Irish Air Corps Orders Four Airbus H145M Helicopters
A €91.7 million contract to replace Ireland’s existing EC135 fleet was awarded to Airbus Helicopters, with deliveries to commence in 2027.
Ireland’s EC135s have been in service since 2003, with the introduction of the first EC135 T2. Two EC135 P2s, with different engines, increased the fleet to three aircraft in 2005, before an additional T2 was acquired in 2008.
The P2 aircraft are multi-role helicopters, acting as the air arm’s initial training helicopter as well as providing general utility, surveillance, medical evacuation, and VIP transport functions. The remaining two aircraft are used to support Ireland’s national police force. They are flown by Irish Air Corps pilots, but are under the full time operational control of the Garda Air Support Unit (GASU).
✅ Long awaited confirmation this morning
Current 🇮🇪 EC-135 helicopters to be replaced with FOUR Airbus H-145M in 2027
Gardai are to receive TWO examples of the H-145 shortly, which will be piloted/maintained by the Irish Air Corps (same as current)https://t.co/EEal6ZvalW https://t.co/OIa9zlkdLD pic.twitter.com/l4VpWXgKrw
— RoyK (@roy_kinsella) December 30, 2024
With the existing fleet increasing in age, four new airframes have been procured from Airbus Helicopters UK Ltd for €91.7 million. The four new helicopters will replace the two EC135 P2s, expanding the Irish Air Corps’ own force, while the GASU will receive its own H145s under a separate contract.
Noted on a test flight in #donauwörth Germany recently was this Airbus Helicopter H-145 which after fitting out, will be delivered to @gardainfo / #Garda The Irish national Police service
My thanks to Matthias Böhmler for permission to post his photograph pic.twitter.com/8XtxAkyCfK
— Michael Kelly (@Michaelkelly707) December 6, 2024
The H145M, chosen as the successor aircraft, is the military variant of the widely used H145 (previously known as EC145 T2). Slightly larger than the H135/EC135 model, the design traces its roots back to the MBB/Kawasaki BK117. Deliveries are expected to begin in early 2027.
Coming at a time when Irish defence spending and procurement is the subject of much discussion, Irish Defence Minister and Tánaiste (deputy Prime Minister) Micheál Martin said “This investment is further evidence of the government’s commitment to enhancing our Air Corps”.
Lieutenant General Seán Clancy, Chief of Staff of the Irish Defence Forces remarked “These new light multirole helicopters, proven in their service in other militaries, will not only enhance the Irish Air Corps’ rotary capability but will also serve as a critical enabler to the Army, Naval Service and Special Operations Forces.”
The H145 serves in a variety of roles with many military and government forces worldwide. The United States military flies over 400 under the designation UH-72 Lakota, and across the Irish Sea the United Kingdom operates seven (as Jupiter HT1s) for pilot and aircrew training. As the largest non-U.S. operator, Germany has H145Ms in search and rescue, special operations, and light attack variants.
The Irish Independent reports that the new helicopters will be outfitted with intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance (ISTAR) equipment including electro-optical and infrared (EO/IR) imaging, as well as a light attack capability. This could mean the H145Ms will be delivered with the Airbus Helicopters HForce weapons system, which allows for the mounting of gun pods, rocket pods, and laser-guided munitions on H125M, H145M, and H225M helicopters.
Ireland’s EC135s do not carry weapons at present, so the potential integration of HForce on the new H145Ms would represent a substantial increase in capability. Even the Irish Air Corps primary helicopter force of six AW139s rely solely on door mounted weaponry, with the only close air support element available being gun and rocket equipped Pilatus PC-9Ms.
Increasing Capabilities
Ireland has long officially maintained a stance of military neutrality. It is not a member of NATO, and remained officially neutral during the Second World War and the Cold War, refusing even to join the Non-Aligned Movement. In practice, this stance of neutrality was not always strictly followed – overflight permissions were often granted to Allied aircraft during the Second World War, and intelligence was shared with Britain. Formal relations with the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) were established early in the Cold War, and a secret deal was struck with the United Kingdom allowing the Royal Air Force to provide Ireland’s air defence.
Many of these secret activities have only come into light relatively recently, and the air defence arrangement in particular has drawn criticism because of how it has been hidden from the public. However, without an independent capability to fully police its airspace, without the agreement Ireland would have a significant gap in its defence.
Ireland’s strategic position looking out to the North Atlantic means its waters and airspace are prime real estate for Russian military activity. When Russia declared their intent to conduct live-fire exercises inside the Irish Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) they were told by the Irish government that they were ‘not welcome’. Several long range strategic bomber flights by the Russian Air Force have incurred into airspace controlled by Irish air traffic controllers.
The @IrishAirCorps have been monitoring the offshore activity of a number military vessels in recent days.
On Wednesday they filmed what appears to be the Russian missile cruiser Marshall Ustinov within the Irish EEZ (Porcupine Seabight) and north of the original exercise area. pic.twitter.com/FgAQAmQIHX— Seán O’Callaghan (@KerrysWildside) February 4, 2022
Submarines of the Russian Navy are likely to have operated all around Ireland’s coast, but a particular focal point exists in the Irish Sea between Ireland and the United Kingdom. It is near here at HMNB Faslane that the UK’s nuclear deterrent, four Vanguard class ballistic missile submarines, is based. Russian nuclear (SSN) and conventional (SSK) attack submarine activity in this area has been widely reported, as well as operations by mysterious intelligence gathering ships like the Yantar.
While the narrowest part of the Irish Sea, and closest part to the submarine base, is administered solely by the United Kingdom government (due to the status of Northern Ireland), sovereign Irish waters exist to the north and south and would potentially be transited by Russian submarines.
To renew and increase its maritime patrol and security capability, Ireland replaced its two CN235 maritime patrol aircraft with brand new C295s in 2023. Though primarily tasked with maritime surveillance, the C295s can also be used for transport operations. In the latter role, they will be joined by a Dassault Falcon 6X to enable longer range personnel and light cargo transport, aeromedical, and non-combatant evacuations.
Exciting news! The @IrishAirCorps has just received one of their brand new @AirbusDefence C295 aircraft, taking our capabilities to new heights. These state-of-the-art planes will enhance our operational readiness. Well done to all of the AC teams and @IRLDeptDefence involved! pic.twitter.com/5PTElwmqMJ
— Irish Air Corps (@IrishAirCorps) June 27, 2023
Further from home, Ireland is a major contributor to the United Nations Peacekeeping forces. Irish forces have been deployed in Lebanon since the UN Peacekeeping mission there was established in 1978 – the only nation to have had a continuous presence.
Some consideration has been given to the procurement of even larger transport aircraft, to allow a greater level of logistical support to overseas deployments, but no such order has yet been placed. This particular shortfall in capability was noted following the Kabul evacuation of 2021. Irish Army units relied upon French and Finnish transport aircraft to travel to Afghanistan to support the evacuation of Irish citizens.
In the long term, the Irish Air Corps hopes to address many of its lacking capabilities, though it remains to be seen whether the force will secure the funding and approval to do so fully. From 2027, the service will be renamed to the Irish Air Force. The 2022 report which established the name change, and separation into a standalone command, also recommended that the force’s six AW139s be replaced with eight new medium-lift helicopters, the establishment of a primary radar network, procurement of counter-UAV technologies, and the forming of a reserve force.
Further recommendations, to be addressed after those already listed, include the procurement of combat search and rescue (CSAR) helicopters, strategic airlift aircraft, and combat jets.