Defence Forces experts train Nato militaries to counter homemade bomb threats
Bomb experts from Australia and New Zealand joined major Nato countries, such as US, Canada, UK, France, and Germany, at the Ordnance School in the Curragh.
A total of 43 participants from 10 countries took part, including Nato partners and non-Nato partners.
In a statement, the Defence Forces said the fact that Ireland held the third Nato Home-made Explosives Workshop was 'a positive reflection on the technical expertise of the Ordnance Corp personnel'.
It said this corp has performed Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) and Counter Improvised Explosive (CIED) tasks during operational deployments.
'This workshop is an opportunity to share knowledge and enhance learning in the area of homemade explosives to meet current and future security challenges that will compliment already existing countermeasures to defeat the asymmetric threat posed by homemade explosives,' it said.
The workshop covered the identification and safe disposal of homemade devices and the co-ordination of military and civilian law enforcement agencies, including in the area of counter-terrorism and the protection of troops and civilians.
Lieutenant Colonel Conor King General Secretary of RACO, the officers' association, said: 'The Irish Defence Forces Ordnance Corps is internationally renowned as a leader in EOD and CIED, as well as other asymmetric counter measures, from marauding terrorist attack to homemade explosives.'
He said the Ordnance School in the Defence Forces Training College has attracted experts from defence, law enforcement, and the scientific community from all over the world for many years.
'The skill sets within the DF Ordnance Corps takes many years of training, education and operational experience to cultivate. We must make every effort to retain these specialists.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Examiner
5 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
John Whelan: Tariff-free services exports are key to growth for now
Across the business front, particularly the digital providers, an audible sigh of relief can be noticed as it became clear that the EU's €93bn list of countermeasure tariffs against the US does not include services trade. The EU's countermeasures will automatically click into force on August 7, said the European Commission, should the US fail to drop the Trump-threatened 30% tariff on all EU exports by then. The big worry for Ireland's services companies, which are mainly US multinationals, accounting for €115bn in exports sales in the first three months of the year as reported by the Central Statistics Office earlier in the month, was that the EU countermeasure tariffs on the US would include services. This would have had major implications for the many thousands employed in the sector, likely forcing relocations to other non-EU countries, as well as significantly hitting the Government's corporation tax take. Now the full weight of the EU-US tariff war is set to fall on the wide range of manufactured goods, inclusive of food and drinks products, which could impact on sales output to our largest customer the US, and in the process hitting State funding. The implication of this change in trading relationship with the US is the need to bolster support for Ireland's traders in the services sector, in particular, digital trade providers such as Amazon, Google, Meta, and Microsoft. Foreign-owned enterprises account for 80% of Ireland's services exports, the second highest of the OECD countries, as reported in its Services Trade Restrictiveness Index report 2025. This leaves Ireland more exposed than most countries to US trade pressures, as the vast majority of these Ireland-based multinationals are US-owned. Retaining these global digital players in Ireland must continue to be a priority for the Government, but also there is an urgent need to do more to develop indigenous Irish companies, to ensure more controllable and sustainable growth of the services exports sector. Amazon scraps plan for plant Amazon's scrapping of its plan to build an industrial plant in Dublin, involving a €300m investment which would employ more than 500, because it did not receive the necessary Government guarantees about power supplies the plant would require, is a clear indicator of the challenges faced in retaining the multinationals in Ireland. This Amazon project loss is a critical blow to our attempts to stay up with the global AI tech race, as the now scuttled project involved the creation of an AI testing and manufacturing facility and not a data centre. It would also have enabled the training of a fresh cohort of employees, who could in the future enable the setting up of indigenous AI start-ups. To date, Enterprise Ireland, which supports Irish-owned companies, has failed to significantly grow the service exporting industry. Enterprise Ireland client companies account for under 