Additional C295 for the Irish Air Corps

The Irish Department of Defence (DoD) recently paid a deposit to secure the purchase of a third Airbus Defence & Space (CASA) C295MW.

This order comes as an addition to an already existing order for two C295 aircraft in the Maritime Patrol variant. While the latter two are meant to replace the two ageing CN235Ms in their maritime role, the newly ordered C295MW will be a cargo variant.

Ordering the new transporter will be the first time that the Irish Air Corps (IAC) will have an aircraft in its inventory that is capable of carrying a sizable number of troops well beyond the current maximum of 30 men.

The need for cargo/transport capacity became painfully clear during last year's Kabul airlift when Irish Army Rangers had to rely on French and Finnish aircraft to hitch a ride to and from the Kabul war zone. Also the transport of troops to and from the Irish United Nations mission in Lebanon will become easier and save millions of euro a year on hired aircraft.

The delivery date for the new C295MW is not yet known.

Photo (just illustrative) by Daniel Ferro (via aviationcorner.net)