| Irish Army |
|---|
 |
| Components |
| Equipment |
| Personnel |
| Rank Insignia |
This is a partial list of the equipment of the Irish Army , the land component of the Irish Defence Forces.
| Irish Army |
|---|
| |
| Components |
| Equipment |
| Personnel |
| Rank Insignia |
This is a partial list of the equipment of the Irish Army , the land component of the Irish Defence Forces.
| Name | Origin | Type | Caliber | Photo | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pistols | |||||
| Heckler & Koch USP |  Germany | Semi-automatic pistol | 9×19mm 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 |  Austria | Assault rifle | 5.56×45mm 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 |  Belgium | Battle 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 | Sniper rifle | 7.62×51mm NATO |  | The AI 92 Sniper Rifle entered Irish Army service in 1992. [2] |
| Accuracy International AWM | United Kingdom | Sniper rifle | 8.6×70mm (.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 | Belgium | General-purpose machine gun | 7.62×51mm 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 gun | 12.7×99mm 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 | Belgium | Fragmentation hand grenade | n/a |  | |
| Grenade launchers | |||||
| Diemaco M203 grenade launcher |  Canada | Grenade launcher | 40×46mm 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 | Germany | Automatic grenade launcher | 40×53mm HV |  | Used fitted to MOWAG APCs and Army Ranger Wing vehicles. |
| Anti-tank weapons | |||||
| AT4 Short Range Anti-Armour Weapon (SRAAW) |  Sweden | Anti-tank weapon | 84 mm |  | The AT4 entered service in 1997. The SRAAW is a recoilless, preloaded disposable weapon. [2] |
| Carl Gustav 84mm Anti-Armour Weapon | Sweden | Anti-tank weapon | 84 mm |  | The Carl Gustav 84mm is a recoilless, breech-loaded anti-armour weapon. [2] |
| Javelin Anti-tank guided weapon | United States | Anti-tank weapon | 127mm |  | The Javelin is a fire-and-forget anti-armour weapon system and entered service in 2003. [5] |
| Mortars | |||||
| Denel Vektor M1 60mm Mortar |  South Africa | Mortar | 60 mm | The Vektor 60mm Mortar entered service in 2003 with the Infantry. The 60 mm 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 |  France | Mortar | 81mm |  | 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 |  Switzerland | Mortar | 120mm |  | Used by Artillery Regiments heavy mortar batteries. (In total 24 mortars in active service) [6] |
| Autocannons | |||||
| Mk44 Bushmaster II | United States | Autocannon | 30×173mm |  | Fitted to Cavalry Mowag Medium Reconnaissance Vehicle's (MRV). |
| Artillery | |||||
| Ordnance QF 25-pounder | United Kingdom | Field gun | 87.6mm |  | 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 Kingdom | Howitzer | 105mm |  | 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 Kingdom | Howitzer | 105 mm | Along 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 | Sweden | Anti-aircraft autocannon | 40 × 365 mm R |  | Paired with eight Flycatcher (KL/MSS-6720). (24 guns in active service as of 2003) [8] (Removed from service in 2012; Retired examples displayed at Spike Island and Curragh Camp museum)[ citation needed ] |
| RBS-70 Missile system | Sweden | Man-portable air-defense system | 106mm |  | 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 | Germany | Semi-automatic pistol | 9×19mm Parabellum | | [10] |
| SIG Sauer P226 | Switzerland West Germany | Semi-automatic pistol | 9×19mm Parabellum |  | [11] |
| SIG Sauer P228 | Switzerland West Germany | Semi-automatic pistol | 9×19mm Parabellum |  | [10] |
| FN Five-seveN | Belgium | Semi-automatic pistol | FN 5.7×28mm |  | [10] |
| Heckler & Koch MP5 | West Germany | Submachine gun | 9×19mm Parabellum |  | A3, SD6, F, and K variants [10] [11] |
| FN P90TR | Belgium | Submachine gun | FN 5.7×28mm |  | [10] |
| Benelli M4 |  Italy | Semi-automatic shotgun | 12 gauge |  | [11] |
| Steyr AUG A2 | Austria | Assault rifle | 5.56×45mm NATO |  | ACOG 4×32 optical sights [10] |
| Steyr AUG A3 | Austria | Assault rifle | 5.56×45mm NATO |  | ACOG 4×32 optical sights [10] |
| Heckler & Koch HK416 | Germany | Assault rifle | 5.56×45mm NATO |  | |
| FN Minimi Para | Belgium | Light machine gun | 5.56×45mm NATO |  | [11] |
| Heckler & Koch HK417 RECCE | Germany | Battle rifle | 7.62×51mm NATO |  | [10] |
| Heckler & Koch HK417 Sniper | Germany | Designated marksman rifle | 7.62×51mm NATO |  | [10] |
| Accuracy International 92 | United Kingdom | Sniper rifle | 7.62×51mm NATO | | [10] |
| Accuracy International AWM | United Kingdom | Sniper rifle | 8.6×70mm (.338 LM) | | [10] |
| Accuracy International AW50 | United Kingdom | Anti-materiel rifle | 12.7×99mm NATO (.50 BMG) |  | [10] |
This is a partial list of the modern vehicles in use within the Irish Army.
