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{{Short description|Aerial service branch of the Irish Defence Forces}}{{Use Hiberno-English|date=October 2013}}{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2013}}

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Republic of Ireland>Ireland| branch = | type = Air force| role = Aerial warfareTITLE=DEFENCE FORCES STRENGTH (DáIL ÉIREANN DEBATE – TUESDAY, 13 JUNE 2023) ACCESS-DATE=25 AUGUST 2023, The established strength and current strength of the Defence Forces as at 30 April 2023 is [..] Army 7,520 .. 6,322 [..] Air Corps 886 .. 711 [..] Naval Service 1,094 .. 764 [..] Army Reserve 3,869 .. 1,382 [..] Naval Service Reserve 200 .. 77 [..] First Line Reserve N/A .. 275, Defence Forces (Ireland)>Irish Defence ForcesCasement Aerodrome, Baldonnel, Ireland>Baldonnel| garrison_label = Headquarters| nickname = | patron = List of wars involving the Republic of Ireland>see list of wars| decorations = | battle_honours = | battle_honours_label = | flying_hours = | website = Air Corps - Defence ForcesBrigadier general>Brigadier General Rory O'ConnorGENERAL OFFICER COMMANDING (GOC) AIR CORPS >URL=HTTP://WWW.MILITARY.IE/EN/WHO-WE-ARE/AIR-CORPS/GOC-AIR-CORPS/ ACCESS-DATE=15 APRIL 2019 ARCHIVE-DATE=14 APRIL 2019DF=DMY-ALL, General officer commanding>General Officer Commanding| commander2 = | commander2_label = | commander3 = | commander3_label = | commander4 = | commander4_label = | commander5 = | commander5_label = | notable_commanders = 80px)Military aircraft insignia>Roundel80px)| identification_symbol_2_label = Fin flash160px)Military colours, standards and guidons>Colours| aircraft_bomber = | aircraft_electronic = | aircraft_fighter = | aircraft_helicopter = | aircraft_helicopter_attack =| aircraft_helicopter_cargo = | aircraft_helicopter_multirole = | aircraft_helicopter_observation = | aircraft_helicopter_trainer = | aircraft_helicopter_utility = | aircraft_interceptor = CASA CN-235>CASA CN235-100MP PersuaderHTTPS://WWW.MILITARY.IE/EN/WHO-WE-ARE/AIR-CORPS/THE-FLEET/CASA-CN-235/ >TITLE=CASA CN 235 | FLEET | AIR CORPS | DEFENCE FORCES ACCESS-DATE=17 NOVEMBER 2021, dmy-all, | aircraft_recon = Pilatus PC-9>PC-9MHTTPS://WWW.MILITARY.IE/EN/WHO-WE-ARE/AIR-CORPS/THE-FLEET/PILATUS-PC-9M/ >TITLE=PILATUS PC-9M | FLEET | AIR CORPS | DEFENCE FORCES ACCESS-DATE=17 NOVEMBER 2021, dmy-all, Learjet 45HTTPS://WWW.MILITARY.IE/EN/WHO-WE-ARE/AIR-CORPS/THE-FLEET/LEARJET-45/ PUBLISHER=MILITARY.IE DF=DMY-ALL, AgustaWestland AW139HTTPS://WWW.MILITARY.IE/EN/WHO-WE-ARE/AIR-CORPS/THE-FLEET/AW139/ DATE=4 NOVEMBER 2020 ACCESS-DATE=17 NOVEMBER 2021 Eurocopter EC 135>EC 135P2HTTPS://WWW.MILITARY.IE/EN/WHO-WE-ARE/AIR-CORPS/THE-FLEET/EC135-P2/ >TITLE=EC135 P2 | FLEET | AIR CORPS | DEFENCE FORCES ACCESS-DATE=17 NOVEMBER 2021, dmy-all, | aircraft_tanker = | aircraft_general = }}The Air Corps () is the air force of Ireland. Organisationally a military branch of the Defence Forces of Ireland, the Air Corps utilises a fleet of fixed-wing aircraft and rotorcraft to carry out a variety of duties in conjunction with the Irish Army, Irish Naval Service and Garda Síochána. The headquarters of the Air Corps is located at the Casement Aerodrome in Baldonnel, Dublin. The Air Corps has an active establishment of 886 personnel. Like other components of the Defence Forces, it has struggled to maintain strength and as of April 2023 has only 711 active personnel. Unlike the Army or the Naval Service, the Air Corps does not maintain a reserve component.{{efn|The Defence Forces consists of two components: a regular force, the Permanent Defence Forces (PDF) and a reserve force, the Reserve Defence Forces (RDF); the Air Corps forms part of the PDF.}}

