Fighter jets for the Air Corps?

There is no penny’s available right now and won’t be until the Daíl votes for it. Nothing is likely to be started until the next budget.

In terms of capital budgets, the only major outstanding project is the MRV. What else do you suggest could be started up within the next 3 months that has spare capital budget capacity? And as I understand it the MRV has already been shifted back by the DOD to the next financial year already. There certainly isn’t budget in the 100m or so of base infrastructure for any significant upgrades to Baldonnel.

The Vast majority of that list isn't Cost Neutral, only the window dressing of name changing and paper work of changing the establishment figures, that's just tokenism in it's own right.

Joining SAC will cost, Implementing WTD will cost, anything Cyber will cost, Primary Radar, or refitting the P60's all costs.

None of that is going to happen without the Cabinet signing off, and most likely the Daíl. No different than the Germans going from an announcement of increasing defence spending to the Bundestag finally signing off on it.

Most definitely. See our nearest neighbours, a major barracks right in the middle of the Mall between the residence of the head of state and the head of government. The UK armed forces assisted UK police in dealing with a number of terrorism incidents in Greater London in recent years. France also has a large military force located in Paris. Belgium is weird, because it's more like 3 countries, but again Brussels has a sizeable military force in residence there.

Our problem is we have 2. One housing the DFHQ, the other containing the majority of combat and combat support units for the 2nd Brigade.

When I joined the DF there used to be 5 in the Greater Dublin area alone. Griffith, Clancy, Collins, McKee, Cathal Brugha, with DF sitting HQ between Collins and McKee in Parkgate, and Baldonnel on the city outskirts.

That said, I'd move the majority out to the don, leave the vital units in McKee. The argument that the barracks is needed there so EOD can respond to .. or Govt buildings etc is fine, but that does not really justify having an entire Logs train, and all the day to day admin of each resident unit within the City. You could just as easily send the "first responders" to McKee, and rotate as necessary. I mean, realistically, about a fifth of the Army is based in Rathmines. At least in Cork, Collins Barracks is on the northern fringes of the city, with easy access to the main routes out of the city.

A joint base in casement would make perfect sense espcially for troop transport.

In regards to first responders would the average solider not be around 6th in line to be called for a terrorism incident

I'm going to challenge you somewhat on terminology. Mounting a radar on a mast platform that has already been designed to take one is not considered a "refit".

They are rated for the weight, but are all the power and data connections present in the mast? What changes might need to be made to bridge fittings?

Either way you are dodging the main point, none of that is in any current budget plan.

What part of "designed for" confuses you? Initial drawings for the P60 show them with an Air Search Radar on the mast, they are "fitted for, but not with". After that it's plug and play as the user interface on the bridge are multi function displays that can display radar, charts, AIS or even engineering monitoring.

At present there is duplication of displays, but this is unnecessary, and one display could easily be operated by a suitably qualified operator. We used to have them when Eithne's Signaal was functioning.

I'm dodging nothing. I'm telling you that replacing the additional surface search radar on the P60s with an Air search radar is not a big ticket item, and can be done without making the headlines, in the same way L.E. Eithne got Caley davits replacing the Boarding boat, Liberty boat and associated gravity davits, and the Effer crane on the helideck.

All it takes is the usual end of year underspend, and re-allocation of funds. Not Big ticket.

Do you remember how Cav got their Mowags? Christmas week. MLH cancelled, money went to buy more Mowags. Sorted.

It can be done.

Interesting.

I wrongly taught it would be along the line of

A Garda in a I40 then depending on who is nearby be Normal Detective, ASU, ERU, then if its really bad the ARW and then when its to late normal troops.

You learn something new everyday

the DF are aid to the civil power (ATCP) regardless of the unit or function. AGS will be the forefront of anything until deemed necessary to call upon the defence forces. Few brass look down on the military even worse than a regular mule. Youd need a full blown civil war for a brass to call on the DF (bit exaggerated for emphasis)

When the government has no confidence in the government jet ... it's time to wave the White flag.......

I have one serious question...did an chief of staff over the last 20 odd years raise the question of Ireland's ability to defend herself in a report form,,??? They mostly kiss ass anyway.

If they didn't raise this important question with the department of defence they should be called accountable.

Freedom of information should sort this out.

I don’t think a single aircraft in the roster of a commercial entity or military spends more time in maintenance then the air…

if an F-18 spent 18 hours flying this week, it’s going to require 20 hours of maintenance before it can fly again ?

What ‘serious drone’ would be suitable to fulfil the role as a primary method of air defence ? What drone would have the range, endurance and weapons / armament carrying capability?

The Swiss recently chose the F35 over all other options as it had the lowest Total Cost of Ownership. If we do buy fighter jets we will keep them for a long time, buying older aircraft with high hours on their airframes will be a waste. We should go for the best value for money.

The maintenance figure will always refer to man hours - an important distinction. How long it spends on the ground will depend on the number of bodies assigned to your maintenance team.