Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)

I am responding on behalf of the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence, who unfortunately cannot be present. I welcome the opportunity to respond on this matter and I thank Senator Andrews for his question.

In December 2024, the Department of Defence signed a contract for the delivery of four German-made Airbus H145M helicopters, which will provide a modern light utility helicopter capability for the Air Corps. They will replace the present aging fleet of two EC135s, which have reached the end of their useful service life. The value of the contract is €91.7 million, excluding VAT, and it is anticipated that delivery of the helicopters will begin on a phased basis in quarter 1 of 2027.

The Airbus H145Ms represent a vast modernisation and expansion of light utility helicopter capability for the Air Corps over the present ageing fleet. Their multirole capability means that the H145Ms will be equipped to satisfy a wide range of missions, including maritime security missions, utility missions, intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance, ISTAR, missions, and light attack missions. As well as enhancing the Defence Forces' current ISTAR capabilities, the aircraft will also provide enhanced electro-optical and thermal imagery features not available in the current rotary wing fleet. They will greatly improve the operational support provided to special operations forces - the Army Ranger wing - as well as provide broader support and utility across the Defence Forces' training and operations.

While the Department does not comment on systems fitted to Air Corps aircraft for operational reasons, the H145M rotary wing aircraft comes fitted with the Helionix avionics suite, an avionics solution that is proprietary to Airbus. These systems are fitted on all modern civil and military aircraft to assist pilots to fly the aircraft safely and are not military specific. No missile capability is included in the contract to procure the four aircraft. No consideration is being given to such capability at the present time. However, the aircraft are future-proofed and capable of being upgraded to becoming missile-capable. Future missile capability is one of the elements considered within the enhanced Defence Forces capability level of ambition 3, LOA 3, as defined in the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces. Any future upgrade of equipment to achieve LOA 3 capability will be subject to a comprehensive review and a future Government decision.

Specifically on the procurement of Israeli military technology, I can confirm that there is no intention to purchase military equipment from Israel. Since the International Court of Justice advisory opinion of 19 July 2024, wherein the International Court of Justice, the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, concluded that "the State of Israel’s continued presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory is unlawful" and that "the State of Israel is under an obligation to bring to an end its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory as rapidly as possible", the Department has included provisions in its tender documentation regarding the right to reject offers from third countries, which include Israel, on defence and security grounds in line with the Commission's guidance on the procurement of defensive equipment under Directive 2009/18/EU.

I will address further issues in my closing remarks.