A team of New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) drone pilots is in the United Kingdom this week, taking part in the Military International Drone Racing Tournament (MIDRT) alongside 13 other militaries.
“Drone racing has existed for at least the last decade, but over the last three years in particular those skills have transferred directly to the battlefield,” said Major Richard Adams, the New Zealand Army’s lead on uncrewed systems.
“While MIDRT UK 25 is a drone racing event, at its core it is building and testing combat skills that are crucial for combat effectiveness within the NZDF.”
The event is being held at the Royal Military Academy in Sandhurst and runs until the end of the week. It’s the fifth and biggest edition of the tournament so far.
On the surface, it looks like a sporting event – with teams racing drones around courses – but there’s a serious side. Competitors also take part in military-focused challenges, including finding and striking targets, and simulated bomb drops.
The five-person NZDF team is captained by Sergeant Reuben Ellett, a Reserve Force soldier from the Signals Corps who has been involved in drone racing since 2019.
“Since the invasion of Ukraine by Russia in 2022 we’ve seen FPV UAS become a significant combat capability, and a key technology in both offence and defence,” Sergeant Ellett said.
“Competing in military drone competitions offers huge value in testing our skills against military partners. It’s a bit like a shooting competition, where marksmanship and weapon-handling skills can be tested, and then those skills are directly transferrable to improving your combat effectiveness. In trying to operate a drone faster, more accurately and with more skill, we are building the fundamental skills required to operate weapon systems of the future.”
FPV (first-person view) drones and other unmanned technology are now a core focus for militaries worldwide, and the NZDF is continuing to develop its own capabilities. The NZ Army recently hosted an FPV drone course at Burnham Military Camp, teaching personnel to build and operate drones from scratch.
“We’re seeing FPV drones contribute a vital effect within combat systems the world over – not only do they increase possible strike options on the battlefield, but they enhance soldier survivability and lethality,” said Major Adams.
He added that drones are only one part of a wider system: “It’s also worth recognising that drones are not the answer to modern conflict in and of itself – there is still a strong requirement for modern and traditional capabilities to operate as an integrated combat system, and that’s where we see the huge value and potential in where this technology is going.”
The NZDF team is now aiming to secure spots in the top 16 qualifying pilots before the finals on Friday (Thursday UK time).
Despite the competitive edge, there’s plenty of camaraderie on display too.
“Just today I had some difficulty with my drone batteries, but there was a wonderful Aussie at the event who stepped up to help me out by lending me some of his kit – which enabled me to get to the race line on time,” Sergeant Ellett said.
