194. Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Minister for Defence the way in which her Department is preparing the Defence Forces for the increasing role of drones, artificial intelligence and emerging technologies in modern defence and security; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54053/26]

The Defence Research, Technology and Innovation Unit (RTI), has continued to work in close coordination with the Capability Development Unit, since its establishment in 2023, to best prepare the Defence Forces for emerging technological challenges including the increasing role of drones, artificial intelligence and emerging technologies in modern defence and security.

My Department is in the final stages of creating a 12 year Capability Development Programme, that will identify, at a high level, the capability requirements for the Defence Forces out to 2040. This programme will inform future decisions on the prioritisation and development of capabilities. Once finalised, the Programme will be implemented through rolling four-year Capability Development Plans, the first of which will cover the period 2028 to 2031. Capabilities will then be developed and acquired in line with available capital allocations under the National Development Plan. This structured and phased approach will guide future investment decisions, including in relation to naval vessels, equipment and enabling systems, as part of the overall development of Defence Forces capability.

As part of the Capability Development Planning Process, the increasing role of drones is been assessed and carefully considered. Furthermore, Ireland has recently expressed an interest in the Drone and Counter-Drone European Resolve (DECODER) European Defence Project of Common Interest (EDPCI).

The DECODER initiative is considered relevant due to the rapidly increasing operational significance of drone and counter-drone capabilities across the contemporary security environment. The proposal seeks to strengthen European capability development, procurement coordination and interoperability in the autonomous systems domain while simultaneously reinforcing the wider industrial and technological ecosystem supporting these capabilities.

Work Strand A of the proposal, which focuses on operational capability development and joint procurement coordination, is considered to align most directly with operational capability considerations currently under examination at EU level and with wider European efforts to strengthen interoperability and resilience in the drone and counter-drone domain.

In parallel, recent engagement with the Department's Research, Technology and Innovation (RTI) and EU Industry Engagement Units has identified potential strategic value in exploratory engagement with Work Strand B, particularly in relation to drone technology hubs, testing and evaluation infrastructure, innovation ecosystems and cooperation with Irish academic and technological partners. RTI assessment has highlighted the potential longer-term value of developing national expertise and governance structures in the autonomous systems domain, including possible linkages with the proposed National Aerospace Academy and wider European drone technology hub networks.

While further clarification remains necessary regarding governance arrangements, participation models and longer-term resource implications, the proposal represents a potentially proportionate opportunity for Ireland to engage in an emerging capability area of increasing strategic importance.

In September 2024, the RTI office commenced a Research Ireland Public Service Fellowship with Dr Ashish Vashishtha, South East Technological University (SETU) in order to conduct a research project on developing a Horizon Scanning Framework for Future Technology Capability Development needs of the Defence Forces. A number of key thematic areas have been identified, however the project has a particular focus on the areas of sensors, AI and machine learning and quantum technologies.

The objective of the project is to develop a coherent and properly justified vision of long-term technological developments for the Irish Defence Forces with scientific, strategic, and technological foresight and to rationalise their consequences for future defence capability development needs. The project is expected to report later in Q3 2026.