A formation of four US Army CH-47 Chinook heavy-lift helicopters landed at the Irish Air Corps base at Baldonnel on Monday, marking the first visible military deployment in Ireland ahead of US President Donald Trump's upcoming visit.

Operating under callsigns GRIT 41 through GRIT 44, the twin-rotor aircraft entered Irish airspace across the sea near Dún Laoghaire before tracking across Dublin's southern suburbs toward Casement Aerodrome in South County Dublin. Flight records indicate the helicopters originated from US Army Garrison Ansbach in Germany, making transit stops in Rotterdam and Duxford, as well as an overnight stay at Liverpool John Lennon Airport, before crossing the Irish Sea.

The helicopters form part of an extensive logistical and security operation being established for the US president's visit, scheduled for 12 and 13 September. During the two-day trip, President Trump is expected to hold political engagements in Dublin, including scheduled meetings with President Catherine Connolly and Taoiseach Micheál Martin, before traveling west to his resort in Doonbeg, County Clare, where the Irish Open golf tournament is taking place.

The security operation is being coordinated between An Garda Síochána and the Irish Defence Forces. Speaking in Tullamore, County Offaly, Taoiseach Micheál Martin confirmed that "very significant resources" have been allocated to the operation. Martin stated that Garda Commissioner Drew Harris expressed confidence in the capacity of the police service to manage the visit alongside existing commitments related to Ireland's presidency of the Council of the European Union.