Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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403. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if the State’s elementary daytime interdiction capability against slow to moderate speed targets now no longer exists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18869/17]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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As stated in the White Paper on Defence (2015) the Air Corps’ existing Pilatus PC9 aircraft provide a very limited air to air and air to ground capacity. A decision was made in 2016 to replace a PC-9M aircraft which was written off following a fatal crash in 2009. The replacement PC-9M aircraft, scheduled for delivery this year from Pilatus Aircraft in Switzerland at a cost of €5m plus VAT, will bring the fleet up to 8 and will assist in a required increase in pilot training in the Air Corps.

Future equipment priorities for the Air Corps are being considered in the context of the lifetime of the White Paper on Defence as part of the capability development and equipment planning process.