Budget 2027 has delivered a significant increase in defence funding, including additional investment in Air Corps equipment, the acquisition of new military helicopters and progress on Ireland’s long-awaited military radar programme.
Announcing the budget on Tuesday, Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers confirmed a Department of Defence allocation of €1.6 billion for 2027, an increase of almost 9% compared to previous funding levels. The package will also support the recruitment of 850 additional permanent Defence Forces personnel.
For aviation observers, one of the most notable elements of the package is the commitment of €340 million in National Development Plan funding to support the delivery of new helicopters and the military radar programme.
The Air Corps has undergone a period of significant fleet renewal in recent years, with the introduction of Airbus H145M helicopters and Pilatus PC-12 aircraft. The latest funding commitment suggests the Government intends to continue investing in aviation capability as part of the wider implementation of the Defence Forces Commission recommendations.
The military radar programme has attracted particular attention within aviation circles. Ireland remains one of the few European countries without a primary military air surveillance radar network, a capability viewed as increasingly important for national security, airspace monitoring and coordination with European partners. Budget 2027 funding is intended to move that programme forward while also supporting broader investments in maritime surveillance and cybersecurity.
While detailed project timelines have yet to be published, the inclusion of helicopter procurement and radar development in the budget represents one of the clearest indications to date that these projects remain Government priorities.
For the Air Corps, which continues to provide emergency aeromedical services, ministerial air transport, fisheries patrol support, military training and security operations, the funding announcement signals a further step in the gradual expansion and modernisation of Ireland’s military aviation capability.
