Ireland - lack of air and naval defence.

Apparently the orders have been given for the military radar system for the Republic of Ireland and now it's a "done deal" for Ireland.

https://www.armyrecognition.com/news/army-news/2025/ireland-to-acquire-500million-french-radar-system-to-strengthen-national-airspace-security#google_vignette

They are ideal for us....not that it will happen but they are almost a perfect fit.

Funny this thread started 2009 to its progression. With people laughing at investing in some sort of defense at its start to understanding the world is an unstable place later down the road.

And again, any purchase of a new ship is 4-5 years away at current delivery and introduction, basing a decision on what the situation is now, for something that won't be around till the 2030's is insane.

They are already on or about 4 ships operational now, with the hope of another 60 class coming back online during the Spring period, and each of the ships were replaced as their predecessors aged out, not the NS fault at all that DPER, DOD and Finance combined with political indifference allowed the Retention/Recruitment Crisis to escalate so far, (nor are we alone in that issue, just by far the worst), but nobody else is cutting future procurement to deal with current issues.

As for the costs, we paid for as cheap a hull possible that can do patrols, would have preferred more capable OPV's be purchased at 3 times the unit price, as it would have been better long term, but that was decided back 20+ years ago.

Honestly, I'd write off the 50's at this stage, since it finally seems to be breaking through that FP isn't the main issue of the NS and plan for actual warships to replace them in the 2030's whether that's some version of the EPC, or something else.

funny how a month or two ago one of the 70s was in Dublin and two of the 60s were operational, one in Liverpool and one in the Irish Sea, and one 70 and one 60 were operational for the State visit. Maybe they are running on AI?

And no, not even close to an issue for the 50s, just look at what the RN/RFA have been up to, or the USN, or the RNZN, or RAN. Again we are far from unique with Retention/Recruitment, or issues with refitting hulls and their usage. €30 million is feck all money for a defence investment either way.

I see this very much the same way, even though the US seems to sill be a very strong investor in Ireland. However if it's about "America first", Ireland and the EU can easily do a "EU first". Loads of European defence businesses around as well, and France being one of them.

Trump will go, and who knows who's coming next. Not everything needs to be negative, it could also turn to the positive as well. But I do see your point.

At least it's a step into the right direction. Otherwise I'd agree, the Irish navy would need surface to air capabilities at some point.

Are those tracking devices dropped into the sea chained somehow to the bottom of the sea? Or how exactly does it work?

Sonobouys float and then sink after their battery goes.

I think it's possibly more start detecting, then justify getting other capabilities off the back of what we can now see. Its the old run a pilot program and then roll it out in another form.

As pointed out by McDowell when the suggestion of a French Frigate being deployed to cover our arses for the Presidency, stationing foreign troops on an active deployment in the Republic is unconstitutional. There's also the not minor fact that pretty much every European military is stretched as is and only likely to get more stretched, covering the arse of a Freeloader to allow them to continue to Freeload is unlikely to be high on anyones agenda.

As I said above good to see we are making the purchase from a fellow EU member and keeping the money in Europe. We need more of this IMHO so we can at least begin the process of disentangling ourselves from the US.

I agree with you. I think in light of Trump the EU countries should buy from EU military companies first. It would be the better choice by far. There are more than enough defence companies in the EU.

Trump's US is no longer a reliable partner. Continued threats, tariffs, interest in taking over other countries like Greenland isn't acceptable anymore.

I'd be considering something European, like Typhoons or Saab as minimum. 15 or 20 jets sound about right.

I wouldn't trust the US either anymore. They are on a clear path to a failed state under Trump.

I'd rather trust the Brits than the US. At least the Brits keep their agreements, the US clearly doesn't and has shown that specifically under Trump.

It is wild when as an Irish person you say I would trust the Brits over the Americans but thats the reality of where we are at as wild and crazy as it is. Some Swedish Saab jets would be a good direction I think for the air corp as another step in the right direction for us defense wise and buying European.