Transport Aircraft

However...

NZ only bought NH90s because Australia operate them, as they do interoperate closely at home and overseas.

The ending of engineering support for the '90 in continental Australia, will leave NZ facing vastly increased costs to locally maintain its relatively small fleet of 8.

While reported as reliable, the type did cause a minor political storm in New Zealand a few years back, where an opposition Party revealed that the 8 airframes had consumed NZ$ 3.3 million worth of spares in just two years.

Whatever we might say about Air Corps acquisitions and fleet modernisation, at least we dodged that particular shitbox.

Then it transpired that the Air Corps didn’t have the large helicopters required to transport Mitterrand and his party (the Irish offered to rent some helicopters, but the French said they’d supply their own)

The above taken from the State Papers. Imagine the goverment didnt no the air corps didnt have large helicopters maybe they taught they still had the puma

Plus ca change.....

The Garda wording on the Puma looked odd to say the least. DId the Germans fly it for AGS?

Some of the clarifations for the government jet.

Someone wants to offer a second hand aircraft.

A company wants to offer more than one type of aircraft.

Questions over the range 3500 nm.

Labour laws? That must be a south american company!!!

Company has to have provided service similar nature from two off the following EU, Nato or ANZUS member nations

Bundesgardasíochána.

No.3 operations wing currently have a tender out for marine life jackets that can carry ballistic plate protection. Could this be for future deployments over seas ?

I taught that my self but i am sure the ARW would have all there own gear. Maybe the air corps crew themselves had no protection during the operation and it was pointed out to them my a nice ranger

Special Operations - Maritime Task Group😉

We'll all have to get used to these new terms soon enough!

They could do with something a bit more catchy though, for the three disciplines. I'm going to full Jonny and suggest

SO - Land Task Group - Force Ranger / Forsa Lorgaire

SO - Maritime Task Group - Force Dolphin / Forsa Deilf

SO - Air Task Group - Force Kestrel / Forsa Pocaire

Thats a point alright. I was looking for some creature from our native seas, of speed and intelligence! And Seals are a bit taken!

Also Dauphin is french for Dolphin, in a nice little easter egg of glorious Heli Ops past.

Force Shark / Siorc

or Force Orca / Grampus, nó An Chráin Dhubh

Cráin Dubh is a great Irish moniker. It variously means the Black torment, Black sow, or large aging Cow Seal.

Maybe we'd stick with Grampus for safety!

Wouldn't a traditional water animal for us be an Otter?..a secretive but ferocious hunter😋

There's a balance there I think. Obviously the personnel, the barracks, the gear, the ops, the procedures and all that needs to be appropriately guarded for an SOF.

But, the ARW has always made for excellent PR, whether sweeping jungles in East Timor or doing FP in Chad and Mali, or storming fleeing ships from the air to take drugs out of circulation. To my mind, they are the biggest recruitment tool that DF has. And the fact the DF supports the making of the 'Hell Week' show, and facilities media access to big set-piece exercises, indicates that they are keenly aware.

We will know i suppouse in the coming months. i wonder will we see a move for the UK EC135s as the UK has histroy for selling of things that they could use else where.

Well that and the press were on about how much the rental cost etc.

Not for 45 mill.