Ireland €1.7bn Defence Plan: Ireland has started a major defence plan worth €1.7 billion that will run until the year 2030. Minister for Defence Helen McEntee shared the new plan at the Curragh Camp in Co Kildare. She said the plan will help the Defence Forces grow faster in land, air, sea and cyber areas. She also said the spending is a 55% rise from the older plan and shows how serious Ireland is about protecting the country.
Big Investment to Modernise Defence Forces
Minister McEntee said she is glad to bring this plan to Cabinet because, “it’s essential that we continue to increase our funding, our spending and our focus on the Defence Forces”.
According to RTE she explained, “We know the type of changing threats that are emerging and my focus and priority as Minister for Defence is to make sure the Defence Forces are growing, expending and we are enhancing capabilities.”
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A big part of the plan is a new radar system that will be built over the next few years and finished by 2028. This radar will help Ireland spot threats in the sky and give better warnings. McEntee said she will bring the full radar plan to Cabinet soon.
She said drones seen during Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s visit show how real the danger is. Drones were spotted near his flight path, and she has already spoken with the Chief of the Defence Forces about it.
She said, “These drones are designed to disrupt.” She added that Ireland needs to learn from this and get ready for anything new.
New Technology and Equipment
The Minister will also confirm that €19 million will fund a new counter unmanned aerial system for the Defence Forces. The aim is to have this anti-drone system ready by the middle of next year. It marks the first stage of the larger radar project, which will be fully complete by 2028 and will bring even stronger counter-drone abilities. One battery is expected to be based at Baldonnel airbase in west Dublin, an important location as many world leaders will visit during Ireland’s EU Presidency in late 2026.
The full radar system could cost up to €500 million. The Defence Forces will begin using early parts of it to watch the skies and block dangerous drones. Minister McEntee said this work is “essential” and must happen “as soon as possible”.
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The wider plan also includes new Air Corps helicopters, a long-range aircraft, better subsea tools for the Navy, and upgrades for the Army such as new armoured vehicles, night-vision gear and replacements for the PC-9M training aircraft.
The Government will also invest €400 million to improve Defence Forces buildings. This includes training camps, places to stay, gyms and other important areas. More money will also go to IT systems, engineering work and better living spaces for Defence Forces staff.
