Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 9 September 2024
168. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence for an update in relation to the progress of the Defence Forces equipment development plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35325/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy 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 acquisition, modernisation and upgrade of Defence Forces equipment are considered in the context of the established capability development and Equipment Development Planning (EDP) processes.
This acquisition of military equipment through the utilisation of the Defence Equipment Development Plan is considered through joint civil-military co-operation, and provides a consolidated, structured basis for ongoing investment in military equipment to develop and maintain necessary capabilities.
The rolling Equipment Development Plan encompasses a programme of sustained equipment procurement/acquisition across the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service as identified and prioritised in the Strategic Framework and the Detailed Implementation Plan for the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces, building on the work done under the White Paper on Defence. This is part of the ambitious programme of work to move to Level of Ambition 2 ( LOA2) by 2028, and will ensure that the Defence Forces have the major equipment platforms, ancillary equipment and force protection equipment required to carry out their important roles both at home and overseas.
The Commission's recommendations for the move to LOA2 includes the recommendation for an accelerated programme of naval vessel replacement, to ensure a balanced fleet of nine modern ships is reached by early in the next decade.
In this regard, Marine Advisors have been appointed to support the procurement of a Multi-Role Vessel (MRV) for the Naval Service. A Prior Information Notice was published in the Official Journal of the European Union in January to advise the market of my Department's intention to run a tender competition to procure an MRV. Work is currently underway that will inform next steps.
Further investment in Naval Service capabilities is ongoing, with the Naming and Commissioning Ceremony for the two Inshore Patrol Vessels, LÉ Aoibhinn and LÉ Gobnait purchased from New Zealand held at the Naval Base, Haulbowline on Wednesday 4th September. Projects for other Naval Service capabilities will be considered in the context of overall capability development and available funding in accordance with established planning processes.
Work on capital investment in aircraft continues, with a contract placed with Airbus at a cost of €59 million excluding VAT for a military transport aircraft for the Defence Forces. The Airbus C295W aircraft is highly versatile and will provide a dedicated asset to support the Defence Forces military airlift transport requirements and provide a wide contingent capability. The aircraft will enable the Air Corps to provide a wide range of services including logistics support and transport of troops and equipment, medical evacuation and air ambulance, Special Operations Forces operations and a general utility role. Delivery of this aircraft is expected in 2025.
In addition, the competitive process for the purposes of delivering a replacement aircraft for the Ministerial Air Transport Service is well advanced with the restricted Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ) stage complete and a number of aircraft manufacturers passed to the Invitation To Tender multi-stage phase which is ongoing at present.
The programme for the supply of two C295 Maritime Patrol Aircraft has been completed, and the aircraft entered into service in 2024. Projects for other Air Corps capabilities will be considered in the context of overall capability development and available funding in accordance with the planning processes.
Projects for the Army are considered in the context of capability development and available funding against the backdrop of the overall Equipment Development Plan process. There has been significant investment in recent years in the armoured fleet of vehicles with the enhancement of force protection and mobility with the mid-life refit of the MOWAG Piranha III vehicles project nearing completion and the delivery of Armoured Utility Vehicles. These projects have seen the integration of cutting edge technology and equipment into the vehicles. Technology is an enabler of modern military forces. A framework agreement for the supply of a Software Defined Radio system to the Defence Forces has recently been awarded. This complex project has been designed to meet the Defence Forces' requirements and to incorporate systems and equipment platforms, it will support the joint common operational picture.
In addition to these major projects, there is an on-going schedule of capital investment across a broad range of force protection measures, including in General Service Body Armour, a new combat helmet, the procurement of Chemical Biological, Radiological and Nuclear protection suits, and new thermal imaging targeting systems. Investment in transport, communications and information technology, weapons and ammunition systems continues in 2024.
This level of investment in Defence equipment platforms will further boost ongoing efforts at enhancing Defence Forces capabilities across land, sea and air domains. The Department of Defence received a capital allocation of €176 million in Budget 2024, and is set to receive a capital allocation of €215 million for 2025 and €220 million for 2026 following a revision of NDP multi-annual allocations. The Defence allocation is determined within an overarching budgetary framework which encompasses existing NDP multi-annual capital allocations and remains cognisant of the level of resources available, commensurate with Defence policy requirements and allowing for a phased planned programme of sustained equipment development.
