New Zealand and Fijian defence cooperation has taken another step with a three-month deployment of “Bluebottle” uncrewed surface vessels in Fiji’s exclusive economic zone.
Republic of Fiji Navy press release
The Fijian Navy welcomed the arrival of two Bluebottle vessels to Suva as part of the New Zealand Defence Force’s (NZDF) annual Operation Calypso.
Our Fijian Navy personnel are looking forward to working side by side with their New Zealand counterparts using this technology to help identify and track vessels operating suspiciously in our waters.
The NZDF first trialed a Bluebottle in early 2024. Results from these exercises proved so successful that the NZDF subsequently purchased two vessels, in partnership with New Zealand Customs. The 7.4 metre vessels can conduct longendurance operations without the need for crew or refueling. They have a top speed of 5 knots and use solar, wind or wave motion to power monitoring systems and propulsion.
The potential of these to undertake a wide variety of roles, such as fishery protection, border protection and providing meteorological data is an exciting opportunity for our country, which has such a large Exclusive Economic Zone.
New Zealand and Fiji share a close bilateral relationship, based on our shared history, deep personal connections and a shared vision for a secure and resilient Pacific region.
The Bluebottles being craned onto HMNZS Canterbury in Wellington for transport to Fiji (Credit: RNZN)
This deployment is a testament to both this close relationship, as well as the need for Pacific partners to increasingly work together to solve security issues that are playing out throughout the Pacific.
Let this deployment be a clear sign; Fiji is aware of the challenges it faces, of the dynamic security environment, and of the need for effective partnership as Pacific nations to deal with shared security challenges.
The Bluebottles’ arrival into Suva as part of Operation Calypso offers a new way for New Zealand and Fiji to collaboratively and cost effectively increase maritime domain awareness and monitor increasing threats from trans-national organized crime.
As small countries, we know that we can pack more of a punch when we work effectively with one another, and so I would like to extend our thanks to New Zealand for their continued partnership with Fiji, which we continue to make more effective over time.
Two years ago, I signed a Status of Forces Agreement with New Zealand to ensure that our forces can focus more on the business of cooperating with one another towards shared solutions to common challenges, and less on the administration which underpins mutual activities.
Operation Calypso is a reminder of why we signed this agreement with New Zealand, and we look forward to continuing to partner together moving forwards.
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