Future of warfare (How should Ireland build their millitary)

'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.

What width is it?

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

You could nearly close Collins and Sarsfield and instead of super prison at Kilworth have a Major Military Base servicing all of Munster

We need missile detectors and radar at the least; we could at least pretend to know what's going on in the world! That Russia was testing missiles off the coast of Ireland in February, followed by France also testing missiles in the same location more or less just last week is not a coincidence.

Or we could just hope that Britain will protect us as usual and then declare ourselves to be neutral but rebels. Rebels me hole.

It's shorter from Ireland to NY or DC than it is from other ends of Russia.

Tax in the UK is far less than in Ireland yet they are extremely well armed. They do owe us one but I think that we're strategically a very weak spot.

We're claiming helplessness. It's tiring and embarrassing. Finland is now joining NATO. Ukraine invited to join the EU along with Moldova. Ireland doesn't appear to have the remotest clue as to what is going on. RTE has a lot to answer for.

If you don't read multiple media sources, you're essentially just reading propaganda.

It's the 'soft' tech that we need. Not artillery. And tech is what we're good at.

I know that we don't do well at cooperating with either the EU or the Brits, but, with a lunatic at large.............?

Plusone on the fishermen but who says Russia is our likely enemy? More likely nearer to home. What we need is to make it too hard for what it may be worth to a rogue state.

The thing is that if the UK touched Ireland now, I'm pretty sure that the wrath of 1000 generations would be unleashed on them lol so the UK aren't a military force to be reckoned with from our personal standpoint. Their power is in wealth and international power. Militarily, there is no point arming Ireland heavily. It would be the equivalent of arming Barbados heavily; not terribly useful. We would only ever be a target from which to base nukes to the UK or the US. From that point of view, we could do with some sort of defensive weaponry I suppose should Putin decide to set up base camp in Wicklow lol.