Negotiations on the procurement of Ireland’s first military radar programme are set to get under way this summer.
Tánaiste and Minister for Defence Simon Harris is expected to tell the Cabinet this morning that his department has identified four countries with which it will now enter into formal negotiations, with a view to beginning the roll-out of a radar system from 2026.
The sophisticated and complex system could cost hundreds of millions of euro.
Officials have been assessing countries that have expressed an interest in working with Ireland in relation to radar procurement.
It is understood eight countries expressed an interest, and that has now been whittled down to four.
Negotiations will involve bilateral discussions at an official level with all countries. A preferred bidder, or bidders, will be selected later this year.
It is expected to be rolled-out in phases and be completed in 2028.
Once complete, it is envisaged that the radar will be made up of three elements; Land-based Long-Range Primary Radar, Ground-based Air Defence systems and Maritime Radar.
The system will have the ability to detect aircraft designed not to be seen, or that have their transponders turned off.
Hostile and surveillance aircraft and hijacked aircraft can be identified by the technology along with international drug smugglers also use aircraft ‘cloaked’ from radar detection.
The Defence Forces currently does not have the capability to detect these types of aircraft in Irish airspace.
Mr Harris is expected to say that it is important that every state knows what is happening in its airspace and that having an effective primary radar system in place will act as a deterrent.
The Commission on the Defence Forces in 2022 recommended that Ireland puts in place its own military radar system, which the Government accepted.
