Irish Naval Service conducts live-fire gunnery and replenishment training
Irish Naval Service patrol ships LÉ Samuel Beckett and LÉ George Bernard Shaw have taken part in a Ship Training Period involving live-fire gunnery, maneuvering, maritime interdiction and replenishment-at-sea training. The exercises were conducted off the Irish coast. The Irish Naval Service operates a fleet of nine patrol vessels.
Ireland buys Thales Ground Master 400 and 200 radars via French government-to-government deal
Ireland's Department of Defence signed an agreement with France's DGA for delivery of Thales Ground Master 400 Alpha and Ground Master 200 Multi Mission radars to reinforce Irish air surveillance. The contract was arranged through the French defense procurement agency, indicating a government-to-government sale.
Why it matters: Ireland has long outsourced air defense to the RAF; buying long-range surveillance radar suggests Dublin is finally taking territorial air awareness seriously, even if it still has no interceptors.
NATO Deputy Secretary General visits Dublin for EU defense ministers meeting
NATO Deputy Secretary General Radmila Shekerinska is visiting Dublin for two days of engagements, including a public discussion on security issues and an informal meeting of European Union defense ministers. Ireland is not a NATO member but has deepened security cooperation with the alliance in recent years, particularly on hybrid threats and cyber defense.