Ireland strengthens subsea defence amid rising maritime threats

Ireland has awarded a major sonar system contract to French defence firm Thales, signalling a new era in maritime surveillance. The system—designed to protect critical subsea infrastructure such as undersea cables and future offshore wind assets—will help detect illegal activity and foreign interference in the Exclusive Economic Zone, one of the largest in the EU.

But while the investment positions Ireland at the forefront of underwater defence tech, staffing shortfalls in the Naval Service risk undermining its effectiveness. With only one or two vessels at sea at a time, concerns are mounting that this may become a stranded asset unless personnel issues are resolved.

A national maritime security strategy is now in development, reflecting the growing importance of securing subsea infrastructure in the face of geopolitical instability and environmental risk. For procurement leaders, this marks a strategic pivot: capability investment is no longer just about hardware—it’s about operational resilience, workforce alignment, and national risk readiness.

Read the full article to explore what this means for procurement and defence planning.