On June 27, 2023, the arrival ceremony of the first Airbus C295W MSA base patrol aircraft (tail number "284", serial number 211) of two ordered for the country's Air Force - the Irish Air Corps (Aer Chór na hÉireann - Irish Air Corps) took place at the Casement airfield near Dublin (Ireland). The ceremony of handing over this aircraft to the Irish Air Corps was attended by the Minister of Defense of Ireland, Mihol Martin.
The first Airbus C295W MSA basic patrol aircraft received by the Irish Air Corps (tail number "284", serial number 211). Casement (Ireland), 27.06.2023 (c) Irish Air Corps
Recall that in December 2019, the Irish Ministry of Defense signed a contract with the European Airbus group for the purchase of two Airbus C295W MSA (Maritime Surveillance Aircraft, in a number of sources the modification was previously designated as MRA) for the Irish Air Corps, with delivery in 2023. The value of the contract, taking into account the additions, amounted to 230 million euros (including VAT), including training and a long-term service and technical support package, which made it the largest defense purchase in Irish history.
Both C295W MSA aircraft are equipped with a modern Airbus Fully Integrated Tactical System (FITS) search and sighting system, including the IAI Elta EL/M-2022A(V)3 search radar, an onboard defense complex, and the Collins Aerospace Pro Line Fusion avionics complex. Since one of the main tasks of the aircraft will be the control of fishing, the financing of their purchase is partially covered by the program of the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund Operational Program, subsidized by the European Union.
The C295W MSA aircraft were manufactured at the Airbus plant in Seville (Spain), where the first of them (the aircraft now delivered with the tail number "284" and serial number 211) was pumped out on April 22, 2022 and made its first flight on September 26, 2022 (temporary Spanish registration EC-010). The second aircraft under construction for Ireland (tail number "285", serial number 216) should be delivered by the end of 2023.
As part of the Irish Air Corps, the new C295W MSA aircraft are to replace two similar but smaller Airbus (CASA) CN235-100MP Persuader base patrol aircraft (serial/tail numbers "252" and "253") received in December 1994 and in service with the 101st Squadron of the 1st Operational Wing (No. 1 Operations Wing) at Casement Airfield.
In December 2022, the Irish Ministry of Defense signed a contract with Airbus worth 73 million euros (including VAT) for the purchase of another C295W aircraft for the Irish Air Corps, but in a purely transport version. It should be delivered in 2025.
The ceremony of handing over to the Irish Air Corps the first basic patrol aircraft Airbus C295W MSA (tail number "284", serial number 211) with the participation of the Minister of Defense of Ireland Mihol Martin. Casement (Ireland), 27.06.2023 (c) Ministry of Defence of Ireland
