The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) has taken delivery of its first VAMTAC ST5 Medium tactical vehicle, marking a new chapter in military mobility and digital integration. The prototype vehicle, manufactured by Spain’s URO Vehículos Especiales S.A. (UROVESA), arrived in New Zealand aboard one of the Royal New Zealand Air Force’s new C-130J-30 Hercules aircraft—an acquisition that itself reflects the country’s broader push for defense modernization.
This VAMTAC ST5 isn’t just another military truck. It’s a high-tech testbed—a mobile laboratory on wheels—for the next generation of battlefield communications and digital systems. Designed for rugged off-road performance and modular adaptability, the ST5 is poised to become a cornerstone of New Zealand’s tactical vehicle fleet, replacing aging Unimog and Pinzgauer platforms that have long served the Army.
The VAMTAC ST5, short for “Vehículo de Alta Movilidad Táctico,” is no stranger to global defense forces. With its origins in Galicia, Spain, and a reputation for performance across Europe, Latin America, Africa, and Asia, the VAMTAC platform has seen service in over 20 countries, including several NATO members. But New Zealand’s adaptation of the vehicle marks a new use case: a prototype outfitted to integrate and test digital command and control systems that will form the backbone of the NZDF’s future battlefield architecture.
“This vehicle is the first VAMTAC ST5 Medium variant to be built by UROVESA for the Ministry of Defence. Its arrival signals the start of a new era in military communications mobility for our forces,” said Sarah Minson, Deputy Secretary of Capability Delivery for New Zealand’s Ministry of Defence.
The ST5 will undergo a rigorous system integration phase, where advanced digital systems—designed to enhance situational awareness, communications security, and command interoperability—will be installed and tested. This will directly inform the design and configuration of the wider fleet.
What sets the VAMTAC ST5 apart is not only its physical toughness but also its digital openness. With a robust 6.7-liter Cummins turbocharged engine, the vehicle can hit speeds up to 110 km/h and conquer difficult terrain using a 4×4 drivetrain, inter-axle and inter-wheel differential locks, and an onboard central tire inflation system. This makes it perfectly suited for New Zealand’s challenging geography, from the alpine ranges to coastal flood zones.
Its modular chassis can support a variety of configurations, enabling rapid transition between troop transport, ambulance, reconnaissance, command-and-control, and weapons-platform roles. But it’s inside the cabin—and more importantly, inside its communication suite—where the vehicle shines brightest. The prototype will be used to test secure communications networks, satellite uplinks, ruggedized computing hardware, and other C4ISR (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) components.
Once validated, these systems will be rolled out across 60 new VAMTAC vehicles being procured in Light and Medium variants under the first tranche of New Zealand’s utility vehicle replacement program.
After its integration and test phase, the VAMTAC ST5 prototype will transition to training and operational readiness tasks. NZDF personnel will be trained on system use, diagnostics, and operational deployment procedures. This phased approach ensures not only that the technology is sound, but that the soldiers using it are fully prepared.
Lt. Col. Jason Rees, who oversees tactical communications integration at the NZDF, emphasized the importance of the platform as both a vehicle and a digital gateway. “The VAMTAC gives us a mobile digital backbone in the field. Once we complete the testing cycle, this becomes more than a truck—it becomes an edge computing node, a data relay point, a command vehicle.”
That modularity extends to humanitarian missions too. New Zealand’s defence policy emphasizes dual-use capabilities, meaning military assets must also support disaster response, search and rescue, and humanitarian assistance missions. The ST5, with its robust payload capacity and off-road agility, is primed for such versatility.
UROVESA has decades of experience producing tactical vehicles, and the VAMTAC is widely regarded as Spain’s answer to the U.S. Humvee. But New Zealand’s requirements differ from those of NATO battle groups. As such, the version delivered to the NZDF includes customizations for radio spectrum compatibility, weather hardening, and interoperability with regional allies such as Australia.
Supporting the vehicles on the ground is EPE New Zealand Ltd., a local defense contractor tasked with sustainment and support. This ensures that maintenance, supply chains, and upgrades can be handled domestically—key for any long-term defense asset.
According to Defense Analyst Dr. Matthew Henare, “This isn’t just about buying vehicles—it’s about building a sovereign capability. EPE’s role ensures that we’re not dependent on foreign maintenance cycles or logistics, and that’s a huge step for operational readiness.”
The arrival of the VAMTAC ST5 comes at a time when global security dynamics are in flux. As defense forces around the world transition to more agile, information-centric warfare models, platforms like the ST5 become essential—not for their armor or weapons, but for their ability to plug into the digital battlespace.
New Zealand, geographically isolated but increasingly active in regional stability operations, peacekeeping, and climate disaster response, needs platforms that are just as adaptable as the missions it undertakes. The VAMTAC’s multi-role flexibility supports that strategy.
Moreover, modern military vehicles must be “software-defined,” meaning they can be upgraded through system patches, firmware updates, and hardware modularity. The VAMTAC is designed with that future in mind. Its open architecture allows it to evolve as technology advances, ensuring that today’s vehicle remains relevant tomorrow.
As the rest of the 60-vehicle fleet is built and delivered over the coming years, lessons learned from the ST5 prototype will shape the final configurations. The New Zealand Army, in cooperation with the Ministry of Defence, will continue refining the vehicle’s digital backbone, ensuring compatibility with new satellite systems, secure tactical radios, and mobile command environments.
There’s more at stake than just new trucks. The VAMTAC program signals a shift in how New Zealand thinks about mobility, connectivity, and tactical adaptability. It’s a move away from legacy vehicles and toward integrated systems where hardware and software work together in the most challenging conditions.
In the VAMTAC ST5, the NZDF has found more than just a vehicle—it’s found a mobile, future-ready platform that can handle the rigors of the field while keeping soldiers connected, informed, and in command.
Whether responding to a natural disaster, supporting peacekeeping operations in the Pacific, or training alongside regional allies, the VAMTAC ST5 is set to play a central role in New Zealand’s next generation of defense capability.
