Transport Aircraft

Well if it was to see Santa, maybe it was to ask nicely for a CASA?

The lessons from Kabul need to be applied to this acquisition, not just from the point of view of the actual need for such an aircraft - which has been well demonstrated over the years anyway.

When operating in even semi-contested conditions, the need to bring your own security detail and all their gear, medical staff and gear, members of Dept of foreign affairs for passport processing, aircraft technician + consumables etc limits the useful payload of people you can extract. Can it be done in multiple hops? Not if the aircraft is your defacto base of operations/communications hub/traige centre. Can you expose your team to having no means of immediate extraction if things go south?

In those terms, I would say the need for a minimum of two aircraft is rather obvious if it's a limited capacity aircraft like the C295.

Similar type, unfortunately. A larger aircraft restricts many of the airports currently used by the Lear. Expect something along the Dassault Falcon line.

Troop transport by charter, at present is cheaper than having a small airliner sitting on the ramp waiting to bring 8 people to New York for most of the year, except when it has to do chalk rotations, 4 or 6 times a year.

Ah but that was sold as berties private jet, If you got one like the germans airbus it would be no issue if you sold it to the public about all the roles it plays

https://simpleflying.com/german-air-force-second-airbus-a321lr/

Want to bet? The minute its said with anything "Government" related, it will just be seen as "the Government Jet" no matter what it does or could do. Instead it will be just "sure what do we need something like that for, Fecking FFG having Notions, how many houses could we build for that!"

Very sensible point of view Roady. Stuff the brown rice and sandals brigade and just carry on buying serious kit!

The 4th pc12 and this 3rd casa were not got or about to be bought through standard procurement

The main opposition party is calling for primary radar and thats not cheap

Whos left to complain?

The third C295 in military transport trim is by no means a certainty.

But it does come to pass, then its most likely it will become the primary carrier of troops and personal gear to UN deployments and the Government will get a new long-range business jet for MATS and other State business.

I agree with Dohvolle that its likely to be a European made Dassault Falcon. Probably the 8X.

So, we're getting another C295? Or is my ignorance of such matters showing?

Get a grip. Why wouldn't they look for a deposit? They aren't a charity. The first 295 will be arriving shortly, the 2nd not long after this year. It will take a while to get both these aircraft operational. Meanwhile, the need for Maritime patrol continues. Would expect the CN235 will be withdrawn as each 295 enters service.

Because the 3rd will be a standard utility model, once it arrived it can enter directly into service, as by then there will already be plenty of pilots current on type..

Get a grip? Would you calm down and lighten up.

A standard 295 is around 30 million if the article is correct and it iis going to cost 50 million it must have some extra equipment and a full life time service contract like the other 2

It looks like you maybe right about MM

According to the lads more on the pulse AC wise it'll come with a full on DAS system..

Couple of the Wing's MRZR's, bikes and the teams...not bad like, you always want more but this is a large scale up of what they could move previously and gives s some foundations to build on...hopfully.

Hmm. I thought as much. Still, I suppose it could accommodate some artillery pieces / AA guns / HMG's and the like, if needed for the mission.

As per Ken Foxes FOI that one of the posters linked here in the past, It is the air corps that have being pushing for extra 295s and not hercs or A400s and not a case of the state saying this is good enoght for you.

Maybe the senior managment in the air corps know what they can get it