Ireland has taken another significant step towards establishing a modern military air surveillance network, with the signing of an acquisition order for a fleet of long-range military radar systems that will form the backbone of the State’s future recognised air picture.
Minister for Defence, Helen McEntee TD announced on 18th September 2026 that an Acquisition Order has been signed with the French Government under the Military Radar Programme. The agreement, concluded through the procurement arm of the French Ministry for the Armed Forces, the Direction Générale de l’Armement (DGA), will provide Ireland with five deployable Thales long-range radar systems. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2027, with full operational capability expected by the end of 2028.
The procurement follows Government approval in July for the first phase of the programme’s Final Business Case. According to the Department of Defence, the project remains on schedule to provide Ireland with a complete recognised air picture of Irish airspace by the end of 2028.
The development represents one of the most significant upgrades to Ireland’s air surveillance capability in decades. While the Irish Aviation Authority and AirNav Ireland operate civil air traffic surveillance systems for the management of commercial aviation, the Defence Forces have long lacked dedicated military primary radar capabilities capable of detecting and tracking aircraft independently of aircraft-transmitted signals.
The Military Radar Programme was one of the key recommendations arising from the Commission on the Defence Forces, which highlighted the need for enhanced monitoring of Ireland’s airspace and surrounding maritime approaches. The new long-range radars are expected to provide the Air Corps and wider Defence Forces with the ability to monitor aircraft operating far beyond Ireland’s coastline, improving situational awareness and supporting national security missions.
Announcing the agreement, Minister McEntee said the acquisition marked “a further significant milestone” in delivering the Military Radar Programme and stated that the new systems would “very significantly enhance Ireland’s ability to protect our skies.”
For the aviation community, the programme is another indication of the increasing focus being placed on Ireland’s airspace infrastructure. While the new systems are military rather than civil in nature, they will contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of air activity around the island and within Ireland’s area of responsibility in the North Atlantic.