2% of our total service trade exports. The other 18% of the services exports from Ireland come from entrepreneurs who have built their export businesses without State support. Many of them depend on good access to digital services platforms provided by the likes of Google, Meta, and Microsoft, which again underscores the critical reliance on the connection with the US. Reducing dependence on the US and deepening EU integration in services could be achieved by encouraging more innovation and stimulating much-needed investment. An easy win should be with the UK, which last year imported €314bn in services, but only €12bn from Ireland. Service sector reforms are, of course, not going to be easy, either in their politics or in their execution. The freedom to establish a company in another EU country and the freedom to provide or receive services in another EU country are already established for many services through the EU Services Directive — but implementation has been weak. Services regulations are complex and highly decentralised. In many EU member states, reforms are often implemented by professional associations, who may have a bias against reforms or even a conflict of interest. Many professions and industries thrive on the fees that regulatory constraints generate — and you and I, as service users, are rarely aware of the costs that these regulations impose on us. Read More Trump and von der Leyen set for crunch meeting on EU-US trade talks
Irish Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Russia 'preparing to invade new European country' as NATO fears grow
An expert has raised concerns that Russian President Vladimir Putin may be eyeing up another European nation, as the continent remains on edge over possible Russian expansionism. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported in June that Russia is laying the groundwork to potentially justify moves against Moldova and the Baltic states, citing a supposed obligation to defend its "compatriots abroad". This rhetoric echoes the "Russkiy Mir" concept, which promotes the idea of a "Russian world" beyond its borders. This narrative, experts indicate, mirrors the one Putin employed to rationalise the full-scale assault on Ukraine in February 2022. In May, it was highlighted that Russian security forces were still engaging in covert operations against the US and its allies, seen as rehearsals for a more significant conflict with NATO. A cybersecurity warning was issued by the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), alongside intelligence agencies from Germany, Czechia, Poland, Australia, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, France, and the Netherlands. It revealed that Russia's GRU had been targeting sectors such as defence, transport, and IT services in NATO countries, as well as Romania, Moldova, and Ukraine. Moldova president Maia Sandu. (Image: Getty) Putin next to Russian navy soldiers. (Image: Getty) Now, specialists are voicing concerns that Russia's ambitions could extend further into eastern Europe, reports the Express. "As a military intelligence analyst specialising in Putin's thinking and Russian military strategy, I agree with Rutte's assessment about Russia's readiness for another offensive military campaign in just a few years," penned Russian-born US intelligence expert Rebekah Koffler in The Telegraph. "I'm less convinced that a NATO country is likely to be the Kremlin's next target, unless the alliance directly intervenes in Ukraine by deploying troops onto the battlefield. "Nevertheless, what NATO does or doesn't do in the next few years could be highly significant in determining whether Putin decides to attack another post-Soviet state - such as Moldova." Koffler cautions that Russia aims to disrupt NATO's "network-centric approach to war" by focusing on the C4ISR (command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance) and space systems that are crucial for the organisation's forces. She argues that member states must go beyond merely spending money and instead gain a deeper understanding of the alliance's weaknesses. Moreover, it's important to recognise that the Kremlin tends to employ indirect tactics in confronting its adversaries, rather than outright aggression. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- The Irish Sun
How country on Putin's doorstep is preparing for invasion… with a forest barricade, hidden army & miles of dragon teeth
