Modern weapons of the Irish Army

Irish Army

Components Irish Army Army Reserve Equipment Weapons Uniform and dress Vehicles and equipment Personnel Officer rank insignia Enlisted rank insignia

This is a list of some of the modern weapons of the Irish Army. The Army Ranger Wing has access to a wide variety of specialist weapons for use in different roles.

Current weapons

Name	Origin	Type	Caliber	Photo	Notes
Assault Rifle
Steyr AUG	Austria	Assault Rifle	5.56×45mm		The Steyr AUG is the Defence Force's standard service rifle. It entered service in 1989, it is now in use with all service branches and Army Corps.[1] Operational will be issued an enhanced rifle fitted with an ACOG 4x32 optical sight starting to enter service in late 2014.This version is known as the Model 14 or MOD 14 and is available in both standard and carbine variants
Pistol
Heckler & Koch USP	Germany	Semi-automatic Pistol	9×19mm		Service pistol.[2]
Sniper rifle
Accuracy International 92	United Kingdom	Sniper rifle	7.62×51mm (.308)		The AI 92 Sniper Rifle entered service with the Army in 1992.[1]
Accuracy International AWM	United Kingdom	Sniper rifle	8.6×70mm (.338)		Entered service in 2011, this version of the Accuracy International sniper rifle is chambered for the .338 Lapua Magnum round.[3]
FN FAL	Belgium	Sniper rifle	7.62×51mm		The FN FAL was previously the standard service rifle, the Army upgraded older FAL rifles with an adjustable butt stock, picatinny railed hand guard, bipod and Schmidt & Bender sight for use as sniper support weapons.[3]
Machine gun
FN MAG	Belgium	Machine gun	7.62×51mm		The FN MAG entered service in 1964 with the Defence Forces and is in use with all service branches and a number of Army Corps. It is used both with its bipod or in the sustained fire (SF) role mounted on a tripod by the Infantry. Both the Infantry and Cavalry use the MAG mounted on its armoured vehicles and the Infantry and Artillery use it in the air defense role.[1]
M2 Browning .5 Heavy Machine Gun (HMG)	United States/ Belgium	Machine gun	12.7×99mm (.50)		The .5 Heavy Machine Gun first entered service in the 1970s. It is in use with all service branches and a number of Army Corps. The Infantry use it in the sustained fire role, air defense role and mounted on its MOWAG APCs. The Artillery use it in the air defense role and the Cavalry use it mounted on its armoured vehicles.[1]
Grenade
Mecar M72 HE Grenade	Belgium	Grenade
Grenade launcher
Diemaco M203 grenade launcher	Canada	Grenade launcher	40×46mm		The M203 is in use mounted to the Steyr AUG rifle with a separate sighting and trigger mechanism.[1]
Heckler & Koch GMG	Germany	Grenade launcher	40×53mm		Used by the Cavalry and Army Ranger Wing mounted on vehicles.
Anti-tank Weapon
AT4 Short Range Anti-Armour Weapon (SRAAW)	Sweden	Anti-tank Weapon	84 mm		Entered service in 1997, the SRAAW is a recoilless, preloaded disposable weapon.[1]
Carl Gustav 84mm Anti-Armour Weapon	Sweden	Anti-tank Weapon	84 mm		The Carl Gustav 84mm is a recoilless, breech-loaded anti-armour weapon.[1]
Javelin Anti-tank guided weapon	United States	Anti-tank Weapon	127 mm		The Javelin is a fire-and-forget anti-armour weapon system 36 Launch units and 70 Missile's purchased in 2003.[1]
Mortar
Denel Vektor M1 60mm Mortar	South Africa	Mortar	60 mm		Vektor 60mm Mortar entered service in 2003 with the Infantry. The 60mm mortar can also be fired in a commando role by removing the bipod and baseplate and fitting a special small baseplate and attaching sighting unit/handgrip.[1]
Hocthkiss Brandt 81mm Mortar	France	Mortar	81 mm		The 81mm Mortar uses the C2 AI Sight Unit and together with the Morfire Fire Control Computer and ammunition make this among the most modern and accurate mortars anywhere in the world.[1]
Ruag M87 120mm Mortar	Switzerland	Mortar	120 mm		Used by Artillery Regiments heavy mortar Batteries (71).
Autocannon
Mk44 Bushmaster II	United States	Autocannon	30×173mm		Fitted to Cavalry Mowag Medium Reconnaissance Vehicle's (MRV).
Tank Gun
L23A1	United Kingdom	Tank Gun	76 mm		Fitted to Cavalry FV101 Scorpion.
Artillery
105mm L118 light gun	United Kingdom	Howitzer	105 mm		Along with the L119, these are used as the primary artillery support weapon (total of 24 guns of the two variants)
105mm L119 light gun	United Kingdom	Howitzer	105 mm		Along with the L118, these are used as the primary artillery support weapon (total of 24 guns of the two variants)
Ordnance QF 25-pounder	United Kingdom	Field gun	87.6 mm		Only used for ceremonial gun salutes.
Air-defence
RBS-70 Missile system	Sweden	Man-portable air-defense systems	106 mm		6 Launchers and one simulator acquired in 1981 (12 Missiles)
Bofors EL-70[4]	Sweden	Air defence gun.	40 mm		Bofors air defence gun. 2 Acquired in the late 1950s and 30 purchased in 2002. Now obsolete but still used for lack of RBS 70 launchers
Army Ranger Wing (Special Forces)
SIG Sauer P226	Switzerland	Semi-automatic Pistol	9×19mm
Benelli M4	Italy	Semi-automatic Shotgun	12 gauge
Steyr AUG A2	Austria	Assault Rifle	5.56×45mm
Steyr AUG A3	Austria	Assault Rifle	5.56×45mm
Heckler & Koch HK416	Germany	Assault Rifle	5.56×45mm
FN Minimi	Belgium	Machine gun	5.56×45mm
Heckler & Koch MP5	Germany	Submachine Gun	9×19mm
Heckler & Koch HK417	Germany	Sniper rifle	7.62×51mm
Accuracy International AW50	United Kingdom	Anti-materiel rifle	12.7×99mm (.50)

See also

• Irish Army
• Modern vehicles of the Irish Army
• Modern Irish Army uniform

References

1. "Defence Forces Website - Army - Weapons". Military.ie. Retrieved 2012-11-08.
2. Don Lavery – 02 September 2006 (2006-09-02). "Defence Forces to turn 'tomb raiders'". Independent.ie. Retrieved 2013-04-29.
3. "Snipers equipped with record-breaking rifle". Irish Independent. 2012-12-01.
4. Official IDF Site - Army Weapons - Bofors L70 40 mm Light Air Defence Gun