Naval Service General Discussion - Fleet, Manpower, Policy

thomil · 13-03-2026 09:20PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124310277#Comment_124310277

This is nowhere near as bad as I'd expected. I don't necessarily consider the NH90 to be a lemon, as sparky mentioned, some countries seem to have few issues with the type. If this is the option that Ireland opts for, the service & support package is going to be the crucial factor.

I'm still expecting the Oculus Quest + Geforce Now option to be the one chosen 😁

mupper2 · 13-03-2026 09:24PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124310301#Comment_124310301

I have been told the next Naval platforms will have flightdecks etc

sparky42 · 13-03-2026 09:44PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124310321#Comment_124310321

any other rumours? Or even when they might actually be ordered?

mupper2 · 13-03-2026 10:46PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124310379#Comment_124310379

I'm not an aircraft or boat guy but the person who I as chatting to is reliable and they said the next naval vessels will have helidecks etc. Also the helos are a higher priority then any fighter jets etc happening.

10-10-20 · 14-03-2026 12:29AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124310523#Comment_124310523

The helos are easy for the masses to swallow as they have demonstrative societal engagement; fast jets - not so much.

punchdrunk · 14-03-2026 03:40PM

IAC/NS to get NH90’s???

oh Jesus, it’s 1985 all over again…

Larbre34 · 15-03-2026 07:09PM

The current build iteration of the NH90 is a different animal to the problem child of the original model.

31 NH90 Sea Tigers are being onboarded by the German Military at the moment, and the French defence procurement unit (which is also Ireland's defence procurement unit) is evaluating NH90 'Standard 2' prior to confirming an order for 18 of the type for French Special Operations Forces.

Further still, Airbus and Leonardo are developing the Block 2 model together, and let's face it, Ireland likely won't order the type until ocean going naval ships with helicopter decks are already under construction, so it will be a Block 2 purchase.

The first priority is the super-medium solution, but we will ultimately need a dedicated naval helicopter for anti-surface and anti-submarine operations, as well as naval SOF deployment. However, a huge number of factors may change by then and I wouldn't be getting my knickers in a knot about it just yet, as it will be well into the 2030s before there is a commitment to purchase.

roadmaster · 17-03-2026 08:13PM

Martin said of Keir: “I do believe that he’s a very earnest, sound person. With him, you have a capacity to get on with, you’ve got on with him before.”

We must be getting a good deal on the Arrowhead!!!

19-03-2026 05:26AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124311596#Comment_124311596

Not a clue what those acronym's mean!

But, 1985?

Isn't that when the " Irish navy "were shooting at little timber fishing boats on the west coast. Only time they ever fired live ordinance in anger, far as I know. All conveniently swept under the rug.

vswr · 19-03-2026 08:50AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124323557#Comment_124323557

Dauphin's in use with the Eithne... that rarely happened

blindsider · 19-03-2026 11:21PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124323557#Comment_124323557

IAC = Irish Air Corps (soon to be re-named the Irish Air Force)

NS = Naval Service (soon to be re-named the Irish Navy)

NH90 = a possible new helicopter for the IAC (twin-engined, multi-role)

The LE WB Yeats fired on the MV Matthew in September 2024. (General Purpose Machine gun or GPMG, not the main deck gun).

sparky42 · 21-03-2026 12:11PM

so it’s 3 sonar systems with an option for a fourth, the first P60 is planned to go into drydock next year for refit, including the new radar system and EW systems and a new control room will be added for the new systems.

roadmaster · 21-03-2026 12:17PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124329316#Comment_124329316

Is the from the Times this morning? Werent the P60s built orginally to allow for these upgrades?

sparky42 · 21-03-2026 12:25PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124329324#Comment_124329324

yeah it is, they were designed for a radar system but I don’t know if they were ever intended to have a “cic” like addition.

Larbre34 · 21-03-2026 03:19PM

Three panoramic screens in a broom cupboard with a hardened mainframe deep in the ship will suffice.

