| Unit Name: | Air Corps |
| Native Name: | Irish: An tAerchór |
| Country: |  Ireland |
| Allegiance: | Ireland |
| Type: | Air force |
| Role: | Aerial warfare |
| Size: | 711 active personnel (Establishment: 866) (April 2023)[1] 23 aircraft (+ 3 aircraft in support of the Garda Síochána) |
| Command Structure: | Irish Defence Forces |
| Garrison: | Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel |
| Garrison Label: | Headquarters |
| Motto: | Irish: Forḟaire agus Tairiseaċt "Watchful and Loyal" |
| Battles: | see list of wars |
| Website: | Air Corps – Defence Forces |
| Commander1: | Brigadier General Rory O'Connor[2] |
| Commander1 Label: | General Officer Commanding |
| Identification Symbol Label: | Roundel |
| Identification Symbol 2 Label: | Fin flash |
| Identification Symbol 3 Label: | Colours |
| Aircraft Helicopter: | AW139, EC 135P2/T2 |
| Aircraft Patrol: | Airbus C295 |
| Aircraft Recon: | Pilatus PC-12, Britten-Norman Defender |
| Aircraft Trainer: | PC-9M |
| Aircraft Transport: | Learjet 45 |
The Air Corps (Irish: An tAerchór) is the air force of Ireland. Organisationally a military branch of the Defence Forces of Ireland, the Air Corps utilises a fleet of fixed-wing aircraft and rotorcraft to carry out a variety of duties in conjunction with the Irish Army, Irish Naval Service and Garda Síochána. The headquarters of the Air Corps is located at the Casement Aerodrome in Baldonnel, Dublin. The Air Corps has an active establishment of 886 personnel. Like other components of the Defence Forces, it has struggled to maintain strength and as of April 2023 has only 711 active personnel.[1] Unlike the Army or the Naval Service, the Air Corps does not maintain a reserve component.
The National Army Air Service was independent Ireland's first air force. During the Anglo-Irish Treaty talks of 1921, a Martinsyde Type A Mark II biplane was purchased and put on 24-hour standby at Croydon Airport to allow Michael Collins to escape back to Ireland if the talks failed. The plane was not needed for this mission, and it became the first aircraft of the new National Army Air Service arriving in June 1922.[3] The National Army Air Service was established in July 1922 and was gradually equipped with various aircraft types acquired from the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the Aircraft Disposal Company. This company had been formed in 1919 to dispose of surplus aircraft and aero-engines from World War I for the British government.[4] By the end of 1922, the National Army Air Service comprised ten aircraft, consisting of six Bristol F2B fighters from the First World War and four Martinsyde F4 Fighters, and about 400 men. Its successor, the Irish Army Air Corps was established in 1924 following a re-organisation of the National Army at the end of the Civil War.[4]
With the establishment of the Defence Forces in 1924, the Air Service became the new Army's Air Corps and remained part of the Army until the 1990s.
In 1938 four Gloster Gladiator biplane fighters were delivered – a further eight were ordered but were embargoed by the outbreak of World War II. Other aircraft purchased from the United Kingdom before the outbreak of war included 16 Avro Anson Mark I maritime patrol bombers, 3 Supermarine Walrus amphibians, 6 Westland Lysander Mark II army co-operation aircraft and a number of trainers.
