Interesting articles

Larbre34

My biggest concern about Baldonnel is NIMBYism.

Whatever about fast jets, its reasonably certain both day and night operations will increase. No amount of local whinging can be allowed to impact whatever operations the air element need to conduct in the future.

I've said before that, in my opinion, the best thing might be a move away from Baldonnel altogether, whether to Shannon or some green field. But that obviously not in anyone's mind at the moment. A masterplan for Air (Force) physical infrastructure, similar to the Naval study, might lead to some conclusions that would begin that conversation.

sparky42

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122796108#Comment_122796108

Baldonnel has either got or is getting its own "masterplan", the comments from Martin is that all the DF facilities will eventually so to plan and maximise their potential. In terms of Baldonnel, given that the Red Arrows considered it marginal after bad weather and called off their airshow performance from memory, I think if we were ever going "Fast Jets" it would need an increase in runway.

But the issue there would certainly be the neighbours, maybe training would get by them, but the first nighttime QRA we ever pulled from there would be the last, feck sake we have councillors/TD's complaining when transport fly in, an actual response at night… Also there's the fact that the various councils have long wanted it as a development corridor (or rather a block on what they want).

Markcheese

If the naval service is looking at placing a remote base in Dunleary ,which is 3 hours from haulbowline , then surely the air corps could have a centre , possibly a large centre in Shannon- its 2 hours from baldonnel to Shannon ,

especially if a major move coincides with a period of major investment,

,

roadmaster

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122797061#Comment_122797061

If the air corps looked for a 2nd fixed wing base outside of casement you would have every regional airport fighting for them.

sparky42

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122799981#Comment_122799981

you say that like it’s a bad thing? I mean Shannon would be the best really but any of the west coast would work.

roadmaster

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122800097#Comment_122800097

I am saying there would be no issues getting a base outside of Dublin the regional airports would kill for a client like the air corps as it would help there survial

Markcheese

I think scale of Shannon , the lenght of runway and 24 hour operation, closeness of Shannon town itself ,limerick and Galway , and being 2ish hours from baldonnel would be a plus ,

In a way, I wouldn't be making it the 2'nd fix wing ,I'd probably make it THE fixed wing base of air corps , stick the gov jet in Dublin airport, and have helicopters operating out of baldonnel, while gradually moving more and more operations to Shannon ,

But yeah ever airport , in the country with the exception of Dublin , (and possibly Cork because the DAA still run that too ) would be pulling political strokes to try get even some air corps operations based there ,

Larbre34

I'd be all for that too I must say.

Further to that, I'd end all air ops at Baldonnell and turn the site fully over for new DF facilities required by the investment plan; whether thats the closure of Cathal Brugha and the movement of its functions, or living accommodation for service personnel, or national Army HQ, or the medical facility thats already planned, or whatever. Its a very valuable and very well located 4 sq.km site.

Manic Moran

Germany may be reintroducing a form of national service/lite.

https://x.com/germanynato/status/1854156347341766941

Larbre34

Depending on what the septuagenarian satsuma decides vis-a-vis NATO, the whole civvy population of Europe may be learning the business end of an assault rifle from the party end, before too long.

sparky42

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122809637#Comment_122809637

got to be honest, given multiple balls up they have made in defence over so many years, I’m kind of curious as to how badly they mishandle this?

sparky42

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122809882#Comment_122809882

I did make a post early that somehow disappeared on me about the fallout of that in regards to defence. I mean will the long rumbling “EU something” had added pressure on it if the US disengages? Will our “we’re neutral so why bother” approach continue to be ignored by the rest? Will anything short of a nuke improving property prices in Dublin break through our epic blind spot? Will we stick to our already stated position against defence bonds if they are needed?

sparky42

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122809637#Comment_122809637

Update, the German Government may just have collapsed…

Larbre34

It has, apparently. But the bones of it will carry on in a caretaker capacity, with the Bundestag elections not happening until March.

sparky42

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122810532#Comment_122810532

so… if you are going for an election, do you want to vote through a measure for conscription that might be slightly unpopular with the voters that might end up having to serve, and of course their families?

