New choppers to boost anti-terror force
TWO new helicopters arriving in Baldonnel this month will boost Ireland's anti-terrorist Special Forces.
For the first time the highly trained secretive unit, the Army Ranger Wing, will have modern helicopters available to airlift them to any terrorist incident in the country.
The two Anglo-Italian helicopters will fly in from Italy, where Irish Air Corps crews have been training since July, as the first part of a €49m order for four utility helicopters signed by Defence Minister Willie O'Dea.
The high tech twin engined Agusta Westland AW139 helicopters, the first to be delivered to any military force worldwide, will have a variety of roles.
But training and operations with the elite Rangers will be a key priority.
Up to now they have had to rely on small Alouette 3 helicopters, some of them in service for four decades, for limited troop transport. The new AW-139 fleet, which will be able to carry 32 Rangers in one lift, will also be the first armed helicopters to serve with the Air Corps.
Each helicopter has a range of nearly 300 miles.
To fit in with the Special Forces role, the new helicopters will also have abseiling and fast roping systems allowing Rangers to quickly drop onto high-rise buildings, boats, trains, or buses for an assault. The aircraft will also have night-vision capability.
The first two helicopters are to fly in to the Air Corps base on November 21 with the remaining two AW-139s due in 2007.
However, so far no decision has been taken by the Department of Defence to take up options on buying two further AW-139s.
more pics
http://www.flyinginirelandmagazine.c...s.php?album=11