| Name | Origin | Type | Number | Image | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Armoured fighting vehicles | |||||
| Mowag Piranha IIIH [12] | Switzerland | Armoured 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 40 mm 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 Africa | Light tactical armoured vehicle | 27 [16] |  | Armed with pintle-mounted 7.62mm machine gun or Kongsberg Protector RWS with the 12.7mm machine gun or 40 mm automatic grenade launcher. |
| Army Ranger Wing (special forces) | |||||
| ACMAT VLRA | France | Long range special reconnaissance | 3 [18] |  | 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 [19] conducting a field human intelligence role for MINUSMA as part of a German task force. [20] |
| Ford F350 SRV | United States | Special reconnaissance vehicle | 12 [18] |  | 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. [21] Replacing older vehicles. | ||
| Toyota Landcruiser /Centigon Fortress 200 Intervention | Japan | Off-road vehicle | Armoured Utility Vehicle. 24 ordered in 2018. 28 in 2020 [22] [23] [24] | ||
| Nissan Patrol [25] | Japan | Off-road vehicle | The Defence Forces maintains a small fleet of 'discreet' armoured SUVs for high-risk and IED-threat missions. [26] | ||
| Mitsubishi Pajero | Japan | Off-road vehicle |  | 32 Mitsubishi Pajero vehicles are fitted for radio (FFR) - VHF. [27] | |
| Isuzu D-Max | Japan | Off-road vehicle | |||
| Land Rover Defender | United Kingdom | Off-road vehicle |  | Field ambulances and funeral gun carriage tractor. | |
| Ford Ranger | United States | Off-road vehicle. Left hand drive. | |||
| Honda NC750X | Japan | Motorcycle | 48 | Contract awarded in 2019. Ceremonial escort [28] | |
| Suzuki DR350 | Japan | Motorcycle | [10] | ||
| Suzuki DRZ-400 | Japan | Motorcycle |  | [10] | |
| Yamaha Grizzly 660 | Japan | ATV / Quad | [10] | ||
| Troop carrying vehicle | |||||
| Iveco EuroCargo 4x4 [29] [30] | Italy | Troop carrying vehicle | |||
| Mercedes-Benz 1117 4x4 [30] | Germany | Troop carrying vehicle | 60 |  | |
| Scania P 370B 4x4 [31] | Sweden | Troop carrying vehicle | 120 ordered for delivery 2020-2023. Replacing older 4x4 troop carriers [32] | ||
| Scania R 420 6x6 | Sweden | Troop carrying vehicle |  | 36 ordered in 2006. [33] | |
| Scania R 420 8x4 [33] | Sweden | Miscellaneous | 2 |  | Delivered 2006. One in naval service |
| EOD Duro II 6x6 | Switzerland | Tactical military lorry (truck) | 6 |  | Delivered 2003 [34] |
| Leyland DAF T244 4x4 | United Kingdom | Artillery gun tractor and troop carrying vehicle | 55 |  | |
| Ford Transit Minibus | United States | Minibus |  | ||
| Logistics | |||||
| Iveco Astra M320.42 W BAD 8x8 DROPS | Italy | DROPS truck |  | One fitted with an EKALIFT 2500 recovery body. | |
| Scania P124CB 8x8 DROPS [35] | Sweden | DROPS truck |  | Tender for 20 new DROPS vehicles issued in 2021. [36] | |
| Air defence/radar | |||||
| Flycatcher (KL/MSS-6720) |  Netherlands | Air defence radar | 8 |  | Each Flycatcher radar system controls 3 Bofors 40 mm guns. [37] (Removed from in service 2012)[ citation needed ] |
| Bandvagn 206 | Sweden | Air defence support role | 3 |  | Fitted with Saab GIRAFFE Mk IV radars for search & track for RBS 70 MANPADS missile system. |
| Explosive Ordnance Disposal | |||||
| DOK-ING MV-4 |  Croatia | Remote mine flail | 2 |  | Tracked remote control mini flail |
