Wikipedia
List of equipment of the Irish Army
This is a partial list of the equipment of the Irish Army, the land component of the Irish Defence Forces.
Weapons edit
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 | Germany | Semi-automatic pistol | 9×19mm | The USP entered service in 2007 as the Defence Force's standard service pistol, replacing the Browning Hi-Power.[1] | ||
| Assault rifles | ||||||
| Steyr AUG | Austria | Assault rifle | 5.56×45mm | 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 | Belgium | Battle rifle | 7.62×51mm | 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.[3] In January 2021, the Defence Forces stated a replacement was being sought.[4][better source needed] | ||
| Accuracy International 92 | United Kingdom | Sniper rifle | 7.62×51mm (.308) | The AI 92 Sniper Rifle entered Irish Army service in 1992.[2] | ||
| Accuracy International AWM | United Kingdom | Sniper rifle | 8.6×70mm (.338) | The AWM entered service in 2011. The Irish Army version is chambered for the .338 Lapua Magnum round.[3] | ||
| Machine guns | ||||||
| FN MAG | Belgium | General-purpose machine gun | 7.62×51mm | 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.[2] | ||
| M2 Browning .5 Heavy Machine Gun (HMG) | United States Belgium | Heavy machine gun | 12.7×99mm (.50) | 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.[2] | ||
| Grenades | ||||||
| Mecar M72 HE Grenade | Belgium | Fragmentation hand grenade | n/a | |||
| Grenade launchers | ||||||
| Diemaco M203 grenade launcher | Canada | Grenade launcher | 40×46mm | 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.[2] | ||
| Heckler & Koch GMG | Germany | Automatic grenade launcher | 40×53mm | Used fitted to MOWAG APCs and Army Ranger Wing vehicles. | ||
| Anti-tank weapons | ||||||
| AT4 Short Range Anti-Armour Weapon (SRAAW) | Sweden | Anti-tank weapon | 84 mm | The AT4 entered service in 1997. The SRAAW is a recoilless, preloaded disposable weapon.[2] | ||
| Carl Gustav 84mm Anti-Armour Weapon | Sweden | Anti-tank weapon | 84 mm | The Carl Gustav 84mm is a recoilless, breech-loaded anti-armour weapon.[2] | ||
| Javelin Anti-tank guided weapon | United States | 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 | South Africa | Mortar | 60mm | The Vektor 60mm Mortar entered service in 2003 with the Infantry. The 60mm 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.[2] | ||
| Hotchkiss Brandt 81mm Mortar | France | Mortar | 81mm | The 81mm Mortar uses the C2 AI Sight Unit and a Morfire Fire Control Computer.[2] (In total 84 mortars in active service)[6] | ||
| RUAG M87 120mm Mortar | Switzerland | Mortar | 120mm | Used by Artillery Regiments heavy mortar batteries. (In total 24 mortars in active service)[6] | ||
| Autocannons | ||||||
| Mk44 Bushmaster II | United States | Autocannon | 30×173mm | Fitted to Cavalry Mowag Medium Reconnaissance Vehicle's (MRV). | ||
| Artillery | ||||||
| Ordnance QF 25-pounder | United Kingdom | 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.[7] | ||
| 105mm L118 light gun | United Kingdom | Howitzer | 105mm | Along with the L119, these are used as the primary artillery support weapon. (In total 17 guns in active service)[6] | ||
| 105mm L119 light gun | United Kingdom | Howitzer | 105 mm | Along with the L118, these are used as the primary artillery support weapon. (In total 6 guns in active service)[6] | ||
| Air-defence | ||||||
| Bofors 40 mm L/70 | Sweden | Anti-aircraft autocannon | 40mm | Paired with eight Flycatcher (KL/MSS-6720). (24 guns in active service as of 2003)[8] (Removed from service in 2012)[citation needed] | ||
| RBS-70 Missile system | Sweden | 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.[9] (In Total 6 launchers in active service)[8] | ||
| Army Ranger Wing (special forces) | ||||||
| SIG Sauer P226 | Switzerland West Germany | Semi-automatic pistol | 9×19mm | |||
