Ireland’s planned purchase of combat jets and the development of a long-overdue national radar system mark a historic turning point in the country’s approach to air defence, ending decades of reliance on the United Kingdom to protect Irish skies.
Since 1998, when the Irish Air Corps disbanded its Light Strike Squadron, which operated aging French Fouga CM170 Magister jets, Ireland has had no combat jets. The country also lacks a primary radar system. Without these capabilities, a “secret bilateral pact” has seen the UK’s Royal Air Force (RAF) tasked with intercepting and responding to aerial threats in Irish airspace.
According to former Irish Air Corps head General Ralph James, this reliance on a foreign power, coupled with Ireland’s lack of radar coverage, has made the country “probably the most vulnerable” in Europe. Speaking at the Slándáil 2020 security summit, James warned that neutrality alone was not a defence strategy, stressing that Ireland must be able to deny its airspace to both sides in any future conflict.
In February 2022, a report from the Commission on the Defence Forces recommended an increase in air combat and intercept capability through the acquisition of a squadron of combat aircraft. Without a change of doctrine, the report states that the country would be left “without a credible military capability to protect Ireland, its people and its resources for any sustained period.”
Currently, the Irish Air Corps relies solely on eight Pilatus PC-9M trainers for aerial combat capability. These aircraft, ordered in 2004, are primarily utilized by the Flying Training School (FTS) of the Irish Air Corps College. While they can be armed with FN HMG machine guns and LAU-7 rocket pods for close air support (CAS) missions, their maximum speed of 320 knots (approximately 592 kilometers per hour) limits their interception capabilities significantly.
“Probably the most vulnerable state there is in Europe”
The Government’s new investment plans, reported by The Irish Times, directly address these concerns. Tánaiste [deputy Irish prime minister] and Minister for Defence Simon Harris has requested detailed costings and timelines for acquiring a fleet of at least eight combat jets with a preferred target of 12 to 14 aircraft.
The fighter jet acquisition, estimated to cost between €60 million and €100 million annually over the next 20 to 25 years, could result in total spending of up to €2.5 billion. Initial pilot training would take place overseas, while civilian contractors would likely be responsible for maintaining the aircraft. The exact model of aircraft being considered was not specified.
The plan is to base the aircraft at Shannon Airport (SNN) due to its longer runway and proximity to Ireland’s western approaches, which have seen regular incursions by Russian flight groups in recent years.
This decision builds on Ireland’s 2022 commitment to install a primary surveillance radar system, a capability the country has never previously possessed.
The radar system, expected to cost around €300 million, will have a detection range of at least 370 kilometers and will operate from at least three strategic locations. The system, due to be fully operational by 2028, will enable Ireland to track suspicious aircraft and drones across its sovereign airspace.
Together, these steps aim to give Ireland its first fully independent air policing capability in more than 25 years.
In the past, some policymakers floated the idea of international air policing, similar to the Baltic Air Policing mission operated by NATO over Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. However, as a non-NATO member, Ireland may lack access to such arrangements.
