This is a partial list of the equipment of the Irish Army, the land component of the Irish Defence Forces.
While the Army Ranger Wing has access to a wider variety of specialist weapons, the modern weapons in use within the Irish Army includes the following:
| Name | Origin | Type | Caliber | Photo | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pistols | ||||||
| Heckler & Koch USP | Semi-automatic pistol | 9×19mm Parabellum | The USP entered service in 2007 as the Defence Force's standard service pistol, replacing the Browning Hi-Power.[1] | |||
| Assault rifles | ||||||
| Steyr AUG | Assault rifle | 5.56×45mm NATO | The Steyr AUG is the Defence Force's standard service rifle. It entered service in 1989 and is in use with all units of the Defence Forces.[2] Operational units are issued an enhanced rifle fitted with an ACOG 4x32 optical sight starting to enter service in late 2014, known as the Model 14 or MOD 14. | |||
| Rifles & Sniper rifles | ||||||
| FN FAL | Battle rifle | 7.62×51mm NATO | The FN FAL was previously the standard service rifle for the Defence Forces. Older FAL rifles were upgraded with an adjustable butt stock, Picatinny-style rail hand guard, a bipod, and a Schmidt & Bender sight for use as sniper support weapons. In January 2021, the Defence Forces stated a replacement was being sought.[3] | |||
| Accuracy International 92 | Sniper rifle | 7.62×51mm NATO | The AI 92 Sniper Rifle entered Irish Army service in 1992. | |||
| Accuracy International AWM | Sniper rifle | 8.6×70mm (.338 LM) | The AWM entered service in 2011. The Irish Army version is chambered for the .338 Lapua Magnum round.[4] | |||
| Machine guns | ||||||
| FN MAG | General-purpose machine gun | 7.62×51mm NATO | The FN MAG entered service in 1964 with the Defence Forces and is in use with all service branches and a number of Army Corps. It is deployed both with bipod or in a sustained fire (SF) role mounted on a tripod by the Infantry. Both the Infantry and Cavalry use the MAG mounted on its armoured vehicles and the Infantry and Artillery use it in the air defense role. | |||
| M2 Browning .5 Heavy Machine Gun (HMG) | Heavy machine gun | 12.7×99mm NATO(.50 BMG) | The M2 Heavy Machine Gun entered service in the 1970s. It is in use with all service branches and a number of Army Corps. The Infantry use it in the sustained fire role, air defense role and mounted on its MOWAG APCs. The Artillery use it in the air defense role and the Cavalry use it mounted on its armoured vehicles. | |||
| Grenades | ||||||
| Mecar M72 HE Grenade | Fragmentation hand grenade | n/a | ||||
| Grenade launchers | ||||||
| Grenade launcher | 40×46mm LV | The M203 is in use with the Defence Forces. It is mounted to the Steyr AUG rifle and employs its own separate sighting and trigger mechanism. | ||||
| Automatic grenade launcher | 40×53mm HV | Used fitted to MOWAG APCs and Army Ranger Wing vehicles. | ||||
| Anti-tank weapons | ||||||
| AT4 Short Range Anti-Armour Weapon (SRAAW) | Anti-tank weapon | 84 mm | The AT4 entered service in 1997. The SRAAW is a recoilless, preloaded disposable weapon. | |||
| Carl Gustav 84mm Anti-Armour Weapon | Anti-tank weapon | 84 mm | The Carl Gustav 84mm is a recoilless, breech-loaded anti-armour weapon. | |||
