List of equipment of the Irish Army

This is a partial list of the equipment of the Irish Army, the land component of the Irish Defence Forces.

Weapons

While the Army Ranger Wing has access to a wider variety of specialist weapons, the modern weapons in use within the Irish Army includes the following:

NameOriginTypeCaliberPhotoNotes
Pistols
Heckler & Koch USP  GermanySemi-automatic pistol9×19mm Parabellum The USP entered service in 2007 as the Defence Force's standard service pistol, replacing the Browning Hi-Power.[1]
Assault rifles
Steyr AUG  AustriaAssault rifle5.56×45mm NATO The Steyr AUG is the Defence Force's standard service rifle. It entered service in 1989 and is in use with all units of the Defence Forces.[2] Operational units are issued an enhanced rifle fitted with an ACOG 4x32 optical sight starting to enter service in late 2014, known as the Model 14 or MOD 14.
Rifles & Sniper rifles
FN FAL  BelgiumBattle rifle7.62×51mm NATO The FN FAL was previously the standard service rifle for the Defence Forces. Older FAL rifles were upgraded with an adjustable butt stock, Picatinny-style rail hand guard, a bipod, and a Schmidt & Bender sight for use as sniper support weapons.[3] In January 2021, the Defence Forces stated a replacement was being sought.[4][better source needed]
Accuracy International 92  United KingdomSniper rifle7.62×51mm NATO The AI 92 Sniper Rifle entered Irish Army service in 1992.[2]
Accuracy International AWM  United KingdomSniper rifle8.6×70mm (.338 LM) The AWM entered service in 2011. The Irish Army version is chambered for the .338 Lapua Magnum round.[3]
Machine guns
FN MAG  BelgiumGeneral-purpose machine gun7.62×51mm NATO The FN MAG entered service in 1964 with the Defence Forces and is in use with all service branches and a number of Army Corps. It is deployed both with bipod or in a sustained fire (SF) role mounted on a tripod by the Infantry. Both the Infantry and Cavalry use the MAG mounted on its armoured vehicles and the Infantry and Artillery use it in the air defense role.[2]
M2 Browning .5 Heavy Machine Gun (HMG)  United States
 Belgium
Heavy machine gun12.7×99mm NATO

(.50 BMG)