During World War II (or The Emergency) there are no records of Air Corps planes engaging any belligerent aircraft, although dozens of escaped barrage balloons were shot down. Requests for more aircraft from Britain resulted in 13 obsolete Hawker Hector biplane light bombers being supplied during 1941. Twelve Hawker Hurricane Mk. Is were initially ordered for the Irish Army Air Corps in 1940 but were not delivered due to a wartime embargo imposed by the British government. Eleven Hurricane Mk. Is were eventually delivered to the Air Corps, from surplus RAF stocks, between July 1943 and March 1944, and the Hurricane Mk. I (no.93), that crash-landed in County Wexford in 1940, was the twelfth aircraft. These were supplemented by 6 Hawker Hurricane Mk. IIcs that were delivered to the Irish Army Air Corps in March 1945, to eventually replace the Hurricane Mk. Is of No. 1 Fighter Squadron. Supplied from surplus RAF stocks, the Hurricane Mk. IIcs were the last batch of aircraft to be delivered to the Air Corps before the end of World War II. The Hurricanes were the first monoplane fighter aircraft to enter service with the Air Corps and were also the first aircraft capable of reaching 300 m.p.h. in level flight. The Hurricane gave the Air Corps a proven modern fighter, and – at peak – 20 flew in Irish colours.[3] 163 belligerent aircraft force-landed in Ireland during the war, and in this way, the Air Corps acquired a Lockheed Hudson, a Fairey Battle, and three Hawker Hurricanes.
After the Emergency, the Hurricanes were replaced by Supermarine Seafires and a few two-seat Spitfire trainers.
The jet age arrived on 30 July 1956 when the Corps took delivery of three de Havilland Vampire T.55 trainers, followed by three more in 1960 who served as advanced trainers and fighters.[5] [6]
The Vampires were replaced in 1975 by six Fouga CM.170 Magister jet trainers purchased secondhand from France. They were used for training, by the Light Strike Squadron and the Silver Swallows display team.[7]
De Havilland Chipmunk T.20s were introduced in the 1950s and used as basic flight trainers until 1976. Hunting Percival Provost T.51 and T.53s were also introduced in the 1950s as advanced flight trainers, serving until 1976.
During the mid-sixties and early seventies, the Corps played a part in expanding Ireland's film industry. Pilots and engineering staff participated in a 1965 box office success, The Blue Max. The fleet of World War I replicas, owned by ex-RCAF fighter pilot Lynn Garrison's "Blue Max Aviation", was based at Casement Aerodrome in Baldonnel – before being moved to Weston Aerodrome at Leixlip. Here the Corps continued its involvement, providing aircrew and engineering staff to support films such as Darling Lili, Von Richthofen and Brown, Zeppelin and a number of television commercials. Lynn Garrison was also responsible for coordinating the first demonstration of the Marchetti SF-260 Warrior at Baldonnel.[8]
As a result of this presentation, in 1977 the Corps acquired ten SIAI-Marchetti SF.260W Warriors for basic and advanced training and light ground attack. Four were lost in accidents, and one attrition replacement was acquired in 1979.[9]
Three Avro Anson C.19s were delivered in 1946 for radio and navigation training, air-to-ground photography, and transport, and were replaced by four de Havilland Doves which arrived in 1953, 1959, 1962, and 1970, which were also used for calibration of radar and landing aids at Dublin and Shannon airports.
The troubles in Northern Ireland required additional reconnaissance resources, and in 1972 eight Reims-Cessna FR.172H joined the Air Corps to provide patrolling, aerial surveillance, and aerial communications. One Reims-Cessna FR.172K was delivered in 1981 as an attrition replacement.[10] The Cessnas served with No 2 Support Wing, operating from Gormanstown until the airfield's closure in 2002.[11]
Ireland's accession to the European Economic Community in 1973 which necessitated frequent travel to European capitals for government ministers led to the creation of the Ministerial Air Transport Service (MATS) and the acquisition of the Corps' first business jet, a BAe 125-700 (#238), which served until 1992.[12] This was joined in 1980 by a Beechcraft Super King Air 200 (#240), which also provided multi-engine training.[13]
Ireland's accession to the EEC also necessitated sustained maritime patrolling of 342,000 km2 (132,000 square miles) of ocean. Two Beechcraft Super King Air 200s (#232 and #234) were delivered in 1977-8 to perform this duty.