Hotblack Desiato

Depends on how you ask the question 😉

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahgjEjJkZks

Larbre34

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122810592#Comment_122810592

All things being equal, no.

But things aren't equal. There is massive concern about NATO and Germany's eastern frontier. Despite the rise of AfD, national support for the centre ground in Germany is still at 80%.

And national military service was such a recent thing in Germany, I don't foresee a huge issue with returning it in its previous form, or with some amendments

Markcheese

And don't forget the age demographic in Germany, getting older and older - so no shortage of cranky oldies ( who vote ) , who remember the cold war, and think "back in my day we did 2 years of national service, and it never did me any harm "

The fly in the ointment being that Germany is short of young people as it is .. so chucking them in the military for a year or 2 could well bugger their already stuffed economy..

https://images.app.goo.gl/C7JPXLJxtGRXrW1s6

Larbre34

I don't see it being too impactful. 400,000 men turn 18 each year. They'll all have to complete a motivation and lifestyle questionnaire.

From that, 10% or 40,000 will be called for assessment and they hope to get 5,000 servicemen out of that.

There's also a constitutional amendment coming forward to extend it to women. So maybe another 1,000 there ultimately. Sorry girls, equality's a bitch.

We have about 60,000 of both genders turning 18 in Ireland each year, maybe we should take a similar approach, could get 500 full or reserve sign-ups, if it were properly managed.

sparky42

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122809882#Comment_122809882

in light of that, the first “leaks/stories/balloons” from Trumpland, a European manned DMZ in Ukraine with Russia keeping all of its gains… Going to need more than Germany going conscription for that.

Markcheese

I suppose the next thing is how long could Ukraine fight on with out American support,

And would that lack of support extend to ending the sanctions , preventing Europeans from giving aid to Ukraine, lack of spares for weapons,? Nice opening bargaining position for Russia though , you keep what you want - and the Americans pull away entirely, leaving a European protected border , oh and Ukraine can't join any block or grouping so it's economy won't recover , and Russia gets to re- militarise crimea ,so threatening Odessa again ..

roadmaster

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122816497#Comment_122816497

As mad as it sounds you could see currently occupied area becoming the DMZ been patrolled by EUBGs and that would give putin a way of backing out without losing face to his own people by saying he had achieved a way of protecting the russian peoples there.

How would are lefites feel about irish troops deploying there as part of an EUBG?

sparky42

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122816564#Comment_122816564

Oh no, the DMZ is at the line of contact, Russia keeps everything else it seems, so Russia "wins" and as said is in a place to return to conflict at their choosing, as for the EUBG… It would be some 4 times the length of the Korean DMZ, going to need a hell of a lot more than what the BG's are geared towards.

sparky42

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122816562#Comment_122816562

I mean if and its an if right now of course Trump followed though with that type of policy, the very first response by all European Governments/militaries should be a program of replacing all US based hardware and ban US firms from bidding for contracts. Without question it would be expensive but not outside the capabilities of the European nations in such a case.

roadmaster

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122816640#Comment_122816640

At some stage europe will have to step up. We as a european people can not keep hoping the americans will bail us out when trouble happens such as the balkans

sparky42

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122816687#Comment_122816687

I don't disagree with that, what I'm saying is that right now there's no capacity within the European militaries to adequately fortify and garrison an area like this, hell I'm not even sure the US Army could, how many US/ROK forces are involved in that DMZ? Would it also involve air policing as well, with again questions about capacity? If Europe was to take on such a task, does it mean the US accepts no European "Pacific Pivot"? Or would that also be required?

Larbre34

https://www.rte.ie/news/primetime/2024/1113/1480768-russian-warships-observed-by-defence-forces-south-of-ireland/

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sparky42

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122836649#Comment_122836649

I mean on the one hand, good that we are seeing more attention paid to this, on the other hand, still highlighting our numerous shortcomings and weakness.

roadmaster

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122836716#Comment_122836716

I dont think defence forces social media wing are payingn attention to the what the air corps has as they still say they are operating casa 235s rather than 295s.

https://www.military.ie/en/who-we-are/air-corps/the-fleet/

vswr

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122836716#Comment_122836716

edit: disregard, didn't read article fully.