Minister for Defence Simon Harris has called for detailed costings and timelines for acquiring a fleet of between 12 to 14 combat jets, with potential expenses reaching up to €2.5bn over 20 to 25 years.
The initial pilot training is set to occur overseas, while maintenance is expected to fall to civilian contractors, ensuring ongoing operational capacity.
Shannon Airport has been chosen for the aircraft’s base due to its longer runway and strategic location against incursions by Russian flight groups.
Ireland’s future capabilities will be enhanced by a planned €300m surveillance radar system, due for full operation by 2028, facilitating tracking of aerial threats in its airspace.
Currently, the Irish Air Corps relies on eight Pilatus PC-9M trainers for aerial combat capability. These aircraft, ordered in 2004, are primarily utilised by the Flying Training School (FTS) of the Irish Air Corps College.
While they can be armed with FN HMG machine guns and LAU-7 rocket pods for close air support (CAS) missions, their maximum speed of 320 knots (approximately 592 kilometers per hour) limits their interception capabilities.
