US Secretary of Defense Ash Carter has thanked the New Zealand Government for agreeing to extend its deployment to Iraq

The Pentagon looks to the lessons of Silicon Valley to regain technological superiority.

The 16-strong New Zealand Defence Force team is joining forces with around 2000 personnel from the Five Eyes partner nations.

Charlie Petera fought during World War II in North Africa and Italy between 1941 and 1945.

Prime Minister John Key says he remains confident New Zealand troops based at Taji are as safe as they can be despite a car bomb outside the military compound yesterday.

An explosion has occurred within two to three kilometres of Camp Taji in northern Baghdad where 106 NZ Defence Force personnel are currently deployed.

NZ's military will be able to go after illegal fishing vessels and launch its own cyber attacks as a result of a $20b increase in funding - Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee.

NZ Defence Force upgrade includes a scaling-up of operations in the Southern Ocean and Antarctica and a greater focus on defending against cyber attacks.

Military and intelligence agencies will get a combined $479 million in extra operational funding over the next four years.

Kiwi soldiers sent to help train Iraqi security forces back in New Zealand.

COMMENT: Inadequate court sentences don't deter people, writes Barry Soper. Perhaps court martials are the answer.

Explosions rang out as the New Zealand Defence Force's new $46 million battle training facility was opened in Auckland this morning.

The US will narrowly define the use of artificial intelligence. Will its enemies?

British troops have been testing material so advanced it hides soldiers from infra-red and heat-seeking devices.

The New Zealand Defence Force said that the unnamed soldier was a national liaison officer at coalition headquarters in Jordan.

Australia's armed forces will be boosted by new submarines and aircraft but the NZ Government won't confirm if more money is on the way for the military here.

The New Zealand Army Band will perform at the Queen's 90th birthday party - at the request of the monarch herself.

A makeover of the New Zealand Defence Force should reinstate airstrike capability and include armed drones, says New Zealand First deputy leader Ron Mark.

Australian army Colonel Gavin Keating faced a curious quandary as he prepared to depart for Iraq - what about the rugby?

Half of Kiwis would see a return by the United States Navy to New Zealand ports as a positive move but a large minority don't want their ships back, shows the latest Herald DigiPoll survey.

New Zealand soldiers training Iraqi troops have turned to a rudimentary fighting weapon - the bayonet.

There is a danger that this conflict will draw us ever deeper into a quagmire, writes Gehan Gunasekar. There is a danger of escalation should the current proxy conflict spill into conflict between the great powers involved themselves.

It will raise NZ's target profile amongst Islamists and could invite attack at home. But it is a necessary, justifiable and ultimately right thing to do, writes Paul Buchanan.

Kiwis more comfortable with country's contribution to joint training mission to help combat Isis.

Ethan Couch who killed four and vanished is set to return to the United States after his capture in Mexico.

The Defence Force chose a rifle made by US manufacturer Lewis Machine and Tools (LMT) out of eight possible contenders.