Ireland adopts middle course for defence spending growth with air surveillance radar a priority
Ireland is to spend €1.5 billion per year on defence by 2028. (Photo: Irish Defence Forces)
The Irish government aims to increase annual defence spending by 40% to €1.5 billion by 2028 with better airspace surveillance identified as a critical requirement, although no firm procurement decisions have been made.
The Irish government is planning to increase annual defence spending by more than 40% over the next six years to fund a primary radar capability, and also to increase wages of almost all personnel in an effort to retain members and increase the size of the defence force.
This move follows a report in February 2022 from the Commission on the Defence Forces which suggested three funding and programme options: the status quo of a €1.1 billion ($1.13 billion) budget, an increase to €1.5 billion, or a doubling of the budget.
The government chose the second option but aims to
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