A New Zealand defence technology company has been recognised by the New Zealand Government for an immersive multiplayer virtual reality (VR) training capability developed for the Royal New Zealand Navy, following an agreement signed with Babcock International at the INDOPAC defence exhibition last year.
According to information shared with MySecurity Media, Company-X’s Lance Bauerfeind received the Auahatanga – Innovation Award at the 2026 Minister of Defence Awards of Excellence to Industry for developing a portable multiplayer VR simulation system intended to support Navy diver rescue training.
The technology is designed to let instructors and trainees enter complex underwater rescue scenarios together in real time. The stated aim is to enable immediate feedback, repeatable training and safer preparation for high-risk operations.
Key details provided include that the capability is the first use of multiplayer VR in this form within the New Zealand Defence Force, and that the portable simulation system can operate without Wi‑Fi connectivity. The company also described the system as designed to support scalable and more accessible training delivery, with potential relevance beyond maritime training across aviation, land forces and emergency response.
The award comes as defence organisations across allied countries continue to look at immersive simulation to expand training opportunities while reducing reliance on physical resources and access to specialised environments. For maritime and diver training in particular, simulation may offer a way to rehearse hazardous scenarios more frequently and consistently than would be possible using live exercises alone.
