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EPE New Zealand and Bertin Exensor will provide reconnaissance and surveillance capabilities to the New Zealand Defence Force under the Networked Enabled Army Programme.
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Under the contract, the company is expected to deliver the Exensor Flexnet Remote Ground Sensor (RGS) system, which is designed to improve situational awareness and support deployed command decision making.
The company will also deliver specialist training and through life support in New Zealand as part of the contract agreement.
The Exensor Flexnet Remote Ground Sensor is a modular and scalable sensing platform, providing identification of potential threats and early warning to support situational awareness and on-field decision making.
The capability is currently in use in the UK, Australia, the US, and several NATO countries, EPE confirmed.
The system will help keep the user safe on the battlefield, Andy Cross, general manager of EPE New Zealand Limited, said.
“An essential requirement for NZDF is the demonstrated capacity and capability to deliver the equipment and training, and commit to ongoing maintenance and support,” Cross said.
“As a team, EPE and Exensor have the unique ability to achieve this. We also aim to equip soldiers with technology that not only provides strategic advantage, but also enhances decision making while safeguarding them from threats.”
Amid the changing threat environment, the need for remote ground sensors has increased, Marcus Rosenqvist, vice president sales and marketing of Bertin Exensor AB, explained.
“In recent years, the use and need for the Flexnet RGS technology among forces worldwide has increased. Exensor is proud to be selected together with EPE for the supply of the latest generation of Flexnet RGS.”
The announcement was made just months after the company was selected to provide UAS capabilities for the New Zealand military, under the same program.
The NZ Defence Force expects that the acquisition will improve operations planning and risk assessment, reducing risk to New Zealand military personnel across humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, combat and search and rescue operations.
As part of the announcement, EPE New Zealand has been selected to supply a number of quadcopter micro UAS as well as remote ground sensor systems for the 2/1 Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment.
The micro UAS system is backpack portable and deployable in 75 seconds, while the remote ground sensor systems combine seismic, acoustic and infrared sensors to detect and identify moving objects, information unveiled by the NZ Ministry of Defence confirmed.
The EPE system is delivered as part of a partnership with US-based UAS manufacturer Skydio.
