Ireland - lack of air and naval defence.

You are leaving out of course the fact that the US is providing the Ukrainians the intel needed to target and exploit the weaknesses of the Moskva. You are also ignoring the fact that the only maritime powers that could threaten us are Western ones without the massive issues of the Russians.

All of that and use of Intel or eyeballs is inconsequential to our problems. Specialist Irish Services which are equipment specific such as the Navy and Air Corps have been weaned away from frontline capabilities by an ongoing phase of equipment churning which removed fighting ships and aircraft in favour of miscellaneous patrol and ferry duties, good on optics and ok for housekeeping, ATCP and ATCA but no Defence Capability.

We can joke and see no enemy and follow the CS view of more Garda and less soldiers and sailors. Policy is where we are at.

Superb lookin ship. Ticks all the boxes. Just the ticket to send out if Jonny Russian comes prowlin around again. Hope we can get this one past the bean counters.

Crewing has to be designed around full Action stations and the Duration of a particular action or Stand-To. This enables a ship to handle the balance of positions manned 24/7 and sleeping and feeding. Action messing is take away soup and sandwiches.

The ship in question covers the full range of capabilities needed and is available in a 115m version also. If we want to be meaningful we have to aspire to ships of this type.

Don't know why I mentioned Eagle island. I needed to look at a NOTAM map which shows Nine radar points from Malin area in the North to Mount Gabriel in the South. It includes East and South Coast coverage. There are 4 on the West coast. There is a Bn near Achill Island as there are also on the Aran islands off Galway.

Isn't there someone working on a IVF for Korea.

Get you new knickers from Pennies as you will probably have filled your old ones with ManUre.

The vast majority our manpads need replacing. The Javelin is to upgraded or replaced this year as it was delayed last year due to Covid.

A lot of weapons are due for upgraded a during 2022 if you refer to the equipment development plan 2020-2024. (2020 to 2021 was a non runner due to restrictions).

That upgraded was brought forward to be complete before 2024, all these alterations necessary for a functional navy really make out situation look horrendously bad. I seen a clip online of a passenger vessel leaving the port in cork and a passenger filmed 7 out of 9 naval vessels roped up in port.

Ah that would explain it, that video clip got a fair bit of traction

The PDF was designed to be where it is by the CS to balance the Books once Pay rates, allowances, and ration Structures were change by the Remuneration and conditions i.e. reduce Establishment by 5000 all ranks. They also got rid of much real estate.

I listened to Patrick Sanders C.I.G.S. maiden speech this morning and it's theme is to MOBILISE and STRENGTHEN alongside their Allies in NATO /EU area with less dependence on US support the latter looking to defence in the Pacific area. He is starting NOW and sees budgetary figures in the order of 41Bn Sterling.

A remarkable thing about his speech is that he appears to be also directing the Defence Civil Servants to meet immediate mobilisation factors. The immediate job is restocking and replacing munitions and equipment given away to Ukraine. He also wants to use a best in theatre list of effective equipment and stock up from those weapon systems. We are starting with a clean sheet whereby the Navy and Air Corps need to be restarted and tactically re-based as required. We first must get a clear indication of Armed levels to be achieved and do so on a short scale of less than 3 years. We must work with other Forces to ensure in an EU sense we fit into an Order of Battle.

A brief list should include CDA GM system range 300nm, Fighter Aircraft, MPA's, embedded SHORADS for the Army, Upgrading ATGM systems, Surveillance Systems, Drone weapon delivery systems, UP Arming Naval vessels and acquiring suitable multi role vessels for AS, AD, and ASW duties. Aspire to use of conventional AIP submarines, the ultimate offensive weapon, and develop a minelaying and clearance capability. Harness Irish Industry to assist in weapon manufacture under licence or home produced.

And it’s fantasy fleet time again.

Up to now , I would have said nah , boys toys , no real need ...

But , between Russian aggression, our economies depenance on connection to the Europe,UK and the US,

And also the prospect of a huge offshore energy sector , which in an era of energy crisis will need protecting , but I'd be targeting our spending ,

And then we've to decide about our neutrality- just because we're safe on the western edge of Europe do we tell our European neighbours and partners that they're on their own ?

The Defence/Offence scene at sea is being carried out by no one country on solo missions. The Nato alliance have just complete Operation" Dynamic Mongoose" off the western Seaboard hunting 3 enemy submarines provided for the purpose, 2 conventional Subs and one Nuclear sub. They used half a dozen surface Frigates, with Helicopters and more than a dozen MPA flights. The RN Type 23 Frigates with updates can work seamlessly with the Poseidon MPA and obviously the other participants also. If we are to fit in to common enterprise then we must progress to fitting into actual Naval Tasks and try to be relevant to the Defence of Europe.

An ARW Type exercise was carried out off the coast of Devon where Commando units were Helicasted from a number of Sea Stallions with their attack craft to carry out a simulated attack ashore.

All countries are busy training and getting ready we are busy over the years unpicking skills, re-equipping by expedience, side-lining skills that are technically difficult or socially demanding. We may be facing more loss of property and training areas and a reduction in choices and flexibility. The only clear way forward is a clear Defence Plan to fit into European defence tasks now that Uk is no longer an EU member,