Interesting articles

The Scorpion is a good machine. But I thought they had been retired? Or are they just gathering dust in an auld shed in the Curragh?

If you really believe our neutrality protected us from the marxists, I have a nice bridge to sell you. You seem to forget that Aeroflot had a hub in Shannon, and their heavy transport Antonov were based there until the early 2000s. We had actual marxists in the Dail! P-p-p-pick up a prionsias was known to Gardai as Frank Ross during his time with the IRA. He retired having been Minister for flippin Social Welfare.

Our Long range SAR was done up to the early 90ss, by the RAF and the RN. The RN may not have been welcome in our Ports, but they were active in our Waters. The Tuskar air crash was proof of this. They had a frigate off the Wexford coast days before the Irish navy appeared.

We wore Green uniforms so the OPFOR on the border would recognise us as friendlies. Israel did not consider us Neutral in UNIFIL. Most Resupply trips went to Haifa, not Beiruit or Tyre. (Beirut would have been controlled by the US back then).

We have no defence or security policy. We have not had since the Emergency. None.

The Air Corpse is disparate and disorganised.

We have 8 Armed TP tandem seat trainer while ALL other aircraft are twin seat. Makes no sense, and is of next to no combat use, apart from shooting unprotected stationary ground targets. People learning to fly on oxygen with G-suits, and having no aircraft to advance to that that equipment is required.

2 Helis intended as trainers use different engines to the 2 helis of same type flown by Air Corpse for GASU (but maintained by civvy contractors)

6 Utility helis that are painted green but used primarily in civilian roles. You can put a machine gun in the side window if you want to, but you won't be deploying them overseas so it's difficult to understand what the point was.

4 Single engine TP transports, 3 of which are equipped to act as ISTAR but only 2 equipped with at any one time. A fifth was refused because we had nowhere to park them.

2 unarmed Maritime Patrol Aircraft, shortly to be replaced with a modern version of the same type, offering very little new capability.

And of course a single VIP transport which lacks transatlantic range.

Zero military capability. Everyone in the defence forces wishes it wasn't that way. Someone saying it is is not an insult to them, but to those making the decisions.

And you are entitled to your opinion, which I believe to be misguided.

If the the state offeref a VA style Mortage here it would help recruitment and retention

What has search and rescue got to do with neutrality??

During the Cold War we had instances where NATO and Soviet ships and aircraft landed and berthed in Ireland in connection with searches for stricken vessels and planes, obviously the most frequent being British Sea Kings and Nimrods, who assisted us hundreds of times when we didn't have the air assets to conduct an open ocean search.

Indeed LÉ Róisín was nearly sunk by damage sustained in phenomenal seas en route to the Canadian hunter-killer sub Chicoutimi, fire damaged and adrift far out off Mayo in 2004.

Huh?

Given how limited they are, I’m ok with this tbh.

Would a mix not work. Have standard ones we have now for domestic operations and have 3 full military spec for any potential overseas mission.

Not us exactly but defence related as H&W is going to see some investment and work:

https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/belfast-shipyard-chosen-to-build-new-naval-supply-vessels/

Meanwhile the Tory Tabloids are livid because its the Spanish led consortium that won the competition (Navantia Design house, but assembly and most construction is all either in Appledore or Belfast.) Fair to say the other British yards are hardly short of Naval work at present.

It looks like the air corps are going to be long term penpals with the USAF

https://www.dvidshub.net/news/433662/20th-air-force-prepares-mh-139-with-visit-ireland

It's certainly an interesting connection isn't it? You wonder what backroom contacts happened to get it started...

Id say its very straight forward, We are the only English speaking country using it as such. In the interview one of the amercians even referenced HEMS for rapid deployment. They may not be doing HEMS but they have to move quick. Also the door gunnary and NVG is something they will be doing. I would also the salesman said sure the irish use these all the time and will help you out.

We could see US crew here for training to work up hourssuch as HEMS and Troop deployment trainning.

It would be a win win over all

You dont need a genius to figure out why, here is a hint, they are the ones getting the AW139...

The 20th AF doesn't fly the Apache.