New Zealand Navy drone boats watch maritime traffic around Fiji

Text poster only. The source video's cover frame shows a white uncrewed surface vessel with a tall solar-panel sail and a sensor mast on open sea under a dramatic sky, titled Silent Hunter; the NZDF release photos show the vessel on a trailer and operators guiding it to shore. — New Zealand Defence Force (Royal New Zealand Navy), watch at source · Link-only (source-hosted; not rehosted)

Video released Oct. 18-19, 2026 by the New Zealand Defence Force. The NZDF says the Royal New Zealand Navy and New Zealand Customs uncrewed surface vessels Tahi and Rua spent four weeks in Fiji's Exclusive Economic Zone at Fiji's request, flagging 137 vessels of interest for more scrutiny on routes linked to narcotics. It says the wave-, solar- and wind-powered vessels were flown to Nadi on an RNZAF C-130J and launched from Vuda Marina. The 2-minute 20-second video, titled Silent Hunter, shows the vessels at sea and their operators.

What: New Zealand Navy drone boats watch maritime traffic around Fiji
Where: Fiji EEZ (launched from Vuda Marina)
When: 2026-10-19
Source: New Zealand Defence Force
Credit: New Zealand Defence Force (Royal New Zealand Navy), watch at source
License: Link-only (source-hosted; not rehosted)
Details: Official release · New Zealand Defence Force (Royal New Zealand Navy), with New Zealand Customs Service · Fiji EEZ (launched from Vuda Marina)

Drone unspecified new new-zealand fiji uncrewed-surface-vessel maritime-surveillance counter-narcotics rnzn

New Zealand Navy drone boats watch maritime traffic around Fiji

Sources and credit

Discussion