Irish DoD advised to increase peacekeeping protection capabilities
An Irish Piranha III during off-road training. (Photo: Irish Defence Forces)
Countering peacekeeping threats by investing in new capabilities should be central to long-term Irish defence ambitions, a source says.
The Irish Department of Defence (DoD) should consider developing new capabilities to counter ‘low lethality' threats such as attacks on peacekeepers, according to a source.
Speaking under Chatham House Rules during a ‘Commission on the Defence Forces’ webinar event on 7 April, the source referred to a 2018 incident involving the French Army in Mali being ambushed by ‘multiple suicide bombers’.
The source claimed that ‘state of the art’ land vehicles, valued at €3 million ($3.56 million) each, had saved those under attack but nearby civilians had not been as fortunate.
‘This is not an everyday occurrence on peacekeeping missions, but it
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