Grace Boland
Question:138. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Defence the procurement plans for new naval and air assets; the timelines envisaged for their delivery; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72015/25]
View answerTuesday, 16 December 2025
Questions (138)
Written answers
My priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service is maintained and developed. This is to enable the Defence Forces to carry out the roles assigned by Government.
The capital funding of €1.7 billion allocated to Defence in the latest National Development Plan covering the period 2026 to 2030 represents an increase of €600 million on the previous baseline of €1.1 billion. The revised capital allocations will enable targeted progression on key elements of Government commitments within Level of Ambition 2 objectives.
In relation to the maritime domain, the Commission on the Defence Forces recommended a programme of naval vessel replacement under Level of Ambition 2, to ensure a balanced fleet of a modern ships is reached early in the next decade, this has been accepted in principle by Government.
My Department is preparing a long-term Capability Development Programme which will identify and cost, at a high level, the capability requirements for the Defence Forces out to 2040 across all domains of operation.
I expect to receive in the coming weeks a Regeneration Plan for the Naval Service to address the challenges they faced in recent years from the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces.
On receipt of the Regeneration Plan and the Capability Development Programme 2028 to 2040, which I intend to bring to Government in the first half of 2026. In finalising these plans I intend to ensure that the Government can make evidence informed decisions on what the balanced fleet of modern ships should be, including decisions regarding the Multi-Role Vessel, and the greater use of technologies. These decisions will also be informed by other relevant information, including the new National Maritime Security Strategy that is expected shortly.
Other projects being progressed include the replacement of secondary armament across the fleet, the provision of 4 motor launches for the Naval Service Reserve, provision for the mid-life upgrade of the four P60 class Offshore Patrol Vessels along with enhanced sub-sea awareness and radar capabilities.
Earlier this year Government announced a new major contract with Thales DMS France for the provision of towed sonar capability. The sonar will be used for monitoring and surveillance in the subsea domain, thus significantly enhancing maritime security. Another project has commenced that aims to provide the Air Corps with the capability to detect, localise, identify, and track sub-surface objects. This capability will be used in conjunction with the new towed sonar capability planned for delivery in 2027, and also with existing Air Corps assets.
Radar capabilities for the Naval Service are being progressed as part of a wider programme of work regarding military radar. A project team comprising senior civil and military personnel has been established to progress three elements to the Military Radar Programme, namely Land based Long Range Primary Radar; Ground Based Air Defence (GBAD) systems, to include a Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS) capability and Maritime (ship-borne) Radar.
In the air domain, capital investment in aircraft continues with the placing of the following contracts in recent years: two new Airbus C-295 in Maritime Patrol Aircraft delivered in 2023; one new Airbus C-295 in a Military Transport configuration delivered in October 2025; one new Dassault Falcon 6X Strategic Reach Aircraft due for delivery today and four Airbus H145M Light Utility Multi-Role Helicopters, with these aircraft in production for phased delivery in 2027 and 2028.
The Air Corps fleet includes eight Pilatus PC-9M aircraft which entered service in 2004. The replacement of these aircraft is being considered as part of the capability development planning process along with the Super-Medium Helicopter Fleet Replacement Project.