IRELAND WILL CONCENTRATE ON UNDERWATER MONITORING AROUND THE ATLANTIC EDGE OF EUROPE

Earlier this summer, the Irish government released its most recent Defense Policy Review, which outlines how the country's armed forces will react to present security risks. “Ireland’s security environment is undergoing a period of profound change; our geographic position and policy of military neutrality no longer minimize threats posed by malign actors,” the document stated.
One of the priorities mentioned is maritime security in general, for which the assessment suggests purchasing a naval surveillance radar and sonar equipment to keep an eye on activities taking place underwater in the waters surrounding the island. These capabilities will be combined with the purchase of a ground-based air defense system to provide an integrated monitoring system for both the air and land domains. Dublin's waters are at the centre of a vast network of underwater cables, which are global seafloor connections that carry 97% of all communications and internet traffic worldwide. RTE claims that almost all cables in the northern hemisphere, the majority of which are located off the southwest coast, pass through or close to Irish waters. The global economy and services may be severely impacted by any interference with or sabotage of these cables.

The new defense review also mentions new capability development that will focus on sub-sea, littoral and critical maritime infrastructure to enhance naval defense and enable the operationalization of inshore patrol vessels acquired from New Zealand in 2022. Under the direction of the Department of Defense, officials are creating a new national maritime security policy that will probably elaborate on Dublin's undersea goals.