The Government has finalized a multimillion-euro deal with Thales DMS France to supply towed sonar technology, reports Breaking News.
This sonar system—an entirely new capability for Ireland—will support subsea monitoring and surveillance, enhancing the country’s maritime defence.
The sonar will be deployed aboard Irish Naval vessels to oversee activity within Ireland’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and areas near subsea infrastructure, including communication cables and gas pipelines, reports Breaking News.
Tánaiste Simon Harris said: “This significant investment in sonar capability will provide the Naval Service with a state-of-the-art sonar system, which will enable them to build a picture of our subsea, thus contributing to the important task of protecting our critical underwater infrastructure.
“This is one of many strands of work being progressed to address the threats in our maritime domain,” reports Breaking News.
“It will serve as an important first step in creating a ‘pattern of life’ in the subsea domain, with future projects further enhancing this capability. This investment will contribute to the Programme for Government commitment to focus on the protection of critical undersea,” reports Breaking News.
“It also responds in part to the need identified in the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces, under Level of Ambition 2, for a number of maritime capabilities including the enhancement of sub-surface capabilities to monitor subsea cables,” reports Breaking News.
Mr Harris added: “My department is also progressing the development of the country’s first National Maritime Security Strategy and a public consultation on this new strategy will be launched in the coming days,” reports Breaking News.
Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces, Lieutenant General Rossa Mulcahy, said the new technology would give Naval vessels the tools to observe the underwater environment across Irish waters.
He added: “This capability will greatly enhance the Defence Forces’ situational awareness across domains and is a welcome advancement in the continued development and transformation of the Oglaigh na hEireann,” reports Breaking News.
“While the Naval Service and Air Corps regularly monitor activity on Irish seas, this new acquisition will enhance awareness below the surface, contributing to the overall maritime picture available to Naval Service and the wider Defence Forces,” reports Breaking News.
“An enhanced maritime picture is also important for detecting illegal activities such as illegal fishing, drug trafficking, terrorism and espionage,” reports Breaking News.
This advanced sonar system is expected to be operational in the Naval Service by 2027.
The Government has reiterated its focus on maritime security and outlined a number of measures, including assigning the Department of Defence to lead the coordination and development of Ireland’s inaugural National Maritime Security Strategy.
Additionally, it has approved Defence Forces’ involvement in the Common Information Sharing Environment, an EU-led project that allows civil and military maritime authorities to securely exchange information—improving effectiveness in addressing growing threats at sea, reports Breaking News.
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