History

National Army Air Service

(File:Roundel of Ireland (1939–1954).svg|thumb|150px|Former roundel of the Irish Air Corps)The National Army Air Service was independent Ireland's first air force. During the Anglo-Irish Treaty talks of 1921, a Martinsyde Type A Mark II biplane was purchased and put on 24-hour standby at Croydon Airport to allow Michael Collins to escape back to Ireland if the talks failed. The plane was not needed for this mission, and it became the first aircraft of the new National Army Air Service arriving in June 1922.WEB,weblink History of the Air Corps, Defence Forces (Ireland), Defence Forces, 17 August 2023, The National Army Air Service was established in July 1922 and was gradually equipped with various aircraft types acquired from the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the Aircraft Disposal Company. This company had been formed in 1919 to dispose of surplus aircraft and aero-engines from World War I for the British government.WEB,weblink Aircraft of the Irish Air Service, Irish Army Air Corps And Irish Air Corps, 1922–2007, International Plastic Modellers' Society Ireland, 24 December 2014,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160304003525weblink">weblink 4 March 2016, dead, dmy-all, By the end of 1922, the National Army Air Service comprised ten aircraft, consisting of six Bristol F2B fighters from the First World War and four Martinsyde F4 Fighters, and about 400 men. Its successor, the Irish Army Air Corps was established in 1924 following a re-organisation of the National Army at the end of the Civil War.

The Air Corps

Early years

With the establishment of the Defence Forces in 1924, the Air Service became the new Army's Air Corps and remained part of the Army until the 1990s.In 1938 four Gloster Gladiator biplane fighters were delivered – a further eight were ordered but were embargoed by the outbreak of the Second World War. Other aircraft purchased from the United Kingdom before the outbreak of war included 16 Avro Anson Mark I maritime patrol bombers, 3 Supermarine Walrus amphibians, 6 Westland Lysander Mark II army co-operation aircraft and a number of trainers.File:Avro 652A Anson C.19 141 IAC Baldl 29.07.67 edited-4.jpg|thumb|right|Irish Air Corps Avro AnsonAvro AnsonFile:IrishAirCorps deHavilland Vampires 1955.jpg|thumb|de Havilland Vampirede Havilland Vampire

World War II (The Emergency)

During World War II (or The Emergency) there are no records of Air Corps planes engaging any belligerent aircraft, although dozens of escaped barrage balloons were shot down. Requests for more aircraft from Britain resulted in 13 obsolete Hawker Hector biplane light bombers being supplied during 1941. Twelve Hawker Hurricane Mk. Is were initially ordered for the Irish Army Air Corps in 1940 but were not delivered due to a wartime embargo imposed by the British government. Eleven Hurricane Mk. Is were eventually delivered to the Air Corps, from surplus RAF stocks, between July 1943 and March 1944, and the Hurricane Mk. I (no.93), that crash-landed in County Wexford in 1940, was the twelfth aircraft. These were supplemented by 6 Hawker Hurricane Mk. IIcs that were delivered to the Irish Army Air Corps in March 1945, to eventually replace the Hurricane Mk. Is of No. 1 Fighter Squadron. Supplied from surplus RAF stocks, the Hurricane Mk. IIcs were the last batch of aircraft to be delivered to the Air Corps before the end of World War II. The Hurricanes were the first monoplane fighter aircraft to enter service with the Air Corps and were also the first aircraft capable of reaching 300 m.p.h. in level flight. The Hurricane gave the Air Corps a proven modern fighter, and – at peak – 20 flew in Irish colours.163 belligerent aircraft force-landed in Ireland during the war, and in this way, the Air Corps acquired a Lockheed Hudson, a Fairey Battle, and three Hawker Hurricanes.

Post-war

After the war, the Hurricanes were replaced by Supermarine Seafires and a few two-seat Spitfire trainers. Avro Anson light transports were operated as communications aircraft between 1946 and retirement in 1962. The Percival Provost was introduced in the mid-1950s as the Air Corps initial training aircraft.The de Havilland Dove became the Corps' transport aircraft. The jet age arrived on 30 June 1956 when the Corps took delivery of de Havilland Vampire T.55 trainers.WEB,weblink The Irish Air Corps/Aer Chór na hÉireann at Scramble (magazine), Scramble Magazine,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20070422062542weblink">weblink 22 April 2007, In November 1963 the Air Corps took delivery of its first helicopters, SA.316B Alouette IIIs, of which seven remained in service until 2007. During their operational lifetime, 3,300 people were assisted by the Alouette helicopters in their Search and Rescue and air ambulance roles.{{Citation needed|date=August 2009}}(File:PILOTS RICHTHOFEN & BROWN 1970.jpg|thumb|Irish Air Corps pilots filming Roger Corman's Richthofen & Brown, 1970. Lynn Garrison second from right, front row)During the mid-sixties and early seventies, the Corps played a part in expanding Ireland's film industry. Pilots and engineering staff participated in a 1965 box office success, The Blue Max. The fleet of World War I replicas, owned by ex-RCAF fighter pilot Lynn Garrison's "Blue Max Aviation", was based at Casement Aerodrome in Baldonnel – before being moved to Weston Aerodrome at Leixlip. Here the Corps continued its involvement, providing aircrew and engineering staff to support films such as Darling Lili, Von Richthofen and Brown, Zeppelin and a number of television commercials. Lynn Garrison was also responsible for coordinating the first demonstration of the Marchetti SF-260 Warrior at Baldonnel. As a result of this presentation, the Corps acquired a number of Warriors.

