Editing Defence Forces (Ireland) (section)

== Organisation ==
{{Main|Structure of the Irish Defence Forces}}

The Defence Forces are organised under the [[Chief of Staff of the Irish Defence Forces|Chief of Staff]], supported by Deputy Chief of Staff Operations, and the Deputy Chief of Staff Support.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.military.ie/en/the-general-staff/ |title=Defence Forces - Info Centre - The General Staff |publisher=Defence Forces |access-date=15 July 2019 |archive-date=15 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190715090405/https://www.military.ie/en/the-general-staff/ |url-status=live }}</ref> They consist of a Permanent Defence Force (PDF), which is a [[standing army|standing]] force and provides the main capability for military operations, and the [[Reserve Defence Forces]] (RDF),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.military.ie/en/info-centre/how-we-are-organised/|title=Defence Forces - Info Centre - How we are organised |publisher=Defence Forces |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141208155452/http://www.military.ie/en/info-centre/how-we-are-organised/ |archive-date=8 December 2014}}</ref> [[military reserve forces]] which support the PDF if necessary. The PDF is organised into three service branches: the [[Irish Army|Army]], the [[Irish Naval Service|Naval Service]], and the [[Irish Air Corps|Air Corps]]. The RDF may be further subdivided into a First Line Reserve (FLR) and a Second Line Reserve; the First Line Reserve comprises former members of the Permanent Defence Force, while the Second Line Reserve comprises an [[Army Reserve (Ireland)|Army Reserve]] and a [[Naval Service Reserve]] (both recruited directly from the civilian population).<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.military.ie/en/reserve/ |title= Defence Forces - Reserve |access-date= 24 December 2014 |archive-date= 16 January 2015 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150116022908/http://www.military.ie/en/reserve/ |url-status= live }}</ref> A reorganization of the RDF in 2013, referred to as the "single force concept", has resulted in units of the RDF being embedded within units of the PDF, rather than existing entirely in parallel as a separate reserve force; this moves away from the traditional approach of the RDF being considered a fourth service branch of the Defence Forces.

In January 2022, the Commission on the Defence Forces recommended the establishment of an 'Information Command', under the command of a general, to handle cyberattacks and misinformation.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/state-to-be-advised-to-establish-military-cyber-command-1.4789385|title = State to be advised to establish military cyber command| newspaper=[[The Irish Times]] }}</ref>

===Army===
{{Main article|Irish Army}}

[[File:Best 15 (11419866795).jpg|thumb|An Irish Army [[Cavalry Corps (Ireland)|Cavalry Corps]] [[Mowag Piranha]] Close Reconnaissance Vehicle on [[United Nations|UN]] patrol in [[Syria]]]]

As of December 2023, the Army had approximately 6,136 active personnel,<ref name="writtenAnswersPDF"/> with 1,351 personnel in the [[Army Reserve (Ireland)|Army Reserve]].<ref name="writtenAnswersRDF"/> Up to late 2012 the army had three [[brigade]]s: 1 Southern, 2 Eastern and 4 Western; in 2012, [[4th Brigade (Ireland)|4 Western Brigade]] stood down at its HQ Custume Barracks, Athlone. The state is now divided into two Brigade areas for administrative and operational reasons, with the former 4 Western Brigade split between the other two brigades.  In addition to the brigade structure, there is also the Defence Forces Training Centre, a logistics base in the [[Curragh Camp|Curragh]].

The two-brigade structure envisages distinct operational areas of responsibility for each of the brigades. The [[1st Brigade (Ireland)|1st Brigade]] has primary responsibility for operational tasks in the southern region, while the [[2nd Brigade (Ireland)|2nd Brigade]] leads on operational tasks in the eastern and western regions.  Practical operational considerations dictate the requirement to outline operational areas of responsibility. The brigade structure is based on strengthened [[combat]] and [[combat support|combat-support]] elements, together with streamlined [[combat service support|combat-service-support]] elements.

