The Department of Defence has launched a competition for the supply to the Irish Air Corps of a new Jet Aircraft for Ministerial Air Transport (MATS) and broader utility use. Through a fleet of fixed and rotary-wing aircraft, the Air Corps provides support to the Army and Naval Service, together with air services such as police air support, air ambulance, fisheries protection and MATS.
The Minister for Defence invites requests to participate from economic operators for the supply of one new jet aircraft to be operated by the IAC with a basic minimum of two engines and an Auxiliary Power Unit (APU), a passenger seating capacity of no less than 10 seats, an unrefuelled range of no less than 3,500 nautical miles with a payload equivalent of 8 passengers with standard luggage, and the capability of being fitted with a Defensive Aid Suite (DAS) and secure digital communications.
Basic services are to include associated crew training to include pilots, flight attendants and maintenance personnel and a maintenance support contract to include airframe, engines, APU and avionics. The aircraft will primarily be for the delivery of the Ministerial Air Transport Service with additional broader utility to include but not limited to: non-combatant evacuation operations of Irish citizens from critical situations in limited instances, medical evacuation or repatriation of Irish Defence Forces personnel deployed on overseas missions, logistics support for transport of sensitive material/resupplies to Defence Forces overseas missions, and air ambulance patient transfers. The estimated value of the contract is €45.4 million excluding VAT. The deadline for receipt of submissions is 13th December at 1 pm.
