Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 June 2026
143. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Defence if the Air Corps new Airbus C295W is fully operational; the number of operations it has been involved in to-date outlining any air ambulance or evacuation missions it has been involved in; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46816/26]
View answerA contract was awarded in December 2022 to Airbus at a cost of €59 million, excluding VAT, for the provision of a new Airbus C-295 military transport variant aircraft for the Defence Forces. The aircraft was delivered in September 2025 and has entered operational service.
The Airbus C-295 military transport variant aircraft is highly versatile and provides a dedicated asset to support Defence Forces' military airlift transport requirements as well as to provide a wide contingent capability. The aircraft has to date assisted the Air Corps in providing a wide range of services including logistics support, transport of troops and equipment, medical evacuation, air ambulance, Special Operations Forces operations and provides a general utility role.
The Deputy will appreciate that, for operational and security reasons, it would not be appropriate to disclose specific details of the operational deployment of individual Air Corps aircraft.