The Army has nine specialist [[corps]], each designated as either combat, combat support or combat service support. These are the [[Infantry Corps (Ireland)|Infantry Corps]], [[Artillery Corps (Ireland)|Artillery Corps]], [[Cavalry Corps (Ireland)|Cavalry Corps]], [[Engineer Corps (Ireland)|Engineer Corps]], [[Ordnance Corps (Ireland)|Ordnance Corps]], [[Medical Corps (Ireland)|Medical Corps]], [[Transport Corps (Ireland)|Transport Corps]], [[Military Police Corps (Ireland)|Military Police Corps]], and the [[Communications and Information Services Corps]]. In the case of corps which support the [[infantry]], a Corps Director and staff are provided to coordinate the purchase of specialised equipment, the execution of specialised training, and other necessary activities.

Irish infantry are equipped with [[assault rifle]]s, [[machine gun]]s, [[grenade launcher]]s, [[hand grenade]]s, and [[anti-tank weapon]]s. Most weapons used by their defence forces follow [[NATO]] standards and are purchased from abroad, with Ireland having a very limited arms industry. The Army has light armoured vehicles, with the primary vehicle being the [[MOWAG Piranha]], armed with machine guns. Its [[artillery]] capabilities consist of 120mm mortars and towed 105mm light guns.

The [[Army Ranger Wing]] (ARW) are the [[special forces]] of Ireland. They are based at the Curragh.

===Air Corps===
{{Main article|Irish Air Corps}}

[[File:Irish Air Corps AgustaWestland AW-139 Lofting.jpg|thumb|Irish Air Corps [[AgustaWestland AW139]] helicopter]]

The Air Corps is the air component of the Defence Forces. Its HQ is at [[Casement Aerodrome|Casement (Baldonnel) Aerodrome]]. The Air Corps is the smallest of the branches of the Defence Forces, with approximately 689 personnel,<ref name="writtenAnswersPDF"/> and its primary roles are defined as:
#Support of the Army
#Support of the Naval Service
#[[Military aid to the civil power|Aid to the civil power]]

There are two secondary roles:
#[[Military aid to the civil community|Aid to the civil community]]
#Aid to government departments

The Air Corps provides support to the Army and Naval Service, together with non-military air services such as the [[Emergency Aeromedical Service|Emergency Aeromedical (air ambulance) Service]], VIP transport, and [[search and rescue]] (in support of [[Irish Coast Guard|Coast Guard]] search and rescue efforts). The Air Corps is unable to provide the traditional air force role of defending Irish airspace as it has no [[fighter aircraft]].

The Air Corps has two [[EADS CASA C-295|Airbus C295]] maritime patrol aircraft equipped with detection systems to assist the Naval Service in patrolling Ireland's territorial waters and [[exclusive economic zone]]. These aircraft are also used for [[high-altitude military parachuting|high-altitude, low-opening parachuting]] by the Army's ARW. The Air Corps has six [[AgustaWestland AW139]] [[utility helicopter]]s capable of being armed with [[FN MAG]] machine guns. These are used in support of the ARW, Naval Service and [[Garda Síochána]] operations, and are the only helicopters within the state capable of flying at night in mountain terrain using [[night vision|night-vision]] technology. The eight [[Pilatus PC-9]] turboprop trainers can be equipped with [[rocket pod]]s and machine guns, and two [[Eurocopter EC135]] light utility helicopters (which can be used as sniper platforms by the ARW) are used for training pilots and for air-ambulance missions.

