List of equipment of the Irish Army

This is a list of equipment of the Irish Army, the land component of the Irish Defence Forces.

Small arms

Standard issue weapons

Name Origin Type Calibre Image Notes
Handguns
Heckler & Koch USP  Germany Semi-automatic pistol 9×19mm Parabellum Standard issue pistol. Entered service in 2007. Replaced the Browning Hi-Power which served since 1963.[1][2]
Assault rifles & battle rifles
Steyr AUG MOD 14 (MODel 2014)  Austria Assault rifle 5.56×45mm NATO Standard issue assault rifle. Entered service in 1989, replacing FN FAL - which served since 1961[3] - and Carl Gustaf m/45.[4] Equipped (since 2014 upgrade; originally Irish AUGs had 1.5x fixed scope)[5]) with ACOG 4x32 optical sight.[1]
Precision rifles
FN FAL  Belgium Designated marksman rifle (DMR) 7.62×51mm NATO The FN FAL was previously the standard service rifle for the Defence Forces (replacing Lee-Enfield Rifle No.4 in 1961), being replaced by Steyr AUG in 1989 (but used by Irish reserve forces until the early 2000s). Older FAL rifles were upgraded with an adjustable butt stock, Picatinny-style rail hand guard, a bipod, and a Schmidt & Bender sight for use as sniper support weapons, re-entering Irish service as DMR in 2011.[3][6]In January 2021, the Defence Forces stated a replacement was being sought.[7]
Accuracy International 92  United Kingdom Bolt action sniper rifle 7.62×51mm NATO Entered service in 1992.[8]
Accuracy International AWM  United Kingdom Bolt action sniper rifle 8.6×70mm (.338 LM) Entered service in 2011.[6]
Machine guns
FN MAG  Belgium General-purpose machine gun 7.62×51mm NATO Entered service in 1964. Used with a bipod or in the sustained fire (SF) role with a tripod. Also possible to use with C2A1 sight (like the mortars).[1][9]
M2 Browning .5 Heavy Machine Gun (HMG)  United States
 Belgium		 Heavy machine gun 12.7×99mm NATO

(.50 BMG)

 Entered service in the 1970s. Used in sustained fire and air defence roles.[8]
Grenades
Mecar M72 HE Grenade  Belgium Fragmentation hand grenade n/a
Grenade launchers
Diemaco M203 grenade launcher  Canada Under-barrel grenade launcher 40×46mm LV Mounted to Steyr AUG rifle.[1]
Heckler & Koch GMG  Germany Automatic grenade launcher 40×53mm HV Fitted to MOWAG APCs and Army Ranger Wing vehicles.
Anti-tank weapons
AT4 Short Range Anti-Armour Weapon (SRAAW)  Sweden Recoilless gun 84mm Entered service in 1997.[1]
Carl Gustav 84mm Anti-Armour Weapon  Sweden Recoilless rifle 84mm [9]
Javelin Anti-tank guided weapon  United States Anti-tank guided missile 127mm Entered service in 2003.[8] CLUs and 36 missiles acquired in 2006.[10] 36 CLUs and 44 missiles bought in 2025.[11]

Army Ranger Wing weapons (special forces)

Name Origin Type Calibre Image Notes
Handguns
H&K USP9 Tactical  Germany Semi-automatic pistol 9×19mm Parabellum [12]
SIG Sauer P226  Switzerland
 West Germany		 Semi-automatic pistol 9×19mm Parabellum [13]
SIG Sauer P228  Switzerland
 West Germany		 Semi-automatic pistol 9×19mm Parabellum [12]
FN Five-seveN  Belgium Semi-automatic pistol FN 5.7×28mm [12]
Submachine guns
Heckler & Koch MP5  West Germany Submachine gun 9×19mm Parabellum A3, SD6, F, and K variants [12][13]
FN P90TR  Belgium Submachine gun FN 5.7×28mm [12]
Assault rifles & battle rifles
Steyr AUG A2  Austria Assault rifle 5.56×45mm NATO ACOG 4×32 optical sights [12]
Steyr AUG A3  Austria Assault rifle 5.56×45mm NATO ACOG 4×32 optical sights [12]
Heckler & Koch HK416  Germany Assault rifle 5.56×45mm NATO [14]
Heckler & Koch HK417 RECCE  Germany Battle rifle 7.62×51mm NATO [12]
Precision rifles
Heckler & Koch HK417 Sniper  Germany Designated marksman rifle 7.62×51mm NATO [12]
Accuracy International 92  United Kingdom Bolt action sniper rifle 7.62×51mm NATO [12]
Accuracy International AWM  United Kingdom Bolt action sniper rifle 8.6×70mm (.338 LM) [12]
Accuracy International AW50  United Kingdom Anti-materiel rifle 12.7×99mm NATO

