List of equipment of the Irish Army

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

Small arms

Standard issue weapons

Name	Origin	Type	Calibre	Image	Notes
Handguns
Heckler & Koch USP	Germany	Semi-automatic pistol	9×19mm Parabellum		Standard issue pistol. Entered service in 2007. Replaced the Browning Hi-Power which served since 1963. [1] [2]
Assault rifles & battle rifles
Steyr AUG MOD 14	Austria	Assault rifle	5.56×45mm NATO		Standard issue assault rifle. Entered service in 1989. Equipped with ACOG 4x32 optical sight. [1]
Precision rifles
FN FAL	Belgium	Designated marksman rifle	7.62×51mm 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 Kingdom	Bolt action sniper rifle	7.62×51mm NATO		Entered service in 1992. [5]
Accuracy International AWM	United Kingdom	Bolt action sniper rifle	8.6×70mm (.338 LM)		Entered service in 2011. [3]
Machine guns
FN MAG	Belgium	General-purpose machine gun	7.62×51mm NATO		Entered service in 1964. Used with a bipod or in the sustained fire (SF) role with a tripod. [1] [6]
M2 Browning .5 Heavy Machine Gun (HMG)	United States   Belgium	Heavy machine gun	12.7×99mm NATO (.50 BMG)		Entered service in the 1970s. Used in sustained fire and air defence roles. [5]
Grenades
Mecar M72 HE Grenade	Belgium	Fragmentation hand grenade	n/a
Grenade launchers
Diemaco M203 grenade launcher	Canada	Under-barrel grenade launcher	40×46mm LV		Mounted to Steyr AUG rifle. [1]
Heckler & Koch GMG	Germany	Automatic grenade launcher	40×53mm HV		Fitted to MOWAG APCs and Army Ranger Wing vehicles.
Anti-tank weapons
AT4 Short Range Anti-Armour Weapon (SRAAW)	Sweden	Recoilless guns	84mm		Entered service in 1997. [1]
Carl Gustav 84mm Anti-Armour Weapon	Sweden	Recoilless rifles	84mm		[6]
Javelin Anti-tank guided weapon	United States	Anti-tank guided missile	127mm		Entered service in 2003. [5] CLUs and 36 missiles acquired in 2006. [7] 36 CLUs and 44 missiles bought in 2025. [8]

Army Ranger Wing weapons (special forces)

Name	Origin	Type	Calibre	Image	Notes
Handguns
H&K USP9 Tactical	Germany	Semi-automatic pistol	9×19mm Parabellum		[9]
SIG Sauer P226	Switzerland   West Germany	Semi-automatic pistol	9×19mm Parabellum		[10]
SIG Sauer P228	Switzerland   West Germany	Semi-automatic pistol	9×19mm Parabellum		[9]
FN Five-seveN	Belgium	Semi-automatic pistol	FN 5.7×28mm		[9]
Submachine guns
Heckler & Koch MP5	West Germany	Submachine gun	9×19mm Parabellum		A3, SD6, F, and K variants [9] [10]
FN P90TR	Belgium	Submachine gun	FN 5.7×28mm		[9]
Assault rifles & battle rifles
Steyr AUG A2	Austria	Assault rifle	5.56×45mm NATO		ACOG 4×32 optical sights [9]
Steyr AUG A3	Austria	Assault rifle	5.56×45mm NATO		ACOG 4×32 optical sights [9]
Heckler & Koch HK416	Germany	Assault rifle	5.56×45mm NATO		[11]
Heckler & Koch HK417 RECCE	Germany	Battle rifle	7.62×51mm NATO		[9]
Precision rifles
Heckler & Koch HK417 Sniper	Germany	Designated marksman rifle	7.62×51mm NATO		[9]
Accuracy International 92	United Kingdom	Bolt action sniper rifle	7.62×51mm NATO		[9]
Accuracy International AWM	United Kingdom	Bolt action sniper rifle	8.6×70mm (.338 LM)		[9]
Accuracy International AW50	United Kingdom	Anti-materiel rifle	12.7×99mm NATO (.50 BMG)		[9]
Machine guns
FN Minimi Para	Belgium	Light machine gun	5.56×45mm NATO		[10]
Shotguns
Benelli M4	Italy	Pump action shotgun	12 gauge		[10]

