The Air Corps' 'strategic reach' aircraft, an Airbus C295, was deployed to Lebanon to retrieve members of the Defence Forces on rotation. Photograph: Defence ForcesThe Defence Forces have worked with the Air Corps’s new strategic reach aircraft for the first time as part of a troop rotation in Lebanon. It was deployed for use by the Defence Forces after the civilian provider it uses for planned leave-block rotations halted its operations. The Defence Forces worked closely with the Department of Defence and Department of Foreign Affairs to coordinate the strategic air lift and ensure diplomatic clearances for all personnel. It said the “capability to support our deployed personnel in challenging environments enables operations to continue and be sustained.

Source: The Irish Times March 28, 2026 18:06 UTC