| Anti-tank weapon | 127mm | The Javelin is a fire-and-forget anti-armour weapon system and entered service in 2003.[5] | ||||
| Mortars | ||||||
| Denel Vektor M1 60mm Mortar | Mortar | 60 mm | The Vektor 60mm Mortar entered service in 2003 with the Infantry. The 60 mm mortar can also be fired in a commando role by removing the bipod and baseplate and fitting a special small baseplate and attaching sighting unit/handgrip. | |||
| Hotchkiss Brandt 81mm Mortar | Mortar | 81mm | The 81mm Mortar uses the C2 AI Sight Unit and a Morfire Fire Control Computer. (In total 84 mortars in active service)[6] | |||
| RUAG M87 120mm Mortar | Mortar | 120mm | Used by Artillery Regiments heavy mortar batteries. (In total 24 mortars in active service)[7] | |||
| Autocannons | ||||||
| Mk44 Bushmaster II | Autocannon | 30×173mm | Fitted to Cavalry Mowag Medium Reconnaissance Vehicle's (MRV). | |||
| Artillery | ||||||
| Ordnance QF 25-pounder | Field gun | 87.6mm | 48 ex-British Mark IIIs acquired in 1949. Withdrawn from the Army in 1981 and from the Reserve in 2009. Six have been retained for ceremonial gun salutes.[8] | |||
| 105mm L118 light gun | Howitzer | 105mm | Along with the L119, these are used as the primary artillery support weapon. (In total 17 guns in active service)[9] | |||
| 105mm L119 light gun | Howitzer | 105 mm | Along with the L118, these are used as the primary artillery support weapon. (In total 6 guns in active service)[10] | |||
| Air-defence | ||||||
| Bofors 40 mm L/70 | Anti-aircraft autocannon | 40 × 365 mm R | Paired with eight Flycatcher (KL/MSS-6720). (24 guns in active service as of 2003)[11] (Removed from service in 2012) | |||
| RBS-70 Missile system | Man-portable air-defense system | 106mm | A number of launchers and a simulator were acquired in 1981. Upgraded in 2006 and "more than a dozen" upgraded in 2014 for €4.4 million to include deliveries of improved firing units, new simulators, night vision equipment and associated weapons support.[12] (In Total 6 launchers in active service)[13] | |||
| Army Ranger Wing (special forces) | ||||||
| H&K USP9 Tactical | Semi-automatic pistol | 9×19mm Parabellum | [14] | |||
| SIG Sauer P226 | | Semi-automatic pistol | 9×19mm Parabellum | [15] | ||
| SIG Sauer P228 | | Semi-automatic pistol | 9×19mm Parabellum | |||
| FN Five-seveN | Semi-automatic pistol | FN 5.7×28mm | ||||
| Heckler & Koch MP5 | Submachine gun | 9×19mm Parabellum | A3, SD6, F, and K variants | |||
| FN P90TR | Submachine gun | FN 5.7×28mm | ||||
| Benelli M4 | Semi-automatic shotgun | 12 gauge | ||||
| Steyr AUG A2 | Assault rifle | 5.56×45mm NATO | ACOG 4×32 optical sights | |||
| Steyr AUG A3 | Assault rifle | ACOG 4×32 optical sights | ||||
| Heckler & Koch HK416 | Assault rifle | 5.56×45mm NATO | ||||
| FN Minimi Para | Light machine gun | |||||
| Heckler & Koch HK417 RECCE | Battle rifle | 7.62×51mm NATO | ||||
| Heckler & Koch HK417 Sniper | Designated marksman rifle | 7.62×51mm NATO | ||||
| Accuracy International 92 | Sniper rifle | 7.62×51mm NATO | ||||
| Accuracy International AWM | Sniper rifle | 8.6×70mm (.338 LM) | ||||
| Accuracy International AW50 | Anti-materiel rifle | 12.7×99mm NATO(.50 BMG) | ||||
This is a partial list of the modern vehicles in use within the Irish Army.
