Interesting articles

sparky42

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123649192#Comment_123649192

well it would drive home the stupidity of allowing anyone a say in our defence choices, not that any of our PANA loonies will let reality intrude on their insanity, however if UNFIL ends I can see Israel pushing into Lebanon and further destabilising it as they are doing elsewhere, with the impact on the populations.

Manic Moran

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123651477#Comment_123651477

That didn’t sound right, so I had a look at the UN resolutions. The primary purpose seems to be to ensure the authority of the Lebanese government in the area of operations “so that there will be no weapons without the consent of the Government of Lebanon and no authority other than that of the Government of Lebanon”.
In 2006 there was an addition to speak to humanitarian access for civilians, but it seems to be a secondary function. I don’t think there is any doubt over the success, or lack thereof, of UNIFIL in ensuring that the government of Lebanon is the authority in the area or that there are no weapons.

Markcheese

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123651786#Comment_123651786

It could be argued that their doing their best in a difficult situation, which would likely be more difficult with out them being there ..

Wasn't their initial role to be a buffer between the PLO and the Israeli backed SLA , in South ern Lebanon, In the absence of any cohesive Lebanese army ?

But if that's what the resolutions said - that's what they said..

roadmaster

it would be so ironic for the left if the removal of the triple lock gets delayed and irish troops have to leave Unifil because of the Trump veto.

https://www.irishtimes.com/politics/2025/07/21/sinn-fein-wants-111-changes-to-bill-reforming-triple-lock-irish-troop-deployment/

Larbre34

How impudent of them.

Even to suggest that a referendum would be held to "definitively enshrine neutrality in the constitution", rather than saying they wanted to offer the people a wording to CHOOSE OR NOT to enshrine neutrality in the constitution.

Their arrogance is breathtaking for a party with no power, and I hope the government concludes the business around this Bill as soon as possible in the Autumn, without amendment.

sparky42

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123657798#Comment_123657798

But the Army Council must be heard! But yes, they are beyond taking the piss, and I hope the Government uses its majority to shut down every one of their amendments.

roadmaster

Fu#k me the Examiner should at least try to some research.

https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-41674481.html

Larbre34

Whats the matter?

jonnybigwallet

Emm. I don't see any mention of replacement of basic trainer aircraft.

Also. What's this report in the examiner all about? Refurbing the Mowags? Thought there were new French AFV's being bought to replace the Mowags?

sparky42

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123662114#Comment_123662114

it’s the list of work done, just as it lists the 295 buy even though the two MSAs are in service, I’m presuming that was the point roadmaster was making. More interesting is the bit in the Journal highlighting that the MRV has been dropped from mention with only the radar and armour buy being flagged? Has the project finally been put to death after its development hell? And why with all the gaps in the capabilities of the AC and NS is the armour buy one of the critical purchases?

roadmaster

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123662357#Comment_123662357

Yip the Journo seams to misunderstand the information he has souced from different reports such as four modern helicopters (the commission recommended eight),

This H145 replacement has nothing to do with the 139 replacement which seams the jurno does not seam to understand. The Mowag Cars upgrade was completed last year as well.

As for the MRV they are still working away on it in the back ground apperently. It just for some reason is not getting mentioned.

Larbre34

Ah yes, fair dues.

sparky42

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123662642#Comment_123662642

I guess it’s not being mentioned as it’s been mentioned for nearly 2 decades with **** all to show for all that time? Still wonder why the Armour replacement program got highlighted though? On Twitter Don Lavery did post that we were still just in talks with the French as far as he heard.

roadmaster

Talk about buying time. Only another couole months needed!!!!!!!!!!!

https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-defence/press-releases/t%C3%A1naiste-welcomes-record-17-billion-funding-for-defence/

sparky42

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123662710#Comment_123662710

no need to rush, everything is perfectly stable in the world, no risks, or outstanding procurement issues, sure let’s wait and see….

**** me, how aren’t they getting bollocked at every EU meeting at this stage?

Larbre34

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123662698#Comment_123662698

Better to do it as a G2G than to go down the interminable procurement route.

If we are in those discussions, it will still be faster. And a big commitment on armour, as we have seen with Radar, will go some way to defusing those tense Brussels conversations, which I agree must be happening.

banie01

After the recent Danish sale of F16-A MLU to Argentina, I can only imagine that either the UK has given up completely on opposing arms sales to the Argies?
Or, that the Danes are not particularly concerned with the objections being raised.
I cant imagine the thoughts of 2 relatively capable (Albeit not of Warm water ops 😉) air defence tasked frigates in the South Atlantic would fill the Royal Navy with the warm and fuzzies.

https://armyrecognition.com/news/navy-news/2025/argentina-considers-acquiring-iver-huitfeldt-class-frigates-from-denmark-to-strengthen-presence-in-the-south-atlantic

In other Frigate news, it looks like japan have firmed up their offer of a modernised Mogami clas for the Australian Frigate tender. Interesting to note that the high degree of automation means they have only a 90 person crew on 5000 ton ship is incredible.

https://armyrecognition.com/news/navy-news/2025/japan-offers-upgraded-mogami-frigate-to-strengthen-australian-fleet-interoperability-and-firepower

sparky42

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123662982#Comment_123662982

Honestly if we are thinking about how to help our position in Brussels, London, Washington (Japan as well), its our lack of ASW capability we should be laser focused on. Having a mechanised Infantry capability is not going to change much in terms of forces in Europe, or rather not nearly as much as being able to conduct full MPA or ASW patrols without having to have France/US/UK planes/ships doing it for us, given their own limits.