| MAN HX60 [15] | Germany | Armoured EOD trucks | 3 or more |  | Initially Delivered 2011. Two additional ordered 2016. [38] |
| Mowag Duro III | Switzerland | Explosive ordnance disposal vehicle | | Armoured and unarmoured variants | |
| Aardvark MK4 | United Kingdom | Mine flail |  | ||
| Unmanned aerial vehicles | |||||
| Aeronautics Orbiter UAV |  Israel | Miniature UAV | 14 [39] |  | 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. |
The Irish Army is the land component of the Defence Forces of Ireland. The Irish Army has an active establishment of 7,520, and a reserve establishment of 3,869. Like other components of the Defence Forces, the Irish Army has struggled to maintain strength and as of April 2023 has only 6,322 active personnel, and 1,382 reserve personnel. The Irish Army is organised into two brigades.
The Mowag Piranha is a family of armoured fighting vehicles designed by the Swiss company Mowag.
The Defence Forces are the armed forces of Ireland. They encompass the Army, Air Corps, Naval Service, and Reserve Defence Forces.
The Air Corps is the air force of Ireland. Organisationally a military branch of the Defence Forces of Ireland, the Air Corps utilises a fleet of fixed-wing aircraft and rotorcraft to carry out a variety of duties in conjunction with the Irish Army, Irish Naval Service and Garda Síochána. The headquarters of the Air Corps is located at the Casement Aerodrome in Baldonnel, Dublin. The Air Corps has an active establishment of 886 personnel. Like other components of the Defence Forces, it has struggled to maintain strength and as of December 2023 has only 689 active personnel. Unlike the Army or the Naval Service, the Air Corps does not maintain a reserve component.
The Army Ranger Wing (ARW) is the special operations force of the Irish Defence Forces, the military of Ireland. It is a branch of the Irish Army, it also selects personnel from the Naval Service and Air Corps. It serves at the behest of the Defence Forces and Government of Ireland, operating internally and overseas, and reports directly to the Chief of Staff. The ARW was established in 1980 with the primary role of counter terrorism and evolved to both special operations and counter-terrorism roles from 2000 after the end of conflict in Northern Ireland. The unit is based in the Curragh Camp, County Kildare. The 2015 White Paper on Defence announced that the strength of the ARW would be considerably increased due to operational requirements at home and overseas.
The AVGP, later known as the LAV I, is a series of three amphibious armoured fighting vehicles ordered by the Canadian military in the 1970s. The vehicles, named Grizzly, Cougar and Husky respectively, were based on the six-wheeled version of the Swiss Mowag Piranha I, and became the first generation Light Armoured Vehicle produced by General Motors Diesel.
The Mowag Eagle is a series of wheeled armoured vehicle designed by Mowag, a Swiss company now owned by GDELS.
Mowag is a Swiss company founded in 1950, which develops, designs and produces armoured fighting vehicles for military applications in both land-only and amphibious configurations. These vehicles have gross vehicle weights ranging from 9 tonnes to 30 tonnes. In 2003, the company was acquired by General Dynamics, and is now known as GDELS-Mowag, part of General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS).