(.50 BMG)

 [12]
Machine guns
FN Minimi Para  Belgium Light machine gun 5.56×45mm NATO [13]
Shotguns
Benelli M4  Italy Pump action shotgun 12 gauge [13]

Indirect fire

Name Origin Type Calibre Number Image Notes
Mortars
Denel Vektor M1 60mm Mortar  South Africa Mortar 60mm Entered service in 2003. Can use similar sight and fire control computer as 81mm mortar. Also configurable as a commando mortar.[9]
Hotchkiss Brandt 81mm Mortar  France Mortar 81mm 84[15] Uses the C2 AI Sight Unit and a Morfire Fire Control Computer.[8]
RUAG M87 120mm Mortar  Switzerland Mortar 120mm 24[15] Entered service in 2008. Used by Artillery Regiments heavy mortar batteries.
Artillery
105mm L118 light gun  United Kingdom Howitzer 105mm 17[15] Along with the L119, these are used as the primary artillery support weapon.
105mm L119 light gun  United Kingdom Howitzer 105mm 6[15] Along with the L118, these are used as the primary artillery support weapon.
Ceremonial guns
Ordnance QF 25-pounder  United Kingdom Field gun 87.6mm 6 48 ex-British Mark IIIs acquired in 1949. Withdrawn from the Army in 1981 and from the Reserve in 2009. Used for ceremonial gun salutes only.[16]
QF 12-pounder 12 cwt gun  United Kingdom Naval gun/Coastal artillery 76.2mm 10 These former coastal artillery guns are used, in two fixed saluting batteries, for ceremonial gun salutes only. Four are in Cork Harbour at Fort Mitchel, Spike Island, County Cork.[17][18] A further six are in Dún Laoghaire Harbour, County Dublin.[16][19]

Vehicles

Name Origin Type Number Image Notes
Armoured fighting vehicles
Mowag Piranha IIIH[20]  Switzerland Armoured personnel carrier
Armoured reconnaissance vehicle		 80[21][22] (2021)[23]

Introduced in 2001.[23]

A mid-life upgrade (MLU) was completed in 2025.[26]

