Niall O'Connor

IRISH DEFENCE FORCES helicopters have been practising shooting down drones in recent weeks as part of their preparation for next month’s EU Presidency. 

The AW 139 helicopters, are attached to the Number Three Operations Wing in Baldonnel, Co Dublin.

They have been using general purpose machine guns attached to the aircraft and using the range at Gormanstown in County Meath. This location is regularly used for aerial shooting practice.

In a post on social media, published after a statement was requested by The Journal, the Defence Forces confirmed it undertook the training.  

“The exercise included counter drone engagements, with Air Corps helicopter crews successfully engaging multiple remotely controlled aircraft, as well as armed maritime interception training against fast moving vessels at sea.

“Training such as this ensures Air Corps crews remain ready to respond to evolving security challenges and provide critical aviation capabilities in support of national security and Ireland’s EU Presidency commitments,” it said.

As Ireland prepares to assume the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, personnel from No. 3 Operations Wing recently undertook a demanding training exercise to maintain and enhance key operational capabilities.

The exercise included counter drone engagements, with… pic.twitter.com/iYprji74WB

— Óglaigh na hÉireann (@defenceforces) June 10, 2026

The helicopter solution is similar to other operations in countries that have confronted drone threats previously, including Ukraine. 

Sources have been keen to stress that it is not known what the rules of engagement are if the drone is overland and who would give the order to Air Corps pilots to shoot down such an unmanned aircraft given the danger to civilians. 

It is understood that for such an order to be carried out it would need to be as a final option after everything else is exhausted.

As reported by The Journal it is anticipated that a major summit will take place in Dublin at which a large number of world leaders are likely to attend.

In the past major international figures have also attended the summit, meaning the total number of world leaders could be more than 50 in total. Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy attended a similar event in Denmark recently, where a German frigate provided air defence. US president George W Bush attended a similar summit held during Ireland’s presidency in 2004.

At a meeting of defence ministers this week in Cyprus there was a threat against three aircraft. 

The Journal has learned that this event is now likely to take place in Dublin in November, possibly at the Convention Centre in the city centre. 

Sources have said that helicopters are better suited to engage the slow moving unmanned aircraft. There had been consideration of using the PC-9 training aircraft for the job. 

Their pilots are undergoing interception training in which they simulate with their Air Traffic Control colleagues being directed to a suspicious aircraft.

Sources explained that the PC-9s would not be used in dealing with an unresponsive jet aircraft but would be used with a slow moving light aircraft. 

It is understood a British private company, which includes former members of the Royal Air Force have been in Baldonnel for the training. 

The Irish Defence Forces is also carrying out training on a new counter drone system it has purchased for the EU Presidency from a French company. 

As reported previously by The Journal Irish troops have travelled to France for training on the equipment which is anticipated to be based at Baldonnel only. 

An Garda Síochána has also purchased counter drone equipment from an Irish company – this will act independent of the Defence Forces capability and will be utilised by trained members of the regional Armed Support Unit and the national Emergency Response Unit.