The New Zealand Army is introducing new 81 mm mortars into service and will acquire a new capability from next year with the delivery of four AN/TPQ-49A weapon-locating radars, the service's Army News publication reported in its June issue. An undisclosed number of M8 81 mm mortars from Austrian manufacturer Hirtenberger Defence Systems have already been delivered and will be issued later this year, the magazine reported. These will replace L16 81 mm mortars that entered service in 1975. The AN/TPQ-49A lightweight radars will support the L1 19 105 mm light guns of the 16th Field Regiment in the sense, warn, locate, and counter-fire acquisition roles, according to the publication. Moreover, the availability of counter-unmanned aircraft system (C-UAS) software is being examined.
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