Russian intelligence-gathering surface vessel the Yantar, which entered the Irish Exclusive Economic Zone on several occasions in recent years. Photograph: Stefan Rousseau/PA WirePlans are under way to drop dozens of devices from military aircraft into the waters off the coast of Ireland to help detect Russian submarines. These are torpedo-shaped objects, about a metre long, which float on the water and use sonar to detect movement under the waves. Along with the Naval Service’s new sonar technology, they will be able to detect suspicious or anomalous activity which may indicate an attempt to interfere with underwater infrastructure. “It will result in the Air Corps receiving a capability to detect, localise, identify, and track objects in the Irish EEZ.”

Source: The Irish Times January 01, 2026 12:28 UTC