Ireland welcomes its new VIP Dassault Falcon 6X to replace Irish Air Corps’ ageing Learjet
December 17, 2025
The Irish Government has taken delivery of its new €53 million business jet – a Dassault Falcon 6X. The aircraft has been modified as a multi-purpose Strategic Reach Aircraft for VIP government transportation and other duties. The delivery comes as the conversation of rearming sweeping Europe is also being heard in Ireland.
Ireland takes delivery of its new VIP Falcon 6X
The new Dassault Falcon 6X flew to Ireland yesterday from Paris. The new jet will not only be used for transporting ministers, but also as a long-distance air ambulance and for emergency troop transportation.
🛬 The Minister for Defence, @HMcEntee today has welcomed the arrival of the Air Corp’s new Dassault Falcon 6X strategic reach aircraft ☘️ https://t.co/TBCYZUPmK6 pic.twitter.com/QbBpzrTQoI
— Department of Defence (@IRLDeptDefence) December 16, 2025
The aircraft has a passenger capacity of 14 and will be operated by the Irish Air Corps at Baldonnel Aerodrome (Casement Aerodrome). The aircraft is expected to enter Irish Air Corps service in the first quarter of 2026.
In a statement, the Irish Department of Defence stated, “The latest addition to the Air Corps’ fleet complements the delivery in September of the third Airbus C-295 aircraft.”
What appears to be the Irish Air Corps new Dassault Falcon 6X jet is on delivery from Le Bourget to Baldonnel (using test reg F-WZOY). pic.twitter.com/KDSYVmtb8t
— Jack Doyle (@jdoyle597) December 16, 2025
Minister for Defence, Helen McEntee, said the aircraft is “a next-generation aircraft which will enhance the State’s transport, airlift and medical evacuation capabilities.” The new jet has a range of 6,000 nautical miles, giving it the reach to service destinations as far as the western US nonstop.
Replacing Ireland’s ageing Learjet
It will replace Ireland’s ageing Learjet, which has been suffering from technical difficulties and has a limited range. These issues with the Learjet have seen the Irish Government rent private jets, and the new jet will mean Ireland will not need to rent private jets.
The aircraft came into operation with the Irish Air Corps in 2004. Learjet 45s are a mid-sized business jet built by Bombardier Aerospace, with the last being delivered in 2012.
Separately, the Royal New Zealand Air Force is also replacing its ageing Boeing 757s with A321XLRs as they too have a reputation for breaking down, even stranding the prime minister last year.
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Future of the Irish Air Corps
For the last 100 years, Ireland has prided itself on being neutral. But whereas other European states of comparable GDP and population size, like Finland, Denmark, and Norway, have maintained sizable fighter jet fleets, Ireland has not. Neutral Switzerland now sees a need for up to 70 fighter jets.
3️⃣ is the magic number.
— Airbus Defence (@AirbusDefence) October 7, 2025
The @IrishAirCorps 🇮🇪 received their third #C295 aircraft today. As the air arm of the Irish Defence Forces, the Irish Air Corps’ primary mission is to contribute to the security of Ireland by providing for the Military Air Defence of its airspace – and… pic.twitter.com/TIeK84vDnA
At the Falcon 6X ceremony, Chief of Staff of the Irish Defence Forces, Lieutenant General Rossa Mulcahy, stated, “The arrival of the Falcon 6X also comes at an important moment in our development as we progress toward becoming an Air Force.”
Ireland divested its last light fighter jets in 1998 and is now considering regaining a fighter jet capability once again. As the security situation deteriorates over Europe, Ireland finds itself unable to defend its airspace without British help.
The Irish Air Corps is currently tiny, with just 736 personnel according to government documents. The Irish Government has announced it will spend €1.7 billion on defence capital over the next four years (an increase of 55%).
This includes the acquisition of four Airbus H145M helicopters and funding progress on acquiring eight Super Medium Helicopters. It has recently taken delivery of its second and final Airbus C295 maritime patrol aircraft.
Today, Óglaigh na hÉireann hosted the Minster for Defence, Helen McEntee T.D. in the Defence Forces Training Centre, Curragh Camp, Co. Kildare. Minister McEntee received multiple briefs and had an opportunity to meet some of the Men and Women of the Defence Forces.… pic.twitter.com/69sFar0sVA
— Óglaigh na hÉireann (@defenceforces) December 11, 2025
Ireland is currently considering what fighter jets to buy, with the likely number being between 12 and 14. In March, The Irish Times reported the future jets would be based at Shannon Airport.
Featured Image: Irish Department of Defence
