Interesting articles

roadmaster

Trouble again with ATC in casement over shortages. In the article below it says promotion to Officer level is needed to keep ATC personal.

I cant understand for these types of jobs that the defence forces dont have the US style rank of Warrant officer i know the navy have it but its not the US Style.It would solve a lot of problems with pay but at the same you are not adding extra officers you dont need.

Interesting that they say AGS may leave so maybe this is the air corps evil plan to get them out of casement!!!

https://www.thejournal.ie/irish-air-corps-air-traffic-controllers-baldonnel-6704788-May2025/

vswr

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123449490#Comment_123449490

They're on circa 50K less than civil counterparts, who have a better pension, leave, and career progression…

I honestly don't know how they have any controllers at all.

Larbre34

The introduction of the Lance Corporal rank and very considerable expansion of the W.O. rank (OR-9) across the DF, in roles of technical expertise and responsibility, eg ATC and helicopter pilot roles, are very important in the sustainable growth and expansion of the organisation.

Alkers

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123452011#Comment_123452011

Why is the rank important, as opposed to pay and conditions?

The NS have a warrant as top NCO of each branch currently, it would muddle things up a bit if there was a clatter of other WOs about the place.

Could the same not be achieved if the roles.in question were OR-8 rank with suitable allowances to bring pay in line with civvy street or am I missing something? As it stands the weekly pay of a WO is only slightly more than a SCPO.

Larbre34

Pay and conditions are very important. Any suggestions I make are to maximise the opportunities for progression and seniority for the ordinary ranks.

I'm suggesting expanding the W.O. cohort to take over more duties currently done by officers in all of the services, e.g., being helicopter pilots.

Lorddrakul

A look at and history of the DEFCON alert system of the US Military, from the Aviationist.

Larbre34

The Mistral-class amphibious warfare / helicopter carrier of the Marine Nationale, F.S. Tonnerre (Thunder) is down in Cobh at the moment if anyone is in the vicinity for a gander.

Photo credit: our old pal Dohvolle over on Twitter.

Larbre34

https://gov.ie/en/department-of-defence/publications/general-scheme-of-the-defence-amendment-bill-2025/

The outline of the Defence (Amendment) Bill , 2025 has been published.

It covers the abolition of the Triple Lock, the deployment terms for small discretionary contingents on an emergency basis, and in situations like drug and human trafficking interdiction, diplomatic protection (to include the Military Police) and training and competition events overseas.

It also covers the important matter of discipline and suspension of defence forces personnel, who are suspected or convicted of civilian criminal violations and the sharing of information between the civil and military authorities in that regard.

roadmaster

Id say Mr Clancy could not get out of the Country quick enoght.

https://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/sean-clancy-european-union-military-35301449?int_source=amp_continue_reading&int_medium=amp&int_campaign=continue_reading_button#amp-readmore-target

Larbre34

It has certainly felt like a long engagement, but the event is at least notable for the first Irish OF-9 you'll ever have seen.

jonnybigwallet

Betcha he's on a bullet proof salary and expenses package. (Excuse corny pun about bullet proof in a military context).

Probably gets a chauffeur driven Mercedes thrown in!

banie01

Seeing an Irish General with a Marshal's baton is quite the thing isn't it!

Larbre34

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123494388#Comment_123494388

I'm told the salary is about 270k. There is an official residence and car with drivers from his personal staff, if not a Mercedes then a BMW or Audi.

The EU Military Staff of the EU External Action Service numbers about 250.

Larbre34

One of the Kinahan mob is currently being extradited from the UAE on board one of the C295s, similar to how John Gilligan was repatriated from Britain in shackles and a HMP uniform.

But, of course, being a short range maritime patrol turboprop, and not an intercontinental jet, it took 36 hours to make the journey, with two stops in Marseille and Larnaca and will take a similar time to get back, with prisoner and armed Garda escort in tow. Hardly a model of security and efficiency. 🙄

https://www.rte.ie/news/crime/2025/0528/1515523-kinahan/

Manic Moran

Why on earth not just use a commercial flight? We do it all the time in the US, they take a row in the back.

Larbre34

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123495242#Comment_123495242

Two reasons.

a) This gang is highly dangerous and negotiations to get extraditions up and running between Ireland and the Emirates have been going on for quite a few years now. I doubt either side wanted the security risks associated with scheduled commercial flight. Not to mention the Irish escort wouldn't have been able to keep their firearms.

b) The Department of Justice and AGS are not going to miss an opportunity to march this lad off an Irish flagged military plane in shackles, on a base where the perfect photo op can be achieved, to demonstrate that they are dismantling the wealthiest and most powerful drugs and organised crime group that this State has ever produced.

Grassy Knoll

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123449504#Comment_123449504

shambles that has been ‘on the radar’ for some time. The days of folks working for the honour and glory are well behind us. Wherever the blockage or inaction exists additional payments for tech roles across the DF need to be driven forward. The last few years it has been ships, now planes …

sparky42

I have to wonder what the General is smoking, even if it is covering his arse as he goes out the door:

“We must be open minded and recognise that for the first time in all of our careers this period of change is marked by full political and public support. This is a unique moment and a unique opportunity for each of us and for Óglaigh na hÉireann,” he said.

https://www.thejournal.ie/sean-clancy-farewell-video-to-troops-irish-defence-forces-6718186-May2025/

Larbre34

Indeed.

