In May 2026, the Five Eyes countries announced Project Arcadia. A spokesperson for the US Department of Defence described the project as “the digital backbone that will empower our warfighters with the information dominance they need to win.”

Speaking to the Otago Daily Times, international security and intelligence analyst Dr Paul Buchanan called that description “hyperbole”, instead describing Project Arcadia as “the latest reinvention of the wheel known as interoperability.”

Speaking to RNZ last week, a spokesperson for New Zealand’s defence minister Chris Penk said, “Arcadia was part of investment in digital modernisation in 2025-28 outlined in the Defence Capability Plan last year.”

Filmed and edited by Isaiah Tour.
Written and presented by Robbie Nicol.
Made with the support of NZ On Air.