Interesting articles

The article conflated 2 separate projects the primary/surveillance radar is a thing on its own, the MR-SAM will the whole system radar/TELs etc. There is also if not a formal program yet a real want for a mobile MANPAD/SHORAD system

Deleted

Nobody.

So its pretty irrelevant from that perspective.

But whoever is going to do it, must have full integrated control of the radar and the missile system, both ground to air and anti-ship.

So toss a coin for any of the three forces, but most likely the Air Corps with a presence of Army and Navy systems and intelligence personnel.

it seems pretty much the same as the article in the mirror a week ago with no new details?

Italy is most likely holding out for much the same reason as France, the Aster program.

The U.K. doesn’t use the land based system, only for the RN while both France and Italy use it for both.

they are, but you have the Franco-Italian group investing in their own development pathway for the Aster (with I think the NT version due for trials in the coming weeks) while the U.K. is still hedging about backing a BMD a capability for their systems.

Its not yet a reliable trend to show the ship has turned around, so to speak.

In 2 years, then we'll know.

The 2023 annual report is out… Not sure why they bothered?

https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/8ebed-department-of-defence-and-defence-forces-annual-report-2023/

wait until they are in Baldonnel before counting them as on track for Q2 2025, but yeah the bloodletting between the three would be funny if wasn’t so tragic. All three services are to grow and get at least some new capabilities/equipment/people embrace that instead of wasting time and political will fighting over who gets to be top dog.

In other news, some interesting insight into the future of the naval base with the tender for the High Level development plan being published :

The Plan should allow for and be not limited to –

Berthage for NS ships and Naval Service Reserve vessels, Naval Diving section, Special Operations Forces (SOF) berthage, Rigid-Hulled Inflatable Boats (RHIBs) and sail training berthage
Fuelling facilities
Maritime Operations centre
Information centre multi agency
Communication centre
Naval Warfare training centre
Office accommodation and conference facilities
Living accommodation and messing and welfare facilities
Workshop facilities – Mechanical, Electrical, , RHIB maintenance, Remotely Operated Vehicles(ROV) maintenance, Ordnance training and maintenance facilities together with cranage
Workshop spares and logistics facilities
Diving training and maintenance workshop
Maritime SOF facility
Shooting Range
Covered Dry-dock facilities with cranage
Dedicated training facilities – lecture theatre(s), classrooms​
Heli-pad, Hangar, fuelling and first line maintenance for medium lift helicopter, facility for Fixed wing UAV’s
Sport and training facilities and changing facilities
Primary Care Medical Facility to incorporate medical and dental surgeries, aural booth, physio room, PSS and administration offices and associated locker rooms.
Car park facilities
Swimming training pool
Security Fencing and control measures
Road Transport and maintenance and refuelling facilities
Secure storage facility for containerised high value equipment
Ammunition Storage Area
Data management centre
Sustainable transport facility including public transport arrangements

They aren't getting the park area, but are going to get the rest of the old Steel site, much of this has been put forward before, and the tender has gone out for cutting up the drydock door and removing it already.

I hope the media and are elected officals condem Hezbollah as much they condem israel for the below attack. I also would like to know did simon harris raise with the lebanise PM last week the.murder of an irish solider and the serious injurys to another in his country.

https://www.rte.ie/news/2024/1031/1478383-camp-shamrock/

Geological speed as usual, but it is good to see some the ambition finally crystallise into project planning.

Personally I'd be taking back the park and the crematorium site on Rocky Island. There should be nothing north of Paddy's Point that the DF does not fully control and secure for their own needs. Its the best natural point of security boundary.

I agree completely.

Which is why I believe that ring fencing the entire complex and saying 'Defence: You can **** off' to the local busybodies, would be in the interests or advancing the mind-boggling array of upgrades and new facilities.

Though I recognise it won't happen.

eTenders.ie, under the DoD

Its a good idea to do this type of masterplan, but I'd like to see one done for the Air (Force) too. It clear that this element is also going to have very considerable increase in capability demanded, all while its own single facility is being hemmed in and limited by private development outside it, the siting of other unrelated DF installations on the aerodrome.