The Defence Forces can’t use their state of the art missile system to protect President Joe Biden when he arrives here this week – because the radar doesn’t work.
Military bosses had been planning to use the multi-million euro RBS 70 air defence system during Mr Biden’s three-day visit here – but that plan has now been scrapped. The Swedish-built system can fire deadly laser-guided missiles up to 6kms -and was due to be a key plank of the state’s plan to protect Mr Biden when he is here on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
But we have established that the system cannot now be deployed because the Giraffe short range radar system that works in tandem with it is obsolete. That radar tracks the skies for any threats for the RBS 70 to take out – from planes and helicopters and even drones.
