The Defence Forces has no rules of engagement for dealing with drones despite the threat they have posed for years and their rapidly growing use in hybrid attacks and incidents designed to cause embarrassment and disruption, especially by Russia. However, security sources said there was uncertainty on board about how to proceed as the personnel had no rules of engagement to follow. This week, Minister for Defence Helen McEntee unveiled €1.7 billion Defence spending plan to the year 2030, including €19 million for anti-drone technology. Neither the Department of Defence nor Defence Forces offered substantive responses to questions on the absence of drone-related rules of engagement, including whether they would be drawn up and approved by the department. “For operational security reasons, neither the Department of Defence nor the Defence Forces discuss specific operational matters or publicly disclose specific rules of engagement,” the Department of Defence said.
