DF Commission Report

The MRV, transport does increase the capabilities though, limited as they might be, hell maybe someone could even manage to order helicopters that are capable of operating outside of Ireland?

It does doesn't it, I mean even just a basic €100 million a year matched with Inflation growth would take only 5 years, is anyone seriously going to suggest that couldn't be managed? Hell just fixing conditions would eat a couple of years of that growth before you even touch new hardware contracts.

Even if we were, do you think it would stop them? Hell they reportedly flew a couple of nukes through Swedish airspace recently.

Just wait until they might get asked to go to sea again…

The latest from the IT:

An increase in military spending as recommended by the recent Commission on the Defence Forces is unlikely to be completed until at least 2025.

Last February the commission reported that the Defence Forces were not currently capable of credibly defending the country against attack, and put forward various proposals for increased funding.

The most ambitious proposals, which it called Level of Ambition 3, called for a three-fold increase in defence spending, bringing it to €3 billion a year and roughly in line with other small European countries.

It also put forward in intermediate proposal, Level of Ambition 2, which would address urgent capability gaps and allow for some limited upgrades. Minister for Defence Simon Coveney has said he will deliver his recommendation to Cabinet next month.

Defence sources said the option currently being considered is a “Level of Ambition 2.5”. The Minister would recommend adopting most, if not all, of the recommendations in Level of Ambition 2, while picking some of those laid out in the most ambitious proposal.

This would see the Defence Forces receiving hugely increased cyber capabilities and a primary radar system which would allow it to monitor effectively Irish skies for the first time.

It would also receive increased air lift capacity, improved armoured personnel carriers and an increase in numbers in the Naval Service to allow ships to spend more time at sea.

However, the purchase of a squadron of jet fighters, as recommended in Level of Ambition 3, is not being considered, it is understood. This would mean Britain’s RAF would still be responsible for responding to any airborne incursion over Ireland.

The proposals would cost between €600 million and €1 billion extra a year, it was estimated.

The plan is to gradually ramp up defence spending over the next several years. Sources said it will be at least 2025 before this funding level is achieved.

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/increase-in-defence-spending-likely-to-take-at-least-three-years-1.4866904

In the run up to the outbreak of World War II, there was at least an excuse of insufficient national finance available to strengthen the defence forces under the De Valera government. However this time, "the context in which we are having this political debate – war in Europe" to quote Simon Coveney, there is certainly not the same valid excuse. Playing the poor mouth won't be very convincing in this era.

For example taxes can be levelled on those multinational companies that pay very low taxes on historical profits Ireland. A modest tourist / visitor tax could be charged. The country can certainly afford to upgrade the defence budget to previous levels as was spent during the 1980's & 1990's.

Since the Americans are introducing a modern version of WW2's Lend Lease Program, Ireland should be asking for financial help to contribute to the defence & policing of the Atlantic Ocean / Western European regions. Representation should be made to our European partner nations financial help & also relevant military resources, even any previous used modern equipment can be useful at this stage.

Britain & the United States in particular might be able to supply military aid, particularly maritime & aviation equipment which are vital for Ireland to quickly strengthen its military capability.

Achieving the outcome recommended in the DF Commision report in a couple of decades, if ever, is certainly not good enough in the current world crisis.

Indeed, and somehow people seem to be forgetting that the LoA3 suggestions were built on LoA2 happening and a sustained period of such investment in people and equipment before moving to more roles under LoA3. If tomorrow morning we jumped to 3 billion and ordered a couple of dozen fighters the DF simply couldn’t absorb such budgets or operate the high end equipment. We need time to build, and 600m-1 billion a year in no small matter.

That’s right Johnny, the SSNs, and Stealth fighters got cancelled…

They were never on the list in the first place thankfully, and plenty will happen if the budgets see the increase reported.

Given the lead time for procurement, imo ideally the first steps in investment would be in the T&Cs and in the base facilities (particularly Haulbowline if we are going to grow to double crews and a Ranger deployment to the base), while the new equipment starts through the tendering process.

I’m going to go with a couple more 139s hopeful the military spec ones though. I can’t see them adding a new type if it’s meant to augment the existing fleet. Though if I had the choice I’d jump to the recommendation of the 8 super mediums instead and keep the 6 139s for the current jobs.

Yep, they actually refused to order any just to annoy you.

They want it, but unless that's part of the "2.5" its not going to happen? If they did get them I don't see why the Navy shouldn't get a couple as well for the MRV. That being said I'm still putting my money on more 139's as I said hopefully the M variant.

It would be a miracle for the DOD to move fast enough before those airframes are snatched up by someone else.

Not too mention you get back into the argument as to what the AC should actually be doing…

Would generate a ton in employment and be a great economic benefit for the area going forward.