NZDF Deploys Personnel to Major US Drone and AI Experimentation

Fifty NZDF personnel are heading to the US for Project Convergence Capstone 6, testing autonomous drones and "superhero" soldier systems alongside American forces.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 13, 2026, 5:11 AM EDT

Source: RNZ Pacific

"Superhero" Tech and Autonomous Drones

This year’s iteration of Project Convergence is expected to focus on cutting-edge human-machine interfaces. A key highlight includes the "Soldier Borne Mission Command" developed by Anduril Industries—a system featuring high-tech helmets and glasses designed to give soldiers "superhero-like abilities" by feeding them vast amounts of real-time battlefield data.

Key areas of training for NZDF personnel include:

Autonomous Terminal Guidance: Testing aerial drones equipped with systems that help identify and strike targets autonomously.

Fused Digital Awareness: Individual soldier eyewear that can spot and instantly tag threats kilometers away for precision strikes.

Military Robotics: Integration with various robotic systems currently being developed by the Pentagon.