The Royal New Zealand Air Pressure (RNZAF) has created its first house squadron devoted to addressing the nation’s safety and pursuits within the fast-changing house area.
The launch comes as RNZAF reactivated No 62 Squadron throughout a ceremony at RNZAF Base Auckland on 4 July 2025.
Defence Minister Judith Collins stated: “Area is important for contemporary life. We depend on space-based infrastructure for a spread of crucial companies, from climate remark to monetary transactions.
“This is a crucial sign that we’re taking house safety significantly.”
No 62 Squadron, which traces its origins to World Battle II, served as a radar squadron within the Pacific, utilizing the superior expertise of the day to supply early warnings of enemy assaults and to trace the positions of hostile plane.
The squadron will now focus on house area consciousness, with an preliminary deal with monitoring, analysing, and understanding house exercise, in response to Collins.
“Latest world developments have highlighted the necessity for resilient, superior defence capabilities. This transfer is a part of the work the New Zealand Defence Pressure is doing to keep up a combat-capable, versatile drive,” the minister added.
In April 2025, Air Vice-Marshal Darryn Webb advised Reuters that the house unit “could have simply 15 personnel when it’s created”.
This growth aligns with the broader Defence Functionality Plan that earmarked NZ$12bn ($7.2bn) for upgrading the defence drive over 4 years, together with NZ$9bn in new expenditures.
The plan, released in April 2025, projects investments over 15 years to reinforce fight readiness, lethality, and interoperability with allies comparable to Australia.
It additionally anticipates a rise in defence spending to over 2% of GDP inside eight years.
The defence drive is tasked with implementing this bold plan, which includes collaboration with business companions and refining procurement processes.
The plan will bear biennial evaluations beginning in 2027.
