Four new attack helicopters for Defence Forces
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The Defence Forces is to buy four new attack helicopters that can be adapted to carry machine guns able to fire up to 6,000 rounds of ammunition per minute.
According to the Department of Defence, they will replace helicopters being used by gardaí and the Irish Air Corps.
The Airbus H145M is used by the German Armed Forces and the German Luftwaffe as a light combat helicopter for training, reconnaissance, and special forces operations.
The Department of Defence said in a statement the H145Ms represent “a vast modernisation and expansion of light-utility helicopter capability for the Air Corps”.
It stated their multi-role capability means the H145Ms will be equipped to satisfy "a wide range of missions", including maritime security, intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance, “and light attack missions”.
Their uses will also include pilot training to support Defence Forces operations and the Garda Air Support Unit.
According to , the H145M’s twin turboshaft engines allow it to reach a cruise speed of 246kmh with a range of up to 680km.
It can be fitted with retractable general purpose 7.62mm machine guns or M134 miniguns, the US-made Nato six-barrel rotary machine gun which can fire 2,000 to 6,000 rounds per minute.
They also have infrared sensors, and an electronic warfare self-protection system.
The H145M can also be integrated with anti-armour weapons by adding Israeli-made so-called “fire and forget” anti-tank missiles.
Ireland's H145Ms will have enhanced electro-optical and thermal imagery features not available in the current Rotary Wing fleet.
They will replace the Airbus H135s, formerly known as the Eurocopter EC-135, and which have reached the end of their useful service life.
The first ones used by the Irish Air Corps were delivered in 2005.
The €91.7m, excluding Vat, contract for the new helicopters has been awarded to Airbus Helicopters UK and it is anticipated that delivery will begin in the first quarter of 2027.
Tánaiste and Minister for Defence Micheál Martin said: “These helicopters will not only significantly boost the capacity of the Defence Forces pilot training programmes, but also enhance intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and light combat capabilities of our Air Corps.
“This investment is further evidence of the government’s commitment to enhancing our Air Corps, illustrated by the delivery of two C295 maritime patrol aircraft over the last 18 months, and the expected delivery of a C295 military transport aircraft next year.
“These significant additions to the Air Corps’ capability will also be complemented by the acquisition of the new Falcon 6X multi-purpose strategic reach aircraft, the contract for which was signed earlier this month.”