Ireland’s new government jet missing key Israeli-made landing technology

The missing system is designed to help pilots land in fog and difficult weather conditions.

The Dassault Falcon 6X was ordered without the FalconEye enhanced vision system, which is designed to help pilots land in poor visibility, including heavy fog and other difficult weather conditions.

FalconEye uses infrared cameras and sensors to help pilots land in poor visibility, with Dassault saying it provides 'unprecedented all-weather situational awareness'.

Multiple sources told The Journal that the system was excluded because purchasing it would have required the Irish State to enter into a direct procurement agreement with Elbit Systems.

The 14-seat Dassault Falcon 6X was delivered just before Christmas last year to replace the government's ageing Learjet. It is primarily used to transport the Taoiseach and ministers, while also carrying out long-range air ambulance missions.

Speaking to The Journal, former Irish Air Corps pilot Kevin Phipps explained how the system allows aircraft to land in conditions that would otherwise force crews to divert elsewhere.

"The operational benefit of this system is the ability to land in fog when other aircraft would have to divert to another airport," he said.

The Department of Defence has said there are 'no current limits on the operational capability of the aircraft'.

However, sources familiar with the aircraft said the absence of FalconEye does limit the options available to pilots when operating in poor weather.

The issue comes amid Ireland's policy on purchasing Israeli-made defence technology.

In 2024, then Tánaiste and Defence Minister Micheál Martin said Ireland would not purchase equipment containing Israeli-manufactured products following the conflict in Gaza and growing political pressure to reduce trade links with Israel.

The report also highlighted that other recent Defence Forces acquisitions still contain Israeli technology, including four Airbus helicopters currently being built for the Irish Air Corps.

The helicopters include Helionix cockpit systems developed by Airbus and Elbit Systems, while the new CASA 295 maritime patrol aircraft also use Israeli-manufactured radar.

Those systems are integral to Airbus aircraft, according to The Journal, while FalconEye would have required a separate agreement with Elbit Systems, resulting in it being left off the aircraft.

Requests made under the Freedom of Information Act into other projects affected by the policy returned little information. The Defence Forces and An Garda Síochána said they held no relevant records, while the Department of Defence sought more time to respond.