The Air Corps conducted over 130 maritime surveillance patrol flights in 2019, and provided medical support to the [[Health Service Executive|HSE]] for patients by conducting over 233 [[Emergency Aeromedical Service]] missions and 32 inter-hospital air ambulance transfers.<ref name="PRbranch2019">{{Cite web|url=https://military.ie/en/member's-area/members-area-files/pr_branch_infographic_13dec_final_no_trim.pdf|title=Internal Communications Digest December 2019|website=Military.ie|access-date=11 January 2020|archive-date=11 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200111140408/https://military.ie/en/member%27s-area/members-area-files/pr_branch_infographic_13dec_final_no_trim.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Naval Service===
{{Main article|Irish Naval Service}}

[[File:LE ROISIN P51.jpg|thumb|Naval Service vessel {{LÉ|Róisín|P51|6}}]]

The Naval Service maintains a complement of approximately 725 active personnel<ref name="writtenAnswersPDF"/> and 97 reserve personnel<ref name="writtenAnswersRDF"/> and is tasked with patrolling Irish [[territorial waters]] as well as the [[Irish Conservation Box]], a large area of sea in which fishing is restricted to preserve fish numbers. It is tasked with enforcing this [[European Union|European-Union-protected]] area and thus serves the EU as well as Ireland.<ref name="navyroles">{{cite web|url=http://military.ie/naval/roles/index.htm |title=Organisation - Naval Service - Defence Forces |access-date=23 December 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101126060051/http://military.ie/naval/roles/index.htm |archive-date=26 November 2010 |df=dmy }}</ref> Together with the [[Irish Air Corps|Air Corps]] and [[Office of the Revenue Commissioners|Customs]], it has intercepted a number of vessels carrying narcotics to and from Ireland.<ref>* {{cite web |title=Department of Defence – Drug Seizures |url=http://www.kildarestreet.com/wrans/?id=2010-06-02.1113.0 |access-date=17 March 2011 |archive-date=13 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713150248/http://www.kildarestreet.com/wrans/?id=2010-06-02.1113.0 |url-status=live }}
* {{cite web|title=Navy tracking system to crack down on drugs smuggling|url=http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/navy-tracking-system-to-crack-down-on-drugs-smuggling-127354.html|publisher=Irish Examiner|author=Juno McEnroe|date=9 August 2010|access-date=17 March 2011|archive-date=13 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713060809/http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/navy-tracking-system-to-crack-down-on-drugs-smuggling-127354.html|url-status=live}}
* {{cite web|title=Drug Offences|url=http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/justice/criminal_law/criminal_offences/drug_offences.html|publisher=Citizen's Information Board|access-date=17 March 2011|archive-date=30 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180930073412/http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/justice/criminal_law/criminal_offences/drug_offences.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Naval Service has six patrol vessels (2xP50, 4xP60) which are operated in support of the service's primary roles, inflatable seagoing craft, and training vessels. It maintains highly-trained armed [[boarding party|boarding parties]] that can seize a vessel if necessary. In 2019, for example, there were approximately 780 boarding operations and 12 vessels were detained .<ref name="PRbranch2019"/> The service's specialised diving unit is the [[Naval Service Diving Section]].

The primary role is defined as "National Security", with secondary roles which include:<ref name="navyroles"/>
# Fishery protection
# Aid to the civil power
# Drug interdiction
# Maritime safety
# Diving operations
# Pollution control
# Overseas mission support

===Reserve Defence Forces===
{{Main article|Reserve Defence Forces}}

The [[Reserve Defence Forces]] (RDF) in its current form was established in October 2005 and comprises the First Line Reserve, [[Army Reserve (Ireland)|Army Reserve]] (AR) and [[Naval Service Reserve]] (NSR). The RDF is a part-time, voluntary component of the Defence Forces in peacetime, supporting the Permanent Defence Forces (PDF) in its domestic roles and training alongside its professional full-time colleagues as part of the "Single Force Concept" whereby RDF units are integrated with their PDF counterparts, coming under the one command. As of August 2024, there were 1,720 reservists out of an established strength of 4,096, consisting of 167 in the First Line Reserve, 1,456 in the Army Reserve, and 97 in the Naval Service Reserve.<ref name="writtenAnswersRDF"/>