^ "Army and NZDF set to welcome new workhorse utility vehicle". www.nzdf.mil.nz. Retrieved 2024-11-21.
  71. ^ "Defence gets its first EV". EVs & Beyond. 2020-09-30. Retrieved 2024-11-21.
  72. ^ UBCO | NZDF CASE STUDY, 26 July 2020, retrieved 2021-08-27
  73. ^ "Military mopeds: NZDF trialling electric bikes". New Zealand Defence Force. Retrieved 2021-08-27.
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