The Air Corps is set to get a new multi-million euro transport plane – to ferry soldiers around the world for peace missions, it has emerged.
The Irish Mirror has established that the Department of Defence is already negotiating a deal for the new plane – and an agreement is likely to be copper fastened early in the New Year.
Sources have told us that the plane will cost at least €30 million – and will be a major boost to the Air Corps.
It is expected the plane will be able to carry up to 70 soldiers at a time – the first time the Air Corps will have such an aircraft in its fleet.
The Air Corps has no transport capability for any more than 30 soldiers at a time.
It has two ageing Spanish-built CASA C235 aircraft that are mainly for maritime patrol – but can be used to carry a small number of troops.
The CASA was also used to bring back the remains of Private Seán Rooney after his murder in Lebanon last week – and also to extradite ferry “The Monk” Hutch from Spain to Dublin for his murder trial.
The lack of ability to carry more troops means we have to spend millions of euro a year on private charters.
That includes flying soldiers to serve in Lebanon with the United Nations – and we spend millions of euro a year getting them to and from the country.
Now, sources say, the Department under new minister Micheal Martin is getting ready to sign a deal for a new transport plane – that will be centrally involved in flying troops and equipment overseas.
Sources said it was likely the government would opt to buy a Spanish C295 - which costs some €30 million.
We have already ordered two that are to be used for patrolling Irish waters and will be in operation next year and are replacement for the C235s, which entered service in 1996.
But the third C295 – if a deal is agreed – will be used for troop and equipment transport.
The C295 can fly more than 4,000 kms without refuelling – which means it could be used to transport troops to Lebanon without stopping.
As well as moving troops, the new plane will also be able to transport a large amount of supplies – not only for the military, but also to respond to humanitarian crises around the world.
The recent commission on the future of the Defence Forces highlighted the Air Corps lack of transport capabilities-0 and recommended the purchase of new aircraft.
A Department of Defence spokeswoman declined to comment when contacted by The Irish Mirror last night.