The M2 Heavy Machine Gun entered service in the 1970s. It is in use with all service branches and a number of Army Corps. The Infantry use it in the sustained fire role, air defense role and mounted on its MOWAG APCs. The Artillery use it in the air defense role and the Cavalry use it mounted on its armoured vehicles.[2]
Grenades
Mecar M72 HE Grenade  BelgiumFragmentation hand grenaden/a
Grenade launchers
Diemaco M203 grenade launcher  CanadaGrenade launcher40×46mm LV The M203 is in use with the Defence Forces. It is mounted to the Steyr AUG rifle and employs its own separate sighting and trigger mechanism.[2]
Heckler & Koch GMG  GermanyAutomatic grenade launcher40×53mm HV Used fitted to MOWAG APCs and Army Ranger Wing vehicles.
Anti-tank weapons
AT4 Short Range Anti-Armour Weapon (SRAAW)  SwedenAnti-tank weapon84 mm The AT4 entered service in 1997. The SRAAW is a recoilless, preloaded disposable weapon.[2]
Carl Gustav 84mm Anti-Armour Weapon  SwedenAnti-tank weapon84 mm The Carl Gustav 84mm is a recoilless, breech-loaded anti-armour weapon.[2]
Javelin Anti-tank guided weapon  United StatesAnti-tank weapon127mm The Javelin is a fire-and-forget anti-armour weapon system and entered service in 2003.[5]
Mortars
Denel Vektor M1 60mm Mortar  South AfricaMortar60mmThe Vektor 60mm Mortar entered service in 2003 with the Infantry. The 60mm mortar can also be fired in a commando role by removing the bipod and baseplate and fitting a special small baseplate and attaching sighting unit/handgrip.[2]
Hotchkiss Brandt 81mm Mortar  FranceMortar81mm The 81mm Mortar uses the C2 AI Sight Unit and a Morfire Fire Control Computer.[2] (In total 84 mortars in active service)[6]
RUAG M87 120mm Mortar  SwitzerlandMortar120mm Used by Artillery Regiments heavy mortar batteries. (In total 24 mortars in active service)[6]
Autocannons
Mk44 Bushmaster II  United StatesAutocannon30×173mm Fitted to Cavalry Mowag Medium Reconnaissance Vehicle's (MRV).
Artillery
Ordnance QF 25-pounder  United KingdomField gun87.6mm 48 ex-British Mark IIIs acquired in 1949. Withdrawn from the Army in 1981 and from the Reserve in 2009. Six have been retained for ceremonial gun salutes.[7]
105mm L118 light gun  United KingdomHowitzer105mm Along with the L119, these are used as the primary artillery support weapon. (In total 17 guns in active service)[6]
105mm L119 light gun  United KingdomHowitzer105 mmAlong with the L118, these are used as the primary artillery support weapon. (In total 6 guns in active service)[6]
Air-defence
Bofors 40 mm L/70  SwedenAnti-aircraft autocannon40 × 365 mm R Paired with eight Flycatcher (KL/MSS-6720). (24 guns in active service as of 2003)[8] (Removed from service in 2012)[citation needed]
RBS-70 Missile system  SwedenMan-portable air-defense system106mm A number of launchers and a simulator were acquired in 1981. Upgraded in 2006 and "more than a dozen" upgraded in 2014 for €4.4 million to include deliveries of improved firing units, new simulators, night vision equipment and associated weapons support.[9] (In Total 6 launchers in active service)[8]
Army Ranger Wing (special forces)
H&K USP9 Tactical  GermanySemi-automatic pistol9×19mm Parabellum [10]
SIG Sauer P226  Switzerland
 West Germany
Semi-automatic pistol9×19mm Parabellum [11]
SIG Sauer P228  Switzerland
 West Germany
Semi-automatic pistol9×19mm Parabellum [10]
FN Five-seveN  BelgiumSemi-automatic pistolFN 5.7×28mm [10]
Heckler & Koch MP5  West GermanySubmachine gun9×19mm Parabellum A3, SD6, F, and K variants [10][11]
FN P90TR  BelgiumSubmachine gunFN 5.7×28mm [10]
Benelli M4  ItalySemi-automatic shotgun12 gauge [11]
Steyr AUG A2  AustriaAssault rifle5.56×45mm NATO ACOG 4×32 optical sights [10]
Steyr AUG A3  AustriaAssault rifle5.56×45mm NATO ACOG 4×32 optical sights [10]
Heckler & Koch HK416  GermanyAssault rifle5.56×45mm NATO
FN Minimi Para  BelgiumLight machine gun5.56×45mm NATO [11]
Heckler & Koch HK417 RECCE  GermanyBattle rifle7.62×51mm NATO [10]
Heckler & Koch HK417 Sniper  GermanyDesignated marksman rifle7.62×51mm NATO [10]
Accuracy International 92  United KingdomSniper rifle7.62×51mm NATO [10]
Accuracy International AWM  United KingdomSniper rifle8.6×70mm (.338 LM) [10]
Accuracy International AW50  United KingdomAnti-materiel rifle12.7×99mm NATO

(.50 BMG)

[10]

Vehicles

This is a partial list of the modern vehicles in use within the Irish Army.

NameOriginTypeNumberImageNotes
Armoured fighting vehicles
Mowag Piranha IIIH[12]  SwitzerlandArmoured personnel carrier
Armoured reconnaissance vehicle
80[13][14] * 45 armoured personnel carriers armed with 12.7mm machine gun & co-ax 7.62mm machine gun
* 8 command vehicles armed with 12.7mm machine gun & co-ax 7.62mm machine gun
* 2 ambulances
* 1 recovery vehicle
* 18 close reconnaissance vehicles armed with the 12.7mm machine gun or a 40mm automatic grenade launcher in a Kongsberg Protector (RWS)
* 6 medium reconnaissance vehicles armed with Mk44 Bushmaster II 30mm autocannon
(9 armoured personnel carriers were converted to close reconnaissance vehicles in 2014–2015)[15]
RG-32M Light Tactical Vehicle (LTV)[16][17]  South AfricaLight tactical armoured vehicle27[16] Armed with pintle-mounted 7.62mm machine gun or Kongsberg Protector RWS with the 12.7mm machine gun or 40mm automatic grenade launcher.
Special operations forces
ACMAT VLRA  FranceLong range special reconnaissance3[18] Used by Army Ranger Wing (ARW) as a 'mothership' to resupply Ford F-350 SRV.
Mowag Eagle  SwitzerlandLight armoured vehicleLeased to the German Army Used by Army Ranger Wing soldiers[19] conducting a field human intelligence role for MINUSMA as part of a German task force.[20]
Ford F350 SRV  United StatesSpecial reconnaissance vehicle12[18] Used by Army Ranger Wing as a special reconnaissance vehicle for long-range reconnaissance patrols. Left hand drive.
General service vehicles
Toyota Landcruiser  JapanOff-road vehicle280 ordered for delivery 2019-2023. [21] Replacing older vehicles.
Toyota Landcruiser /Centigon Fortress 200 Intervention  JapanOff-road vehicleArmoured Utility Vehicle. 24 ordered in 2018. 28 in 2020[22][23][24]
Nissan Patrol[25]  JapanOff-road vehicleThe Defence Forces maintains a small fleet of 'discreet' armoured SUVs for high-risk and IED-threat missions.[26]
Mitsubishi Pajero  JapanOff-road vehicle 32 Mitsubishi Pajero vehicles are fitted for radio (FFR) - VHF.[27]
Isuzu D-Max  JapanOff-road vehicle
Land Rover Defender  United KingdomOff-road vehicle Field ambulances and funeral gun carriage tractor.
Ford Ranger  United StatesOff-road vehicle. Left hand drive.
Honda NC750X  JapanMotorcycle48Contract awarded in 2019. Ceremonial escort[28]
Suzuki DR350  JapanMotorcycle[10]
Suzuki DRZ-400  JapanMotorcycle

