Air Corps / Force General Discussion - Aircraft, Manpower, Policy

10-10-20 · 28-03-2026 08:40PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124347777#Comment_124347777

Sure if you stick a drone up high enough the place becomes a no-fly-zone anyway... just sayin'.

sparky42 · 31-03-2026 01:40PM

I see some of the AC were out in the big wet again when the Spanish were in town.

mupper2 · 31-03-2026 06:55PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124353143#Comment_124353143

With the cold cold recession the World economy is teetering towards right now I wouldn't read too much into it. Most of the new kit the DF might have gotten will be quietly shelved when the money is needed to pay for other higher priorities.

sparky42 · 31-03-2026 07:42PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124354057#Comment_124354057

most likely given it’s been the go to option in every other recession.

Larbre34 · 01-04-2026 02:09PM

Trump will be announcing the end of hostilities in Iran tonight. Mainly because Larry Fink and Peter Thiel and the rest are threatening to cut his nuts off for what he's done to the economy.

sparky42 · 01-04-2026 02:58PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124355852#Comment_124355852

given his attempts to game the markets that’s a fair bet, but it takes two to tango and even then the damage isn’t going to undo itself overnight. A recession is certainly coming, made worse if the AI bullshit bubble pops at the same time. All we can do is wait and see how bad the damage is and whether or not the government has learned anything from the damage the Crash decisions inflicted (and we all know the odds are they haven’t).

roadmaster · 02-04-2026 06:31PM

i see the Times have an article today about the Training contract. As suspected there is no one in house at the moment to deliver it. When a member of the defence forces asks for the P45 do they like everyone else only have to give 4 weeks notice?

Larbre34 · 02-04-2026 07:32PM

It depends on their rank and position. Like the rest of the public sector, and once they have passed the minimum service threshold, the notice period depends on their seniority and perhaps some other factors. But 4 to 8 weeks would be the window.

vswr · 08-04-2026 09:39AM

you also need to be out of service contract or:

1)pay to leave

2)leave and be marked as AWOL

roadmaster · 08-04-2026 11:00AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124371734#Comment_124371734

The reason i was asking was when you look at the time delivery frame for training it looks like they didnt see the resginations coming and were blindsided

vswr · 08-04-2026 11:06AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124371969#Comment_124371969

I'd say it was most likely they knew it was going to happen, but had to meet a specific wage budget figure, and this tender gets taken out of a different pot.

roadmaster · 10-04-2026 07:43PM

If we ever got True Interceptor Jet Aircraft the below article is guide to the cost and lenght of training.

https://topaces.com/news-events/top-aces-awarded-contract-for-f-16-instructor-pilot-training-in-support-of-the-argentine-air-force

Markcheese · 14-04-2026 11:58AM

I always wonder about the through put of pilots an air-force needs to produce a small number of fighter jet pilots .

Not every-one is suited to pilot training

Of those that are only some are suited to fast jet training,

And not all of those who make it through fast jet training would make it to actual fighter jets ..

So for a small country , currently with a limited air force ( air corps) ,how many trainee pilots would need to be recruited to get to a force of 30 or 40 fighter jet pilots ,

And thats before you get to the ground crew to sustain a a squadron of fast jets - ( 50 or 60 per plane ?? )

jonnybigwallet · 15-04-2026 11:29AM

They'd have to recruit ex other airforce pilots to get a squadron up and running

roadmaster · 16-04-2026 04:10PM

Seams to be a HR issue in the Air Corps.

Over two thirds of complaints received by the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces last year came from the Air Corps, a committee has heard.Speaking in a Committee on Defence and National Security, Ombudsman Alan Mahon said this was according to a draft of an annual report due for release at the end of this month.Mr Mahon said the number of complaints from the Air Corps was "disproportionate" to its size."The army has just over 6,000 personnel while the Air Corps and naval service each have under 800," he said.Responding to a question from Sinn Féin TD Donnachadh Ó Laoghaire, Mr Mahon said: "A very small minority of Air Corps cases would involve a health and safety issue"."Most of the complaints from Air Corps personnel would be to do with promotion and core selection," he said.Fianna Fáíl TD Eamon Scanlon said it was a "very high number of complaints" that would "ring alarm bells".However, Mr Mahon said, "it was a one-year blip", adding that the number of complaints from air corps has dropped so far this year.

roadmaster · 17-04-2026 09:10PM

So the new HSE HEMS is confirmed for Sligo Airport. Will we see 112 back to Casement in the coming weeks?

Larbre34 · 18-04-2026 03:58PM

Still ages away from operational.

There'll be no change to the current 112 service in 2026.