Army Ranger Wing (special forces)
ACMAT VLRA  France Tactical support trucks 3[27]
Ford F350 SRV  United States Special reconnaissance vehicle 12[27][28] Left hand drive.
General service vehicles
Toyota Landcruiser  Japan Off-road vehicle 280 280 ordered for delivery 2019-2023.[29] Replacing older vehicles.
Toyota Landcruiser /Centigon Fortress 200 Intervention  Japan Off-road vehicle 52 Armoured Utility Vehicle AUV. 24 ordered in 2018. 28 ordered in 2020[30][31][23]
Nissan Patrol[32]  Japan Off-road vehicle 38 The Defence Forces maintains a small fleet of 'discreet' armoured SUVs for high-risk and IED-threat missions.[33]
Mitsubishi Pajero  Japan Off-road vehicle 32 32 Mitsubishi Pajero vehicles are fitted for radio (FFR) - VHF.[34]
Isuzu D-Max  Japan Off-road vehicle —
Ford Ranger  United States Off-road vehicle — 20 donated to Ukraine in 2024.[35] 16 donated to Ukraine in 2025.[36][37]
Suzuki DR350  Japan Motorcycle — [12]
Suzuki DRZ-400  Japan Motorcycle — [12]
Yamaha Grizzly 660  Japan ATV / Quad — [12]
Troop carrying vehicle
Iveco EuroCargo 4x4[38][39]  Italy Troop carrying vehicle 70
Mercedes-Benz 1117 4x4[39]  Germany Troop carrying vehicle 60
Scania P 370B 4x4[40]  Sweden Troop carrying vehicle 120 120 ordered for delivery 2020-2023. Replacing older 4x4 troop carriers[41]
Scania R 420 6x6  Sweden Troop carrying vehicle 36 36 ordered in 2006.[42]
Scania R 420 8x4[42]  Sweden Miscellaneous 2 Delivered 2006. One in naval service
EOD Duro II 6x6  Switzerland Tactical military lorry (truck) 6 Delivered 2003 [43]
Leyland DAF T244 4x4  United Kingdom Artillery gun tractor and troop carrying vehicle 55
Ford Transit Minibus  United States Minibus — 8 donated to Ukraine.[37]
Logistics
Iveco Astra M320.42 W BAD 8×8 DROPS  Italy DROPS truck 21 One fitted with an EKALIFT 2500 recovery body.
Scania P124CB 8×8 DROPS[44]  Sweden DROPS truck 15 Tender for 20 new DROPS vehicles issued in 2021.[45] 5 donated to Ukraine.[37]
EMPL EH/W 200 Bison on Scania truck  Sweden /  Austria Recovery truck 2 [46]
Explosive Ordnance Disposal
MAN HX60[24]  Germany Armoured EOD trucks 3 or more Initially Delivered 2011. Two additional ordered 2016.[47]
Aardvark MK4  United Kingdom Mine flail —
Mowag Duro II  Switzerland Explosive ordnance disposal vehicle 6 [48]
Ceremonial vehicles
Rolls Royce armoured car  United Kingdom Armoured car 1 ARR-2 Sliabh na mBan. The sole remaining example of thirteen vehicles. Was part of the convoy ambushed at Béal na mBláth where General Michael Collins, Commander in Chief of the National Army, was killed during the Irish Civil War.[49][50] Currently used for ceremonial purposes, and also the world's oldest active serving armoured vehicle.[51][52]
Land Rover Defender  United Kingdom Off-road vehicle — Field ambulances and funeral gun carriage tractor. 2 funeral vehicles to be modified into electric vehicles.[53]
Honda NC750X  Japan Motorcycle 48 Purchased in 2019 to be used by 2nd Cavalry Squadron to provide a ceremonial escort for the President and other dignitaries.[54][55][56]

Air defence

Name Origin Type Number Image Notes
RBS-70 Missile system  Sweden Man-portable air-defense system 6 launchers + 1 Giraffe radar in active service in 2003[57] A number of launchers and a simulator were acquired in 1981. Upgraded in 2006 and "more than a dozen" upgraded in 2014 for €4.4 million to include deliveries of improved firing units, new simulators, night vision equipment and associated weapons support.[58]