Though more likely they will repurpose and repartition some lower interior space to accommodate trained operators.

jonnybigwallet · 21-03-2026 05:43PM

https://share.google/hcCCDG51S0hgy68jT

jonnybigwallet · 21-03-2026 05:49PM

That link didn't come across very well. It's tricky getting it to open

thomil · 21-03-2026 06:13PM

This link should work better:

https://www.navylookout.com/irish-navy-plans-to-upgrade-opvs-with-towed-array-sonar/

I was honestly kinda hoping to see upgraded secondaries as part of the refresh as well, but it still reads like quite the leap in sensor capabilities, especially on the EW side of things, which I didn't have on my radar at all (pun fully intended!😁)

roadmaster · 21-03-2026 08:22PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124330291#Comment_124330291

Arnt they waiting for the secondarys to be purchased with the armys new 30mm for the apcs?

Larbre34 · 21-03-2026 09:30PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124323557#Comment_124323557

Ordnance.

An ordinance is a low level municipal law or directive.

sparky42 · 21-03-2026 11:33PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124330691#Comment_124330691

Given how long that's been "long fingered", I'd focus on the sonar/radar fit out, hopefully the secondaries might happen as well, but who knows. Wonder what the CUAS system is as well?

Will the work be done in Cobh I wonder or in a French yard?

Larbre34 · 22-03-2026 09:22PM

The P50s were refitted at Cork Dockyard. There is enough work in refitting the four P60s to keep the dockyard busy for 6 to 8 years, so hopefully the work can be done there.

Given that the towed sonar is modular and demountable, I don't see any reason the new technology couldn't be shipped into Cork and fitted on site.

thomil · 22-03-2026 10:05PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124333283#Comment_124333283

I'm not so sure. From my understanding, the 2027 refit will be extensive, with the prep work for sonar, installation of air search radar, and changes to the internal layout to accommodate a CIC/control room, the integration of all the new sensors in the new CIC as well as all of the other work that takes place as part of a midlife refit. That'll take some time and would block the only dry dock on the island for a significant amount of time. It might be better to have at least some of the work done in France.

sparky42 · 22-03-2026 10:27PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124333283#Comment_124333283

The 50s work was more a “refresh” than a “refit”, and as pointed out by thomil, will be making use of the only drydock in the state whose commercial owner might want it for other revenue streams at the same time. Does the yard have the labour force to do all the work in a timely manner? Have we stopped using H&W subbies when we need them, cause H&W have their own demands in the next few years.

Given we might end having to use other nations designated areas for testing and calibration (and oh god just thought of all the Greens/Tankies that are going to be screaming about the poor whales if we start using sonar…), would it be easier/cheaper/faster to use a yard that has more experience in such work?

Larbre34 · 23-03-2026 05:06PM

I guess whatever is most efficient.

It certainly won't be in Appledore anyway!

sparky42 · 23-03-2026 05:13PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124335121#Comment_124335121

Certainly I'd go with wherever it can be done as quickly and as well as it can be done, if Doyle can handle the work in a timely manner without gouging the state, lets do it in Cobh, would love to see the work. If not, then yeah I'd go French.

I mean in an ideal world, they can be used to start the growth of the NS's capabilities and knowledge base for follow-on actual warships, so getting them refitted and back in service as fast as possible should be the aim.

Larbre34 · 23-03-2026 08:04PM

I asked AI to conceive a post-refit version of a P60, but apparently we can't have a CIWS without a British naval ensign!

Also pictured, a NS NH90 and future Arrowhead frigate

sparky42 · 23-03-2026 08:25PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124335550#Comment_124335550

I’m thinking the Anti Ship missiles on the bow might be a bit more of an issue… the deck would be well decked if they were ever fired…

Also to be technical that Arrowhead looks like a bastard child of an arrowhead and a 45…

at least it didn’t stick in random fingers.

thomil · 23-03-2026 08:47PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124335550#Comment_124335550

I don't know what prompts or AI you used, but I'm burning through my Adobe Firefly credits like a hot knife through butter and getting nothing but an urge to throw my laptop out the window!!!

Actually, disregard that. I present to you the first Samuel Beckett class air defence corvette 🤪

No matter what I tried, I wasn't able to get Google Gemini to add a second MLG-27 secondary gun, or to scale down the one that it did add. Kinda like how the phased array air search radar came out though…

sparky42 · 23-03-2026 10:29PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124335659#Comment_124335659

what’s the SAM mount meant to be I wonder? Again cn just imagine the deck after they were used…

Have there been any leaks/rumours about why the radar will actually be, presuming a Thales system?

Naval Service General Discussion - Fleet, Manpower, Policy

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