Irish Police Acquire Israeli Drone Systems Amid Government Policy Questions
Translated & summarized from Cursorinfo by baba
The Irish police have acquired Israeli anti-drone systems from Sentrycs, despite a previous government pledge to avoid Israeli defense products. The systems are being used to secure events during Ireland's EU presidency. The purchase, facilitated by a U.S. supplier, has drawn scrutiny due to a prior statement by former minister Micheál Martin vowing to halt such procurements. This follows earlier instances of Israeli technology being found in Irish military acquisitions.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Irish police bought Israeli anti-drone systems from Sentrycs, procured via a U.S. supplier.
- The acquisition contradicts a prior Irish government pledge to avoid Israeli defense products.
- The systems are used to protect events during Ireland's presidency of the Council of the EU.
- Former minister Micheál Martin had announced a halt to purchases of Israeli defense equipment.
- Israeli technology has previously been identified in Irish military helicopter acquisitions.
The Irish police have purchased Israeli anti-drone systems, a move that raises questions given previous government statements against acquiring Israeli defense products. The equipment, developed by the Tel Aviv-based company Sentrycs and procured through a U.S. supplier, is intended to protect events during Ireland's presidency of the Council of the EU. The systems are designed to jam drone control signals, preventing them from flying over public gatherings. Stationary units are installed on rooftops, complemented by portable devices and other technical means, all operated by the Special Tactical Operations Command (STOC), which includes national emergency response and regional armed support units. Personnel have undergone specialized training, and officers with the equipment have been photographed in official police accounts. Ireland collaborated with police forces from France, Portugal, Latvia, and Northern Ireland on drone protection, but the broader equipment acquisition was an independent Irish police purchase. Sources told The Journal that American specialists recommended Sentrycs, calling it the world's best system of its kind, and noted the difficulty of finding advanced security technology without Israeli components. Sentrycs has been owned by the U.S. company Ondas Incorporated since 2025, which specializes in autonomous systems, robotics, defense, and critical infrastructure protection. This acquisition appears to contradict a policy statement made in August 2024 by Micheál Martin, who was then Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Defence, and Minister for Foreign Affairs. At that time, Martin declared Ireland would cease purchasing equipment with Israeli components, a decision made in the context of the Gaza war and calls for boycotting Israel. He stated, "We will not purchase military equipment, defense products, or enter into relevant contracts with Israel." This is not the first instance of Israeli technology appearing in Irish public procurement; the Irish Air Corps' new Airbus helicopters will feature Helionix avionics systems, a joint product of Airbus and Israel's Elbit Systems.
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