Defence Forces to get new multi-million euro anti-aircraft missile system

Ireland is to spend tens of millions of euro on a new anti-aircraft missile system for the Defence Forces, it has emerged.

Sources say the final cost of the system – which will be expected to have the capability to blast targets out of the sky up to a range of 40km – is likely to be as much as €100million.

"For our needs, the system would probably cost between €50million to €100million," a senior source told The Irish Mirror.

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The planned air defence system is part of the Government’s plan of around €300million to establish Ireland’s first military radar system. At present, Ireland has no way of knowing what planes are in our skies if they turn off their transponders that allow them to be detected by the state’s civilian radar scheme. That means we can’t track foreign military aircraft - or even planes that are trying to smuggle in drugs - if they turn off the transponders.

The Giraffe radar system for the current RBS-70 system used by the Defence Forces. Both it and the missile system are to be replaced.
(Image: Defence Forces/Óglaigh na hÉireann)

The government is planning to fix that by buying a military – or primary – radar system. It had been thought the system would only allow the Defence Forces to spot aircraft in Irish skies – but take no action against them as the Air Corps have no jets that can intercept targets. But Tánaiste Micheal Martin, who is Minister for Defence as well as Foreign Affairs, has now told the Dail the new radar system will have an air defence element.

He made the revelation in recent days in a written answer to former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, who wanted to know if the State had examined whether Northern Ireland being part of a new Europe-wide anti-aircraft defence scheme called European Sky Shield Initiative, or ESSI, would leave the rest of Ireland vulnerable. The ESSI sees an integrated network of anti-aircraft missile systems from Turkey to the north – but the Tánaiste confirmed to Mr Varadkar Ireland has not been invited to take part in it.

But he added: "Department officials are considering ESSI and other European developments regarding Air and Missile Defence while focusing on developing Ireland’s own capabilities in this area.

Minister for Defence Micheal Martin and Chief of Staff of the Irish Defence Forces, Lieutenant General Sean Clancy. Mr Martin told The Dail in recent days the Government planned to but a new air defence system.

"Work on the development of military radar capabilities is underway by my Department.

"This is an ambitious and complex programme of three related air defence and radar projects (collectively termed the Military Radar – Recognised Air Picture Programme) which will contribute to the establishment of a Recognised Air Picture as follows:

• Land based Long Range Primary Radar;

• Ground Based Air Defence System (to include Counter Unmanned Aerial Systems capability);

• Maritime Ship Borne Radar System."

We have established that work is now under way to buy a system – and it is likely to be operational in 2028 – the same timeframe for the new military radar.

Ireland has had no functioning aircraft system for at least two years. The Defence Forces does have a Swedish-made Saab RBS-70 missile system – with a range of 5km – but we reported in April 2023 that the military could not deploy it for the visit of US President Joe Biden because the Giraffe radar it uses was broken.

Now the government plans to overhaul the entire air defence system – and buy a new missile system. One likely candidate, sources have said, is an upgraded version of the RBS-70. The RBS-23 also uses a modern Giraffe radar system – but has a much longer range than the RBS-70. It can reach an altitude of 15km – or almost 50,000ft – as well as a range of 20km.

That would cost around €100million for the unit, radar and missiles, sources say. As well as taking out planes, it can also hit drones and even cruise missiles. Another possibility is the French-made VL-MICA, but that would be more expensive, around €150million.

A Department of Defence briefing paper, seen by The Irish Mirror, says progress has been made on the scheme, but concedes it will be expensive.

It reads: "A civil / military project team are continuing their work of research into various delivery options as well as determining the appropriate procurement strategy for the military radar programme. Governance structures to manage this programme of work are also in place. Significant progress has been made to date but we are still at the early stages of this project.

"In line with Infrastructure Guidelines, it is expected that the requirement phase will be completed by the end of 2024.

"This will be an expensive capability to deliver and maintain and before any spending commitments are made the full rigour of the Public Spending Code/Infrastructure Guidelines must be applied to ensure that the taxpayer gets best value for money."

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