The bad winter of 1962/3 incentivised the acquisition of helicopers and in November 1963, the Air Corps took delivery of its first three helicopters, SA.316B Alouette IIIs, followed by five more in 1972-3. The Alouettes performed search and rescue, troop transport and air ambulance duties.[14] Two Aérospatiale SA342L Gazelle entered service in 1979 to provide helicopter training.[15]
The single engine of the Alouette limited its search and rescue range over water, and in 1986 five twin-engined Aérospatiale SA365Fi Dauphin II were acquired for the SAR role. Two of these were modified for operation from the Naval Service Helicopter Patrol vessel LÉ Eithne, and equipped with crashproof fuel tanks and harpoon deck arrester gear.[16] [17] [18]
In 1998, the Magisters were retired from service without replacement, leaving the Air Corps without any jet combat aircraft.
In 2004, eight Pilatus PC-9M trainers were delivered to the Air Corps to replace the Marchettis.[19] The PC-9M is the first Air Corps aircraft to have ejection seats since the Vampire. The PC-9M has six underwing hardpoints, and is normally equipped with two FN HMP250 gun pods, each carrying one M3P machine gun, and two FN LAU-7 rocket pods, each carrying seven 70mm Folding-Fin Aerial Rockets, in the close air support role.[20]
One of the retired Marchettis was kept for the Air Corps Museum, while the remaining six were sold to a private reseller in the United States.[21]
On 12 October 2009, Air Corps instructor Captain Derek Furniss, and Cadet David Jevens were tragically killed when their PC-9M (#265) crashed during a training exercise in Connemara, County Galway.[22] [23]
In 2017, an attrition replacement (#269) was delivered.
To support Ireland's assumption of the EU Presidency in 1990, the Corps leased a Grumman Gulfstream III (#249) – which in 1990 became the first Irish military aircraft to circumnavigate the world.[24] The success of Gulfstream III as an ambassador for Ireland led to its replacement in 1992 by a Grumman Gulfstream IV (#251) which also replaced the HS.125.[25]
Ireland again assumed the EU Presidency in 1994, and the Air Corps acquired a Learjet 45XR (#258) to supplement the government's ministerial travel requirements.[26]
The Ministerial Air Transport Service has since declined in use and size as government ministers are reluctant to travel in perceived luxury when adequate commercial air travel is available, and after repeated criticisms of government ministers using Air Corps aircraft for domestic travel.[27] The repeated technical problems to the MATS aircraft has led to their gradual withdrawal from service, with the Beechcraft the first to be retired in 2009.[28] [29]
The Gulfstream IV followed in 2014 after corrosion was detected in the undercarriage which required substantial costs to repair.[30] [31] [32] The Learjet has continued in service, abet with increasing unreliability, and is due to be replaced by 2024.[33] [34]
The two maritime patrol Beechcraft were unsuitable for flying in long periods in an salty atmosphere and were replaced by two CASA CN235-100MP Persuader which arrived in 1994.[35] These were upgraded in 2006/2007 by EADS CASA to the FITS Persuader standard with enhanced radar, forward looking infrared equipment and a new electronic and avionics suite.
In the 1990s the Air Corps gained a new role with the formation of the Garda Air Support Unit (GASU) in 1997. The unit was initially equipped with one Britten-Norman Defender 4000 (#254), and one Eurocopter AS.335N Ecureil (#255).[36] Operational control of the aircraft remains with the Department of Justice, Equality, and Law Reform, while the Air Corps provide pilots and technicians to fly and maintain the aircraft. The AS.335N was supplemented by a Eurocopter EC135 T2 (#256) in 2003, and replaced by a second EC135 T2 (#272) which arrived in January 2008.
During the 1990s and 2000s, the Air Corps gradually lost its search and rescue (SAR) role. In 1990, an inquiry chaired by retired Garda Commissioner Eamonn Doherty into Ireland's air sea rescue recommended transferring this service from the Air Corps to a new emergency service, and the stationing of rescue helicopters at regional airports instead of a centralised service.[37] The government accepted the recommendations and established the Irish Marine Emergency Service (IMES), now the Irish Coast Guard in 1991. Irish Helicopters operated the first privatised SAR helicopter, a Sikorsky S-61N, from Shannon in 1991. This service was later taken over by Bond Helicopters (now CHC Helicopter) in 1997 who also won the Dublin contract in 1999.
