The Air Corps will take delivery of two new AW 139 helicopters in 2008 following the signing of a €26 million contract by the Minister for Defence, Willie O'Dea, with an Italian supplier.
The contract brings to eight the number of new helicopters that have been ordered by or delivered to the Air Corps this year.
The AW 139s will be used to train Air Corps pilots and to conduct military exercises and aid emergency services. They will also be used to perform air ambulance, inland search and rescue, and VIP transport tasks.
Mr O'Dea said he believes the addition of the two helicopters to the Air Corps fleet will greatly enhance its capacity to work in close co-operation with the Army.
Four AW 139s have already been bought from Agusta SpA, Italy, at a cost of €48 million. Two of these were delivered in November while the remaining two are currently being built and will be delivered in the first half of next year.
Two light-utility EC 135 helicopters were delivered in late 2005 from Eurocopter at a cost of €12.8 million and are in service.
Mr O'Dea said he was pleased with the vehicle and equipment acquisitions in 2006. These included:
400 general purpose machine guns delivered this month at a cost of €4.4 million;
1,400 9mm general service pistols delivered in recent weeks at a cost of €800,000;
six field command post containers delivered to the Curragh Camp during the summer at a cost of €3 million.
In addition, €10.5 million has been spent on body armour and helmets while 12,000 battle vests have been ordered. Orders for vehicles valued at €36.5 million have also been placed.
