Fighter jets for the Air Corps?

Its 'their' and 'skies'.

I didn't want to make my response too long, as I wouldn't want to keep you from all those infractions appeals that you appear to be busy with.

You know, the ones where people explain to you when you're wrong and how you react when you don't like it.

I have beaten you in a debate.

It's easy when your opponent is ignorant of the issues and many of the facts and refuses to consider the nuance of a situation, particularly one with such a political dimension.

You're just an annoying waffler. A spoofer who drops in here now and again, to give himself a hard-on with his own malformed righteousness.

Go on about your business.

You could argue that we don't need a naval force, air force or even army (just a police force) and outsource it all to another country but that leads to why have any independence at all? Also that country is no longer a member of the EU! If we want to be an effectively independent soverign state we should have a modern defence force and that includes a modern fighter force.

I guess we need the radar etc. first. Something that doesn't beed expensive complicated maintenance and can take off from roadways would be very useful too.

Nope, too slow and too low and not nearly enough loiter time.

The F16 Block 70 will do Mach 2.2 and 10,000 ft higher.

The T-50 is a fine advanced trainer and the FA-50 will be a decent ground attack platform, but it is not an interceptor and it is not a fighter that could cope with any aircraft that are properly entitled to that description.

Its worth noting that the comparison to Poland isn't really valid. They have 32 x F-35s coming and by their own admission are prioritising the ground attack capability of the FA-50. Any air-to-air systems are being kicked way down the development cycle.

I think it’s important though that this has finally started getting more and more air time.

Something that 5 years ago you’d barely read anything about. The government surely knows that they won’t have a choice once the Ps become obsolete.

If that offer is genuine then the government should bite their hands off at it and then build up from there. We have to start somewhere and the Koreans are really making a serious effort promoting their craft

To be honest I'd say Berry's comment about a lease is because he read in some periodical that some Asian state is leasing 8 of the type, so he's aware that leases are available to Countries in good standing with Korea.

When it comes to the PC-9s, they will most likely be replaced by the PC-21 or similar. A primary trainer is still needed for all fixed wing training as you can't simply put a cadet in a supersonic jet and say have at it. Even a twin-seater.

I wouldn't object to the FA-50 being leased, it's a fine aircraft and would no doubt aid pilot officer recruitment and retention, but what is the business case for them? What gap identified on the CoDF report do they solve?

And when it comes to the Implementation Group, it would be a very difficult circle to square, if stuff not in LoA2 and not in the list of immediate priorities started arriving.

The whole point of the implementation plan is to build capability in a logical order, that takes account of a) immediate need and gaps and b) the ability of the Forces to adopt them, train on them and put them quickly into effective operational service.

The flip side of all the public discourse and attention on the Defence Forces, is that scrutiny of developments will be greater, whether from the Oireachtas, the media, or the Tankies.

I'd say 3-4 sites would be sufficient, most on the west coast, and one in the Wicklow Mountains. Ideally, they'd be co-located with civilian radar sites.

Regarding site security, I don't think that these sites need any type of garrison, and neither do I believe that any permanent SAM or AAA batteries should e assigned to them. There should be multiple layers of sensors around those sites though, as well as some sort of quick reaction force available at short notice in case any suspicious activity is detected. And there should be accommodation facilities on the site for both technicians and soldiers, in case that the security situation deteriorates, or a maintenance team gets surprised by a swing in the weather.

Indeed. He must be getting his talking points from here!

Could be Gripen?

He is well-known for saying things "on the hoof" that are not thought through and which run counter to previously articulated policy. Why he does this, I don't know. Even though he is Taoiseach, I find it hard to take him seriously.

8-12 aircraft won't be enough for everything but it is a presence and can fly the flag. It's a good start.