This week in Farnborough, near London, hundreds of arms company representatives mingled with military officers and government officials from around the world.
Among them were representatives from the Irish Defence Forces and Department of Defence.
They were attending the annual International Armoured Vehicles Conference, which bills itself as “the largest, most influential gathering of the global armoured vehicles community”.
Between workshops on tank tactics and a drinks reception hosted by the Italian aircraft company Leonardo, delegates toured a sprawling exhibition hall containing examples of the latest in armour technology.
Of particular interest, at least to the irish delegates, was a group of French vehicles made by the companies Thales and KNDS. These included the Griffon, a gigantic six-wheeled armoured personnel carrier; the Serval, a smaller four-wheeled armoured car, and the Jaguar, a tank-like “armoured fighting vehicle” equipped with a large turreted gun.
A board of Irish civilian and military officials responsible for designing the future armour requirements for the Defence Forces has focused on these vehicles as candidates to replace its current fleet of armoured personnel carrier s, which are approaching 30 years’ service, and its now retired fleet of 27 light armoured tactical vehicles.
Officials have also considered Finnish- and Swiss-made vehicles, but the French offering is believed to be the most popular.
The resulting contract could be worth as much as €500 million, making it one of the largest single acquisitions in Irish military history.
This would make France, and in particular thales – which is part owned by the French state – the undisputed winner from Ireland’s commitment to increase military spending by 50 per cent to €1.5 billion and eventually 300 per cent to €3 billion, without accounting for inflation.
Thales has already won
Other French companies will also benefit, including MBDA, which is favoured by Irish officials to supply ground-to-air missiles and anti-drone technology.
Additionally, the French aircraft manufacturer Dassault recently won the contract to supply a €53 million mid-size jet to the Air Corps for evacuation missions and transporting Government officials.
Which country tops the table?
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If things proceed as was to be expected, Ireland will rely on French companies for a huge proportion of its heavy-duty military equipment.
By 2030 France could be in receipt of almost €2 billion in Irish defence contracts,a staggering figure considering the entire Irish defence budget for this year is €1.48 billion.
In some ways this is no surprise. In recent years France has been one of a small number of big military suppliers to Ireland.
An analysis of notable military purchases (of more than €20,000) in 2024 and 2025 shows Ireland paid €51 million to French-headquartered companies, putting the country comfortably at the top of the table.
Other big French suppliers include Airbus, which provided Ireland with three maritime patrol and military transport aircraft, at a cost of €350 million; the Safran Group, which supplies various flight systems; and Centigon, which specialises in armoured vehicle parts.
Most other suppliers are also European companies. During the two-year period, €9 million was paid to the Norwegian company Kongsberg Defence and Aerospace, for various naval systems, while €10 million was paid to Leonardo in Italy for helicopter-related services.
Another big beneficiary was from a fellow neutral country. Pilatus, which is headquartered in Switzerland, previously supplied the Air Corps’ fleet of four PC-12 utility aircraft and its eight PC-9 armed turboprop training aircraft. It received €9.5 million in 2024 and 2025, mostly for parts and maintenance for these aircraft.
Several UK companies are also big defence suppliers to Ireland, including various maritime companies that sell naval systems as well as a company selling military tents.
Supply Chain Resilience and National Security in Australia
Australia’s Minister for Defence industry, Pat Conroy, emphasized the critical link between supply chain resilience, security of supply, and national security, citing lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic and current geopolitical tensions. The Minister intends to promote diversification among suppliers to strengthen Australia’s defense supply chains.
the Growing Importance of Supply Chain Security
Supply chain resilience is now a core component of Australia’s national security strategy.The COVID-19 pandemic exposed vulnerabilities in global supply chains, leading to shortages of essential goods and disruptions to critical industries. Geopolitical instability, especially in the Indo-Pacific region, further underscores the need for secure and reliable supply lines.
According to a report by the Australian Parliament’s Defence Subcommittee (October 2023), Australia is heavily reliant on a limited number of overseas suppliers for key defense capabilities, creating potential risks in times of crisis. The report specifically highlighted concerns regarding single-source dependencies.
Minister Conroy’s Diversification Strategy
defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy is prioritizing diversification of suppliers to mitigate these risks. this involves identifying and developing alternative sources for critical components and materials, both domestically and from trusted international partners.The goal is to create a more robust and adaptable supply chain capable of withstanding disruptions.
in a media release (December 15, 2023) from the Australian Department of Defence, Minister Conroy stated, “Strengthening our sovereign capabilities is not about isolation, it’s about resilience. It’s about ensuring we have the options and the capacity to respond to any challenge.”
Key Entities Involved in Supply Chain security
Several australian government entities and organizations play a crucial role in bolstering supply chain security:
- Department of Defence: Responsible for overall defense procurement and supply chain management. Department of Defence Website
- Defence Industry Development: Focuses on fostering a strong and innovative Australian defense industry.Defence Industry Development Page
- Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI): Provides autonomous research and analysis on defense and strategic policy issues, including supply chain security. ASPI Website
- Critical Infrastructure Center: Works to protect Australia’s critical infrastructure, including supply chains, from threats. Critical Infrastructure Centre Website
Recent Developments and Investment
The Australian government has committed significant investment to enhance domestic manufacturing capabilities and reduce reliance on overseas suppliers. In November 2023, the government announced a A$2.5 billion investment in sovereign guided weapons and munitions manufacturing.
Moreover,the National Manufacturing Priorities programme, launched in 2020, prioritizes investment in areas critical to national security, including defense, medical products, and resource technology and critical minerals processing.
