Interesting articles

sparky42

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123976468#Comment_123976468

wouldn’t be the worst to have everyone see an actual frigate doing its job, though Deputy Nailpainter might be appalled! It might be interesting to see where the Radar buy goes, might be more talks with France, which wouldn’t be bad.As to the question of funds and capacity, we know the departments are hostile to any defence spend great or small, and we know that as is we aren’t going to come close to meeting LoA2 by 2028, hell we are still barely above were we started from. If using any of the SAFE mechanisms and funding leds to an improvement then it should be used.

The reality our position is getting more and more negative attention and it’s only going to get worse in 9 months.

Larbre34

Thats for sure.

And the only way it can likely be defrayed at this stage, is with several significant capital orders, placed G2G, with EU makers of radar, sonar, ships, and sigint tech.

I think the chances of the medium helo order being forthcoming are slim, given what I referenced earlier.

Razor44

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123977299#Comment_123977299

Thats exactly my point. Aside from the obvious, id say we (the nation) are starting to take real damage at eu level over this and a few other things, my assumption is the same as yours, if this is being leaked now, things are going to get a lot worse for us within the EU. Defense is just the easiest one to spot it with.

We're really on a road to irrelevance and opposition to the eu from their view point. Between not looking after critical infrastructure (sub sea cables) and waving through US tech companies on regulation and taxation, I dont expect us to get a friendly helping hand from the eu re anything. I suspect summit meetings may well end up in Brussels.

Kermit.de.frog

Well yeah, not only are we freeloading on defence but the perception (whether accurate or not) is that we are a parasite on Europe with our industrial policy.

That's an ugly image for a country that should understand the importance reputation has for a small country.

No one is asking for a Swedish or Swiss size military or anything unreasonable. All anyone wants is the country to go about it's obligations to itself with some self respect and dignity and actually contribute something to the west's security by proxy. You can be neutral, be serious about your own area of responsibility and reassure neighbours.

Our neighbours don't want us involved in anything. As long as we look after our own shop I'm very certain they couldn't care less.

Larbre34

That is actually the key metric.

The other EU/NATO members likely don't give a stuff if we ever join the alliance, as long as we step up to have eyes and ears and hulls and aircraft for our own territory and oceanic EEZ and air traffic AoR, and that we are discreetly generous and cooperative with our neighbours and partners on that score.

Larbre34

The economic blackmail begins.

And in Britain's case, it might well work.

jonnybigwallet

Great looking bit of kit!

sparky42

A follow-up article on the Journal, touching on the constitutional issues any deployment of foriegn forces to help secure the EU summits, will bring.

https://www.thejournal.ie/eu-summit-ireland-military-constitutional-6873697-Nov2025/

Again, round of appaulse to the Government and DoD for being so feckless as to not have anything ready at this stage.

Larbre34

Yes, McDowell was AG, but he was also a senior minister in two separate administrations, during the Celtic Tiger years, that completely failed to invest sufficiently then either, so he can **** off.

sparky42

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123989464#Comment_123989464

except I would bet he's going to be willing to take the challenge to the courts at the first suggestion of it happening.

Hotblack Desiato

McDowell is a stirrer who did the square root of shag all when he had the chance.

And a friendly ship does not need to be within our territorial waters to offer us defence.

But at this stage I hope no EU Presidency meetings are held in Ireland. We are a total embarrassment.

roadmaster

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123989450#Comment_123989450

Interesting they say no one country has been asked and there security Man has proven to be a lot more on the ball than the times/examiner or the UK Times.

The point were Mcdowell says it could be possabile if the ship comes under irish Control it would be simlar to the German Puma during the popes visit.

But who know we may see LE Platini

jonnybigwallet

That McDowell needs to take a reality check. When the constitution was drafted there was no such thing as a potential drone swarm or indeed the possibility of Dublin hosting multiple EU heads of state.

Razor44

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123989720#Comment_123989720

The Constitution is interpreted as a living document to be read harmoniously, so it doesn't matter when it was drafted or the intentions of the drafts men ((at the time) to a degree). The point he raises (and im not a fan of his at all) is absolutely correct, and you can be sure this has be raised off the record several times behind closed doors.

None of this is a surprise to anyone one in LH but yet here we are.

sparky42

Just spotted this in the UK Times:

