Template:Active Irish Air Corps Aircraft

Aircraft Origin Role Variant In service Notes
Maritime surveillance
Airbus C295 Spain Maritime patrol[1] C295W MSA 2[2][3] Delivered 2023.[4]
Reconnaissance
Pilatus PC-12 Switzerland ISTAR PC-12NG 3[2][3][5] "Spectre" ISTAR variants; delivered 2020.[6]
Transport
Learjet 45 United States Executive transport 1[3][7] Being replaced by the Dassault Falcon 6X.[8]
Pilatus PC-12 Switzerland Utility PC-12NG 1[2][3][5] One utility variant; delivered 2020.[9]
Airbus C295 Spain Transport C295W 1[4][2] Delivered 2025.[4]
Dassault Falcon 6X France Executive transport 1[10] Delivered 2025, to replace the Learjet 45.[11]
Helicopter
Eurocopter EC135 Germany Utility/Trainer EC135 P2 2[3][12][2] Entered service in 2005.[12] To be replaced by four Airbus H145M starting 2027 (replacements ordered in 2024).[13][2][14]
AgustaWestland AW139 Italy Utility 6[3][15][2] First two delivered in 2006.[15] Can be armed.[16] Planned to be replaced by eight "Super Medium Helicopters".[17]
Trainer
Pilatus PC-9 Switzerland Trainer / CAS PC-9M 8[3][18][2] Entered service in 2004.[18] Can be armed.[16] One aircraft crashed in 2009 and replaced in 2017.[19] Planned to be replaced by 2029/2030.[17]
Police air support
DHC-6 Twin Otter Canada Police air support Guardian 400 1[2] Flown for the Garda Air Support Unit (GASU). Delivered in 2025 to replace the Pilatus Britten Norman Defender 4000.[20][21]
Eurocopter EC135 Germany Police air support EC135 T2 2[3][22] Flown for the Garda Air Support Unit (GASU). Delivered in 2001 and 2007.[23] To be replaced by two Airbus H145 in 2026 (replacements ordered in 2023).[14][24]
  1. ^ "The @IrishAirCorps 🇮🇪 received their third #C295 aircraft today". Airbus Defence. Retrieved 13 November 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Hoyle, Craig (2025). World Air Forces 2026 (Report). FlightGlobal. Retrieved 20 December 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h "Defence Forces - Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 1 May 2024". oireachtas.ie. Houses of the Oireachtas. 1 May 2024. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
  4. ^ a b c "Irish Air Corps Take Delivery of Third Airbus C-295". flyinginireland.com. 7 October 2025. Retrieved 7 October 2025.
  5. ^ a b "Pilatus PC-12". military.ie. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  6. ^ "Irish Air Corps New PC-12's Arrive in Baldonnel". flyinginireland.com. 10 September 2020. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  7. ^ "Learjet 45". military.ie. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  8. ^ "Tánaiste confirms contract award of new Strategic Reach Aircraft". gov.ie. 18 December 2024. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
  9. ^ "Air Corps to Take Delivery of Pilatus PC-12 Today". flyinginireland.com. 2 April 2020. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  10. ^ "Government announces deal signed for new €53m French built Government Jet". thejournal.ie. 18 December 2024. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
  11. ^ "Minister Welcomes Arrival of New Strategic Reach Aircraft". gov.ie (Press release). Department of Defence. 16 December 2025. Retrieved 16 December 2025.
  12. ^ a b "EC135 P2". military.ie. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  13. ^ O'Brien, Fergal (30 December 2024). "Deal reached for new helicopters at a cost of over €90m". RTÉ. Retrieved 30 December 2024.
  14. ^ a b "Departmental Expenditure Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 September 2025". Houses of the Oireachtas. 17 September 2025.
  15. ^ a b "AW139". military.ie. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  16. ^ a b Ian French (April 30, 2022). "Irish Air Corps Centenary". Aviation Press. Retrieved 21 December 2025.
  17. ^ a b Ciarán Mather (12 December 2025). "Minister for Defence launches €1.7 billion Defence Sectoral National Development Plan". Ireland Live.
  18. ^ a b "Pilatus PC-9M". military.ie. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  19. ^ "Air Corps receive new Pilatus PC-9M". flyinginireland.com. 17 July 2017. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
  20. ^ "De Havilland Canada's Twin Otter Guardian Aircraft Chosen for Enhanced Operational Capabilities". dehavilland.com. 2024-07-23. Retrieved 2024-08-05.
  21. ^ "New Garda Air Support Unit Viking 400 Arrives in Baldonnel". flyinginireland.com. 13 December 2025. Retrieved 14 December 2025.
  22. ^ "EC135 T2". military.ie. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  23. ^ "The Garda Air Support Unit". garda.ie. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  24. ^ https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/question/2025-12-16/713/