Ireland, known for its vocal criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza, is reportedly open to purchasing drones from Israeli defence companies, according to a recent report in the Irish Times.
This news comes despite Ireland’s strong stance against Israel’s military actions in the region and its long-standing support for Palestinian statehood.
The Irish Times report reveals that the Irish Defence Forces Corps of Engineers has initiated a tender to acquire 14 unarmed military drones. These drones are intended for various purposes, including surveillance, inspection, search and rescue operations.
The total estimated cost of the procurement is €600,000.
According to the report, Israeli defence companies are considered strong contenders for the contract due to their reputation as leaders in drone technology. Sources within the Irish military have indicated that there are “no restrictions on bidding for the new contract” from Israeli firms, despite the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
The Irish Ministry of Defence confirmed to the Irish Times that there has been no change in policy regarding the use of Israeli-made military equipment by the Irish Defence Forces. The ministry stated that “such tender competitions are open to any company or country subject to the terms of all UN, OSCE, and EU arms embargoes or restrictions.”
They also emphasised that no such restrictions currently apply to Israel or its companies.
This development is noteworthy given Ireland’s historical stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Ireland was the last European Union country to establish an Israeli embassy in 1993 and has consistently supported Palestinian statehood, being the first EU member to do so in 1980.
The Irish military’s openness to purchasing Israeli drones underscores a situation where security and technological needs may outweigh political considerations.
Not sure why this is news, Ireland has bought munitions and equipment from Israel before?
Well they’re certainly not going to be purchasing the Elbit Hermes (pictured at top of article) or anything similar on a budget of just €600 000.
And why the Corps of Engineers?
For £600k / 14 you won’t get much in the way of sensors other than a reasonable CCD with zoom.
This won’t be a lot better than top end hobby but for that sort of money.
I’d be suprised if it had the capacity to drop life rafts etc.
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Why would the engineers be dropping life rafts? I mean unless some of their bridge building has gone horribly wrong.
Maybe they know something about their next batch of bridging kit – the stuff Patrick knocked over the weekend from that lorry load of scaffold tube that Seamus had knocking around?
Seriously it could be that they are the old part of the forces with the depth to operate them? People do Engineers for the training so it might be better recruited and up to numbers?
Hope not, the new bit of bridging equipment is being bought from the U.K.
The Army has more strength simply because it’s larger but high end areas like the Engineers are being headhunted like many of the other specialists. them getting it is just more of the usual of the Irish version of “cap badges”
Maybe the first step towards armed drones. The Israelis will take the cash.
Also Mark, our convo about Plan W was deleted from the other Irish post from last week. Not sure why as Plan W was declassified 75 years ago. lol.
It would be very DF if just before the AC was split off that the Army decided to get into armed drones… But realistically we are talking about the Engineers, if the Army was looking for something it would be the Artillery corps that would be doing the buying. BTW the Rangers just got new Zodics as well.
Strange that it got deleted, I mean it’s not like the comment sections stay on topic…
Good news all around. Now need the bigger projects to come around
This is the tender spec
According to the tender, the UASs will be used for a range of purposes including surveillance, survey, inspection, and search and rescue (day and night). The precise applications envisaged for these systems are operationally sensitive. The UASs procured under lot 2 may also have to operate in ‘security sensitive’ locations and/or GPS-denied environments.
Because that section of the army has convinced DOD it needs some capability, not sure why that’s confusing?
It’s confusing because airpower, recce/surveillance and search and rescue aren’t typically delivered by engineers. But maybe they are in Ireland 🤷♂️
AirPower? What kind of drones do you think is being looked for? The Corps handles ATCP operations which is likely where the search and rescue bit comes in.
Air power’s core roles are control of the air, attack, air mobility and ISR. The Irish are after something that flies and does ISR – ergo it can be defined as air power.
Just saying but the RFC/RAF started with 1st ballon company RE in WW1👍😀
Ireland will offer the drones tech. to Hamas the next day…
As of today, all Israeli companies are blacklisted from military supply contracts for the Irish Defence Forces.
Yes and the Irish government should be careful because the rest of the west is not ‘blacklisting’ Israel. Its the ruling gov that Ireland should be concerned with. Democracy has proven that another government could come into power which is against the Gaza operation or at least more moderate. Alienating defence contractors is not good as well as the Israeli people.
In terms of defence contracting, I’m not sure if there’s any significant problem I mean take the example of the U.K. effecting a block on Argentina even when the rest of the world has no major issue trading with them. As defence is still a “reserved issue” I don’t see it even as a problem with the EU trade agreement.
It might also be a bit of “tit for tat” over the reported weapons overflight that has the TDs of the Left suddenly demanding we should be able to control our airspace, or connected to the possibility of increased procurement going forward.
In reality given how small the actual trade actually is in defence areas, it’s not huge.
In terms of defence as you said its not a big deal. But for Irish-Israeli diplomacy, it’s just another nail in the coffin.
The overflight is unenforceable as you know since Ireland’s air defence is ‘ go away or I will taunt you a second time’
We have enough problems at home to deal with rather than wade into a Middle East dispute that has defied politicians for the past 70 years to solve.
To be fair Irish Israeli diplomacy has been that way more than once before, with the long history of issues.
True, but this is an existential threat for the Israelis. High stakes so takes on more urgency for them.
They will remember countries like Ireland.