Ireland is acquiring eight Pilatus PC-9M trainers in a deal valued at €60 million ($63.2 million). The Swiss-built aircraft was selected over Embraer's Super Tucano and the Raytheon T-6.
The Irish Air Corps will take delivery of the first turboprop-powered aircraft in March 2004 with the last due to be handed over in June. The aircraft will be based at the Air Corps' base at Baldonnel near Dublin. The package also includes a ground-based training system and integrated logistics support.
Although the PC-9s will be predominantly used as trainers, they will be lightly armed and could be used during security operations.
The PC-9Ms will replace elderly Aermacchi SF260WEs. Irish pilots will continue to receive elementary training on Cessna 172s while a Beech Super King Air will still be used for multi-engine training.
Ireland initiated a search for trainers last year after it abandoned a plan to acquire Sikorsky S-92 helicopters for troop transport and search and rescue. The acquisition was cancelled as part of €40 million ($42 million)-worth of defence cuts and faced a legal challenge from Eurocopter, a losing competitor.
Oscar Schwenk, Pilatus president and chief executive, says the trainer market is slow, with no ongoing competitions.
Source: Flight International