On 2 July 1999, Captains Dave O'Flaherty and Mick Baker, Sergeant Pat Mooney and Corporal Niall Byrne were tragically killed when their Dauphin (#248) crashed into sand dunes at Tramore Beach, County Waterford.[38] [39] The crash only emphasised the limits of the Air Corps SAR helicopters, as the Alouette was only available during daylight hours and the Dauphin was small and had a short range. Both needed replacement by medium sized helicopters.[40] [41]
In 2002, CHC took over the Waterford SAR contract, leaving the Air Corps with only the north-east contract. While a S-61 was leased to train crews, pending a tender to purchase up to five medium helicopters, two of which would be SAR helicopters, the contract was cancelled and CHC took over the north-east contract based in Sligo, leaving the Air Corps without a SAR role.[42] [43]
Despite the cancellation of the order for five S-92s and the loss of the SAR role, the aging Alouettes, Gazelles and Dauphins still needed replacement. In 2004 the government ordered two Eurocopter EC135P2 light helicopters for training, air ambulance, and general utility, and four AgustaWestland AW139 medium helicopters for troop transport, air ambulance, and VIP transport.[44] [45] The Gazelles were retired in 2005 and replaced in November by two EC135 P2.
The Dauphins were retired in 2006, followed by the Alouettes in 2007. During their operational lifetime, 3,300 people were assisted by the Alouette helicopters in their Search and Rescue and air ambulance roles.[46] The four AW139 arrived during 2006/7, and the option for an additional two was exercised and arrived in 2008.[47] [48] [49] Since 2012, one of the AW139 has operated an air ambulance service from Custume Barracks, Athlone for the Emergency Aeromedical Service.[50] [51]
On 4 October 2019, after 47 years of service to the state, the five remaining Cessna 172 aircraft were retired from service after amassing 63,578 flight hours total.[52] The Cessnas were replaced with several Pilatus PC-12NG aircraft during 2020.[53] The first PC-12NG utility transport variant was delivered in April 2020,[54] followed by three PC-12NG 'Spectre' aerial surveillance variants in September 2020.[55] [56]
During the 2011 Libyan civil war, the Air Corps was tasked with evacuating approximately forty Irish citizens from the troubled country. The operation involved two Air Corps aircraft (the Learjet and one CN-235), and nine personnel, using Malta as a temporary base.[57] [58] [59]
There was much criticism of Ireland's inability to rescue its own citizens in the 2021 Kabul and 2023 Sudan evacuations due to Ireland's lack of a long-range, heavy-lift aircraft. In August 2021, Ireland has to ask France and Finland to rescue 36 Irish citizens from Kabul.[60] [61] [62]
In April 2023, over 90 Irish citizens were evacuated from Sudan by aircraft from France, Spain and the UK.[63] [64]
In February 2022, the Commission on the Defence Forces published a report. For the Air Corps, the report recommended that the service be renamed to the Irish Air Force and advocated for the establishment of a Chief of the Air Force. The report also recommended three levels of ambition (LOAs) with each level having different recommendations. LOA 1 proposes to maintain the current size of the Air Corps, while bringing active personnel numbers back up to the current establishment.[65]
LOA 2 recommends the development of additional capabilities, including:
LOA 3 recommends a further development of Air Corps combat capabilities, including:
Under LOA 3, the new Air Force would also be capable of deploying combat pilots, aircraft and support personnel overseas. LOA 2 recommends a budget of €1.5 billion with LOA 3 recommending a budget of €3 billion. The commission compared Ireland to other nations of similar GDP and population size, and determined these budgetary increases would be commensurate with those nations.[66]
The Irish Air Corps is the air branch of the Irish Defence Forces. Headed up by Brigadier General Rory O'Connor, General Officer Commanding,[2] Air Corps (GOCAC), the Air Corps comprises a staff headquarters, two air wings, two ground support wings, one independent squadron and the Air Corps College. The Air Corps' principal base of operations is out of Casement Aerodrome in Dublin.
