Ireland invests €53 million in new Dassault multi-mission aircraft
Ireland’s Department of Defence has announced is it to procure a new Dassault Falcon 6X as the country’s new multi-mission strategic reach aircraft, touted by Tánaiste and Minister for Defence Micheál Martin as “a game-changer for the State’s transport, airlift and medical capabilities”.
The aircraft will be used for a range of missions, including the non-combatant evacuation of Irish citizens, air ambulance patient transfers, medevac or repatriation of Irish Defence Forces personnel deployed on overseas missions, and other logistics support for overseas missions. Additionally, the “independent and flexible air transport service” provided is “an increasingly essential requirement,” concluded Martin.
The Falcon 6X business jet – which will have a total seating capacity of 17 and a passenger capacity of 14 – will offer a maximum range of 5,060 nautical miles, enabling it to “comfortably reach” destinations such as the western coast of the USA. The cost of the jet came in at just below €53 million, with specialised military communications systems to be negotiated in a separate contract.
Currently under construction at Dassault Aviation’s facility in Bordeaux, France, the aircraft is expected to be delivered in December 2025 and be available in time for Ireland to hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the latter half of 2026. It will be operated by the Irish Air Corps from Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel.