illustration

[10]
Yamaha Grizzly 660  JapanATV / Quad[10]
Troop carrying vehicle
Iveco EuroCargo 4x4[29][30]  ItalyTroop carrying vehicle
Mercedes-Benz 1117 4x4[30]  GermanyTroop carrying vehicle60
Scania P 370B 4x4[31]  SwedenTroop carrying vehicle120 ordered for delivery 2020-2023. Replacing older 4x4 troop carriers[32]
Scania R 420 6x6  SwedenTroop carrying vehicle 36 ordered in 2006.[33]
Scania R 420 8x4[33]  SwedenMiscellaneous2 Delivered 2006. One in naval service
EOD Duro II 6x6  SwitzerlandTactical military lorry (truck)6 Delivered 2003 [34]
Leyland DAF T244 4x4  United KingdomArtillery gun tractor and troop carrying vehicle55
Ford Transit Minibus  United StatesMinibus
Logistics
Iveco Astra M320.42 W BAD 8x8 DROPS  ItalyDROPS truck One fitted with an EKALIFT 2500 recovery body.
Scania P124CB 8x8 DROPS[35]  SwedenDROPS truck Tender for 20 new DROPS vehicles issued in 2021.[36]
Air defence/radar
Flycatcher (KL/MSS-6720)  NetherlandsAir defence radar8 Each Flycatcher radar system controls 3 Bofors 40 mm guns.[37] (Removed from in service 2012)[citation needed]
Bandvagn 206  SwedenAir defence support role3 Fitted with Saab GIRAFFE Mk IV radars for search & track for RBS 70 MANPADS missile system.
Explosive Ordnance Disposal
DOK-ING MV-4  CroatiaRemote mine flail2 Tracked remote control mini flail
MAN HX60[15]  GermanyArmoured EOD trucks3 or more Initially Delivered 2011. Two additional ordered 2016.[38]
Mowag Duro III  SwitzerlandExplosive ordnance disposal vehicle Armoured and unarmoured variants
Aardvark MK4  United KingdomMine flail
Unmanned aerial vehicles
Aeronautics Orbiter UAV  IsraelMiniature UAV14[39] Used by Artillery Corps. Two systems were acquired in 2006 each system has 3 Orbiter UAV's. Two were destroyed in crashes and one was lost and never recovered. €2m was spent on 12 new UAVs in 2016/17.

Defence Forces aircraft

Note: All Irish Aircraft are operated by the Irish Air Corps. Main article: List of aircraft of the Irish Air Corps
AircraftOriginTypeVariantIn serviceNotes
Trainer / Light Attack
Pilatus PC-9SwitzerlandTrainer / CASPC-9M8[40]Can be armed with machine guns or rocket pods.[40]
Transport
Learjet 45United StatesVIP / Air ambulance1[41]
Maritime patrol
CASA CN-235SpainMaritime PatrolMPA 1002[42]To be replaced by two CN-295 MPA in 2023[43]
CASA C-295SpainMaritime PatrolMPA2[44][45]
Surveillance
Pilatus PC-12SwitzerlandISTAR / UtilityPC-12NG4[46]
Britten-Norman DefenderUnited KingdomPolice Air Support40001[47]Flown for the Garda Air Support Unit (GASU)[47]
Helicopters
Eurocopter EC135FranceUtility / Training P2+/T22[48] / 2[49]Of which the T2s are flown for the GASU[50]
AgustaWestland AW139ItalyUtility6[51]

Gallery

See also

References