The Cougar is a mine-resistant ambush-protected (MRAP) and infantry mobility vehicle structured to be resistant to landmines and improvised munitions.
The Glen of Imaal is a remote glen in the western Wicklow Mountains in Ireland. It is ringed by the Lugnaquilla massif and its foothills, including Table Mountain and Keadeen. Much of the valley is used by the Irish Army as an artillery firing range, and hill walkers who use the glen are advised to observe the times of firing practice and to refrain from picking up strange objects.
The Cavalry Corps (CAV) is one of the combat support corps of the Irish Army. In peacetime, the Cavalry carries out various duties in Aid to the Civil Power, such as:
The DURO is a series of wheeled, multi-purpose military transport vehicles produced by General Dynamics European Land Systems/MOWAG in both four and six wheel drive. It was initially developed for Switzerland by Bucher-Guyer AG in Niederweningen, Switzerland. An initial 3000 vehicles order for the Swiss Armed Forces came through in 1994. In January 2003 the production was transferred to MOWAG in Kreuzlingen. Over 4,000 DURO 4x4 and 6x6 vehicles are now in service worldwide. The main customers are Switzerland, Germany, Venezuela, and the UK. In addition to these, the vehicle is used in many other countries for special purposes.
The Cobra is a armoured tactical vehicle developed by Turkish firm Otokar. The vehicle has some subsystems from the Humvee. The Cobra is the first generation of the Cobra family of vehicles, a second generation named Otokar Cobra II is also produced.
The Pars is an amphibious armoured combat vehicle family with 4×4, 6×6 and 8×8 versions, produced by FNSS Defence Systems of Turkey.
Throughout its history, the Irish Army has used a number of armoured fighting vehicles.
The Ejder Yalçın is a family of armoured vehicles produced by Turkish company Nurol Makina. Two versions exists under the Ejder name, a 6x6 version, and a more popular 4x4 version, called Ejder Yalcin.
The Mahindra Mine Protected Vehicle-I (MPV-I), is an Indian Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle manufactured by Defense Land Systems, a joint-venture of Mahindra & Mahindra Limited and BAE Systems, the first vehicle made under the venture. It is an improved Casspir variant built under licence.
The Ordnance Corps (ORD) is a combat support corps of the Irish Army, a branch of the Defence Forces, that has logistical and operational responsibility for military ordnance in Ireland. The logistical role of the Army Ordnance Corps is to provide technical support to the Defence Forces for the procurement, storage, distribution, inspection, maintenance, repair and disposal of all items of ordnance equipment. The operational role of the Ordnance Corps is to train personnel for and provide the state's bomb disposal capability.
The Defence Forces Training Centre (DFTC) (Irish: Airmheán Traenála Óglaigh na hÉireann, ATÓÉ) is the principal training centre for the Irish Army and other branches of the Irish Defence Forces, headquartered at the Curragh Camp that serves to provide education and training to recruits and officers. The DFTC also encompasses Glen of Imaal in County Wicklow which is the primary artillery and anti-tank firing range for the army. It primarily comprises the Military College, with various schools, alongside additional specialised schools. It also hosts some specialised army units. DFTC is home to 2,000 military personnel.
General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDLS) is an automotive and arms manufacturer spread across Europe, with a headquarter in Madrid, Spain. It is a business unit of General Dynamics which consolidated in one structure all European subsidiaries of GDLS.
A roadside bomb [..] blast inflicted heavy damage on the Mowag Eagle but the three [Army] Rangers suffered only minor injuries
In 2003, General Dynamics delivered six Duro II 6×6 vehicles to Ireland
The two new [MAN HX 60 4x4 armoured] vehicles will augment those already in service
| Army Brigades |  | ||||||
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| Army Corps | |||||||
| Specialist Units | |||||||
| Bases & Facilities | |||||||
| Equipment | |||||||
| Uniform and Insignia | |||||||
| Current Deployments |
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| History |
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