The Irish Naval Service will acquire a towed sonar array in a multi-million-euro contract struck between Thales DMS France and the Republic of Ireland’s Department of Defence.
Under the terms of the deal the sonar will be delivered to the Irish Naval Service in 2027 and will bolster its maritime security capabilities in particular helping to protect critical underwater infrastructure, aiding it in detecting potential illicit activities such as illegal fishing, drug trafficking, terrorism and espionage.
As per a recent Irish government press statement the sonar system, the first of its kind in Ireland, “will be used on Irish Naval vessels to monitor activities in the Irish Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and, in particular, in the vicinity of subsea communication cables or gas pipelines.”
Minister for Defence and Tánaiste (deputy prime minister) Simon Harris commented: “This is one of many strands of work being progressed to address the threats in our maritime domain. 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.”
The Irish DoD has also just launched a public consultation on the country’s first National Maritime Security Strategy.
Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces, Lieutenant General Rossa Mulcahy said: “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 Óglaigh na hÉireann.”
The press statement noted that the DoD won a capital allocation of €215 million in the 2025 Budget, rising to €220 million in 2026, its highest-ever level of defence expenditure.
- You can read more details on Ireland’s Department of Defence website
