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U.S. pilotless aircraft to debut in New Zealand for military exercise

Xinhua, October 30, 2015 Adjust font size:

One of the most advanced pilotless aircraft in the United States Air Force will make an appearance in New Zealand for the first time during an ongoing multinational military exercise, the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) announced Friday.

The RQ4 Global Hawk remotely piloted aircraft system (RPAS) would be used during Exercise Southern Katipo 2015, the NZDF's largest military exercise, which is being held in the South Island over October and November.

The Global Hawk would be operated by U.S. Air Force (USAF) controllers under guidance from the NZDF, to take imagery of simulated adversary areas of interest as part of the exercise.

The aircraft, which had an endurance time of over 28 hours, would travel from its station in Guam all the way to New Zealand, capture imagery and return home in one trip.

The use of the Global Hawk is an invaluable opportunity for planning and interoperability training between the NZDF and USAF personnel, Commander Joint Forces New Zealand Major General Tim Gall said in a statement.

"The Global Hawk is an asset to the exercise and will add to the airborne surveillance and reconnaissance capability that the Royal New Zealand Air Force P-3K2 Orion offers," he said.

The Global Hawk model carried no weaponry and its use in New Zealand would be in accordance with the New Zealand law.

Exercise Southern Katipo, being held at the top of the South Island, involves more than 2,000 military personnel, as well as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, ships, and military vehicles.

Participating troops come from Australia, Canada, Fiji, French Forces of New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Britain and the United States.

The Southern Katipo exercises are held in New Zealand every two years.

This year's scenario sees New Zealand deploying a military contingent to lead a multinational combined joint task force that would help restore law and order in a fictional South Pacific country called Becara. Endit