The Royal New Zealand Air Force has established its first dedicated space unit with the reactivation of a group created to support allied operations during World War II through the innovative use of radar technology.
Now, the mission of No. 62 Squadron shifts to space domain awareness — monitoring, analyzing and understanding space activity to safeguard national and international interests.
“Space is vital for modern life,” Defence Minister Judith Collins said during a July 2025 reactivation ceremony at Air Force Base Auckland. “This is an important signal that we’re taking space security seriously. Recent global developments have highlighted the need for resilient, advanced defense capabilities.”
New Zealand’s location offers a key vantage point for observations of the Southern Hemisphere, including the tracking of satellites and debris. The nation is a member of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance, along with Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States.
New Zealand joins a host of nations that have created dedicated military space units, including the other countries in the Five Eyes alliance. Some nations focus on space warfare with their military units, others on capabilities such as intelligence, navigation and communication.