Overview

• The Irish Air Corps took delivery of its third Airbus C-295 at Casement Aerodrome on October 7, completing the three-aircraft program.
• Officials describe the roughly €300 million procurement as the largest single equipment project in the history of the Defence Forces.
• Two C-295 Persuader variants are already flying maritime surveillance, while the newly delivered aircraft is configured for transport and utility missions.
• The C-295s replace aging CN235 maritime patrol aircraft that have been in service since 1994, closing a long-standing capability gap.
• A Dassault Falcon 6X is due later in 2025 to extend strategic reach, as work continues on a National Maritime Security Strategy following about 300 public submissions.