| Heckler & Koch MP5 | West Germany | Submachine gun | 9×19mm | |||
| Benelli M4 | Italy | Semi-automatic shotgun | 12 gauge | |||
| Steyr AUG A2 | Austria | Assault rifle | 5.56×45mm | |||
| Steyr AUG A3 | Austria | Assault rifle | 5.56×45mm | |||
| Heckler & Koch HK416 | Germany | Assault rifle | 5.56×45mm | |||
| FN Minimi Para | Belgium | Light machine gun | 5.56×45mm | |||
| Heckler & Koch HK417 | Germany | Sniper rifle | 7.62×51mm | [10] | ||
| Accuracy International AW50 | United Kingdom | Anti-materiel rifle | 12.7×99mm (.50) | |||
Vehicles edit
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[11] | Switzerland | Armoured personnel carrier Armoured reconnaissance vehicle | 80[12][13] | * 45 armoured personnel carriers armed with 12.7mm machine gun & co-ax 7.62mm machine gun * 8 command vehicles armed with 12.7mm machine gun & co-ax 7.62mm machine gun * 2 ambulances * 1 recovery vehicle * 18 close reconnaissance vehicles armed with the 12.7mm machine gun or a 40mm automatic grenade launcher in a Kongsberg Protector (RWS) * 6 medium reconnaissance vehicles armed with Mk44 Bushmaster II 30mm autocannon (9 armoured personnel carriers were converted to close reconnaissance vehicles in 2014–2015)[14] | ||
| RG-32M Light Tactical Vehicle (LTV)[15][16] | South Africa | Light tactical armoured vehicle | 27[15] | Armed with pintle-mounted 7.62mm machine gun or Kongsberg Protector RWS with the 12.7mm machine gun or 40mm automatic grenade launcher. | ||
| Special operations forces | ||||||
| ACMAT VLRA | France | Long range special reconnaissance | 3[17] | Used by Army Ranger Wing (ARW) as a 'mothership' to resupply Ford F-350 SRV. | ||
| Mowag Eagle | Switzerland | Light armoured vehicle | Used by Army Ranger Wing soldiers[18] conducting a field human intelligence role for MINUSMA as part of a German task force.[19] | |||
| Ford F350 SRV | United States | Special reconnaissance vehicle | 12[17] | Used by Army Ranger Wing as a special reconnaissance vehicle for long-range reconnaissance patrols. Left hand drive. | ||
| General service vehicles | ||||||
| Toyota Landcruiser | Japan | Off-road vehicle | 280 ordered for delivery 2019-2023. [20] Replacing older vehicles. | |||
| Toyota Landcruiser /Centigon Fortress 200 Intervention | Japan | Off-road vehicle | Armoured Utility Vehicle. 24 ordered in 2018. 28 in 2020[21][22][23] | |||
| Nissan Patrol[24] | Japan | Off-road vehicle | The Defence Forces maintains a small fleet of 'discreet' armoured SUVs for high-risk and IED-threat missions.[25] | |||
| Mitsubishi Pajero | Japan | Off-road vehicle | 32 Mitsubishi Pajero vehicles are fitted for radio (FFR) - VHF.[26] | |||
| Isuzu D-Max | Japan | Off-road vehicle | ||||
| Land Rover Defender | United Kingdom | Off-road vehicle | Field ambulances and funeral gun carriage tractor. | |||
| Ford Ranger | United States | Off-road vehicle. Left hand drive. | ||||
| Honda NC750X | Japan | Motorcycle | 48 | Contract awarded in 2019. Ceremonial escort[27] | ||
| Troop carrying vehicle | ||||||
| Iveco EuroCargo 4x4[28][29] | Italy | Troop carrying vehicle | ||||
| Mercedes-Benz 1117 4x4[29] | Germany | Troop carrying vehicle | 60 | |||
| Scania P 370B 4x4[30] | Sweden | Troop carrying vehicle | 120 ordered for delivery 2020-2023. Replacing older 4x4 troop carriers[31] | |||
| Scania R 420 6x6 | Sweden | Troop carrying vehicle | 36 ordered in 2006.[32] | |||
| Scania R 420 8x4[32] | Sweden | Miscellaneous | 2 | Delivered 2006. One in naval service | ||
| EOD Duro II 6x6 | Switzerland | Tactical military lorry (truck) | 6 | Delivered 2003 [33] | ||
| Leyland DAF T244 4x4 | United Kingdom | Artillery gun tractor and troop carrying vehicle | 55 | |||
| Ford Transit Minibus | United States | Minibus | ||||
| Logistics | ||||||
| Iveco Astra M320.42 W BAD 8x8 DROPS | Italy | DROPS truck | One fitted with an EKALIFT 2500 recovery body. | |||