Expansion

In the mid-1970s the expansion of the "Ministerial Air Transport Service" (MATS) following Ireland's accession to the European Economic Community (now the European Union) led to the acquisition of the Corps' first business jet, a BAe 125-700.In 1975, six Fouga Magister CM-170 jet aircraft were purchased secondhand from France. They were used for training, for the Light Strike Squadron and for the Silver Swallows display team.WEB,weblink Fouga Super Magister, ulsteraviationsociety.org, They were withdrawn from service in 1998 and not replaced, leaving the Irish Air Corps without any jet combat aircraft.In 1977, ten SIAI-Marchetti SF.260WE Warriors were delivered for light training and ground attack roles. Four were lost in crashes. In 1986 five SA 365Fi Dauphin II were acquired for the SAR role. Two of these were modified for operation from the Naval Service Helicopter Patrol vessel LÉ Eithne, and equipped with crashproof fuel tanks and harpoon deck arrester gear.As part of Ireland's obligations to the European Union, the Irish Air Corps patrols 132,000 square miles (342,000 km2) of the sea. The Air Corps previously employed two of its three Beechcraft 200 Super King Airs for this duty. However, the Super King Airs used for Maritime patrol were disposed of in the 1990s, and the third was allocated to transport duties. 102 Squadron operated one Beech King Air (#BB-672 with tail-number 240), but (as of 2010) it is out of service and hangared. Two previously operated aircraft (#BB-376 and #BB-208, with tail-numbers 232 and 234) were sold in 1991 and 1992 respectively.WEB,weblink IrishAirPics.com – Irish Air Corps Aircraft Registrations, 23 December 2014, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160303181540weblink">weblink 3 March 2016, WEB,weblink Irish Air Corps website King Air page, 5 November 2007,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20100329194845weblink">weblink 29 March 2010, Two CASA C235-100 maritime patrol aircraft now undertake these patrols – and were upgraded in 2006/2007 by EADS CASA to the FITS Persuader standard with enhanced radar, forward looking infrared equipment and a new electronic and avionics suite.In its MATS role, following Ireland's assumption of the EU Presidency the Corps leased a Grumman Gulfstream III – which in 1990 became the first Irish military aircraft to circumnavigate the world. A Grumman Gulfstream IV was later acquired, as was a Learjet 45. The average cost per hour in 2012 of operating the Gulfstream IV was €3,790.St Patrick's Day trips cost €100,000 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402184431weblink |date=2 April 2012 }} Irish Times, 2 April 2012.In 2004 eight Pilatus PC-9M trainers were delivered to the Air Corps. The Pilatus aircraft were the first Air Corps aircraft to break with an Air Corps tradition of using consecutive tail-numbers.{{why|date=July 2016}} The General Officer Commanding started the new Pilatus tail-numbers in the 260 series – jumping from tail-number 258 (a Learjet 45) to 260 (the first Pilatus) – skipping tail-number 259. The Pilatus is the first Air Corps aircraft to have ejection seats since the Vampire. The PC-9M has six underwing hardpoints and has the capability to be armed with FN HMP250 gun pods, each carrying one M3P machine gun, and FN LAU-7 rocket pods, each carrying seven Folding-Fin Aerial Rockets, for the close air support role. Aircrews have an annual live firing exercise, flying out of Casement Aerodrome at Baldonnel to the coastal range at Gormanston Camp.WEB,weblink Irish Air Corps Pilatus PC-9M Air Firing, 23 December 2014,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20140316171134weblink">weblink 16 March 2014, live, dmy-all, Two Eurocopter EC135P2 light utility helicopters were delivered to the Air Corps in November 2005. The first of four AgustaWestland AW139s were handed over to the Air Corps at Agusta's facility in Milan in November 2006.WEB,weblink Air Corps Fleet – Agusta Westland AW139,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20081014122725weblink">weblink 14 October 2008, Two of the AW139 remained in Milan to provide training for Irish pilots before being flown to Ireland in December 2006. These helicopters are another first for the Air Corps as they are delivered with the capability to carry cabin mounted 7.62mm General Purpose Machine Guns.On 12 October 2009 an Air Corps instructor, Captain Derek Furniss, and Cadet David Jevens were killed when their Pilatus PC-9 crashed during a training exercise in Connemara, County Galway.WEB,weblink Bodies of Air Corps pilots removed from scene, 13 October 2009, RTÉ.ie, 23 December 2014,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20091020004945weblink">weblink 20 October 2009, live, dmy-all, During the 2011 Libyan civil war, the Air Corps was tasked with evacuating approximately forty Irish citizens from the troubled country. The operation involved two Air Corps aircraft (the Learjet and one CN-235), and nine personnel, using Malta as a temporary base.WEB,weblink Ireland sends planes to Malta for Libyan airlift, Times of Malta, 22 February 2011, 23 December 2014,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20110225130032weblink">weblink 25 February 2011, live, dmy-all, WEB,weblink Libya: Efforts to evacuate foreign citizens, 23 February 2011, RTÉ.ie, 23 December 2014,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20121102215125weblink">weblink 2 November 2012, live, dmy-all, WEB,weblink Irish Government planes on standby for Libya evacuation, 23 February 2011, 23 December 2014,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20141224004242weblink">weblink 24 December 2014, live, dmy-all,

