Ireland needs new radars to see what is flying above our airspace before we go about purchasing fighter jets, a security expert has said.
Donald Trump has suspended all aid to Ukraine following an explosive row in the White House, European nations have scrambled to come up with improved defence strategies.
As a result, Irish neutrality is facing scrutiny, with some believing that we should step up to provide greater support to our European neighbours.
Europeans Leaders prepare to hold a plenary meeting at a summit held at Lancaster House in central London on March 2, 2025. photo by Ukrainian Presidential Press Office/UPI Credit: UPI/Alamy Live NewsWhile not advocating for an end to neutrality, Tánaiste and Defence Minister Simon Harris has said he is convinced that Ireland needs a jet fighter squadron.
He also said earlier in the year that defence spending should be doubled, though Fianna Fáil has declined to back this call.
Retired Lieutenant Colonel and airport safety and security expert Kevin Byrne told The Pat Kenny Show that fighter jets would be of little use to a country that is “basically naked” in the sky.
“We need radars first because we cannot tell what aircraft are above our airspace unless they’re corresponding and playing, so to speak, the game,” he said.
This means that if an aircraft switches their transponder off, we cannot see them in our skies.
“There have been cases of Russian aircraft 50 miles off the West Coast of Clew Bay with their transponder switched off,” Mr Byrne said.
“And we wouldn't have known about it except NATO sent down fighters from Norway and then from Scotland and then from the Bay of Biscay and then down to Portugal and that kind of thing.”
U.S. Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornet aircraft with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 312, Marine Aircraft Group 12, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing. Image: Alireza Boeini / Alamy. 20 February 2025Mr Byrne said that different jets serve different purposes and the Government should analyse what the Department of Defence needs before making any purchases.
“Do you want something like a fast jet trainer? But that’s got the same speed as the aircraft at 500 knots, you will never catch [a hijacked craft], therefore you can’t do the job properly, you can’t investigate,” he said.
“[These investigations] happen, by the way, three or four times a month over Europe – people don’t understand that.
“They have aircraft which lose communications, so the local fighter force goes up and looks at it."
According to Mr Byrne, this happens frequently in France with Ryanair flights.
He said there would be further complications with finding a supplier to upkeep the maintenance of these craft, were they to be purchased.
Mr Byrne said the Government could make some form of a deal with the UK for aerial defence assurances, but there would have to be discussions about whether this compromises Irish neutrality.
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Main image: U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Easton Barber, a fixed-wing aircraft loadmaster with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron (VMGR) 152, Marine Aircraft. Image: Alireza Boeini / Alamy. 20 February 2025
