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The Royal New Zealand Navy, Defence Science and Technology, and Dawn Aerospace conducted a radar tracking trial using the Aurora spaceplane off the Canterbury coast. The Dawn Aerospace Radar Tracking Experiment (DARTE) aimed to evaluate radar detection of high-altitude, high-speed vehicles.

The NZDF obtained real-world performance data domestically, enhancing national capabilities. Aurora, a 4.8-meter spaceplane, can reach speeds of Mach 1.1 and altitudes of 25 kilometers, with an upcoming upgrade to Mach 3.7. The trial demonstrated New Zealand's aerospace sector's role in national resilience and the significance of reusable aerospace platforms in defence research.