Ireland’s new €53 million government jet was delivered without an advanced Israeli-made vision system designed to help pilots land in fog and other hazardous weather conditions, The Journal reported.

The Dassault Falcon 6X, delivered to the Irish Air Corps shortly before Christmas 2025, is primarily used to transport Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin and government ministers. It replaced the government’s aging Learjet and is also intended for long-range medical evacuation missions.

Falcon 6X aircraft can be equipped with Elbit Systems’ FalconEye enhanced flight vision system, which combines infrared cameras, sensors and synthetic terrain imagery to give pilots a clearer picture of their surroundings in darkness, fog and other low-visibility conditions.

Sources familiar with the aircraft said FalconEye was excluded because purchasing it would have required the Irish government to enter into a direct procurement agreement with Elbit Systems. Former Irish Air Corps pilot Kevin Phipps said the system’s operational advantage is its ability to let an aircraft land in fog when other planes might be forced to divert.

Ireland’s Department of Defence rejected claims that the missing system had significantly impaired the aircraft, saying there were “no current limits on the operational capability of the aircraft.” Sources nevertheless said that while the jet remains fully operational, the absence of FalconEye reduces the options available to pilots during poor weather and extremely low visibility.

The Irish government has accepted Israeli technology when it forms part of essential aircraft systems that cannot be removed without changing the basic configuration. These include Elbit-made systems in four Airbus helicopters being built for the Irish Air Corps and Israeli-manufactured radar systems aboard Ireland’s new Airbus C295 maritime patrol aircraft.

FalconEye, however, is an optional feature that would have required a separate agreement with Elbit. Aviation experts said the Falcon 6X may therefore be more likely to divert to another airport when confronted with dense fog or other severe visibility restrictions.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)