| Scania P124CB 8x8 DROPS[34] | Sweden | DROPS truck | Tender for 20 new DROPS vehicles issued in 2021.[35] | |||
| Air defence/radar | ||||||
| Flycatcher (KL/MSS-6720) | Netherlands | Air defence radar | 8 | Each Flycatcher radar system controls 3 Bofors 40 mm guns.[36] (Removed from in service 2012)[citation needed] | ||
| Bandvagn 206 | Sweden | 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 | Croatia | Remote mine flail | 2 | Tracked remote control mini flail | ||
| MAN HX60[14] | Germany | Armoured EOD trucks | 3 or more | Initially Delivered 2011. Two additional ordered 2016.[37] | ||
| Mowag Duro III | Switzerland | Explosive ordnance disposal vehicle | Armoured and unarmoured variants | |||
| Aardvark MK4 | United Kingdom | Mine flail | ||||
| Unmanned aerial vehicles | ||||||
| Aeronautics Orbiter UAV | Israel | Miniature UAV | 14[38] | 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. | ||
Defence Forces aircraft edit
- Note: All Irish Aircraft are operated by the Irish Air Corps. Main article: List of aircraft of the Irish Air Corps
| Aircraft | Origin | Type | Variant | In service | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trainer / Light Attack | |||||
| Pilatus PC-9 | Switzerland | Trainer / CAS | PC-9M | 8[39] | Can be armed with machine guns or rocket pods.[39] |
| Transport | |||||
| Learjet 45 | United States | VIP / Air ambulance | 1[40] | ||
| Maritime patrol | |||||
| CASA CN-235 | Spain | Maritime Patrol | MPA 100 | 2[41] | To be replaced by two CN-295 MPA in 2023[42] |
| CASA C-295 | Spain | Maritime Patrol | MPA | 2[43][44] | |
| Surveillance | |||||
| Pilatus PC-12 | Switzerland | ISTAR / Utility | PC-12NG | 4[45] | |
| Britten-Norman Defender | United Kingdom | Police Air Support | 4000 | 1[46] | Flown for the Garda Air Support Unit (GASU)[46] |
| Helicopters | |||||
| Eurocopter EC135 | France | Utility / Training | P2+/T2 | 2[47] / 2[48] | Of which the T2s are flown for the GASU[49] |
| AgustaWestland AW139 | Italy | Utility | 6[50] | ||
Gallery edit
- The remaining Panhard AML-20 armoured cars were retired in 2013
- Honda ceremonial escort motorcycles of 2 Cavalry Squadron
- 14 Scorpion CVR(T) tracked reconnaissance vehicles were in use from the 1980s until their retirement in 2017.[51]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ Huges, Capt Brian (April 2007). (PDF). An Cosantóir. 67 (4): 6. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i . Military.ie. Archived from the original on 2010-11-26. Retrieved 2012-11-08.
- ^ a b "Snipers equipped with record-breaking rifle". Irish Independent. 2012-12-01.
- ^ Moss, Matthew (2 February 2021). "Irish Defence Force Seeks New Designated Marksman Rifle". The Firearm Blog.
- ^ . Military.ie. Archived from the original on 26 November 2010.
- ^ a b c d The Military Balance 2021, p. 115
- ^ "The 21 Gun Salute - The Defence Forces". 1 January 2024. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
- ^ a b "Defence Forces Equipment – Wednesday, 2 Apr 2003 – Written Questions (29th Dáil) – Houses of the Oireachtas". www.oireachtas.ie. 2020-11-17. Retrieved 2024-01-03.
- ^ Stack, Sarah (12 June 2014). "Army fires up €4.4m spend on missile upgrade". Herald.ie. Retrieved 22 January 2017.
- ^ Thompson, Leroy (1 March 2013). "Ireland's Army Rangers (page 1)". Tactical-Life. from the original on 22 September 2015. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
- ^ . Military.ie (Official site). Archived from the original on 26 November 2010.
- ^ . The Sunday Times. 20 July 2008. Archived from the original on May 29, 2015. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
- ^ "Dáil Debates - Written answers - Monday, 11 September 2017 - Department of Defence - Defence Forces Equipment". Oireachtas. 11 September 2017. Retrieved 16 December 2017 – via KildareStreet.com.
