Ireland Receives First Airbus C295 Maritime Surveillance Aircraft

Ireland has received the first of two C295 Maritime Surveillance Aircraft (MSA) from Airbus. The aircraft will be flown by the Irish Air Corps.

Tánaiste and Minister for Defence Micheál Martin welcomes the arrival of the first of two Airbus C295 Maritime Patrol Aircraft.

Tánaiste and Minister for Defence Micheál Martin visited Casement Aerodrome this afternoon to welcome the arrival of the first of two Airbus C295 Maritime Patrol Aircraft.

The Tánaiste was accompanied by the Department of Defence Secretary General, Jacqui McCrum and Chief of Staff, Seán Clancy, and was met by General Officer Commanding the Air Corps, Brigadier General Rory O’Connor as well as members of the team involved in delivering the project and representatives from Airbus Defence and Space.

The contract for the supply of two Maritime Patrol aircraft was awarded to Airbus Defence and Space in December 2019 following an open tender competition.

These new aircraft, which replace the two existing CASA CN235-100 Maritime Patrol Aircraft purchased for the Air Corps in 1994, are primarily equipped for maritime surveillance, particularly fisheries protection, but will also provide the Air Corps with the capability to deliver a range of services including logistics support and transport of troops and equipment, medical evacuation and air ambulances, search and rescue and a general utility role.

The replacement of the two CASA CN235’s with two larger, more capable aircraft will enhance maritime surveillance and provide a greater degree of utility for transport and cargo carrying tasks.

“At €230 million for both aircraft and the associated training, spare parts and ground equipment, this is the largest equipment acquisition project undertaken for the Defence Forces. This significant investment is an indication of the Government’s ongoing commitment to ensuring that our Defence Forces retain a range of flexible conventional military capabilities to fulfil their roles and duties.”

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