On April 22, images emerged via the Irish Air Corps (IAC) of one of its two new Airbus Defence C-295W Persuader aircraft rolling off the paint line at Airbus’ facility in Seville, Spain.
The Irish Air Corps maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) replacement programme commenced in late 2017 with a contract being placed with Airbus Defence and Space in 2019 for the provision of two C-295W maritime surveillance aircraft. The first aircraft, c/n 211, serial 284 displays a dark grey paint scheme, like that of Ireland's fleet of Pilatus PC-12NG Spectre aircraft, and unlike its current pair of CN235 which have a bright blue paint scheme. C/n 211 is scheduled to be handed over to the IAC late in the first quarter of 2023 with the second, c/n 216, scheduled to arrive three months later.