1 Operations Wing is the main formation responsible for operational fixed-wing flying.[67] This is sub-divided into four individual flying squadrons and two non-flying squadrons, each of which has a dedicated role:
3 Operations Wing is the formation responsible for operational rotary wing flying,[68] and is divided into three flying squadrons and one non-flying squadron. It provides pilots for the Emergency Aeromedical Service, the air ambulance service which is jointly operated by the Air Corps and the HSE National Ambulance Service.
4 Support Wing is primarily concerned with second-line aircraft maintenance (front line maintenance is done by the engineering squadrons in each operational wing).[69] This formation has two squadrons.
5 Support Wing is responsible for logistic support for the Air Corps.[70]
Communication & Information Services Squadron (CIS) is responsible for the supply and maintenance of ground-based communications, navigation, radar and IT systems for the Air Corps. The CIS Squadron comprises a headquarters and four flights.[71]
See main article: article and Air Corps College (Ireland). The Air Corps College is the principal training unit of the Irish Air Corps, where all entrants into the service undertake their training. The college is divided into three distinct schools:[72]
See also: List of aircraft of the Irish Air Corps.
In January 2023, the Irish government announced funding of €21.5 million for a replacement helicopter and fixed wing plane for the Garda Air Support Unit (GASU).[73] [74] The new helicopter is intended to have a longer range and higher capacity utility. In July 2024, a DHC-6 Twin Otter was ordered as a replacement for the Britten-Norman Defender.
In February 2023, the government agreed to replace the Learjet 45, which has been in service since 2004, has becoming increasingly unreliable and unable to fly long distances. The replacement jet is expected to seat ten passengers and be capable of long distance travel to assist in overseas evacuation of Irish citizens, medical transport as well as ministerial air transport.[75] [76] The tender was listed in November 2023.
In March 2023, it was reported that an order for an additional Airbus C295 had been placed, to be used for cargo and personnel transport, including overseas operations, special operations forces support and medical evacuations. This planned purchase aligns with a recommendation for fixed wing strategic-reach capability as indicated under LOA 2 of the Commission on the Defence Forces report.[77] As of March 2023, it was expected to be delivered in 2025.[78]
| Name | Origin | Type | Variant | Image | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small arms | ||||||
| Heckler & Koch USP | Germany | Semi-automatic pistol | Standard service pistol[79] | |||
| Steyr AUG | Austria | Assault rifle | Standard service rifle since 1989[80] | |||
| Machine Guns & Rockets | ||||||
| FN MAG | Belgium | General-purpose machine gun | FN MAG 58M | Can be mounted on the AgustaWestland AW139 helicopter | ||
| M2 Browning | United States | Heavy machine gun | M3P | Can be mounted in a wing pod on a Pilatus PC-9M for Close Air Support role | ||
| Rocket Pods | Belgium | Unguided rockets | LAU 7 | Can be mounted under the wing of a Pilatus PC-9M for Close Air Support role | ||
The Air Corps military roles and the functions it carries out are those of an army air corps rather than that of a conventional military air force. The Air Corps air space control and ground attack capacity is limited to low-level and limited weather. Helicopter tactical troop transport is available on a 24-hour basis through the introduction of Night Vision Goggles. The Air Corps non-military capabilities in aid to the civil power and other Government departments include ministerial transport, fishery protection, 24-hour maritime patrolling, Garda air support, search and rescue over both land and sea, an air ambulance service, aerial firefighting, drugs surveillance and non-combatant evacuation. The Air Corps provides the State with the capacity to meet security and contingent roles but only receives 12% of Defence Forces funding (see Dáil Defence Vote 2014).
