Ireland's first primary military radar system is set to be rolled out next year, according to Tánaiste and Minister for Defence Simon Harris.
"Year on year, indeed month and month from next year, we'll be in an enhanced position," Mr Harris said.
The system will have the ability to detect aircraft designed not to be seen, or that have their transponders turned off.
Hostile and surveillance aircraft and hijacked aircraft can be identified by the technology.
International drug smugglers also use aircraft 'cloaked' from radar detection.
Ireland's security agencies currently do not have the capability to detect these types of aircraft in Irish airspace.
The Commission on the Defence Forces in 2022 recommended that Ireland puts in place its own military radar system, which the Government accepted.
The Tánaiste said he will be updating the Cabinet soon with the latest on radar procurement after he instructed his officials to prepare to "expedite" its delivery.
The full radar programme is likely to be operational by 2028, he said.
The establishment of long-range primary radar, ground-based air defence systems and maritime radar is of "significant importance" and has been "prioritised", for the Government, according to a response from Mr Harris to a parliamentary question in March.
He also acknowledged that interceptor jets would be needed as their absence raises questions about how the State intends to respond to potential aerial threats once they are identified.
Experts say primary radar needs to be part of a complex air defence system, which includes a control centre with a round-the-clock operational team to monitor the radar, an aircraft communication system and interceptor jets to respond to suspicious aircraft.
Professor of Electronic and Radio Systems at City St George's in the University of London David Stupples said he has always been surprised that Ireland does not have an air defence radar system.
Prof Stupples was employed in radar and communications systems development in the Royal Air Force and has previously worked with Irish governments.
He said he believes a radar system was not put in place the State because the authorities in Ireland never perceived the country as a target.
"I don’t see Ireland as a particular target, but I see the world getting more and more volatile. Ireland does need to take precautions and actions to defend itself," he said.
Such a sophisticated system is expensive, possibly running to hundreds of millions of euro, however, Prof Stupples said many companies in the world offer turn-key systems.
The Tánaiste said that his officials are currently assessing countries that have expressed an interest in working with Ireland in relation to radar procurement, which could cost hundreds of millions of euro.