The government has fast-tracked the purchase of a €500 million air defence system that includes advanced drone-jamming technology so that part of the system­ can be installed before Ireland assumes the EU presidency.
Officials say the upgrades are intended to safeguard high-level meetings that could be targeted by hostile states ­during the presidency term.
Ireland will hold the presidency of the Council of the European Union for the eighth time from July 1 to December 31 next year. Security planners have warned that the rotating presidency — during which Ireland will host a large number of ministerial gatherings, summits and diplomatic events — will make the country an attractive ­target for foreign interference, ­making rapid enhancement of air defence capabilities a priority.
The new technology will create no-fly zones for unmanned aircraft, reducing the likelihood that Defence Forces personnel would need ministerial approval to shoot down a drone over sensitive locations. Shooting down a large drone would also pose a risk to public safety.
Officials say this protective envelope will be particularly critical around venues hosting EU presidency meetings, including sites close to Dublin airport and large government buildings.
One area of vulnerability identified by Irish authorities in relation to the EU presidency is maritime activity in the Irish Sea. There is growing suspicion that drones have been launched from vessels passing near EU capitals, although no conclusive evidence has emerged.
Dublin airport’s close proximity to the sea may result in increased searches of maritime traffic at key moments during Ireland’s presidency to ensure that hostile­ drone operations cannot threaten official events or delegations. For this ­reason, important meetings, which may be attended by high-risk targets such as President Zelensky of Ukraine, might be held outside the capital to ensure they can be adequately protected.
The investment announced on Saturday by Simon Harris, the minister for foreign affairs and defence, marks the largest defence outlay in the history of the state and comes amid concern across Europe about suspicious drone activity. The government envisages its air defence and radar system will help to safeguard not just Ireland but Europe’s western borders from Russia and hostile actors.
At least 15 Nato countries have reported incursions in recent months, with Germany and Belgium worst affected. More than half the sightings have occurred near airports and a quarter over military or strategic infrastructure, prompting fears of a co-ordinated hybrid ­warfare campaign.
Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, has described the activity as an “escalating campaign”, while Friedrich Merz, the German chancellor, has directly accused Moscow. The air defence and radar system acquired by Ireland comprises both land-based long-range primary radar and anti-drone capability, according to defence sources. It also includes the development of a secure air operations centre, to be based at Casement Aerodrome in Kildare.
Security sources have indicated that, once operational, the radar capability will provide air surveillance up to 15km into Ireland’s airspace. A French company will provide the contract to build and install the radar system.

https://archive.ph/ikx68

So Thales? But where/when was this announced?

Larbre34

There is no announcement or press release on the DoD or government press office websites, or Harris' social media.

And he was active today, because a DFAT release in his name about legacy issues from the northern troubles era was issued dated 15 Nov.

Larbre34

Different matter entirely, but also very interesting

roadmaster

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123991624#Comment_123991624

i Know Kildare is close to Casement but when did Casement leave County Dublin? If the figures are correct at 500 what system does that get the State?

Larbre34

Who knows. It all sounds like vague guff.

I don’t know how you set up no-fly zones for drones, without flooding an area with EM energy and also taking out the mobile phone service, radio comms, wi-fi networks, regular civil ATC etc.

jonnybigwallet

If this is true…it sounds like a hell of a powerful package. Just shows ya though, at the drop of a hat they're able to pony up a half a billion quid to protect a few score Euro politicians, yet they keep on procrastinatin about buying the kit we need to protect our own people from Jonny Russian. 😔

roadmaster

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123992428#Comment_123992428

We can do anything we want but only under two conditions.

1. Our USA FDI is under attack.
2. The DFA gets embarrassed in Brussels.

mupper2

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123991824#Comment_123991824

500mill would get quite a bit..just for illustrative purposes, 10 Thales GM400 radars with a chunk of cash left over..or 3 IRIS-T SLM GBAD batteries with cash left over.

Or a mix.

sparky42

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123992628#Comment_123992628

A mix wouldn't be a horrible idea, but I suppose we have to wait to see what the rumour turns out to be.

Larbre34

Not necessarily.

One solution for the fixed primary homeland radar is needed, but also a more advanced integrated field deployable solution, with missiles and/or CIWS for force protection purposes. Dont forget we've given away the basic kit we did have. If we're going to Ukraine or wherever else with the EUBG, we'll be expected to be bringing our own AA and rotary airlift.

And while I agree with Mupper that half a billion goes a fair way, your solution doesn't include the large anti-drone element that will be needed. There is really no crossover between conventional air defence systems and localised deployable, electromagnetic anti-drone tech.

sparky42

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123993898#Comment_123993898

Thing is, we arguably need all the different capabilities, not that I expect us to be going anywhere tbh, we are too far behind modern spec and will be for years at best.

Grassy Knoll

I’m presuming this is some sort of soft leak ahead of the upcoming NDP project list release. As folks have said here already it will probably be a high level enough list to allow flexibility (wriggle room) etc. if an air defence system of €0.5 bn is being spoken of, it shows nothing is cheap, particularly hardware where there is plenty of tech involved,

sparky42

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123994502#Comment_123994502

Given nothing has hit any Irish sites that I can see even though the Times article quoted Harris, I'd agree that its a planned leak, but what exactly is involved is certainly another question. Is it the "floated" circa €300m for the Primary radar's plus CUAS capabilities, or just strictly air defence investment, is the suggested naval systems included as briefed before on the project, or has that been kicked to accelerate CUAS?

vswr

Leak of one of the anti drone systems on trial

roadmaster

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123995455#Comment_123995455

No deper said that cost to much to buy off Temu so they are going to deploy any Guard they have from Tipp with a Hurl and a silotar instead

sparky42

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123995478#Comment_123995478

They were planning on getting the OPW to make a big "FECK OFF" Sign, but that turned out to be more expensive than the DF submission.