According to information published by the New Zealand Defence Force on July 18, 2025, the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) has deployed Bluebottle Uncrewed Surface Vessels (USVs) to Fiji in support of Operation Calypso, a key regional initiative aimed at enhancing maritime security in the South Pacific. New Zealand Navy HMNZS Canterbury vessel transported the two USVs, named Tahi and Rua, into Suva as part of a broader joint operation to monitor Fiji’s exclusive economic zone and counter narcotics trafficking and illegal fishing activities.
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New Zealand Navy HMNZS Canterbury vessel deploys a Bluebottle Uncrewed Surface Vessel in Suva, Fiji, as part of Operation Calypso 2025 to support joint maritime surveillance and security operations with the Republic of Fiji Navy. (Picture source: New Zealand Navy)
Operation Calypso is conducted in close partnership with the Republic of Fiji Navy and reflects New Zealand’s ongoing commitment to Pacific maritime security. The Bluebottle USVs, developed by Australian company Ocius Technology, are autonomous platforms powered by solar, wind, and wave energy, enabling them to perform long-duration missions without onboard crew or refueling. These systems are suited for surveillance, border protection, fishery enforcement, and ocean data collection, making them valuable tools in efforts to deter transnational crime and safeguard vital marine resources.
HMNZS Canterbury, a Multi-Role Vessel (MRV) and the largest ship in the Royal New Zealand Navy, serves as the operational platform for the deployment. With a displacement of over 9,000 tonnes, the vessel is designed for amphibious sealift and humanitarian assistance missions. It features a well dock for landing craft, a flight deck for helicopter operations, and extensive cargo and troop transport capacity. In this operation, Canterbury not only delivered the autonomous USVs but also functions as a command and support hub for joint maritime activities with the Fijian Navy.
Alongside the USVs, aerial support is provided by a Royal New Zealand Air Force No. 42 Squadron King Air aircraft, delivering reconnaissance and surveillance coverage. Fijian Navy vessels are on standby to intercept and board any vessels engaged in illegal activity. Monitoring of the Bluebottles is carried out at the Maritime Essential Services Centre in Suva, jointly staffed by RNZN and Fijian Navy personnel. Outside regular hours, command and control shifts to HMNZS Matataua operating from Devonport Naval Base in Auckland.
Commodore Shane Arndell, the Maritime Component Commander of the New Zealand Defence Force, emphasized the importance of addressing regional security threats such as narcotics trafficking, which he described as having serious and lasting effects on Fijian society and the broader Pacific region. He noted that operations like Calypso are vital not only for intercepting criminal activity but also for deepening military cooperation and readiness across partner nations.
While docked in Suva, HMNZS Canterbury’s crew will take part in the Southwest Pacific Heads of Maritime Forces meeting and join the Fijian Navy’s 50th Golden Jubilee celebrations. Canterbury’s participation in Operation Calypso follows its recent role in Exercise Talisman Sabre, a major multinational military drill in Australia, where the ship transported New Zealand Army and Air Force units, vehicles, and aircraft. This back-to-back operational tempo underlines the MRV’s versatility and central role in the RNZN’s strategic engagement across the Pacific.
The partnership between New Zealand and Fiji is rooted in decades of defense cooperation, regional trust, and shared values aimed at maintaining peace and prosperity across the South Pacific. As an island nation with a vast exclusive economic zone, Fiji faces persistent threats from illegal fishing and maritime crime, but lacks the extensive surveillance infrastructure needed to monitor its waters independently. New Zealand fills this critical gap through sustained naval deployments, technical support, and joint operational initiatives. By integrating autonomous systems like the Bluebottle USVs and deploying multi-role platforms such as HMNZS Canterbury, the RNZN directly enhances Fiji’s ability to detect, deter, and respond to maritime threats. This cooperation ensures the protection of regional resources, strengthens collective maritime governance, and reinforces New Zealand’s role as a committed security partner in the Pacific.
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