Irish navy drones to fight drug cartels

The naval service is to use drones in the fight against international drug smugglers and illegal fishing, with the unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) also to help with search and rescue missions.

With just an eight-ship fleet responsible for security in 1m sq km of seas, drones would give the navy an ‘eye in the sky’.

As part of a drive to make the naval service the “smartest in the world”, it is also developing wifi to be used in harbours by companies and visiting yachtsmen, and is working on a number of commercial projects with private companies.