The Irish Air Corps has completed its €300 million Airbus C295 acquisition program with the delivery of the third and final aircraft. The new transport plane strengthens Ireland’s capabilities in maritime patrol, personnel and cargo transport, and medical evacuation operations.
With this delivery, the C295 fleet now comprises three aircraft: two maritime surveillance variants and one transport model, replacing the aging CN235s. The unified fleet allows for more versatile, multi-role operations both domestically and abroad. The transport variant supports troop and cargo movement, air ambulance missions, and humanitarian or non-combatant evacuations.
Powered by two Pratt & Whitney PW127G turboprops, the C295 can operate from short or semi-prepared runways. It can carry up to 70 personnel, 24 stretchers with medical attendants, or three light vehicles, meeting both domestic and European operational requirements.
Ireland’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) is roughly seven times the size of its land area, and the new maritime patrol aircraft will monitor commercial shipping as well as Russian “shadow fleet” activities within Irish waters.
The completion of this program marks a significant step in Ireland’s broader defense modernization plan. Beyond replacing old aircraft, it enhances national autonomy in air and maritime security and supports participation in European pooled transport initiatives. The fleet will be further complemented by a Dassault Falcon 6X acquisition in December 2025, providing strategic transport and medevac capabilities.
The C295 fleet standardization simplifies operations, enhances airlift flexibility, and ensures that the Air Corps can meet a wide range of missions—from tactical airlift to medical evacuation—for the next two decades.
