Interesting articles

Should have fecking joined it long ago, same as we should be investing more on ESA imo. But that doesn't change the fact we are dealing with the departments, paying out of their pocket to fund the DF instead of the UN…

I can easily see them playing the retention crisis and the pending drawn down and keep the troops home, hell play it off as the first step of the 12 month plan.

And I'd agree and love to see it happen, however the reality is that we have seen time after time the three departments willing to have stand up arguments over what other departments would consider "petty cash" requests and issues. I can well imagine the three playing "not us gov, talk to the others" in circles until after the draw-down date, its not them that have to handle the situation on the ground with less people. They don't give a FU$K how it affects the DF's job.

Gaza, unlikely, but not impossible. Conflict with Israeli troops is a genuine concern.

But not with Russians.

If we send a battalion to Ukraine, it will be only after a ceasefire and territorial lines have been agreed. It will be part of a colossal international stabilisation force.

And we will be in the rear with the gear, clearing minefields and operating as a force protection element, securing facilities, protecting both military and civilian staff in base areas. Maybe some logistics and SAR.

The forward positions along the ceasefire line will be secured initially by elite units, followed by large elements of mechanised infantry and armour, with full air cover. We don't have that.

Those Eastern forces are all

But depleted now and given Trumps flip flopping will likely be well behind any agreed “DMZ”. I mean we are still horribly ill equipped for either mission given the increased threats, but if it’s to be anywhere it should be Ukraine.

In AC news, an article on the proposed upgrades to Casement to increase the base capacity, also mentions that the ATC situation has been resolved and is back to 24/7 operations, and that Shannon will be the base for any future fighter operations if those ever happen.

https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2025/10/29/120m-expansion-plan-for-casement-aerodrome-to-house-growing-air-corps-fleet/

I guess apart from if there's capital investment at some stage, the other major telling will be if the Recruitment and Retention numbers stay high next year and afterwards, or whether this years reported highs are a blip. 2-3 years of sustained recruitment with Retention staying up would be great to see and move us from just "green shoots".

The works at Baldonnel are very necessary and very welcome.

They have enoght staff on Paper. Of course that piece of Paper doesnt allow for Annual Leave. Training, Sickness, 40 hour working week, Taking a piss etc

Interesting item above from UKDJ. Maybe they might cut us a good deal on a couple of Arrowsmiths?

interesting views in the UK on police helicopters. AGS better home jack chambers dosent read the Article.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5y4g285gdno.amp

The Brits are broke, we aren't.

There will be no argument here that the GASU hasn't been an excellent addition to the force.

Though you would assume the next generation of fleet replacement, both fixed and rotary, will include increased UAV elements.

DP

Not directly connected to DF matters as such, but I wonder if any projects might benefit from DPER’s rules being altered?

https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/munster/arid-41736072.html
Moving the threshold for oversight to €500 million from €200 million is a reasonable change.

Maybe, but the Public Spending Code still applies at all value levels, so it may not do very much in real terms.

And I'm not saying thats a terrible thing, financial oversight should be stringent, but project management overall could be vastly improved at departmental and agency level outside of DPER.

In terms of some of the big stuff in the military hopper, the G2G deals being mooted will short cut a lot of that auld guff anyway.