Fighter jets for the Air Corps?

I've been saying for years that light single-engine jets like FA-50 and F-7X are completely unsuitable for our fighter-interceptor needs.

They are trainer variants, tactical ground attack and second-line CAP solutions, nothing more.

They do not have the range, speed, loiter or weapons capacity suitable for operation as a QRA interceptor from a rock in the north Atlantic out into a million square miles of skies and seas.

I'm hoping the government and the DF have learned the folly of buying inferior and civvy spec equipment for military roles - and the MRV spec and light helicopter projects indicate that they may have. And so it should be with the fast jets implementation. Either buy the right plane for the job, or don't bother at at all.

Interesting…

The Colombian President has said that the Gripen is the latest version, already in service in Brazil.
I've linked the tweet below.
But translation is below, the offsets are very interesting.

Following the letter of intent signed by the government of the Kingdom of Sweden, and the approval of the country's strategic air defense as a priority project,
I report:The fleet of aircraft to be acquired is completely new, with the latest technology, already deployed in Brazil, and is a Saab 39 Gripen brand.
There will be a social investment compensation consisting of a state-of-the-art flexible solar panel production plant located in the department of Córdoba, the installation of drinking water for several locations in the department of La Guajira, and the restoration and installation of state-of-the-art medical equipment in the central tower of the San Juan de Dios Hospital in Bogotá.

To my mind that does specify the choice is Gripen E/NG.
He's making clear its the Brazilian spec and tech that will be inducted.
I had thought that the deal done with Brazil included a caveat that Embraer would be manufacturing and supporting any South American sales.
I cant recall where I read that now, so I may well be wrong on that front.

On Cnocbui's link above, the article he linked is from Feb and it was widely reported at the time that the USA had leaned on Colombia in an effort to push the F16.
Given that the Columbian announcement is a month later? A deal may well have been reached that keeps US DOD happy.
It may well yet try and undermine the Gripen deal and it should IMHO push SAAB towards an EJ200 or M88 version, both engines have similar and even smaller volume than the GE414.
At least SAAB can rely on Volvo FlygNapvet to deliver the required GE414s, unlike the Indians whose LCA is still hugely delayed with the GE engine deliveries running 2 years late.

Interesting snippet on current pricings:

With an estimated price of $228.12 mln per unit, JAS 39 Gripen is comparable to French Dassault Rafale. According to the latest contract with Serbia signed August 2024, Rafale costs around €225 million apiece. Then, the approximated price for a F-16V, based on a sales permit to the Philippines published just the other day, is up to $279 million per fighter. Lastly, a F-35 costs nearly $208.3 million per unit, as follows from a 2023 contract with the Czech Republic.

SAAB may now be offering the Gripen with a Rolls Royce EJ230 engine. That's going to make it a far more palatable option for many. That would explain why they felt they could offer it to Portugal and Columbia.

Eurojet offered this engine to SAAB, with thrust vectoring, back in 1998.

Going by the pics online that perimeter fencing is ancient. Surprised it complies with regulations.

Indeed Tinytobe. A crackin aircraft. Why the hell not have some? Must admit I have a bit of a soft spot for the KAI FA 50 as well…top of the range version. Think we need to supplement the interception planes with a squadron of Super Tucano for close air support role. And sure we might as well get one of them 390 medium lift aircraft from Embraer as well to support overseas missions.

Is there an official set of Top Trumps fighter jet cards so we can settle this once and for all? We can gift a set of cards each to the minister, the DoD and the Air Corps to ensure they make the right decision too.

No air force in the market for Gripen or F16 now will be affected by the fortunes of Gen6 fighters. They are markets which exist in different universes.

For at least the first 20 years of operation, Gen6 planes will be like the Raptor. Kept by their country of origin as proprietary technology, never to be shared, even with allies.

https://theaviationist.com/2025/05/11/first-look-hurjet-spanish-markings/

Jonny, the Spanish are buying it as a trainer. To train pilots who will go on to fly actual combat aircraft. The very last thing Ireland needs, as has been said to you and nauseaum for years at this point, is a trainer, a LiFT or any other such airframe that isn't fit for purpose but gets crowbarred into service.

We need high speed, either sustained high transonic or supercruise to allow any interloper be intercepted at max distance from shore. We need an airframe carrying a radar with at least 100km range against a 4mtr² RCS. To allow target identification and prosecution independent of ground control.

We need sufficient weapons capacity to ensure deterrence can be imposed and all of that needs to be packaged in an airframe that can spend 1hr+ on station at 400km offshore.

Do you think the Hurjet can fit any of those requirements?

Now thats just being cruel.

Vive la France!

I don't think he has used "police" in the proper context there at all. I think he means 'monitor'. And the radar and sonar are for simply that.

I don't think either he or this current government have any notion of moving in any way towards fighter interceptor acquisition in the current Dáil.

I foresee some sort of sticking plaster solution where the PC-9 replacement turns into something like Babcock Defence Services currently contract into the French Air and Space Force for basic training through their fighter training academy at Cognac-Chateaubernard, i.e., a mixed fleet of new PC-7 MKX and L-39 Albatros.