Indirect fire

Name	Origin	Type	Calibre	Number	Image	Notes
Mortars
Denel Vektor M1 60mm Mortar	South Africa	Mortar	60mm			Entered service in 2003. [6]
Hotchkiss Brandt 81mm Mortar	France	Mortar	81mm	84 [12]		Uses the C2 AI Sight Unit and a Morfire Fire Control Computer. [5]
RUAG M87 120mm Mortar	Switzerland	Mortar	120mm	24 [12]		Used by Artillery Regiments heavy mortar batteries.
Artillery
105mm L118 light gun	United Kingdom	Howitzer	105mm	17 [12]		Along with the L119, these are used as the primary artillery support weapon.
105mm L119 light gun	United Kingdom	Howitzer	105mm	6 [12]		Along with the L118, these are used as the primary artillery support weapon.
Ceremonial guns
Ordnance QF 25-pounder	United Kingdom	Field gun	87.6mm	6		48 ex-British Mark IIIs acquired in 1949. Withdrawn from the Army in 1981 and from the Reserve in 2009. Used for ceremonial gun salutes only. [13]
QF 12-pounder 12 cwt gun	United Kingdom	Naval gun/Coastal artillery	76.2mm	10		These former coastal artillery guns are used, in two fixed saluting batteries, for ceremonial gun salutes only. Four are in Cork Harbour at Fort Mitchel, Spike Island, County Cork. [14] [15] A further six are in Dún Laoghaire Harbour, County Dublin. [13] [16]

Vehicles

Name	Origin	Type	Number	Image	Notes
Armoured fighting vehicles
Mowag Piranha IIIH [17]	Switzerland	Armoured personnel carrier Armoured reconnaissance vehicle	80 [18] [19] (2021) [20]		Introduced in 2001. [20] 45 APC (equipped with a manned turret equipped with a M2 Browning and a FN MAG) 18 CRV (Close Reconnaissance Vehicles with Protector RWS equipped with M2 Browning or Heckler & Koch GMG  ; 9 armoured personnel carriers were converted to close reconnaissance vehicles in 2014–2015) [21] 8 command vehicles (equipped with a manned turret equipped with a M2 Browning and a FN MAG) 6 MRV (Medium Reconnaissance Vehicles with Hitfist-30 turret and Mk44 Bushmaster II 30mm autocannon) [22] [ failed verification ] 2 ambulances 1 recovery vehicle Mid-life upgrade ongoing 2021. [20]
RG-32M Light Tactical Vehicle (LTV) [23] [24]	South Africa	Light tactical armoured vehicle	27 [23]		Armed with pintle-mounted 7.62mm machine gun or Kongsberg Protector RWS with the 12.7mm machine gun or 40mm automatic grenade launcher.
Army Ranger Wing (special forces)
ACMAT VLRA	France	Long range special reconnaissance	3 [25]		Used by Army Ranger Wing (ARW) as a 'mothership' to resupply Ford F-350 SRV.
Mowag Eagle	Switzerland	Light armoured vehicle	Leased to the German Army		Used by Army Ranger Wing soldiers [26] conducting a field human intelligence role for MINUSMA as part of a German task force. [27]
Ford F350 SRV	United States	Special reconnaissance vehicle	12 [25]		Used by Army Ranger Wing as a special reconnaissance vehicle for long-range reconnaissance patrols. Left hand drive.
General service vehicles
Toyota Landcruiser	Japan	Off-road vehicle			280 ordered for delivery 2019-2023. [28] Replacing older vehicles.
Toyota Landcruiser /Centigon Fortress 200 Intervention	Japan	Off-road vehicle			Armoured Utility Vehicle AUV. 24 ordered in 2018. 28 ordered in 2020 [29] [30] [20]
Nissan Patrol [31]	Japan	Off-road vehicle			The Defence Forces maintains a small fleet of 'discreet' armoured SUVs for high-risk and IED-threat missions. [32]
Mitsubishi Pajero	Japan	Off-road vehicle			32 Mitsubishi Pajero vehicles are fitted for radio (FFR) - VHF. [33]
Isuzu D-Max	Japan	Off-road vehicle
Land Rover Defender	United Kingdom	Off-road vehicle			Field ambulances and funeral gun carriage tractor. 2 funeral vehicles to be modified into electric vehicles. [34]
Ford Ranger	United States	Off-road vehicle			Left hand drive. 20 donated to Ukraine in 2024. [35] 16 donated to Ukraine in 2025. [36] [37]
Honda NC750X	Japan	Motorcycle	48		Purchased in 2019 to be used by 2nd Cavalry Squadron to provide a ceremonial escort for the President and other dignitaries. [38] [39] [40]
Suzuki DR350	Japan	Motorcycle			[9]
Suzuki DRZ-400	Japan	Motorcycle			[9]
Yamaha Grizzly 660	Japan	ATV / Quad			[9]
Troop carrying vehicle
Iveco EuroCargo 4x4 [41] [42]	Italy	Troop carrying vehicle
Mercedes-Benz 1117 4x4 [42]	Germany	Troop carrying vehicle	60
Scania P 370B 4x4 [43]	Sweden	Troop carrying vehicle			120 ordered for delivery 2020-2023. Replacing older 4x4 troop carriers [44]
Scania R 420 6x6	Sweden	Troop carrying vehicle			36 ordered in 2006. [45]
Scania R 420 8x4 [45]	Sweden	Miscellaneous	2		Delivered 2006. One in naval service
EOD Duro II 6x6	Switzerland	Tactical military lorry (truck)	6		Delivered 2003 [46]
Leyland DAF T244 4x4	United Kingdom	Artillery gun tractor and troop carrying vehicle	55
Ford Transit Minibus	United States	Minibus			8 donated to Ukraine. [37]
Logistics
Iveco Astra M320.42 W BAD 8×8 DROPS	Italy	DROPS truck			One fitted with an EKALIFT 2500 recovery body.
Scania P124CB 8×8 DROPS [47]	Sweden	DROPS truck			Tender for 20 new DROPS vehicles issued in 2021. [48] 5 donated to Ukraine. [37]
EMPL EH/W 200 Bison  [ de ] on Scania truck	Sweden /   Austria	Recovery truck	2		[49]
Explosive Ordnance Disposal
MAN HX60 [21]	Germany	Armoured EOD trucks	3 or more		Initially Delivered 2011. Two additional ordered 2016. [50]
Aardvark MK4	United Kingdom	Mine flail
Mowag Duro II	Switzerland	Explosive ordnance disposal vehicle	6		[51]
Ceremonial vehicles
Rolls Royce armoured car	United Kingdom	Armoured car	1		ARR-2 Sliabh na mBan . The sole remaining example of thirteen vehicles. Was part of the convoy ambushed at Béal na mBláth where General Michael Collins, Commander in Chief of the National Army, was killed during the Irish Civil War. [52] [53] Currently used for ceremonial purposes, and also the world's oldest active serving armoured vehicle. [54] [55]

