The Last Post the iconic bugle call still heard in parts of the former British Empire to commemorate the military dead might soon be telling navy divers around the world that they've just failed an exercise in seabed mine training.
The tune is incorporated in a diver training system known as METRES Maritime EOD (explosive ordnance device) Training, Ranging and Evaluation System developed by the Defense Technology Agency (DTA), the science and technology arm of the New Zealand Defense Force.
It is one of a range of new technologies, spanning seabed mines to state-of-the-art avionics, that could see New Zealand's military become a minor, but significant player in the global military equipment market.
The United States Navy purchased six of the METRES systems in November last year, prompting DTA director Dr Brian Young to anticipate interest from other military organizations.
METRES, a replica mine that sits on the seabed and can be configured to the specifications of a variety of mines, carries sensors that can detect the noise or activity of approaching divers. Its reactions include a light that goes on when a diver is detected and the worst case scenario a rendition of The Last Post through its underwater speaker to signal an explosion.
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