What's this "we" sh1t, pale face?

banie01

An interesting roundup of the situation regarding the recent IAF alleged losses during operation Sindoor. I hadn't been aware that the IAF were stonewalling a Dassault audit team in their efforts to get info and generate after action reports.

https://defencesecurityasia.com/en/fog-of-denial-indias-rafale-debacle-deepens-as-western-partners-demand-answers/

French defence officials are understandably concerned their aircraft are being unfairly scapegoated for failures rooted in structural issues within the Indian military ecosystem—particularly when Rafales, if used as intended with proper integration, maintenance, and training, have proven lethal in other theatres.

Yet the blame game has become a two-way street.

India, frustrated with long-standing constraints, has reignited its public criticism of Dassault’s refusal to provide access to the Rafale’s source code—an issue that has loomed since the initial $8.7 billion acquisition deal was signed in 2016.

I was aware (and posted about) the Indian CoS tacit admission of losses, albeit without confirmation of numbers or types.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123502552#Comment_123502552

The longer this effort to pin down what happened the IAF, the more I believe it's possible they made a complete bollocks of their planning.

Attacking Pakistan in 2025, after they re-equipped post Balakot? Was never going to be a simple matter and India seems to have suffered quite a bit more damage than is being admitted.

There is also credible claims of 1 s400 TEL launcher destroyed with confirmation claimed via an obituary.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2545815/indian-soldiers-death-reinforces-pakistans-s-400-narrative

To be clear, an S400 battery is a radar station, support vehicles and 6 widely dispersed TELs, so losing a launcher isn't a massive defeat but, it does raise questions as to what really happened.

Larbre34

Some interesting strategic developments in our neighbourhood and in the wider world, in the context of shifting politics.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp92mp4enldo

Also:

jonnybigwallet

All good stuff. I like the idea of the "gap year" to give lads a chance to see if they like it before making a longer term commitment. That would boost recruitment and get some fresh blood into the DF. The right kind of folk IMO

banie01

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123509634#Comment_123509634

There needs to be a serious move on with GCAS/Tempest esp as far as Japan is concerned so it's good to see movement on this. Japan entered the programme with the hope that it would see a 2035 in service date and they are worried that's slipping.

https://www.19fortyfive.com/2025/06/japan-weighs-us-f-47-stealth-fighter-offer-amidst-european-program-delays/

Italy and Japan are also worried that the UK isn't being as forthcoming as other partners with regards technology sharing.

https://defensehere.com/en/italy-criticizes-uk-over-tempest-project/

To top off those issues, it's being reported that Trump offered Japan the F47 during a recent call.

https://www.twz.com/air/trump-offers-f-47-sixth-gen-fighter-to-japan-reports

My own view is that given Japan has rolled it's X2 programme into the Tempest effort precisely because they want independent capability with large industrial involvement. That hitching their wagon to the F47 will harm their domestic industry and cost them immense sums of money. It is an effort by the US to ensure Japan remains tied to US supply chains to an even greater extent than currently.

roadmaster

Are these headbangers on the left just taking the piss or just simply dumb as fuc#. Defend the Triple lock but deploy the Navy to Gaza. They are complete parody.

Did any Junros that was there ask about the simple maths on the crew required for a naval ship?

https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2025/0604/1516670-pbp-neutrality/

mupper2

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123518060#Comment_123518060

Oh if you enjoyed that here's a twitter thread of a lad doing logical gymnastics to say the navy/AC aren't under the triple lock and can go to Gaza…

https://x.com/r_o_farrell/status/1930541117923049861

roadmaster

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123518080#Comment_123518080

Id say he is in the Army as they also refuse to say that the Air Corps & Navy are in the Defence Forces.

sparky42

Ah yes, our looney Left are quite batsh!t aren't they, I mean they aren't even in the same reality. Though I would love so see how the idiot from the Socdems might try and spin it. But above all it is very on brand for them to be screaming about "NEUTRALITY" when talking about the Russian invasion, or any suggestion of defence spending, and then pivot to "why aren't we starting a war with Israel!"

Larbre34

All that needs to be said about the Triple Lock is that Sinéad Gibney made such an irretrievable dog's dinner of the Soc Dem's policy position, that she was replaced as spokesperson for foreign affairs and defence after just 3 months, and replaced with an unknown Senator.

However, the discussion of the Bill by the Defence and National Security committee ought to be interesting, because in that format, the tankies won't be able to spout their rubbish unchallenged. The government members will be able to make them eat it.

banie01

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123505653#Comment_123505653

I was debating as to whether this post was better suited to here, to "6th Gen. Fighter" or perhaps to the India/Pakistan thread in CA. I decided to go with here,I hope it's fits with the other India/Pak articles I've posted here.

https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1318682-bilawal-says-pakistan-showed-restraint-by-not-shooting-down-20-indian-jets

Multiple Pakistani officials yesterday reported that during the initial Op Sindoor engagement, that they locked on to 20 IAF aircraft and only launched against aircraft that had launched weapons against Pakistan. That latter point addresses a concern I had regarding "Who fired 1st" given IAF aircraft hadn't crossed border.

Now important caveat is that we know at least 1 PL15 missed and was recovered inside India. Which means at least 7 were fired. Pakistan has claimed it chose to only target a reduced number of the 20 locked up as a means of proportionate response.

It smacks of just a little propaganda but, it highlights once again the effectiveness of the Pakistani A2A kill chain (despite failings in their SAM response).

India's vacillation on allowing Dassault review the engagement and any actual Dassault losses speaks volumes IMO. As does the Indian effort to ensure it's kill claims are higher than Pakistan's.

https://www.globaldefensecorp.com/2025/06/06/india-and-france-are-at-each-others-throats/

Notmything

The tricolour looks well on that tail. We can still dream

The one still flying that is......