2022 Commission on the Defence Forces

In February 2022, the Commission on the Defence Forces published a report. For the Air Corps, the report recommended that the service be renamed to the Irish Air Force and advocated for the establishment of a Chief of the Air Force. The report also recommended three levels of ambition (LOAs) with each level having different recommendations. LOA 1 proposes to maintain the current size of the Air Corps, while bringing active personnel numbers back up to the current establishment.WEB, February 2022, Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces,weblink 2022-04-22, Commission on the Defence Forces, 37–43, LOA 2 recommends the development of additional capabilities, including:

• 2 additional medium helicopters - 8 Medium Helicopters to eventually be replaced with 8 super-medium helicopters
• Primary radar - establish a Recognised Air Picture (RAP)
• Strategic reach aircraft - transport and airlift for overseas deployments
• Counter UAV - Anti-drone/UAV capability
• Air Corps Reserve - recruitment of specialist roles (technicians, trained pilots, air traffic controllers)

LOA 3 recommends a further development of Air Corps combat capabilities, including:

• Jet combat aircraft - Air combat/intercept capability
• Troop carrier aircraft - Overseas deployment of personnel
• Armed CSAR helicopters - Organic intra-theatre deployments

Under LOA 3, the new Air Force would also be capable of deploying combat pilots, aircraft and support personnel overseas. LOA 2 recommends a budget of €1.5 billion with LOA 3 recommending a budget of €3 billion. The commission compared Ireland to other nations of similar GDP and population size, and determined these budgetary increases would be commensurate with those nations.WEB, Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces,weblink 2022-08-17, www.gov.ie, 9 February 2022, 137–142, en,

Organisation

The Irish Air Corps is the air branch of the Irish Defence Forces. Headed up by Brigadier General Rory O'Connor, General Officer Commanding, Air Corps (GOCAC), the Air Corps comprises a staff headquarters, two air wings, two ground support wings, one independent squadron and the Air Corps College. The Air Corps' principal base of operations is out of Casement Aerodrome in Dublin.File:Brigadier General Seán Clancy, GOC Air Corps.jpg|thumb|upright|Brigadier General Seán Clancy was General Officer Commanding of the Air Corps from 2017 to 2019.]]

Air Corps Headquarters

• Office of General Officer Commanding
• Operations Section
• Support Section
• Military Airworthiness Authority
• Flight Safety Section
• Military Police Section

No 1 Operations Wing

1 Operations Wing is the main formation responsible for operational fixed-wing flying.WEB,weblink No 1 Ops Wing, Irish Air Corps, 12 September 2012,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20120902011835weblink">weblink 2 September 2012, live, dmy-all, This is sub-divided into four individual flying squadrons and two non-flying squadrons, each of which has a dedicated role:

• 101 Squadron – Maritime Surveillance and Airlift
• 102 Squadron – Ministerial Transport
• 103 Squadron – Engineering
• 104 Squadron – Army Co-op
• 105 Squadron – Defence Forces Photographic Section

No 3 Operations Wing

3 Operations Wing is the formation responsible for operational rotary wing flying,WEB,weblink No 3 Ops Wing, Irish Air Corps, 12 September 2012,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20120905060943weblink">weblink 5 September 2012, live, dmy-all, and is divided into three flying squadrons and one non-flying squadron. It provides pilots for the Emergency Aeromedical Service, the air ambulance service which is jointly operated by the Air Corps and the HSE National Ambulance Service.