- ^ a b "Annual Report 2015" (PDF). Defence Forces Ireland. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
- ^ a b Lavery, Don (14 December 2008). ""South African firm wins Irish Army vehicle contract"". Irish Independent.
- ^ "2010 Estimates for Defence and Army Pensions and Annual Output Statement" (Press release). Department of Defence. 17 June 2010. Retrieved 31 May 2011.
- ^ a b "World's toughest trucks for Rangers". Irish Independent. Independent News & Media. 10 July 2011. Retrieved 16 December 2017.
- ^ "The Army Rangers get back to work after roadside bomb blast". independent.ie. Independent News & Media. 9 March 2020. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
A roadside bomb [..] blast inflicted heavy damage on the Mowag Eagle but the three [Army] Rangers suffered only minor injuries
- ^ "The Army Rangers get back to work after roadside bomb blast". thejournal.ie. Journal Media. 19 February 2022. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
- ^ "Irish Defence Forces Investment In New Toyota Land Cruisers". toyota.ie. 2019. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
- ^ "Troops overseas to be protected with €66m armoured vehicles investment". independent.ie. 10 October 2018. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
- ^ "Centigon double la mise avec les Forces de défense irlandaises". forcesoperations.com (in French). 27 November 2020. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
- ^ "Questions - Defence Forces Equipment - Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 January 2021". oireachtas.ie. 28 January 2021. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
- ^ . Military.ie (Official DF site). Archived from the original on 20 February 2009.
- ^ Lavery, Don (15 April 2012). "Armoured 4x4s sent to protect Irish soldiers". Irish Independent. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
- ^ "Annual Report 2012" (PDF). Defence Forces Ireland. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
- ^ "Army spends €467,000 on ceremonial escort motorbikes".
- ^ "Irish Army Iveco EuroCargo 4x4". Flickr. 27 September 2013.
- ^ a b Karl Martin (2002). Irish Army Vehicles: Transport and Armour Since 1922. ISBN 978-0954341305.
- ^ "Irish Defence Forces to receive 120 new Westward Scania P370 B 4x4 trucks". armyrecognition.com. 11 March 2020. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
- ^ "Defence Forces to get 120 new 4x4 vehicles at a cost of €25m". Irish Times. 10 March 2020. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
- ^ a b . September 2006. Archived from the original on 30 November 2007.
- ^ "Duro High-Mobility Military Tactical Vehicle". army-technology.com. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
In 2003, General Dynamics delivered six Duro II 6×6 vehicles to Ireland
- ^ . August 2005. Archived from the original on 21 April 2006.
- ^ "Public RFT - the Supply of Demountable Rack Offload and Pickup System (DROPS) Vehicles and Trailers".
- ^ "Radar guns tested at Gormanston air facility". Irish Independent. 11 July 2003. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
- ^ "New EOD vehicles for Irish defence force". shephardmedia.com. 23 August 2016. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
The two new [MAN HX 60 4x4 armoured] vehicles will augment those already in service
- ^ "Criticism over plan to spend €2m on Israeli-made drones". Irish Times. 28 November 2016.
- ^ a b "Pilatus PC-9M". military.ie. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
- ^ "Learjet 45". military.ie. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
- ^ "CASA CN-235". military.ie. Retrieved 2022-04-22.
- ^ "Minister Kehoe Awards Contract for two New Maritime Patrol Aircraft for the Air Corps". Department of Defence. 13 December 2019. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
- ^ "Minister for Defence welcomes the arrival of the first of two Airbus C295 Maritime Patrol Aircraft". www.gov.ie. 27 June 2023. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
- ^ Department of Defence (Ireland) [@IRLDeptDefence] (October 17, 2023). "Monday saw the arrival at Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel of the 2nd of two Airbus C295 Maritime Patrol Aircrafts [sic]" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "Pilatus PC-12". military.ie. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
- ^ a b "PBN Defender". military.ie. Retrieved 2022-04-22.
- ^ "EC135 P2". military.ie. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
- ^ "EC135 T2". military.ie. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
- ^ "The Garda Air Support Unit". garda.ie. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
- ^ "AW 139". military.ie. Retrieved 2022-04-22.
- ^ Mark Nash (7 June 2018). "FV101 Scorpion in Irish Service". tanks-encyclopedia.com. Tank Encyclopedia. Retrieved 3 April 2019.