The New Zealand Ministry of Defense announced on Tuesday, March 24th, the commencement of a 10-day military training exercise named “Exercise Mobility Astra 2026,” involving the air forces of New Zealand, Australia, and the United States. The exercise will primarily focus on conducting low-level navigation and precision airdrop training using the C-130J Hercules transport aircraft to assess readiness levels.
The exercise, which kicked off at the RNZAF Woodbourne Base in Marlborough, New Zealand, brings together C-130J Hercules transport planes and crew members from the three countries. The training aims to simulate real combat scenarios, with a focus on low-level navigation and pinpoint airdrop missions.
According to the New Zealand Ministry of Defense, the exercise highlights the realistic situations encountered during combat flights, where crew members must make rapid decisions while closely collaborating with each other.
In response to military pressure from the Chinese Communist Party and shifting geopolitical dynamics, New Zealand has been actively adjusting its policies, particularly strengthening cooperation with Australia and the United States.
During a meeting in Canberra on March 17th, New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Defense Minister Judith Collins met with Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles and Foreign Minister Penny Wong, holding their annual ministerial-level conference.
Following the meeting, Defense Minister Collins released a press statement titled “Operationalising the Australia-New Zealand Alliance: Anzac 2035 – Closer Defence Relations Statement.”
New Zealand and Australia will establish and operate the “Anzac Force Posture Working Group” tasked with making recommendations to further enhance defense cooperation. Joint combat operations and exercises in the Indo-Pacific region will be conducted to deter potential threats and maintain stability in the region. By 2035, the armed forces of the two countries will operate as a more integrated “Anzac Force,” engaging in joint combat operations and exercises alongside other allies and partners.
The military expansion of the Chinese Communist Party is seen as a “potential threat” by Australia and New Zealand.
As China deploys troops deeper into the Pacific region, New Zealand, with a population of 5.3 million, plans to invest billions of dollars in military infrastructure in the coming years. This includes enhancing combat capabilities, procuring new helicopters, anti-tank missiles, drones for air and sea surveillance, and urgently upgrading old bases.
In the “2025 Defence Capability Plan” released by the New Zealand government in April 2025, China is identified as a primary regional security concern. Defense spending is set to increase from slightly above 1% of GDP to 2%, with about NZ$9 billion (approximately US$5.2 billion) to be invested over the next four years.
Additionally, New Zealand is actively recruiting new military personnel to address the loss of troops due to personnel migrating to other higher-paying jobs.
In February, the New Zealand Defense Force announced the trial use of domestically developed drones. Minister Collins stated that in the current competitive and challenging international landscape, equipping the Defense Force with innovative products developed locally is crucial to building the nation’s secure future and ensuring the well-being of the New Zealand populace.