• 301 Tactical Helicopter Squadron
• 302 Training and Surveillance Squadron
• 303 Maintenance and Deployment Squadron
• 304 Garda Air Support Squadron

No 4 Support Wing

4 Support Wing is primarily concerned with second-line aircraft maintenance (front line maintenance is done by the engineering squadrons in each operational wing).WEB,weblink No 4 Sp Wing, Irish Air Corps, 12 September 2012,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20120707022418weblink">weblink 7 July 2012, live, dmy-all, This formation has two squadrons.

• 401 Squadron – Mechanical support
• 402 Squadron – Avionics support

No 5 Support Wing

5 Support Wing is responsible for logistic support for the Air Corps.WEB,weblink No 5 Sp Wing, Irish Air Corps, 12 September 2012,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20120902011804weblink">weblink 2 September 2012, live, dmy-all,

• 502 Squadron – Logistic support
• 503 Squadron – Transport
• 504 Squadron – Medical services
• 505 Squadron – Air Traffic Control
• 506 Squadron – Fire Fighting

Communication & Information Services Squadron

{{see also|Communications & Information Services Corps}}Communication & Information Services Squadron (CIS) is responsible for the supply and maintenance of ground-based communications, navigation, radar and IT systems for the Air Corps. The CIS Squadron comprises a headquarters and four flights.WEB,weblink CIS Squadron, Irish Air Corps, 2017-01-04,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160424205434weblink">weblink 24 April 2016, live, dmy-all,

• Squadron HQ
• Airfield Services Flight
• Communications Flight
• Technical Services Flight
• Information Technology Flight

Air Corps College

The Air Corps College is the principal training unit of the Irish Air Corps, where all entrants into the service undertake their training. The college is divided into three distinct schools:WEB,weblink Air Corps College, Irish Air Corps, 12 September 2012,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20120905061013weblink">weblink 5 September 2012, live, dmy-all,

• Flying Training School (FTS) – The FTS has primary responsibility both for flying training, for which it is equipped with a squadron of Pilatus PC-9 fixed-wing aircraft, as well as officer training.
• Technical Training School (TTS) – The TTS undertakes technical training for those who will become aircraft technicians.
• Military Training and Survival School (MTSS) – The MTSS is responsible for the basic military training of all new recruits, as well as career progression training.

Aircraft

{{See also|List of aircraft of the Irish Air Corps}}

Current inventory

File:Air Corps Agusta Westland AW139 (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|Irish Air Corps AgustaWestland AW139AgustaWestland AW139File:Airtech CN-235-100M, Ireland - Air Force AN1983225.jpg|thumb|right|Irish Air Corps CASA CN-235CASA CN-235{{Active Irish Air Corps Aircraft}}

Aircraft retirements

Replaced by the PC-9Ms, several SF-260WE Marchetti Warriors (the previous fixed-wing mainstay of the Air Corps College) were sold to a private reseller in the United States – with one example retained for the Air Corps museum collection. Several other aircraft (including four Dauphins and one Gazelle) have retired from service, struck off the Air Corps aircraft register and sold to foreign buyers.(File:Irish Air Corps G-1159C 251.JPG|thumb|Irish Air Corps retired Gulfstream IV, which was used as VIP transport)The Sikorsky S-61N operated by the Air Corps for Search and Rescue operations was returned to CHC Helicopter. As part of this consolidation to a number of supported types, and following the exercise of two further options on AW139 Utility Helicopters, the previous army support and SAR Alouette fleet, the Alouette IIIs, were "stood down" at a ceremony at Casement aerodrome on 21 September 2007. This aircraft and unit provided the first SAR helicopter service in Ireland and one of the first dedicated national air ambulance services in the world when founded in 1964.The Eurocopter Twin Squirrel helicopter of the Garda Air Support Unit was replaced by a second Eurocopter EC135 in January 2008.A Gulfstream IV operated by the Irish Air Corps on behalf of the Irish Ministerial Air Transport Service was removed from service after corrosion was detected in the undercarriage in July 2014. The government sold the jet in December 2014 for $500,000, and (as of March 2015) the government were considering whether to acquire a replacement.WEB,weblink Status of Gulfstream IV (Dáil Éireann Debate – Vote 36 – Department of Defence), 28 January 2015, Houses of the Oireachtas, 30 March 2015, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20150402124825weblink">weblink 2 April 2015, WEB,weblink Government jet sold, 30 March 2015, RTÉ, 30 March 2015,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20150331194846weblink">weblink 31 March 2015, live, dmy-all, WEB,weblink Government sells ailing jet, 30 March 2015, Irish Independent, 30 March 2015,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20150331005353weblink">weblink 31 March 2015, live, dmy-all, WEB,weblink Gulfstream 251 re-registered, 29 March 2015, Flying in Ireland, 30 March 2015,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20150402132207weblink">weblink 2 April 2015, live, dmy-all, The 2022 Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces suggested that a replacement aircraft for the Gulfstream IV would be essential if LOA 2 or 3 were to be met.On 4 October 2019, after 47 years of service to the state, the 5 remaining (of 9 total) Reims Rocket FR172H (Cessna) aircraft were stood down from service after amassing 63,578 flight hours total.WEB,weblink Irish Defence Forces, military.ie, Press Release - Irish Air Corps Stand Down Reims Rocket Fleet After 47 Years, 5 October 2019, 7 October 2019, The Cessnas were replaced with several Pilatus PC-12 NG utility aircraft during 2020.REPORT, August 2015, White Paper on Defence 2015,weblink Department of Defence (Ireland), 66, 29 August 2015,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20170201032254weblink">weblink 1 February 2017, dead, dmy-all, WEB,weblink Independent News & Media, Air Corps to spend €32m on new aircraft to act as 'an eye in the sky', 19 December 2017, 19 December 2017,weblink 26 December 2017, live, dmy-all, The first of four Pilatus PC-12 aircraft was delivered in April 2020,WEB,weblink flyinginireland.com, Air Corps to Take Delivery of Pilatus PC-12 Today, 2 April 2020, with three further aircraft delivered in September 2020.WEB,weblink gov.ie, Government of Ireland, Press Release - Minister Coveney marks arrival of 3 new PC-12s at Baldonnell, 16 September 2020, 1 February 2021, WEB,weblink flyinginireland.com, Irish Air Corps New PC-12's Arrive in Baldonnel, 10 September 2020, 1 February 2021,

