Alan Farrell
Question:17. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to detail the level and condition of communications systems within the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21758/24]
View answerThursday, 16 May 2024
Questions (17)
Written answers
My priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service is maintained and developed. This is to enable the Defence Forces to carry out the roles assigned by Government. Equipment priorities for the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service are considered in the context of the established capability development and Equipment Development Planning (EDP) processes.
Further additions to the EDP are currently under consideration, including in the context of the Government’s decision to move to a higher level of ambition, known as LOA2, and in light of specific recommendations, associated with a move to LOA2, made in the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces last year.
Cutting edge communications systems are a key enabler of modern military forces and a major upgrade of elements of the Defence Forces secure communications infrastructure is currently underway. In Q4 2023 a framework agreement was entered into with Thales SIX GTS France S.A.S. and Thales UK Limited for the supply of Software Defined Radio systems to the Defence Forces. The initial contract awarded under the Framework Agreement is valued at €76.1m inclusive of VAT. The contract will see the delivery of radios along with associated systems and supports to the Defence Forces. Deliveries will commence in Q2 2024, and will continue over a 5 year period with the vast majority of equipment to be delivered by Q2 2026.
Under the terms of the contract over 6,000 radios will be delivered providing capability in the form of personal, handheld, vehicular and airborne radios. This additional capability will ensure that the Defence Forces are provided with an appropriate modern military grade secure, autonomous communications solution using relevant EU and NATO interoperability standards so as to enhance interoperability. The systems will provide a mechanism for the exchange of data securely in real-time in support of Defence Forces’ operations.
The Department of Defence has received a capital allocation of €176 million in Budget 2024. In April, I announced record levels of capital funding for Defence over the next two years of €215 million in 2025 and €220 million in 2026.
This is following Government approval for a move over a six-year period to a level of Defence Forces’ capability equivalent to ‘Level of Ambition 2’ (LOA2), as set out in the capability framework devised by the Commission on Defence Forces, which will entail funding increases to reach a Defence budget of approximately €1.5 billion (at January 2022 prices) by 2028 through the annual Estimates.
This level of capital funding will allow a phased planned programme of sustained equipment and infrastructural development across the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service as identified and prioritised in the Defence White Paper and the Report of the Commission, while building on the significant investment programme over recent years. Defence Forces communications systems will continue to be assessed in this regard to ensure that the most appropriate equipment is made available.