Interesting articles

The Rolls might be a runner, but you couldn't call it reliable.

Especially not to tow a gun carriage at low speed for perhaps several miles. It would almost certainly overheat, or jam in gear, or lock a brake, and cause all sorts of embarrassment.

I personally don't see any issue towing a funeral gun carriage with a utility Land Cruiser that has been suitably polished up, but if they're insistent on a flat bed to accommodate the gimbel for the gun carriage tow beam, why not just get a few Hiluxes done in gloss drab green and blacked out bright work. Perfectly dignified.

Existing Defender 110 bearing the remains of Pte Sean Rooney, RIP

Current Toyota Hilux commercial model, basic spec

Czech Army Toyota Hilux

Irish Army Land Cruiser J150 utility 4x4

Irish Army Military Police Ford Ranger 4x4 utility, unmarked.

Why would you presume that, its a public tender?

Me own thoughts exactly. Something along those lines but not as big and hefty could be a bit handy..…very versatile 😉

Are landcruiser pickups still available ?

Because the DF have relationships with both and they would be able to provide some pre-tender information e.g. "Can this be done?"

Its certainly the best way to do all this, a complete snow job on the tankies by coming at them with Triple Lock, spending and new associations all at the same time. They barely have the resources to come back on one, so they can't cope with multiple fronts at all.

What can Ireland get out of SAFE in practical terms? The processes for primary multi-domain radar and towed sonar are already well advanced.

Perhaps some better anti-drone tech and two dozen self-propelled 155mm Howitzers on the Christmas list?

Agree.

And I do hope all that the message goes back to American makers that these hundreds of billions will absolutely be invested with European makers, whenever possible. And that if they feel they are losing out on a possible bonanza of new sales, that they can go and blame their president for this disgusting attitude to their partners and allies.

Paul Murphy out of the blocks already.

€150 billion, no doubt he means The EU as a whole, but wonder if his supporters will pick up on the difference.

Editorial or contributor? Although it doesn't matter much, I suppose.

Whoever is suggesting we should be on a track to a war footing is stupid though. Completely unhelpful and sensationalist bullsh1t.

Sure intel were going to create 10000 jobs on the same site a few years ago!

To be fair, the range at Oranmore is absolutely nothing special.

Every facility there could be replicated elsewhere with about a week's construction work.

If there's a chance of a massive investment and employment boon at Oranmore they should put absolutely everything behind it. The range site was going to get swallowed up by the expanding town anyway, or at least become too dangerous to be practical in proximity to homes and streets.

But an early stipulation should be the identification and construction of a replacement range, before anything is progressed re the technology plant.

And it was almost an unfair fight at the Defence and National Security Committee yesterday, when the folly of the Triple Lock and the sclerosis of the UNSC was evidenced by, among others, retired DCoS Ops Maj Gen Kieran Brennan, retired Deputy Military Advisor, UN Peace Ops, Maj Gen Maureen O'Brien, retired Head of the DF UN Training School, Director of the Military College and envoy of the Chair of the FYR Peace Conference, Col. Colm Doyle and retired 2IC Ireland SOF and former TD, Cmndt Dr. Cathal Berry.

Good luck with that tankies!

"Hey Tojo, good man, would you ever plant a few questions about undersea cables and cyber security when I'm over for the dinner"

"What? Where?"

"In Ireland. Or off the Irish coast at any rate. It would really help me out dealing with the troublesome tankies!"

"But Martin-san, I haven't the slightest knowledge or interest about those things. And neither do the people of Japan".

"Ah go on, go on. Ya will, ya will. There's a nice bottle of Midleton Forêt de Tronçais in it for you?!"

"Why you not say so?! Hai!"