New Zealand played the role of the adversary defensive cyber team, up against cyber units from its Five Eyes intelligence partners./ Photo: NZDF / supplied
The New Zealand Defence Force has taken part in what the US military calls a "milestone" offensive cyber military exercise.
The US' so-called Cyber Flag exercises have previously all been about defensive operations.
US Cyber Command said including offensive cyber operations for the first time represented a "strategic shift".
New Zealand played the role of the adversary defensive cyber team, up against cyber units from its Five Eyes intelligence partners - the US, UK, Canada and Australia - last month.
One aim was to "certify offensive cyber mission teams", according to the American military.
South Korea joined an earlier version of the exercise in May in the US that the NZDF sent 18 staff to.