Interesting articles

That article doesn't seem very accurate to me…the little inshore cutters bought on the cheap from NZ are only for operation in the Irish Sea. No role they are capable of doing year round on protecting cables off the west coast…..

at this stage surely they will cancel the program? Otherwise as you say Leonardo will do themselves an injury laughing so much.

Leonardo have put a bid in but it is not straight forward as figures have to be agreed. If the UK dont pull the plug there could be a good deal to be had by the Irish state as us going in with the UK and ordering several units could bring down the overall price and save the programme. But weather we want to be getting in bed with them is a different story.

I am Dohville. I remember Michael Heseltine standing up to government and party to keep the factory and jobs going.

The Army Ranger Wing team won the competition held in eastern Europe beating 26 other elite units

• NewsByMichael O'TooleCrime Correspondent

18:00, 2 SEP 2024

The Irish ARW operators defeated elite special forces soldiers from 26 other countries. (Image: Defence Forces/Óglaigh na hÉireann)

These soldiers from Ireland's elite military unit have beaten off stiff competition from other special forces teams to win an international sniping contest.

The Irish Mirror has learned that a team from the Army Ranger Wing came first in the competition held in eastern Europe – beating 26 other elite units along the way.

The Special Operations Tactical Sniper Competition, held in Latvia last month, is reserved for so-called tier one units – each country’s most elite and secretive unit.

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The Defence Forces declined to say what other units faced off against the ARW in the five day competition, but confirmed they were from the United States, Canada and Europe.

The competition took place in Latvia (Image: Defence Forces/Óglaigh na hÉireann)

But tier one units from those areas include the US Navy Seals and Delta Force, the Joint Task Force in Canada, Britain’s SAS, the 1st Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment of France and the Divers and Raiders Grouping of the Italian Navy. In the competition, The ARW team were involved in complex, real world scenarios that tested their skills and teamwork of each team – during the day and at night.

Competition was stiff, but the Irish ARW came first. (Image: Defence Forces/Óglaigh na hÉireann)

It’s the first time the ARW has won the demanding exemption and Defence Forces bosses were delighted b the result. A spokesman said: “The ARW team's outstanding performance not only highlights their exceptional training and dedication but also establishes a benchmark for excellence in international military standards.

“This victory is a testament to the rigorous training and commitment of the ARW, and afforded them the opportunity to demonstrate their capabilities alongside some of the best special operations forces in the world.

The ARW operators were tested in complex, real life scenarios. (Image: Defence Forces/Óglaigh na hÉireann)

“The success of the ARW team at this competition underscores the importance of continuous development and adaptation in military training, ensuring that personnel are well-prepared to meet the evolving challenges in the current security landscape.”

The spokesman also said the result was a significant milestone for the ARW. He said: “This achievement not only enhances the reputation of the Army Ranger Wing but also contributes to strengthening international military partnerships.

“As the ARW continues to engage in competitive events and collaborative training, this victory serves as a significant milestone in their ongoing mission to uphold the highest standards of operational excellence.”

The ARW is the Defence Forces' most elite unit - and its men are on call 24 hours a day. The unit, based in Co Kildare, is on standby every single day of the year to respond to any crisis that may arise anywhere in the state as aid to gardai. That could mean hostage rescue, undercover surveillance of dissident republican terrorists - or even protecting VIPs, like the Queen when she visited Ireland in 2011.

But the unit is also active abroad in more traditional military roles and has seen service in Somalia, Liberia, Chad and East Timor and Mali. And in 2021 it sent operators to Afghanistan to rescue more than 200 Irish citizens from the chaos of Kabul Airport.

The ARW risked their lives in 2021 to rescue Irish citizens from Kabul

Its highly trained soldiers are experts in guerrilla warfare, marksmanship, hostage rescue, parachuting and long range patrolling.
They have access to a wide range of weapons, including the Heckler and Koch HK416 assault rifle, the Minimi machine gun - and even the Javelin anti armour missile.

Around 40 soldiers try to pass ARW selection every year, but less than a dozen pass the gruelling process that sees them allowed into the unit - and wear the coveted green beret that marks them out as a Fianoglach, or Ranger.

I understand there is some amount of fighting within in the defence forces to who will operate the system weather its the Army or Air corps. There was even a suggestiin that the Fisheries control center in cork ckukd be upgraded to do it.

It will be major project for the defence forces and it will also be interesting if the information the system gathers will be shared back to our EU friends in real time

That description has no meaning in EU procurement law.

Pre-Tender, Tender, Post-Tender, Evaluation, Pre-award, Award, (Appeal), Contract. Those are the stages.

Unlike land planning considerations, there is no exemption from EU procurement for defence, although there is a protocol to protect national security considerations which obviates some of the sensitive stuff, which would otherwise be public information and subject to FoI etc.

The protocol, Directive EU/2009/81/EC, is operated in Irish statute as the European Union (Award of Contracts Related to Defence and Security) Regulations, 2012.

To me 'acquisition' means getting hands on something, ie contract being executed, which is certainly not imminent.

Tis very expensive….

Throw a ball of money at Haulbowline, there are a bunch of derelict buildings there that should be refurbished. Currently it seems the work there is being done piecemeal,ditto the Curragh where there is room for greenfield work

Connections to paramilitarys should narrow the field to who it is i taught turns out he was bluffing. The below taken from the London Times:

When a meeting held outside Dublin was monitored, their suspicions were confirmed: Cobalt offered to do whatever he could to assist the spy, despite never having engaged with paramilitaries in his career

It's an option not the certainty.

The French offer does seem to include everything bar the kitchen sink at the Élysée palace, vehicles, radars, sonars etc…so possible.

As I understand it, they are saying parliamentarian, not TD, so it could be either House.

I have a couple of suspects, but I won't get into libelling people on here, lets see how it plays out.

Seems the article got a it of crossed wires going on, the primary radar and the MR-SAM project are 2 separate programs.

However, speaking of Commonwealth mishaps, Saturday just gone was the 20th anniversary of the HMCS Chicoutimi incident, off the coast of Mayo.

If anyone doesn't know the story it makes interesting reading.

Apart from the damage to the newly pennanted RCN boat, the weather conditions caused serious hurt to the bow of LÉ Róisín, as well as to HM Ships Montrose and Northumberland, whose speedy characteristics were not suited to the mountainous sea.