Future of warfare (How should Ireland build their millitary)

I never understand why a potential future unification situation somehow gets connected to NATO membership tbh.

You could, but that's not neutrality. The RAF MoU is not neutrality.

It amazes me the number of posters here and indeed people at large in Ireland, who don't understand that neutrality is mere words on the breeze, if you cannot assert it.

Neutrality means keeping out of third party conflicts, but it also means being able to protect everything you are responsible for, entirely on your own. Go and read up on the historical defence spending of Sweden, Switzerland and Austria from 1960 to 2020 and compare it to what we didn't spend. That's where the gap is.

And in terms of aggression, it comes in many forms that aren't foreign military. Drugs and organised crime, political sedition, conspiracy with foreign actors, cyber attacks and compromised data, espionage conducted on our territory, etc, etc, etc

We each have our geopolitical and geographical challenges.

Ours come from sitting in the middle of submarine alley and under the busy Atlantic sky lanes and alongside the communications cables that power the European-North American interrelationship - and we have some degree of responsibility for all three.

It doesn't change the basic premise.

You need to plan for a worst case scenario…

have and not need is a better situation then need and not have.

problem is without a deterrent which we have nothing of…

no air force, the Aer Corps with only a logistical and support function. No jet fighters…not one

the Navy with 7-8 ships,…..over 27,000 squared kilometres of territorial waters surrounding us….

We are an island on the edge of Europe, a tactical and logistical benefit to any aggressor or foe of Europe .

'Have and not need' is not an argument that will fly with the average Irish person.

If the Government secure funds to achieve LoA 2.5 with a view to further increases as the DF capacity to take on new capabilities grows bigger, it will be a serious achievement in itself.

While scenario planning is very important, they'll be aiming for the middle ground of 'most likely', not 'worst case' and that's what the Commission report is all about. Worst case scenarios are the longest of odds.

And even right now, look at the successes Ukraine are having against a big old style mechanised force. The old maxims are out the window. All over the World, Governments will be looking at their standing armies and thinking, are these people any use to me, or should I invest in smart, small and mobile?

We're lucky in that respect, we have a chance to begin our serious investment with almost a blank sheet.

I worked with lots of Swiss in an old job I had and they said that was the plan. They said it was because defending cities would cause mass civilian casualties and destruction of the cities and they would lose anyway so no point. It sounded like their military was really cold and calculated, all about causing maximum pain to the invaders but not giving their own lives cheaply.

Who knows, maybe things will change after what we are seeing in Ukraine. I assume all militaries in the world will try to reset after this.

The emerging philosophy for Defence is join a reliable Military Alliance. I am worried about the overall reliance of NATO given that it's Superpower member was late joining in both WW1, and WW11. They were also tardy in meeting the needs of Ukraine which were met from Day 1 by its Neighbours and the EU in general. The US reliability will depend largely on the Party in Power and who is in control of the Legislative Houses. Those with similar views to Trump could wind up abstaining from needed concerted action. We should strive to join a strong EU alliance and share all aspects of the Defence of Europe at Military, Trade, Medical, Banking and Cyber Security Levels.

bad news again today via media, highlighting the reduction in capability due to Technician shortage. perhaps we need in the first place to mitigate shortages by ceasing to close Apprenticeship Schools and introduce a quota scheme for departures at all levels of skills.

The RN after swingeing cuts in personnel met long term needs by contracting BAE Systems to "run" certain parts of the Fleet. They have BAE doing day to day maintenance on 10 Minesweepers, 8 HUNT Class and two SANDOWN. Six are in Plymouth, all HUNT Class, and 4 are in Middle east, 2 Hunt and 2 Sandown. It is a complete maintenance system including GRP hulls and a reengining programme. To augment they have a ready to go RN Forward maintenance team that can deploy in support when necessary.

Needed assets must Not remain unused in times of need.

When will a western alliance attack. When it is clear you must roll the En up and push back. North Africa, Sicily, Normandy, and crossing the Rhine, comes to mind. The bigger problem is the current potential to leave a divided nation behind with bits excised and have a festering future like North South Korea, North South Vietnam, and of course Ireland. It is still festering in India and the Punjab. Map redraws are future wars. It leaves deterrence and self defence as the only option short of war. It also puts the wisdom of soft Power in prospect. Better to help your neighbour in good days and bad and avoid wrecking his property and killing his kith and kin.

If you believe that, I have a nice bridge to sell you.

Widest in Ireland.

In Regards to Military property

Would we not nearly better off starting from scratch and Building 6/8 new modern purpose built bases located at what ever the military leadership deam stratgeic locations which include good standard living quarters instead of spending arm and leg on military installation network that was designed centurys ago for an occuping Military force rather than a Modern Irish Defence Forces

Some of you may remember about 2 decades back there were plans for a super prison next door to Kilworth Camp. The Prison never materialised (another failed election promise) The land however is still in Government hands I believe. It is ideally located next to the former Dublin road and would be an ideal greenfield site to maybe give the Air Corps a hq in Munster, or even to be used for building single occupancy accommodation for members of the DF working in either Collins Barracks or Haulbowline.

Thats true. Superb facility Kilworth. Envy of many of our European allies.

Basically, our waters are closer to NY than if Russia tried to bomb the other way around i.e going clockwise.