The New Zealand Defence Force has not ruled out future adoption of Maven Smart Systems, an AI-driven targeting technology developed by the Pentagon and Palantir that has been deployed in the Iran war to accelerate targeting processes.
The NZDF is not currently assessing Maven but said it would be wrong to suggest the technology is off the table. The force already uses other Palantir products and emphasised that advancing interoperability with the Australian Defence Force remains a top priority.
The Australian Defence Force is testing Maven in a controlled environment to evaluate how it might integrate with targeting systems. Australia has $17 million in contracts with Palantir, which came under scrutiny from Green Party Australian Senator David Shoebridge.
ADF senior officers confirmed they are using the same product suite as those deployed in conflict zones but in a different configuration. "Those systems that you referred to have the AI function initiated in them. We don't," one officer said. "We're using it to understand how you would collate all the data to give commanders the right situational awareness and ability to select targets on the battlefield."
US forces used Maven to identify targets in Iran, while Israeli forces have used Maven or variant software to identify targets in Gaza and Lebanon.
The NZDF said ally and partner military technology roadmaps "will prompt us to continuously review which systems we may wish to, or need to align with to ensure continued interoperability, including those using or planning to use Palantir and Maven."