Unmanned aerial vehicles

Name Origin Type Number Image Notes
Aeronautics Orbiter UAV  Israel Miniature UAV 14 (as of 2016)[59] Used by Artillery Corps. Two systems were acquired in 2006 each system has 3 Orbiter UAVs. Two were destroyed in crashes and one was lost and never recovered. €2m was spent on 12 new UAVs in 2016/17.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Platoon Level Weapons - Defence Forces". military.ie. Retrieved 21 Nov 2025.
  2. ↑ Huges, Capt Brian (April 2007). "Taking Aim" (PDF). An Cosantóir. 67 (4): 6. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
  3. 1 2 "Weapons of the Irish Army - FN FAL - Episode 3". Co. Carlow Military Museum. 3 December 2015.
  4. ↑ "Weapons of the Irish Army - Gustav M45 -Episode 1". Co. Carlow Military Museum. 6 October 2013.
  5. ↑ "Weapons of the Irish Army ep5 - Steyr AUG". Co. Carlow Military Museum. 10 April 2017.
  6. 1 2 Lavery, Don (2011-11-06). "Snipers equipped with record-breaking rifle". Irish Independent. Archived from the original on 2011-11-08. Retrieved 2011-11-06.
  7. ↑ Moss, Matthew (2 February 2021). "Irish Defence Force Seeks New Designated Marksman Rifle". The Firearm Blog.
  8. 1 2 3 4 "Battalion Level Weapons - Defence Forces". military.ie. Retrieved 21 Nov 2025.
  9. 1 2 3 "Company Level Weapons - Defence Forces". military.ie. Retrieved 21 Nov 2025.
  10. ↑ "U.S. approves Ireland's request to purchase Javelin anti-tank missile systems". Defence Industry Europe. 24 Apr 2025. Retrieved 13 Aug 2025.
  11. ↑ Conor Gallagher (26 Apr 2025). "US approves €40m deal to sell Javelin anti-tank missile systems to Ireland". The Irish Times. Retrieved 12 Aug 2025.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 GPM. "Irish Special Forces: The Army Ranger Wing". Gunpowder Magazine. Retrieved 2024-04-25.
  13. 1 2 3 4 "SMALL ARMS OF THE IRISH DEFENSE FORCES - Small Arms Review". 2004-06-01. Retrieved 2024-04-25.
  14. ↑ O'Toole, Michael (2024-09-02). "Army Ranger Wing soldiers win international special forces sniping contest". Irish Mirror. Retrieved 2025-02-14.
  15. 1 2 3 4 The Military Balance 2021, p. 115
  16. 1 2 "The 21 Gun Salute - The Defence Forces". 1 January 2024. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  17. ↑ "Artillery Collection". Spike Island. 2025. Retrieved 24 November 2025.
  18. ↑ O'Shea, Kerry (December 27, 2012). "21 gun salute to mark the opening of The Gathering on January 1st in Cork". IrishCentral. Retrieved 24 November 2025.
  19. ↑ Bourke, Wesley (6 September 2021). "The QF 12-Pounder The QF 12-pounder and the Naval Gun Salute". Ireland's Military Story. Retrieved 24 November 2025.
  20. ↑ "Irish Army Vehicles – Mowag APC". Military.ie (Official site). Archived from the original on 26 November 2010.
  21. ↑ "Irish army vehicles suffering multiple faults". The Sunday Times. 20 July 2008. Archived from the original on May 29, 2015. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  22. ↑ "Dáil Debates - Written answers - Monday, 11 September 2017 - Department of Defence - Defence Forces Equipment". Oireachtas. 11 September 2017. Retrieved 16 December 2017 – via KildareStreet.com.
  23. 1 2 3 "Questions - Defence Forces Equipment - Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 January 2021". oireachtas.ie. 28 January 2021. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
  24. 1 2 "Annual Report 2015" (PDF). Defence Forces Ireland. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 July 2017. Retrieved 1 May 2017. The budgetary provision for 2015 allowed for [..] the completion of the Conversion Programme for nine Mowag Piranha III vehicles with the installation of Kongsberg Remote Weapon Stations
  25. ↑ "Leonardo Offers HitFist Turret for Spain's Dragon AFV". MilitaryLeak. 2020-11-08. Retrieved 2023-06-16.
  26. ↑ "The revamp of Ireland's defence". Army Technology. 17 Feb 2026. Retrieved 17 Feb 2026.
  27. 1 2 "World's toughest trucks for Rangers". independent.ie. 10 Jul 2011. Archived from the original on 4 Apr 2019. Retrieved 16 Dec 2017.
  28. ↑ "Army Ranger Wing Ford F-350 SRV". jmpublishing.ie. May 2026. Retrieved 1 Jul 2026.
  29. ↑ "Irish Defence Forces Investment In New Toyota Land Cruisers". toyota.ie. 2019. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
