The Irish government has made a significant investment in the future capabilities of the Irish Air Corps, with the purchase of a new cargo aircraft. The type of aircraft is believed to be the CASA C-295.
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Gerard van der Schaaf, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The aircraft, which is expected to cost around $53 million, will be used for transporting troops and vehicles on international missions, as well as rescuing stranded Irish citizens. This marks a major step forward for the Irish Defence Forces, which have previously had to rely on the use of French and Finnish aircraft for such operations due to a lack of suitable long-range aircraft of their own.
The decision to fast-track the procurement process and purchase the new cargo aircraft was reportedly made following anxious discussions about the need to address the recommendations of the Commission on the Defence Forces, which called for a major overhaul of the air capabilities of the Irish Air Corps. The commission’s report highlighted the importance of having the necessary air capabilities in place to respond to a range of potential scenarios, from peacekeeping missions to the rescue of Irish citizens in distress.
The new cargo aircraft is expected to be delivered in 2025, and it is believed that the Irish Air Corps will not need to undergo extensive training in order to fly it, as it is a variant of the Casa CN-235 aircraft that they already operate. In addition to the new cargo aircraft, the Irish Air Corps is also reportedly still advocating for the purchase of a long-range small jet, which could be used for both ministerial transportation and medical evacuations.
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