The Irish government has entered into an agreement with France to procure five Thales long-range radar systems as part of efforts to improve surveillance of Irish airspace. Irish media reported that the acquisition received approval in July, with the first deliveries expected in 2027 and the complete system scheduled to achieve operational capability by the end of 2028. The radar purchase is included in a larger €300-million-to-€500-million program, worth approximately $343 million-$572 million, covering land-based long-range primary surveillance radar, ground-based air-defense equipment with counter-UAS capabilities and radar systems for naval ships. France emerged as the preferred government-to-government partner after its proposal met Ireland’s stated requirements. However, Dublin has not revealed which specific Thales radar variant will be supplied. Thales currently manufactures several relevant systems, including the Ground Master range, SMART-L MM family, mobile Master T-series systems and Sea Fire naval radars.