Weapons {| class"wikitable"

! style="text-align:center; background:#aabccc;"|Name! style="text-align: center; background:#aabccc;"|Origin! style="text-align:l center; background:#aabccc;"|Type! style="text-align:l center; background:#aabccc;"|Variant! style="text-align: left; background: #aabccc;"|Image! style="text-align: center; background:#aabccc;"|Notes! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7" | Small arms| Heckler & Koch USP| Germany| Semi-automatic pistol| 120px)TITLE=DEFENCE FORCES TO TURN 'TOMB RAIDERS' DATE=2006-09-02 ARCHIVE-URL=HTTPS://WEB.ARCHIVE.ORG/WEB/20150624102415/HTTP://WWW.INDEPENDENT.IE/IRISH-NEWS/DEFENCE-FORCES-TO-TURN-TOMB-RAIDERS-26363067.HTML URL-STATUS=LIVE, dmy-all, | Steyr AUG| Austria| Assault rifle| 120px)service rifle since 1989HTTP://WWW.MILITARY.IE/ARMY/EQUIPMENT/WEAPONS/WEAPONS.HTM PUBLISHER=MILITARY.IE URL-STATUS=DEAD ARCHIVE-DATE=26 NOVEMBER 2010, ! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7" | Machine Guns & Rockets| FN MAG| Belgium| General-purpose machine gunFN MAG#Variants>FN MAG 58M120px)| Can be mounted on the AgustaWestland AW139 helicopter | M2 Browning| United States| Heavy machine gunM2 Browning#AN/M3, GAU-21/A, and M3P>M3P (File:Close up of Irish Air Corps Pilatus PC-9 in flight.jpg|120px)Pilatus PC-9>Pilatus PC-9M for Close Air Support roleFolding-Fin Aerial Rocket>Rocket Pods| Belgium| Unguided rocketsFolding-Fin Aerial Rocket#US Air Force launchers>LAU 7Pilatus PC-9>Pilatus PC-9M for Close Air Support role

Capabilities

File:274 Agusta Westland 139 Irish Air Corps Baldonnell (3236390891).jpg|thumb|An Air Corps AgustaWestland AW139AgustaWestland AW139File:Close up of Irish Air Corps Pilatus PC-9 in flight.jpg|thumb|right|Pilatus PC-9M trainers in formation. The closer aircraft is carrying underwing machine gun and rocket pods which are used in the ground attackground attackThe Air Corps military roles and the functions it carries out are those of an army air corps rather than that of a conventional military air force. The Air Corps air space control and ground attack capacity is limited to low-level and limited weather. Helicopter tactical troop transport is available on a 24-hour basis through the introduction of Night Vision Goggles. The Air Corps non-military capabilities in aid to the civil power and other Government departments include ministerial transport, fishery protection, 24-hour maritime patrolling, Garda air support, search and rescue over both land and sea, an air ambulance service, aerial firefighting, drugs surveillance and non-combatant evacuation. The Air Corps provides the State with the capacity to meet security and contingent roles but only receives 12% of Defence Forces funding (see Dáil Defence Vote 2014).

