State takes delivery of new Government jet

Minister for defence Helen McEntee is shown Irish military equipment during a visit to Curragh Camp in Co Kildare this week. Picture: Gráinne Ní Aodha/PA

The State has taken delivery of a new Government jet with the arrival of the air corp’s Dassault Falcon 6X strategic reach aircraft.

The latest addition to the fleet complements the delivery in September of the third Airbus C-295 aircraft.

Defence minister Helen McEntee said that the aircraft "will enhance the State’s transport, airlift, and medical evacuation capabilities and provide the State with an independent and flexible air transport service, which is an increasingly essential requirement to assist the Government in meeting Ireland’s national and international obligations.

“In addition, the aircraft will be used for a broad range of other taskings, including the evacuation of Irish citizens from critical situations, air-ambulance patient transfers, medical evacuation or repatriation of Irish Defence Forces personnel deployed on overseas missions as well as providing logistics support for the transport of supplies to Irish Defence Forces overseas missions.

The delivery of the Dassault Falcon 6X strategic reach aircraft represents a significant enhancement of the State’s transport, airlift, and medical capabilities, and is further evidence of the Government’s ongoing commitment to enhance the capabilities of our Defence Forces.

The Falcon 6X has a total capacity of 17 persons and a passenger capacity of 14 and has a maximum range of over 5,000 nautical miles. 

It features a modern suite of avionics, secure communications, operational and safety equipment.

The new jet, which was put out to tender in 2023 at a cost of €45m, will replace the Government Learjet which has seen repeated breakdowns over recent years. 

The final cost was €53m excluding Vat.

The former Government had repeatedly broken down in recent years. jet Picture: RollingNews.ie

The Department of Defence signed a deal for the French-made Falcon 6X last year. The plane has the capacity to fly to the west coast of the US.

Meanwhile, Ms McEntee has announced that the preliminary business case for the Military Radar Programme has been approved.

The minister has said that her department will now immediately commence detailed negotiations with France on a potential agreement for the delivery of all capability requirements under the programme.

“This is an essential step in the Government’s plan to enhance national security and the need to continuously strengthen our Defence capabilities, as set out in the Programme for Government," she said.

“Having considered all of the available options, it was the assessment of the Project Team that a Government-level approach is the only feasible way for Ireland to develop the required radar capabilities. 

“The preliminary business case concluded that the French proposal substantially fulfils Ireland’s capability requirements under this programme and provides a high level of confidence in their overall ability to deliver across all aspects."