ON Vladimir Putin's doorstep, a tiny Nato nation of two million people are drawing up war plans for a possible invasion. Lithuania has recruited a secret army and drawn up plans for a forest barricade and miles of anti-tank dragon teeth to help keep Russia's bloodthirsty tyrant at arm's length. Advertisement 15 Belarusian army vehicles take part in war games exercises near the border of Lithuania Credit: AP:Associated Press 15 By 2027, Germany will send across an entire, highly-skilled combat unit to be stationed around Vilnius Credit: AFP 15 Lithuania is drawing up war plans for a possible invasion from Russia Credit: David Bebber - The Times 15 Whilst the Baltic state doesn't have a direct border with mainland Russia, it shares almost 700km with their allies in Belarus. It is also nestled up to Russia's militarised outpost Kaliningrad - leaving them vulnerable to Russian interference and future attacks. Insiders have been Just this week, officials in Lithuania said Russia is ramping up GPS jamming operations against the country - with pilots reporting more than 1,000 disruptions in June. Advertisement Read more on Lithuania It marks a massive increase - with 585 incidents recorded in May and 447 in April. And security chiefs have identified the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad as the source of the "interference". In the face of evil, Gabrielius Landsbergis, Lithuania's former Foreign Minister, said his country is continuing to push back against enemy forces. Lithuania is already in the top five Nato members who spend the most on defence each year. Advertisement Most read in The Sun The government has also managed to make a deal with Germany to Lithuanians are also pushing for the creation of a blockade with Belarus - in case Putin launches a cross-border invasion. Zelensky warns Putin eyeing FIVE other European countries for invasion if he isn't stopped dead in Ukraine Landsbergis told The Sun: "There is a push to think about defence lines on the border. "I would like to see wherever possible new forests being seeded to plant trees. Advertisement "We still have a lot of open space which could be used by tanks to roll over. "I would like to see actual defence lines being built with mines, ditches, infrastructure, such as dragon teeth. "We are taking this really seriously and it shows to the enemy that we are taking the threat seriously." As a former MP in Lithuania, Landsbergis is well aware of the threat that Russia poses. Advertisement Should Putin chose to invade a Nato member then he would likely choose Lithuania, many insiders believe. 15 Lithuanian Army soldiers take part military exercise near the Polish border Credit: AP 15 Gabrielius Landsbergis, former Foreign Minister of Lithuania, speaks to journalists at the Nato foreign ministers' meeting in 2021 Credit: AFP 15 Putin has a very strong relationship with Belarus' leader Alexander Lukashenko Credit: AP Advertisement 15 This is due to its small size - but also the long border it shares with two regions under heavy Russian protection. Vilmantas Vitkauskas, a former security adviser to the Lithuanian government, believes the enclave of Kaliningrad is "the main target for the Russians". Another reason for Russia to view Lithuania as an easy target is due to their small army. Advertisement Lithuania has less than 15,000 active personal in their ranks - and their equipment is also among the most outdated in Europe. A bloodthirsty tyrant like Putin may fancy his chances at pulling off a successful invasion. Meet Lithuania's 'Iron Wolf' troops "WE are ready to fight Russia until the last man, Vladimir Putin's war has a long shadow over the Baltic states - and many people fear if Russia isn't stopped in Ukraine, Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia could be next for Vlad. Lithuanian troops and armoured vehicles were on exercise in the bone-chilling cold of the frozen forests of the Pabrade training area. Our reporter was embedded with them as they carried out the war games drills just 10 miles from There is a danger of feeling removed from the war in the UK, but for the people of the Baltics the conflict is essentially knocking at their front door. Troops hunkered down in foxholes and crawled along the snow-covered ground as they prepared for the possibility they could one day have to fight to defend their homes. Read more about the drills But Lithuania is fighting back against the threat. They have agreed to a major deal which would bolster their numbers and Advertisement By 2027, Germany will send across an entire, highly-skilled combat unit to be stationed around Vilnius. This will prompt Putin to rethink any invasion plans, Landsbergis believes. He added: 'The Russians will have to take into consideration that they would be attacking, not just Lithuanian troops, but German troops now.' Germany pose a much greater threat to Moscow due to their huge and advanced army. Advertisement 15 Poland already has a giant metal border wall with Belarus with those in Lithuania calling for a similar blockade Credit: AP 15 An abandoned fence sits in a forest near the Suwalki Gap area - a land corridor on the shared border between Lithuania, Poland and Russia Credit: Reuters 15 Despite having less than 15,000 active troops, Lithuania's army are confident they can repel a Russian attack Credit: Ian Whittaker And any form of attack on German troops will provoke a response from Berlin far greater than Russia has