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

making sure there can’t be finger pointing this time unlike last time, make certain to get it on the record as well. Not that the DF has the capability to secure the events anyway.

Cabin photos of the Falcon 6x - standard luxury business jet set up:

https://www.thestory.ie/2026/06/10/inside-irelands-new-e53-million-government-jet-pictures-show-cabin-fit-out-with-polished-panelling-galley-and-sofa-style-seating/

The minister also talked about Sonar being underwater Radar… And that our helicopters are going to be deploying sonobuoys…

I’m not convinced any weight should be put on any answer at PQs until hardware is actually in service.

The interesting bit for me is, the French haven't been slow in highlighting orders from us, hell it was the manufacturers that gave the first nod towards the Scorpion buy and the sonar systems, yet they have been utterly silent on any of the Radar/CUAS/GBAD areas. Now, I'm sure someone is going to say its restricted info, and fair enough, but it's a strange difference compared to the other equipment buys we have/talking about making.

I know what she said, I've read the written and oral questions and answers hence my comments about 139's lobbying sonobuoys out the side door… Which is also why I'm not willing to extend the benefit of doubt to her and her department, or any of the other TDs given the rake of utterly stupid questions.

Like I said we have the AC putting up a clip of "spray and pray" from the 139's (which isn't particularly convincing as unless it's an interception at sea, getting approval for spraying machine gun rounds over populated areas seems "unlikely"), and the PC9's practicing interceptions, and the fact that two will be fitted with some sort of hardware (at some stage…).

But beyond zero about any of the purchases or equipment, to the point of nothing even from a French manufacturer saying "we got a contract for something", which as I pointed out is against the grain for them so far.

Now maybe everyone on their side and ours is keeping things completely silent, fair enough. But no, any minister standing up and reading whatever the Department has stuck in front of them isn't something I put large faith in, and for good reason given every example going back to 1922.

As I said, fair enough then, hope its not needed but good that we have it.

Was that not just the Wine Run for stocking up for the EU dinners?

An Article seams to have been pulled from the Journal about an issue in casement with Navagation equipment. Does any know why the article is gone?

Article Back Up

https://www.thejournal.ie/vor-beacon-navigation-down-at-baldonnel-7072664-Jun2026/

Indeed. And even less relavent given the accessibility of RNAV and GNSS approaches which have been mainstay across Europe and the US for over a decade.

The DF slow to adapt, as per.

I googled the locations of the UK air defence radar sites. There are seven, mostly in pretty remote locations, but from a look at each on GoogleEarth they appear well protected in security terms and, judging by the other buildings on the sites, may well have significant personnel presence as well. The actual ops centre is at Boulmer in Northumberland, which again is a substantial site. If Ireland is to go down the real air defence radar route, there is an awful lot to be addressed beyond the purchase of the equipment. I'm not sure that this can all be done "under the radar", so to speak, though, given the small size of the country and hyper-localistic political system.

Colocating would certainly make sense, however again if we are talking about an integrated system, then actual construction of dedicated facilities for C&C should be progressing now to be ready for the systems. Or are we going to half arse that as well?

You let the cat out of the bag. I knew you were really DOD.

The part time minister a while back said a C&C Center was been built in Casement.

To be fair. The uniform wasn't off the shelf it was a custom pattern. Also isn't it being held up because one potential supplier who lost out on the tender is disputing the awarded contract?

You aren't wrong.

It was a custom pattern, but lets be real, its a uniform. You could get onto AliExpress tomorrow and have an order for 10,000 bespoke clothing items done within a week. I appreciate that this is comparing apples and oranges but when you are a talking millions of euros worth of a contract and dealing with professional suppliers, throwing a few subtle 'FF' emblems onto a multicam pattern is hardly complex.

My point is the process of procuring a uniform has been ongoing for a number of years, and which, to be fair, is light years from the complexity of acquiring a primary radar system and infrastructure.

If you cant get the small stuff right, how can you expect to get the big stuff right?

On the uniform, the rumour on the ground was that the tender/process was compromised and was wide open to a legal challenge which is why it was canceled by the buyer. Whether that alleged issue arose from the DoD Or DF side, is unknown. Notwithstanding that, the Dept are the money holders and any major procurements go through the ringer with those in Newbridge.

Who knows.