In 2022, following russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Ireland adopted a program to strengthen its own military. Most of the allocated funds were spent on the delivery of two C-295 patrol aircraft and one transport aircraft, purchased to replace the outdated CASA CN-235.
The Irish military received its first aircraft in the summer of 2023. As of today, all three aircraft have been delivered. Given the growing threat from russia, the country plans to modernize two C-295 aircraft in a patrol variant, according to Infodefensa.
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The point is that in recent years russian ships have been operating within Ireland's exclusive economic zone. This concerns the Yantar ship of Project 22010, which is formally classified as an oceanographic research vessel, but in practice russians use it for intelligence collection and probably for mapping underwater cables.
Given that the Yantar can deploy underwater vehicles capable of damaging cables, the Irish Navy is increasingly concerned about underwater activity, as recently highlighted by the head of the UK's Royal Navy, Admiral Sir Antony Radakin.
Therefore, Ireland plans to integrate a special system for launching sonobuoys into its C295W Persuader patrol aircraft, which will be deployed in areas where russian vessels are most active.
This reportedly marks the first time Ireland will apply such powers in practice.
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