The Tánaiste and Minister for Defence Micheál Martin has confirmed the award of a contract for a new multi-purpose strategic reach aircraft capable of use in overseas missions across the globe. The Department of Defence has signed a deal for the French-built Dassault Aviation Falcon 6X with delivery expected in December 2025. This will ensure it will be available in time for Ireland’s EU Presidency in the second half of 2026.
Speaking after the award of the contract, the Tánaiste said: “This new next generation aircraft will be a game-changer for the State’s transport, airlift and medical capabilities, with a range of over 5000 nautical miles meaning it can reach the west coast of the United States without the need to refuel.
“It will be used for a wide range of tasks, including the non-combatant evacuation of Irish citizens from critical situations, air-ambulance patient transfers, medical evacuation or repatriation of Irish Defence Forces personnel deployed on overseas missions and logistics support for the transport of supplies to Irish Defence Forces overseas missions.
“In addition, it will provide the independent and flexible air transport service which is an increasingly essential requirement to assist the government in meeting our national and international obligations.”
Manufactured by Dassault Aviation SA, a French aerospace company of long standing in the aviation and defence industries, the Falcon 6X will have a total seating capacity of 17 persons and a passenger capacity of 14. It will be operated by the Irish Air Corps from Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel. The airframe is currently being built in the company’s production facility in Bordeaux.
The Falcon 6X is a futureproofed, new generation jet aircraft providing improvements in fuel efficiency and carbon emissions and offering outstanding performance especially out of challenging airfields and in adverse conditions. With a maximum range of 5,060 nautical miles, it can comfortably reach destinations such as the Western Coast of the USA and features a modern suite of Avionics, Secure Communications, Operational and Safety Equipment.
The cost of the Falcon 6X aircraft is just below €53 million excluding VAT. The award of the contract follows a robust analysis of the options that would meet the identified capability requirement as set out in the Public Spending Code. The competition was conducted under the procedures as set out in the Defence and Security Directive as there will be military equipment integrated onto this aircraft. The procurement method used was the negotiated procedure with the publication of a contract notice.
The Falcon 6X will replace the Learjet 45 ‘258’ which has been plagued by technical problems in recent years. There have been several high-profile cases where the aircraft has become unavailable at short notice forcing high-ranking government ministers to make alternative transport arrangements.