Future

In July 2015, the Irish government revealed plans to purchase a ground-based long-range air surveillance radar system for the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) and Defence Forces to keep track of covert aircraft flying in Irish-controlled airspace, including military aircraft that do not file a flight plan and have their transponders switched off. Minister for Defence Simon Coveney said the increased capability would give better coverage of the Atlantic airspace over which the IAA has responsibility. The long-range surveillance radar is reported to cost well over €100 millionNEWS, Defence spending: Military radar and training aircraft to be acquired,weblink 2023-05-29, The Irish Times, en, and was seen as a priority purchase to provide the civilian and military authorities with an improved competency in monitoring aerial incursions.NEWS, O'Brien, Stephen, €10m radar goes to the front line of military shopping list,weblink 6 July 2015, The Sunday Times, 5 July 2015, {{Dead link|date=March 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} As Ireland is not a member of NATO, it does not have access to integrated European military radar systems or NATO equipment. The Irish Air Corps also lacks a dedicated air intercept capability, and previous air incursions have seen the Royal Air Force respond to incursions into Irish airspace.NEWS, Russian military planes detected off Irish coast, RAF reveals,weblink 6 July 2015, Irish Examiner, 30 January 2015,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20150707035009weblink">weblink 7 July 2015, live, dmy-all, The Pilatus PC9s are planned for replacement by 2025.NEWS,weblink Irish Examiner, 'Fund Defence to prevent terror attacks' says Simon Coveney, 27 August 2015, 29 August 2015,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160126190758weblink">weblink 26 January 2016, live, dmy-all, The two CASA CN-235s are due to be replaced, during 2023, by two Airbus C295 Maritime Patrol Aircraft.WEB,weblink merrionstreet.ie, Minister with Responsibility for Defence Mr Paul Kehoe T.D. Awards Contract for two New Maritime Patrol Aircraft for the Air Corps, 13 December 2019, In June 2020, the Irish Times reported that a five-year investment strategy document, published by the Irish government, included the potential for "air combat interceptors".NEWS,weblink Government considering purchase of military jet aircraft, Mark, Hilliard, 26 June 2020, The Irish Times, subscription, The speculated purchase of fighter/interceptor jets would represent a change from the use of British jets to intercept unknown airplanes encroaching Irish airspace.NEWS, Charpentreau, Clement, Ireland considers first fighter jet acquisition in 45 years,weblink 16 September 2020, AeroTime, 6 March 2021,weblink dead, A submission to the commission on defence, looked at the Aermacchi M-346, the KAI FA-50 and the Saab Gripen as candidates for replacing the current PC-9 inventory, with a minimum of 8 aircraft recommended for peace-time air policing capability and 40 aircraft for "full" air defence.WEB,weblink Submission to Commission on Defence - Air policing policy options for Ireland, Commission on the Defence Forces, 2 February 2022, In February 2022, the Commission on the Defence Forces report was published. It recommended that the Air Corps be renamed to the Air Force and made further recommendations under two Levels of Ambition (LOAs). Under LOA 2, the proposed new Air Force would establish a primary radar capability to develop a Recognised Air Picture, strategic airlift aircraft such as the C-130 and additional medium-lift helicopters. Under LOA 3, the Air Force would acquire between 12 and 24 air combat/interceptor aircraft, including the ability to deploy both pilots and support personnel overseas in contribution to international operations. This would increase Ireland's air defence capabilities to a level comparable with European nations of similar size, such as Denmark, Belgium, Austria and Norway.WEB,weblink gov.ie, Report Of The Commission On The Defence Forces, 13 March 2022, At the 2022 Slándáil Irish Defence and Security summit, Lockheed Martin made a number of proposals involving the possible sales of F-16 Block 70 or FA-50 light-fighter aircraft (should the Irish government select LOA 2 of the Commission on the Defence Forces report), or 12 new F-16 Block 70s (if LOA 3 was selected), or a proposal to acquire second-hand F-16s.WEB,weblink thejournal.ie, Air Corps could buy second-hand fighters from other European air forces, jet manufacturer says, 7 June 2022, In January 2023, Minister for Justice Simon Harris announced a capital allocation of €21.5 million for a replacement helicopter and fixed wing plane for the Garda Air Support Unit (GASU)PRESS RELEASE, 2023-01-03, Minister for Justice announces additional funding for new Garda helicopter and fixed wing plane,weblink 2023-06-07, gov.ie, en, According to a press release, funding is due to be provided during 2023 to procure a longer range and higher capacity utility helicopter. The announcement also included budget for the replacement of the Britten-Norman Defender 4000 that has been in service since GASU was established in 1997.WEB, 2023-01-08, New Helicopter and Defender Replacement for Garda Air Support Unit,weblink 2023-06-07, FlyingInIreland.com, en-GB, In February 2023, Tánaiste Micheál Martin said that an agreement had been reached to replace the Learjet 45, which has been in service since 2004. He indicated that a new jet aircraft could be used to assist in overseas evacuation of Irish citizens, medical transport and ministerial obligations.NEWS, Tánaiste signs off on plans to buy new Government jet,weblink 2023-06-09, The Irish Times, en, The procurement process for the proposed replacement commenced in February 2023 and, at that time, was expected to take two to three years.WEB, Finn, Christina, 2023-02-02, State looking to buy a new ten-seater Government jet that can travel long-haul,weblink 2023-06-09, TheJournal.ie, en, In March 2023, it was reported that a contract to purchase an Airbus C295 Military Transport Aircraft had been signed,WEB, 2023-03-12, Third Airbus Defence C295 Confirmed for the Air Corps,weblink 2023-05-29, FlyingInIreland.com, en-GB, with the aircraft to be potentially used for transport for overseas operations, special operations forces support and medical evacuations. This planned purchase aligns with a recommendation for fixed wing strategic-reach capability as indicated under LOA 2 of the Commission on the Defence Forces report.WEB, Report of the Commission on Defence Forces,weblink 2023-05-29, www.military.ie, en, As of March 2023, it was expected to be delivered in 2025.WEB, Oireachtas, Houses of the, 2023-03-23, Air Corps – Thursday, 23 Mar 2023 – Parliamentary Questions (33rd Dáil) – Houses of the Oireachtas,weblink 2023-05-29, www.oireachtas.ie, en-ie,