In July 2015, the Irish government revealed plans to purchase a ground-based long-range air surveillance radar system for the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) and Defence Forces to keep track of covert aircraft flying in Irish-controlled airspace, including military aircraft that do not file a flight plan and have their transponders switched off. Minister for Defence Simon Coveney said the increased capability would give better coverage of the Atlantic airspace over which the IAA has responsibility. The long-range surveillance radar is reported to cost well over €100 million[81] and was seen as a priority purchase to provide the civilian and military authorities with an improved competency in monitoring aerial incursions.[82] As Ireland is not a member of NATO, it does not have access to integrated European military radar systems or NATO equipment. The Irish Air Corps also lacks a dedicated air intercept capability, and previous air incursions have seen the Royal Air Force respond to incursions into Irish airspace.[83]
In June 2020, the Irish Times reported that a five-year investment strategy document, published by the Irish government, included the potential for "air combat interceptors".[84] The speculated purchase of fighter/interceptor jets would represent a change from the use of British jets to intercept unknown airplanes encroaching Irish airspace.[85] A submission to the commission on defence looked at the Aermacchi M-346, the KAI FA-50 and the Saab Gripen as candidates for replacing the PC-9 inventory, with a minimum of 8 aircraft recommended for peace-time air policing capability and 40 aircraft for "full" air defence.[86] As of 2015, the Pilatus PC9s were planned for replacement by 2025.[87]
In February 2022, the Commission on the Defence Forces (CoDF) report was published. It recommended that the Air Corps be renamed to the Air Force and made further recommendations under two Levels of Ambition (LOAs). Under LOA 2, the proposed new Air Force would establish a primary radar capability to develop a Recognised Air Picture, strategic airlift aircraft such as the C-130 and additional medium-lift helicopters. Under LOA 3, the Air Force would acquire between 12 and 24 air combat/interceptor aircraft, including the ability to deploy both pilots and support personnel overseas in contribution to international operations. This would increase Ireland's air defence capabilities to a level comparable with European nations of similar size, such as Denmark, Belgium, Austria and Norway.[88] At the 2022 Slándáil Irish Defence and Security summit, Lockheed Martin made a number of proposals involving the possible sales of F-16 Block 70 or FA-50 light-fighter aircraft (should the Irish government select LOA 2 of the Commission on the Defence Forces report), or 12 new F-16 Block 70s (if LOA 3 was selected), or a proposal to acquire second-hand F-16s.[89] In addition to potential equipment changes and a name change (from "Air Corps" to "Air Force"), the 2022 CoDF report recommended that the Air Corps be changed from being "an effective sub branch of the army" to having a "stand-alone command and decision-making structure".[90]
The Air Corps provides an air ambulance service (for emergency rapid transfer of patients between hospitals, to hospitals from offshore islands and transferring patients for treatment overseas). The service also transports emergency organ retrieval teams. The aircraft used are the AW139, EC135, CASA and Learjet.
An Air Corps AW139 also provides an Emergency Aeromedical Service for the National Ambulance Service based out of Custume Barracks in Athlone, providing an emergency patient airlift service from scenes of accidents to hospitals.[91] [92]
The Air Corps operates two CASA CN235 Maritime Patrol aircraft in support of the fishery protection. These long-range aircraft patrol throughout the Irish exclusive fishery limits. These aircraft are due to be replaced by two CASA CN295 Maritime Patrol Aircraft in 2023[93]
The Air Corps provide a Ministerial Air Transport Service (MATS) to assist the President and members of the Government in official engagements at both home and abroad. The Learjet 45 is used specifically for this purpose. The Gulfstream IV was previously used in this capacity.The AW139 and occasionally the EC135 and CASA are also used for the MATS.
See main article: article and Garda Air Support Unit. The Garda Air Support Unit is a unit of the Garda Síochána that provides specialist air support for Ireland's national police force. The Air Corps, in conjunction with the Department of Justice and Equality, operates three aircraft for the Garda Air Support role: two Eurocopter EC135 T2 helicopters and a Britten-Norman Defender aircraft.
Operational control of the aircraft remains with the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, whereas the Air Corps provide pilots and aircraft technicians to the Garda Air Support Unit that fly and maintain the aircraft.[94]
See main article: article and Irish Defence Forces rank insignia. The Air Corps' ranks are similar to those of the Irish Army. As of April 2023, the strength was 711 all ranks.[1]