felt before. Advertisement Vitkauskas and Landsbergis believe more nations within Nato should follow Germany to bolster fellow allies who sit in striking distance. Maintaining strength as a country - and as a united block with other states in Nato and across the world - is vital to keep Russia at bay, Vitkauskas said. He added: "The question is how strong are we as country? "And it's not just Lithuania, any country around us or or even further in different continents." Advertisement PUTIN'S TWISTED PLOTS It's feared a Russian attack could "spark at any moment" - especially with Putin already wreaking havoc across Europe, experts warn. Since the invasion of Ukraine, nations on the Baltic Sea have faced damage to undersea power cables, arson and cyberattacks. A number of attacks on the continent have been attributed to Putin - including a Putin also has a history of facing accusations saying he is being major cyber attacks which strike critical enemy infrastructure. Advertisement Estonian military chief Martin Harem previously warned how the tyrant uses 15 Volodymyr Zelensky has warned Putin won't stop at just invading Ukraine if he isn't stopped by Nato Credit: AFP 15 Lithuanian Emergency Ministry employees work at the site where a DHL cargo plane crashed into a house near Vilnius Credit: AP Vitkauskas believes the despot thrives of "uncertainty by causing chaos within the public", so leaders must always be "vigilant" and "prepared". Advertisement To counter the threat, Lithuania is putting "a lot of effort" into protecting their energy and electricity supplies - but also, internet networks and broadband . This critical infrastructure will be the first to be struck if Russian forces launch an assault so must be a priority, Vitkauskas cautioned. "When we talk about the Russian threat, we understand there is an intent and there is capability," Vitkauskas said. "We've seen what's happening around Europe, what's happening in our country and we know the capability is there. Advertisement "There are very clear examples the Russians have decided to wage operations in our country. "The main effort from the Russian special services is to raise some doubts. It's very strategic. But I'm sure it will not succeed." Timeline of Russian sabotage attacks across Europe SINCE the war in Ukraine it is believed the Russians have launched a wave of sabotage attacks across Europe. Oslo, Norway, June 29, 2022 - Cyberattack renders government websites unusable for 24 hours Riga, Latvia, February 27, 2024 - Arson attack on'Museum of the Occuption' London, UK, March 20, 2024 - Wagner-group linked arson attack at warehouse Wroclaw, Poland, April 18, 2024 - Plot to assassinate Zelensky foiled Warsaw, Poland, April 13, 2024 - Warsaw shopping centre torched by suspected Russian agent Berlin, Germany, May 3, 2024 - Cyberattacks on German politicians and companies Prague, Czechia, May 3, 2024 - Mass cyber attacks on government and infrastructure Vilnius, Lithuania, May, 9, 2024 - Arson attack on Ikea - targeted as store was same colour as Ukrainian flag Paris, France, June 7, 2024 - Russian accused of planning plot to plant bomb at D-day celebration Dusseldorf, Germany, July 12 , 2024 - Western intelligence reveal plot to assassinate German arms boss Birmingham, UK, July 22, 2024 - Russia suspected of planting device at DHL depot Warsaw, November 8, 2024 - Prosecutors reveal Russian parcel bomb plot across Europe Vilnius, Lithuania, November 25, 2024 - DHL cargo plane crashes after suspected Russian package bomb Baltic Sea, December 25, 2024 - Estlink-2 cable cut by ship anchor - one of many cable cutting attacks linked to Russia Landsbergis fears the Kremlin may already be plotting how to launch an invasion through the use of cyber warfare. He says one possible scenario could involve them causing a train travelling from Moscow to Kaliningrad via Lithuania to break down. Advertisement Putin could then say he is obliged to send his men to help the Russian citizens trapped on board. These border agents and police officers would also need to be accompanied by Russian troops due to them entering a hostile environment. Landsbergis believes it could then "all escalate in a matter of hours". Serious panic for both Lithuanian officials and Nato would soon set in once Putin's men enter through Belarus. Advertisement Landsbergis speculated: "Maybe we're just overreacting right? It's a normal civilian rescue situation. "Just help Russians with whatever you can, don't shoot, don't escalate. Take it slow and maintain a cool head. "But then the next thing you know we lose at least partially the control of all of our territory." 15 Landsbergis says one possible attack could involve Russia causing a train travelling from Moscow to Kaliningrad via Lithuania to break down Credit: Ian Whittaker Advertisement 15 Nato soldiers take part in a welcoming ceremony for alliance troops arriving at the Rukla base in Rukla, Lithuania Credit: EPA
