The Daily Star Ireland
The Department of Defence has finalized an agreement to purchase a new long-range government jet, set for delivery in December 2025. The aircraft, a French-manufactured Falcon 6X, will cost approximately €53 million, excluding VAT.
With a range of over 5,000 nautical miles, the Falcon 6X will be capable of flying non-stop to the west coast of the United States. This purchase comes as a replacement for the older Learjet, which faced repeated mechanical issues, including breakdowns that stranded former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar in Paris in November 2023, and forced former Minister Simon Harris to cancel a trip to Brussels in December 2023. The 30-year-old Learjet was only used for medical evacuations in 2024.
A Department of Defence spokesperson confirmed that the Falcon 6X is intended to fulfill all the roles previously performed by the Learjet, including overseas missions. The new aircraft is expected to be operational in time for Ireland’s EU Presidency in the latter half of 2026.
Tánaiste Micheál Martin highlighted that the Falcon 6X would enhance the country’s airlift and medical capabilities, providing vital services such as non-combatant evacuations, air-ambulance transfers, and logistics support for the Irish Defence Forces’ overseas missions. It will also serve the government’s growing need for flexible air transport to meet both national and international commitments.
The Falcon 6X, built by Dassault Aviation, will have a capacity for 17 people, with 14 seats for passengers. It will be operated by the Irish Air Corps from Casement Aerodrome in Baldonnell. The airframe is currently under construction in Bordeaux, France.