This to me smacks more of keeping the "senior service" happy than prioritising our major vulnerabilities.

sparky42

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123663106#Comment_123663106

Honestly that whole Argentina buying the Danish frigates makes no sense to me, even just by reading the article. One of their MEKO's is out of service apparently as the UK blocked refurbishment, so they are still trying to limit capabilities, meanwhile despite the stop on the upgrades, the new purchase replacements aren't going to be around for another decade, so I can't see Denmark selling one or two of the hulls anytime soon, and the fact that the suggestion is that they planned to downgrade them and keep them for patrols?

It just doesn't really hand together to me.

In terms of crew numbers, that seems to be the way things are going outside of the USN, I mean the Type 31's are down to some 110 for a near 6K ton ship, and Babcock were talking about getting that even lower for their Type 32 proposal.

Larbre34

Surely the United States would readily agree to supply their good friend President Milei of Argentina with whatever military capital assets he might need. And to which the UK would have no right or leverage to object.

Obviously, the proliferation of highly sensitive AEGIS tech and other systems across the military would prevent certain types being offered, but the US does have a multitude of O.H. Perry-Class general purpose frigates in mothballs, listed either as reserve fleet or for foreign military sale, some as new as 2004 build.

Likewise 4 of the Freedom-Class LCS, troublesome and all as they were, I'm sure they could do a satisfactory job for Argentina around certain archipelagoes!

sparky42

More attention being shown to how exposed we are

https://www.csis.org/analysis/strategic-future-subsea-cables-ireland-case-study

sparky42

And more from Prime Time on the Shadow Fleet movements, and our inability to police the EEZ:

https://www.rte.ie/news/primetime/2025/0724/1525230-eu-sanctions-envoy-says-ireland-must-beef-up-naval-service/

tippilot

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123663144#Comment_123663144

It's truly baffling.

An armoured vehicle modernisation and fleet expansion program is no doubt needed in the bigger picture, but it's not the most glaring immediate gap that needs filling.

It is also concerning that we seem to constrain ourselves within LOA2, while somewhat diminishing aspects of it and all the while ignoring some possible low hanging fruit in terms of shoring up capability gaps. Just because it's not in the recommendations of a report that preceded the current much deteriorated global security climate.

Why not return to Airbus for an additional 2 full ASW capable C295s for example? Seems a no brainer.

Or fit air search radar on the P60s? Not to mention the outright stupidity of detection without deterrence when purchasing sonar without ASW weapons.

jonnybigwallet

I couldn't have put it better meself tip.

roadmaster

So no vote on the triple lock untill september at the earliest. So what does that mean for the irish deployment in unifil. If the US pull the plug in september can irish troops stay there tempoarily under french command or will they have to leave and then maybe redeploy when triple lock has gone?

https://www.rte.ie/news/politics/2025/0725/1525248-oireachtas-triple-lock/

sparky42

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123667991#Comment_123667991

As things stand, we have to pull the troops if the mandate isn’t renewed, which in many ways might be best.

roadmaster

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123668203#Comment_123668203

It actually would play well for the government and the Triple lock vote In september. The Troops packing up and leaving because the USA vetoed the Mission they can say to the left well lads because we dont control the deployment of our troops the Israelies and Hezbollah can now do what they want to the locals while the UN trys to backfill the irish troops.

sparky42

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123668615#Comment_123668615

Pretty much, I mean I'm sure certain figures of the opposition might paint their nails, or give a rant on social media, but the reality is the P5 (and Israel through the US) do hold a veto power on our forces, no matter how the Opposition tries to pretend. If UNFIL ends, it will be interesting to see how they try and lie about it.

roadmaster

Again no rush lads what is the worst that could happen.

CoFPI recommended the creation of a national security analysis and coordination body under the Department of the Taoiseach. One of its primary tasks would be clarifying the roles of Garda and military intelligence and ensuring “no overlap” between them.

This clarity has not yet been achieved, despite the wishes of Garda and military intelligence.

https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-41676407.html

Larbre34

There won't be a substantive vote on the Defence Bill (ie Triple Lock) before the Presidential election.

Mainly because the second stage, general scheme and final text all have to go through the wringer, with chunk of time at the A.G. and parliamentary draftsman's offices.

But also because they dont want it next or near the election or the budget.