EchoIndia · 21-04-2026 08:26PM

The Air Corps Learjet was flown Baldonnel-Shannon today, I believe for storage.

roadmaster · 22-04-2026 03:08PM

Good Comparison table in this article on the costs of running different jet types.

https://simpleflying.com/ireland-defense-push-signals-new-chapter-european-air-power/

jonnybigwallet · 22-04-2026 05:29PM

Very interesting article…but is it pure speculation. There was also an article in Le Monde saying Ireland is the weak link in European defence.

Ben D Bus · 22-04-2026 06:20PM

Excuse my ignorance but why is the FA-50 constantly coming up if it's billed as a light attack aircraft and has half the range of the others mentioned?

Is Ireland not looking for an air policing interceptor aircraft with the range to meet and follow an aircraft out over the Atlantic Ocean?

roadmaster · 22-04-2026 07:10PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124414381#Comment_124414381

Cheap and Cheap. Think of it as the Air Corps version of the AGS i30

thomil · 22-04-2026 07:16PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124414381#Comment_124414381

The main thinking is that the FA-50 can provide a “cheap” baseline capability, given that there is a light fighter (FA-50 Block 20) variant that sports an air search radar and can carry A2A missiles. Since even the “fighter” variant of the FA-50 is a double seater aircraft, my understanding is that the reasoning is along the lines that these aircraft can be used as fighters, jet trainers, or attack aircraft, as the situation requires.

It does make sense to a certain degree. The FA-50 can go supersonic, and the Block 20 actually has a somewhat decent radar. Its range is an issue but I’m not too worried about that, given that drop tanks are a thing.

Having said that, I’m not sure it’s the best option for Ireland. Even with a maintenance centre in Poland, the supply chain for the aircraft is far too centred on the US to make it a reliable option these days. Also, while it can go supersonic, its top speed is lower than that of the Gripen or the Rafale, something that is important when intercepting an unknown or unresponsive target. The main advantage of the FA-50 seems to be that it can be available quicker than its European counterparts, and that it may be cheaper.

Personally, I’d very much to see Ireland opt for the Gripen when the time comes, simply because I have a soft spot for Scandinavia. However, knowing Ireland’s penchant for going for the cheapest option and dressing it up as some superweapon, I wouldn’t be surprised if the government of the day decides to roll with the FA-50 anyway.

sparky42 · 22-04-2026 07:54PM

apart from costs, the other point is time. Pretty much every production line is now well booked for new airframes and as I’ve said before we seem to be ignoring the lag time that will cause even assuming nothing else goes insane in the world. The South Koreans can produce and deliver the FA50 long before we’d get slots on any of the Euro lines.

It’s not ideal, and not my favourite option given we are talking about a generational investment, but since the Government is still foot dragging towards the LoA2 requirements and the imminent global recession, it’s really a pointless thought exercise at this stage, LoA3 is highly unlikely to happen.

Negative_G · 24-04-2026 10:47AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124414573#Comment_124414573

Lets be real.

LOA3 was never, ever going to happen.

roadmaster · 24-04-2026 12:50PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124418102#Comment_124418102

So are your buddys getting Trained up yet on the Air Corps new Super Radar system?

Negative_G · 24-04-2026 02:08PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124418495#Comment_124418495

lol

jonnybigwallet · 24-04-2026 06:03PM

I think you are being a wee bit pessimistic about LO03

The top brass sound pretty positive and pressure is building from our European allies. Only last week there was a lengthy article in Le Monde about how we need to pull up our socks.

Larbre34 · 25-04-2026 09:58AM

LoA3 will happen because we no longer have a choice in the matter.

American officials are drawing up short lists of options like throwing Spain out of NATO and sanctioning Britain and Italy in other ways.

Europe is on its own, and Ireland holds the keys to the entire northwestern approaches.

Ireland has also tested its own status as a core member of the European project and as a "good" European with Mercosur, nitrates, public spending, missed climate and energy commitments, and so on.

Believe me when I tell you committing to LoA3, and spending that commitment in Europe alone, is the easiest win you will ever get in tense times.

tinytobe · 25-04-2026 10:59AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124420482#Comment_124420482

Exactly. LoA3 is the only option.

There might be a good relationship between the US and Ireland for various reasons, Trump or not, it might last but one can't be sure of that anymore. But then again, it's better for Ireland to take care of things personally rather than others looking out for things.

Now the Brits are taking care of some things over and around Ireland, RAF from Scotland, etc… but what if the UK was engaged and focused on other things first and foremost like more threatening conflicts for whatever reason? Would they then care about Ireland as well?

Air Corps / Force General Discussion - Aircraft, Manpower, Policy

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