Airbus C-295 to replace Casa C-235

Manic Moran

I realise that Ireland does have space limitations on the matter of new airfields, but I did recently note that the concept of dual-use military and civilian airfields have fallen out of favour in Europe the last decade or two. A couple I used to hang out at have gone pure civilian. I can think of a couple of reasons why this may be the case, be it security or increased civilian traffic through reduced military aircraft numbers allowing for all required aircraft being able to fit on military bases.

thomil

To be fair, a lot of these air bases were decommissioned because of the general military drawdown in Europe that really only ended with the start of the Ukraine war. That same force reduction saw the wholesale decommissioning of pure air bases as well as joint military/civilian facilities, which led not just to the closure of the military parts of airfields such as Bodø, but the closure of entire air bases such as Rygge, both in Norway. Meanwhile, joint military-civilian facilities such as Cologne-Bonn Airport in Germany, Oslo-Gardermoen airports in Norway, Tampere-Pirkkala airport in Finland or Chania Airport in Greece continue as joint-use facilities. In fact, all four of the Finnish Air Force's operating bases, Rovaniemi, Kuopio, Tampere and Jyväskylä, are joint facilities.

Larbre34

I agree with Thomil, there are plenty of examples remaining in comparable countries in Europe, and also other spots I have visited around the World; Singapore, Japan, Taiwan.

Even on this island, Belfast International Airport at Aldergrove remains a British Army helicopter station, though not with a full RAF station designation as it had during the Cold War and the Troubles, where apart from operating heavy helicopters in support of Northern Ireland operations, Aldergrove was a dispersal option for the RAF V-Force nuclear bombers and a maintenance squadron for the F-4 Phantom and English Electric Lightning F.x interceptors.

roadmaster

So are we going to see the most talked about Casa 295 in history in the next week?

https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/question/2025-07-15/257/

Larbre34

The Minister's response is wrong anyway, the 295 is not a strategic airlifter and does not provide the DF with such a capacity.

EchoIndia

Also, the Deputy referred to the "Dassualt (sic) Falcon 6x Strategic reach aircraft". Why not just call it what it is, a long-range business jet? 🙄

roadmaster

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123844220#Comment_123844220

To much fear it could be called something like a bertie jet.

https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-10104989.html

Larbre34

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123844220#Comment_123844220

Because when it comes to any spending at all under the military umbrella, politicians are afraid of their own shadows.

EchoIndia

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123847869#Comment_123847869

I was just giving you an opening, really. 😂

mupper2

The transport 295 is supposed to arrive next week.

roadmaster

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123857544#Comment_123857544

Prepare for major Political bullsh@t next week so. We will hear how this casa is a gamechanger and all the buzz words.

Grassy Knoll

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123857718#Comment_123857718

Indeed, the HiAce van of military transport … entry level aircraft, better than nothing of course, but major capacity limits.

There will be others who will spin this into some NATO war fighting machine / creeping militarization / x number of houses etc …. pick your poison

sparky42

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123857906#Comment_123857906

There's no question it has limitations, however it's currently all we have so we should now start flying the arse off it to prove it's value even without an emergency evacuations.

As to the complaints from the usual suspects and our Tankie candidate, but that will happen no matter what is said/bought/considered.

vswr

Looking forward to all the photo ops of ministers walking down the ramp, and some ARW pics of them jumping out of it rather than it being used for anything functional.

sparky42

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123858013#Comment_123858013

Nobody who doesn't care is going to notice it doing runs like the trip up to Iceland with the EOD, but at least its not the MPA ones having to do it. I imagine the first time it gets a medical flight there might be some coverage of it.

vswr

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123858079#Comment_123858079

a lot of the medical flights have sat with the PC-12's anyway, I don't see them being diverted away from that unless there is a pressing need for more space.

Hopefully it gets used for some good.

roadmaster

I just taught of a major issue if they had no room to park a 5th PC12 were are they going to park a 3rd 295? They may send it back.

10-10-20

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123858253#Comment_123858253

It will be another PRASA! 😂

https://businesstech.co.za/news/trending/97549/prasa-chair-admits-locomotives-dont-fit-sa-tracks/

Larbre34

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123858253#Comment_123858253

Shannon.

We've discussed this at length before, and the Minister, among others, has already hinted at the plan there.

Shannon will become a permanent station for one 295 MPA, and probably a PC-12 and a couple of general purpose helicopters and ultimately fighter interceptors.

Establishing the air station at Shannon is an important lynchpin of work standing up the newly reorganised Air Force.

roadmaster

Are the Spanish waiting for Jack Chambers to give them the 3 digit number on the back of the card before they hand over the Casa?

jonnybigwallet

Ha Ha!

Larbre34

Far more likely that we have neither the pilots to go and get it, nor the hangar space to accommodate it once it gets here. Airbus aren't known for lagging on deliveries.

jonnybigwallet

Shows an astonishing lack of forward planning if so…

Larbre34

Are you really astonished?

My eyebrow barely twitches at any of it.

Qaanaaq

Will the 3rd C295 be painted the same as the other 2 or will it be different for its transport role?

EchoIndia

It's painted the same. Was photographed in Seville a few months ago.

jonnybigwallet

https://search.app/R4ea4

One of these…or several... would have been a wiser and more capable investment.

EchoIndia

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123870082#Comment_123870082

It is en route to Baldonnel now, passing abeam Brest.

sparky42

So how many times will it's delivery be used as a soundbite when ministers are asked about investment in the DF? Also RTE are just really bad at defence stories.

Markcheese

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123883734#Comment_123883734

I suppose it depends on it's dedicated role ..the embraer seems to be clocking up sales in Europe .. and the article mentioned the dutch- Swedish - Austrian purchase group have options on 7 more , if other countries want to join in , can't see it happening though ..

I'm still surprised they didn't get a second multi-role casa - a least some redundancy, and it'd be the same maintenance and training and crew of as the 3 we have ..