Drones have been heavily used in Ukraine in the conflict there. Photo: X / Ukraine Ministry of Defence)
The NZ Defence Force (NZDF) says it does not have any armed drones, but is involved in experiments with them.
Killer drones have featured heavily in Russia's war in Ukraine and many militaries - including in Australia - are developing them.
The NZDF recently took delivery of four types of aerial drones, and also has maritime models, but these are used for surveillance.
"We have been involved in experiments and activities to better understand how armed drones can be utilised and how to counter them," the NZDF told RNZ.
"Future participation in such activities is likely."
The Civil Aviation Authority said it was not aware of any civilian operators using or planning to test weaponised drones.
If they were, civil aviation regulations that required drone operators to minimise hazards to persons, property and other aircraft would apply, as would the Arms Act 1983 and possibly a regulation around carriage of dangerous goods, the CAA said.
The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment said its aerospace regulations only applied at high altitude, not to low-altitude drones.
None of the civilian regulations around drones and weapons apply to the defence force.
Its armed drones tests included an Australian-made Defendtex Drone in 2022. This drone can carry a small warhead and "loiter" over a target for up to an hour.
The NZDF was also part of the US Army's leading drone experiment exercises last month, to trial "human-machine integration" (HMI).
The Pentagon awarded four contracts last month for cheap prototypes of one-way drone munitions that could travel over 1000km.
A Perth company unveiled a midsized drone last week - it has a 1.5kg warhead and can travel up to 45km, with cameras for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.
"Innovaero is rapidly establishing a sovereign capability for loitering munitions that will outperform any rival in the world," the company said.
Australian soldiers were expected to be equipped this year with another kamikaze drone - the Switchblade 300.
The government said because autonomous weapons were "increasingly prevalent", Australia had to respond.
The Australian Army's research centre said it needed sovereign capability, and to harness data from Ukraine and other theatres to "refine capabilities, adapt and improve uncrewed systems in response to real-world challenges".
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