The Irish Air Corps (Dublin International) plans to order a new executive jet by the end of the year to replace an ageing Learjet 45 used for government flights as well as conduct medevac.
"It is not appropriate at this stage of the competition to release information concerning the number of participants who have been selected to proceed to the next stage ... or to specify the exact timelines as to when that process will be complete. However, the intention is that the acquisition phase will be complete and an award of contract will be made this year," Tánaiste (Deputy Prime Minister) and Minister for Defence Micheál Martin recently said in response to a parliamentary question.
In February, the government awarded a consultancy contract to Altea to assist with the procurement.
While the tender itself is not public due to the national security implications, the government is seeking an aircraft to seat at least ten passengers with a range of 4,000 nautical miles (7,400 kilometres), and capable of being equipped with secure digital communications and active air defence systems. EUR45 million euros (USD48.8 million) has been earmarked for the purchase.
The aircraft will replace Learjet 45 258 (msn 45-234). At 20.9 years of age, it has been in service with the Irish Air Corps since 2004 but has become increasingly unreliable and has not operated any VIP charters so far this year.