Roles

Air Ambulance

The Air Corps provides an air ambulance service (for emergency rapid transfer of patients between hospitals, to hospitals from offshore islands and transferring patients for treatment overseas). The service also transports emergency organ retrieval teams. The aircraft used are the AW139, EC135, CASA and Learjet.An Air Corps AW139 also provides an Emergency Aeromedical Service for the National Ambulance Service based out of Custume Barracks in Athlone, providing an emergency patient airlift service from scenes of accidents to hospitals.WEB, Health Update,weblink Press Release, Health Update, 22 December 2012, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20130729090519weblink">weblink 29 July 2013, dmy-all, WEB, TheJournal.ie,weblink News Article, 14 December 2012, The Journal, 22 December 2012,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20121217044259weblink">weblink 17 December 2012, live, dmy-all,

Maritime Patrol

The Air Corps operates two CASA CN235 Maritime Patrol aircraft in support of the fishery protection. These long-range aircraft patrol throughout the Irish exclusive fishery limits. These aircraft are due to be replaced by two CASA CN295 Maritime Patrol Aircraft in 2023WEB, 2019-12-13, Minister Kehoe Awards Contract for two New Maritime Patrol Aircraft for the Air Corps,weblink 2023-06-25, www.gov.ie, en,

Ministerial Air Transport Service

The Air Corps provide a Ministerial Air Transport Service (MATS) to assist the President and members of the Government in official engagements at both home and abroad. The Learjet 45 is used specifically for this purpose. The Gulfstream IV was previously used in this capacity.The AW139 and occasionally the EC135 and CASA are also used for the MATS.File:Eurocopter EC.135T.2 Garda Air Support Unit 106 Sqdn; Republic of Ireland, Baldonnell (3236380311).jpg|thumb|right|EC135 T2 ]]

Garda Air Support

The Garda Air Support Unit is a unit of the Garda Síochána that provides specialist air support for Ireland's national police force. The Air Corps, in conjunction with the Department of Justice and Equality, operates three aircraft for the Garda Air Support role: two Eurocopter EC135 T2 helicopters and a Britten-Norman Defender aircraft.Operational control of the aircraft remains with the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, whereas the Air Corps provide pilots and aircraft technicians to the Garda Air Support Unit that fly and maintain the aircraft.WEB,weblink EC135 T2, Defence Forces, 2017-01-04,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20170403002443weblink">weblink 3 April 2017, live, dmy-all,

Ranks

The Air Corps' ranks are similar to those of the Irish Army. As of April 2023, the strength was 711 all ranks.{{Irish Air Corps rank insignia}}

See also

• Colonel James Fitzmaurice
• Defence Forces (Ireland)
• History of Ireland
• Irish State Aircraft
• List of aircraft of the Irish Air Corps
• Permanent Defence Force Other Ranks Representative Association
• Politics of the Republic of Ireland
• Representative Association of Commissioned Officers
• Reserve Defence Forces Representative Association

Notes

{{notelist}}

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

{{Commons category|Irish Air Corps}}

• Air Corps section of the Irish Defence Forces website
• Cockpit video of "Silver Swallows" in action

{{Irish Air Corps |state=expanded}}{{Irish Defence Forces}}{{Air forces in Europe}}{{Air forces}}{{Authority control}}