| Name | Origin | Type | Number | Image | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Armoured fighting vehicles | ||||||
| Mowag Piranha IIIH[16] | Armoured personnel carrier Armoured reconnaissance vehicle | 80[17] [18] |
| |||
| RG-32M Light Tactical Vehicle (LTV)[20] [21] | Light tactical armoured vehicle | 27 | Armed with pintle-mounted 7.62mm machine gun or Kongsberg Protector RWS with the 12.7mm machine gun or 40 mm automatic grenade launcher. | |||
| Special operations forces | ||||||
| ACMAT VLRA | Long range special reconnaissance | 3 | Used by Army Ranger Wing (ARW) as a 'mothership' to resupply Ford F-350 SRV. | |||
| Mowag Eagle | Light armoured vehicle | Leased to the German Army | Used by Army Ranger Wing soldiers[22] conducting a field human intelligence role for MINUSMA as part of a German task force.[23] | |||
| Ford F350 SRV | Special reconnaissance vehicle | 12[24] | Used by Army Ranger Wing as a special reconnaissance vehicle for long-range reconnaissance patrols. Left hand drive. | |||
| General service vehicles | ||||||
| Toyota Landcruiser | Off-road vehicle | 280 ordered for delivery 2019-2023. [25] Replacing older vehicles. | ||||
| Toyota Landcruiser /Centigon Fortress 200 Intervention | Off-road vehicle | Armoured Utility Vehicle. 24 ordered in 2018. 28 in 2020[26] [27] [28] | ||||
| Nissan Patrol[29] | Off-road vehicle | The Defence Forces maintains a small fleet of 'discreet' armoured SUVs for high-risk and IED-threat missions.[30] | ||||
| Mitsubishi Pajero | Off-road vehicle | 32 Mitsubishi Pajero vehicles are fitted for radio (FFR) - VHF.[31] | ||||
| Isuzu D-Max | Off-road vehicle | |||||
| Land Rover Defender | Off-road vehicle | Field ambulances and funeral gun carriage tractor. | ||||
| Ford Ranger | Off-road vehicle. Left hand drive. | |||||
| Honda NC750X | Motorcycle | 48 | Contract awarded in 2019. Ceremonial escort[32] | |||
| Suzuki DR350 | Motorcycle | |||||
| Motorcycle | illustration | |||||
| Yamaha Grizzly 660 | ATV / Quad | |||||
| Troop carrying vehicle | ||||||
| Iveco EuroCargo 4x4[33] [34] | Troop carrying vehicle | |||||
| Mercedes-Benz 1117 4x4 | Troop carrying vehicle | 60 | ||||
| Scania P 370B 4x4[35] | Troop carrying vehicle | 120 ordered for delivery 2020-2023. Replacing older 4x4 troop carriers[36] | ||||
| Scania R 420 6x6 | Troop carrying vehicle | 36 ordered in 2006.[37] | ||||
| Scania R 420 8x4 | Miscellaneous | 2 | Delivered 2006. One in naval service | |||
| EOD Duro II 6x6 | Tactical military lorry (truck) | 6 | Delivered 2003 [38] | |||
| Leyland DAF T244 4x4 | Artillery gun tractor and troop carrying vehicle | 55 | ||||
| Ford Transit Minibus | Minibus | |||||
| Logistics | ||||||
| Iveco Astra M320.42 W BAD 8x8 DROPS | DROPS truck | One fitted with an EKALIFT 2500 recovery body. | ||||
| Scania P124CB 8x8 DROPS[39] | DROPS truck | Tender for 20 new DROPS vehicles issued in 2021.[40] | ||||
| Air defence/radar | ||||||
| Flycatcher (KL/MSS-6720) | Air defence radar | 8 | Each Flycatcher radar system controls 3 Bofors 40 mm guns.[41] (Removed from in service 2012) | |||
| Bandvagn 206 | Air defence support role | 3 | Fitted with Saab GIRAFFE Mk IV radars for search & track for RBS 70 MANPADS missile system. | |||
| Explosive Ordnance Disposal | ||||||
| DOK-ING MV-4 | Remote mine flail | 2 | Tracked remote control mini flail | |||
| MAN HX60 | Armoured EOD trucks | 3 or more | Initially Delivered 2011. Two additional ordered 2016.[42] | |||
| Mowag Duro III | Explosive ordnance disposal vehicle | Armoured and unarmoured variants | ||||
| Aardvark MK4 | Mine flail | |||||
| Unmanned aerial vehicles | ||||||
| Aeronautics Orbiter UAV | Miniature UAV | 14[43] | Used by Artillery Corps. Two systems were acquired in 2006 each system has 3 Orbiter UAV's. Two were destroyed in crashes and one was lost and never recovered. €2m was spent on 12 new UAVs in 2016/17. | |||
Note: All Irish Aircraft are operated by the Irish Air Corps. Main article: List of aircraft of the Irish Air Corps