  30. ↑ "Troops overseas to be protected with €66m armoured vehicles investment". independent.ie. 10 October 2018. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
  31. ↑ "Centigon double la mise avec les Forces de défense irlandaises". forcesoperations.com (in French). 27 November 2020. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
  32. ↑ "Irish Army Vehicles – General Service Vehicle". Military.ie (Official DF site). Archived from the original on 20 February 2009.
  33. ↑ Lavery, Don (15 April 2012). "Armoured 4x4s sent to protect Irish soldiers". Irish Independent. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  34. ↑ "Annual Report 2012" (PDF). Defence Forces Ireland. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  35. ↑ Rojoef Manuel (June 14, 2024). "Ireland to Supply Non-Lethal Military Vehicle Fleet to Ukraine". The Defense Post. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  36. ↑ Harry Manning and Liam Nolan (18 Sep 2025). "Irish Defence Forces to donate vehicles to Ukraine's army". Raidió Teilifís Éireann, RTE. Retrieved 18 Sep 2025.
  37. 1 2 3 Rojoef Manuel (September 19, 2025). "Ireland Donates 34 Military Vehicles and Minehunting Robots to Ukraine via Poland". thedefensepost.com. The Defense Post. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  38. ↑ "Irish Army Iveco EuroCargo 4x4". Flickr. 27 September 2013.
  39. 1 2 Karl Martin (2002). Irish Army Vehicles: Transport and Armour Since 1922. K. Martin. ISBN 978-0954341305.
  40. ↑ "Irish Defence Forces to receive 120 new Westward Scania P370 B 4x4 trucks". armyrecognition.com. 11 March 2020. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
  41. ↑ "Defence Forces to get 120 new 4x4 vehicles at a cost of €25m". Irish Times. 10 March 2020. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
  42. 1 2 "Scania.ie – News – Irish Defence Forces €6 million order to SCANIA". September 2006. Archived from the original on 30 November 2007.
  43. ↑ "Duro High-Mobility Military Tactical Vehicle". army-technology.com. Retrieved 6 October 2021. In 2003, General Dynamics delivered six Duro II 6×6 vehicles to Ireland
  44. ↑ "Scania.ie – News – Irish Defence Forces Scania 8x8". August 2005. Archived from the original on 21 April 2006.
  45. ↑ "Public RFT - the Supply of Demountable Rack Offload and Pickup System (DROPS) Vehicles and Trailers".
  46. ↑ Zacharias, Jürgen (2025-02-17). "Interview mit Empl-Geschäftsführer Joe Empl". militaeraktuell.at (in German). Retrieved 2025-02-17.
  47. ↑ "New EOD vehicles for Irish defence force". shephardmedia.com. 23 August 2016. Retrieved 6 October 2021. The two new [MAN HX 60 4x4 armoured] vehicles will augment those already in service
  48. ↑ "Duro High-Mobility Military Tactical Vehicle". Army Technology. Retrieved 2023-09-01.
  49. ↑ "Sliabh na mBan". military.ie. Irish Defence Forces. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
  50. ↑ "Sliabh na mBan". military.ie. Irish Defence Forces. 3 May 2012. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
  51. ↑ "Rolls Royce Armored Car still in service". militaeraktuell.at. 11 May 2021. Retrieved 30 May 2025.
  52. ↑ "World's Oldest Serving Armoured Vehicle". Combat Camera. No. 8. New South Wales, Australia. May 2014. pp. 14–15. ISSN 2200-1948 – via issuu.com.
  53. ↑ Gallagher, Conor (23 June 2025). "Military Land Rovers that can go years without use to be upgraded to electric at cost of €300,000". The Irish Times.
  54. ↑ "The Escort of Honour". Defence Forces Ireland. Retrieved 3 Jun 2025.
  55. ↑ "Defence Forces to splash €700k on new motorbike escorts". The Herald. 18 June 2019.
  56. ↑ "Defence Forces get on their bikes in Donegal for National Famine Commemoration". donegallive.ie. 20 May 2023. Retrieved 3 June 2025.
  57. ↑ "Defence Forces Equipment – Wednesday, 2 Apr 2003 – Written Questions (29th Dáil) – Houses of the Oireachtas". www.oireachtas.ie. 2020-11-17. Retrieved 2024-01-03.
  58. ↑ Stack, Sarah (12 June 2014). "Army fires up €4.4m spend on missile upgrade". Herald.ie. Retrieved 22 January 2017.
  59. ↑ "Criticism over plan to spend €2m on Israeli-made drones". Irish Times. 28 November 2016.
  60. ↑ [[:Category:|]]
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