Navy to use drones to improve surveillance

The Naval Service is preparing to use drones as part of a plan to improve its surveillance operations while policing the county’s 1 million square kilometres of territorial waters.

The service has already carried out pilot operations with unmanned and unarmed drones, and is planning to launch them from ships and from new runways which are to be built at its headquarters on Haulbowline Island in Cork harbour.

Simon Coveney revealed the planned, extended use of drones yesterday during his first official visit to the navy’s headquarters as minister for defence.