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RAF jets protecting Ireland

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Comments

  • #62
    ted1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,291 ✭✭✭✭ted1


    Tenger wrote: »
    4 jets required in the US for training. (assuming we have F-18s and USAF instructors, Gripen's may require similar setup based in Sweden)
    .

    Not euro fighters ??


  • #63
    guy2231
    Site Banned Posts: 339 ✭✭guy2231


    Psychlops wrote: »
    Great listen today:


    https://www.newstalk.com/podcasts/highlights-from-the-pat-kenny-show/do-have-we-the-capacity-to-police-our-own-skies

    We don't even have the capacity to police our own island, for over 70 years we laid claim to all of Ireland in our constitution then eventually had to change it.


  • #64
    Blut2
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,298 ✭✭✭Blut2


    guy2231 wrote: »
    We don't even have the capacity to police our own island, for over 70 years we laid claim to all of Ireland in our constitution then eventually had to change it.

    We don't even have the capacity to police the center of Dublin, if all the rioting/assault videos coming out every single weekend these days are any indication.

    I'd personally far rather the hundreds of millions of euro potentially spent on fighter jets yearly be spent on putting more gardai on the streets, as far as 'policing' the island goes. A lot more day-to-day benefit for the population.


  • #65
    Tenger
    Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators Posts: 10,084 Mod ✭✭✭✭Tenger


    ted1 wrote: »
    Not euro fighters ??

    Older Eurofighters might be an option, if acquired 2nd hand. The earlier variants were air superiority rather than multi role.
    But the Gripen certainly is marketed as a more affordable aircraft. The F-18 is a newer design than the F-16 an is in use with many air forces around the World, which has lowered its purchase and upkeep cost.

    The Eurofighter is expected to compete against top of the line aircraft like F-15s and even F-35s in certain situation. (EG when stealth wasn’t included in the excercise)


    Article in IT today:
    https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/the-gaping-gap-in-ireland-s-airspace-defence-1.4597124

    Lists a cost of E166m annually for 40 Gripens. “Full capability”
    E8m per year is the current cost for the 8 PC9s.
    Option 1 is 8 M346s at E18m per year.
    Option 2 of 8x FA-50s is E20 m per year.

    40 aircraft seems a lot but I’m sure it’s based on military requirements.
    Quote in the article states that last year the chief of the IAC estimated a need for 16 fast jets with 3 crews each for a 24/7 response capability.

    Further down it also mentions that the State received proposals from 3 defense firms for purchase of 1-3 air defense radar.
    Personally I think getting that radars should be a priority over the actual aircraft. At least then we can monitor our airspace. Any incursions recorded could then be used as a pretext to acquire (or not) fast jet capability.


  • #66
    Henry Ford III
    Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators Posts: 17,949 Mod ✭✭✭✭Henry Ford III


    We're a neutral country. We've never needed jets to this point. Why do we need them now?


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  • #67
    sparrowcar
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,935 ✭✭✭sparrowcar


    Henry Ford III wrote: »
    We're a neutral country. We've never needed jets to this point. Why do we need them now?

    Reading back through the thread will give you an insight into the pros/cons and for/against arguments.


  • #68
    knucklehead6
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,723 ✭✭✭knucklehead6


    Tenger wrote: »

    Your overly dramatic picture is the work of a wierd mind. You should have a read of the 1990s Clancy-esque novel "Dark Rose"
    (possibly the worst book I have ever read)

    HOW DARE YOU!!!

    Mike Lunnon Wood is a BRILLIANT author, and that book is sheer genius in its presentation, subject matter and literature. Future generations will look at it in the same way as todays scholars look at Shakespeare, Yeats, Wordsworth, Dylan Thomas, The Beatles, The Shawshank Redemption.

    https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055220056
    https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055232811


  • #69
    Blut2
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,298 ✭✭✭Blut2


    I've got some slightly bad news for you if you think our hospitals, gardai, schools and roads are provided free of charge to the state currently.

    They're all rather expensive to run, unfortunately.

    Using the very conservative estimates in this thread of €100mn a year to run an Irish fighter jet program, the choice becomes having those fighter jets or employing roughly 1000 extra gardai and 500 extra nurses and 500 extra teachers for the country. Which do you think would be more useful?


  • #70
    Stihl waters
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 715 ✭✭✭Stihl waters


    sparrowcar wrote: »
    Reading back through the thread will give you an insight into the pros/cons and for/against arguments.

    Not really, if anyone can point out why on earth we'd need jets I'd love to hear it, no one has given any indication as to what countries potentially we would have to rebuff if the shìt hit the fan, if any invading force tried to have their way with us I think Europe, America or the brits would have something to say about it, the thought of spending billions on white elephants parked up in baldonnel for years until they're scrapped is not something that appeals to joe taxpayer, the bigger picture is that we've never been safer, even if things went to hell in the morning how many jets would we need to hold back the Russians or brits or the yanks, we'd be looking to someone else to bail us out


  • #71
    Psychlops
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,208 ✭✭✭Psychlops


    Here is an idea of what it takes.




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