Air defence

Name	Origin	Type	Number	Image	Notes
RBS-70 Missile system	Sweden	Man-portable air-defense system	? (6 in 2003)		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. [56] (In total 6 launchers in active service in 2003, paired to 1 Giraffe radar) [57]
Saab GIRAFFE Mk IV	Sweden	Short range air surveillance radar	2		Fitted on Bandvagn 206 vehicles in support of the RBS 70. Seven originally acquired in 2008, five of which were donated to Ukraine in June 2025. [58] [59] [60] [61]

In 2003 Irish Defence Forces also had 8 Flycatcher mobile air defence radars (bought second hand from Dutch armed forces in 2003 ^[62] ) paired to 24 Bofors L70 air defence guns. Their current status is unknown. ^[57] According to this source, Flycatcher was last used 2011. ^[63]

Unmanned aerial vehicles

Name	Origin	Type	Number	Image	Notes
Aeronautics Orbiter UAV	Israel	Miniature UAV	14 [64]		Used by Artillery Corps. Two systems were acquired in 2006 each system has 3 Orbiter UAVs. Two were destroyed in crashes and one was lost and never recovered. €2m was spent on 12 new UAVs in 2016/17.

Gallery

• 
  The remaining Panhard AML-20 armoured cars were retired in 2013
• 
  Honda ceremonial escort motorcycles of 2 Cavalry Squadron
• 
  14 Scorpion CVR(T) tracked reconnaissance vehicles were in use from the 1980s until their retirement in 2017. ^[65]

See also

• Modern Irish Army uniform
• Armoured fighting vehicles of the Irish Army

References

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