AW139 options exercised, 2 more ordered

[Frank]

The Minister for Defence, Mr. Willie O’Dea, has announced that a contract has been signed with Agusta SpA, Italy for the provision of two additional AW 139 helicopters for the Air Corps. The contract value is in the region of €26m inclusive of VAT and the additional two helicopters will be delivered in 2008.

This latest contract brings to eight the number of new helicopters acquired or being acquired for the Air Corps and is a tremendous boost to the Air Corps for future helicopter operations.

Two Light Utility EC 135 helicopters were delivered in late 2005 from Eurocopter, France/ Germany at a cost of €12.8m inclusive of VAT and are in operational service.

Four Utility AW 139 helicopters were ordered in December 2004 from Agusta SpA. at a cost in excess of €48m, inclusive of VAT. The four helicopters are being built at the Agusta facility near Milan, Italy. Two AW 139s were delivered last month and the other two are scheduled for delivery in the first half of 2007.

The six AW 139 helicopters will be operated by the Air Corps in a general purpose military operational and training role. Primary taskings for the Utility helicopter will include training and operations with Special Forces, security and aid to the civil power, military exercises, infantry interoperability training and limited troop transport. They will also be used to perform air ambulance, inland Search and Rescue, aid to the civil community and VIP transport tasks.

“The provision of these additional two AW 139s will provide the Air Corps with a very significant fleet of helicopters, which will enable them to work in close co-operation with the Army in all facets of their operations. The purchase of the additional helicopters is another positive indication of the Government’s commitment to ensure that all branches of the Defence Forces are fully equipped to carry out their day- to- day roles,” stated Mr O’Dea.

He expressed his satisfaction with the ongoing equipment programmes for the Defence Forces which sees ours troops equipped with the most modern equipment which allows them carry out their various roles, both at home and overseas.

The following major equipment purchases took place during 2006: -

· 400 General Purpose Machine Guns delivered in December 2006 at a total cost of €4.4m.

· 1400 new 9mm general service pistols also delivered in December 2006, at a total cost of €800k. The pistols are carried for personal protection on security and regimental duties at home, and on overseas service.

· Six Field Deployable Command Post Containers delivered mid –year to the Curragh Camp at a total cost of €3m. Two of the containers have already been deployed to Lebanon.

Integrated Protection and Load Carrying System- This includes Body Armour, Helmets and Back Packs (Rucksacks) for soldiers:

· 8000 units of body armour for the individual soldier on operational duties have been ordered. The new body armour provides significantly greater protection, comfort and coverage than the old model as well as a doubling of the range of sizes available. The total cost is in the region of €8m, 6000 Units have been delivered and delivery of the balance of 2000 units is expected by end December 2006.

· 12,000 helmets were delivered in early 2006 at a total cost of €2.5m.

To complete the modern integrated protection and load carrying system for the individual soldier, two other significant procurements are in train:

· 12,000 rucksacks have been ordered at a total cost of €3m, delivery to take place in 2007.

· A tender competition is currently in train for the acquisition of 12,000 Battle Vests used for the carriage by the individual soldier of essential items such as ammunition, personal radio, water and ancillary equipment. The order for the Battle Vests will be placed in 2007.

2007 will see the arrival of 15 additional Piranha Armoured Vehicles from Mowag GmbH, Switzerland. 9 of the vehicles will be fitted with a Kongsberg Remote Weapon Station with a 12.7mm machine gun and 6 will be fitted with an Oto Melara turret armed with a 30mm cannon. The 15 vehicles will be used mainly in the Surveillance and Reconnaissance roles on overseas missions. The contract value is in the region of €36.5m including VAT.

Mr. O’ Dea said “he was delighted with the continuous strides forward being made on the equipment front. The personal equipment which the individual soldier has at this stage is second to none and he will continue to treat the acquisition of new equipment for the Defence Forces as an absolute priority for 2007 and future years.”


Link to press release here: http://www.defence.ie/WebSite....ocument