Fighter jets for the Air Corps?

There is always a decision tree of how and when lethal force would be used in such a situation in nations that have the capability to actually do so, for us debating what/when and where such force might be used is relatively pointless as we don’t even know what is in our controlled airspace without being told.

Of course they won’t like anything to do with the U.K., and while still in opposition will like make hay from it and declare how they would do things different, but when they end up in Government, I doubt they would back the spending needed.

Mary Lou's speech at the weekend would suggest they have no intention of implementing the Defence Commission report recommendations, however, if they need FF to support them in a coalition, I can't see FF agreeing with this policy.

Then again FF, FG, LP & GP have also presided over the reduction in real terms in Irish defence spending since the mid '90's.

SF still have major issues with the Irish Defence Forces, many of their members would like to see Irish defence abolished as some sort of perverted revenge for the Civil War.

If SF were to increase defence spending when in government & / or coalition, it would be a major stop forward in their credentials to be a proper democratic political party.

I do think pressure is being brought to bear by EU nations & governments, the USA & UK on the present Irish government, this will continue in future, SF will have to take account of this. They also would have to seriously tone down their traditional Euro scepticism policies.

I’d pretty much agree with this, the Primary Radar purchase could be the major additional ticket item for the current capital plan (though could we get the fecking Flagship actually having steel cut?), and as you mentioned the upper limits of procurement capacity of the DF/DOD would need to be addressed. However perhaps a “two for” as wel instead of upping current spending with additional pay might be accelerating the investment in the DF facilities? Better accommodation or facilities might help retention as well and isn’t anything with “sticker shock”? Outside of one offs, it’s not beyond the capacity of the budget to add say €100 million to the defence budget outside of capital spend I would say.

Them PC9's are supposed to have an out of service date of 2025. Why not replace them with PC21's which are considered to be a more viable LIFT aircraft?

As regular discussions here show, there is no point thinking about Ts unless we have Fs to LI to.

Yeah it would actually be a good spend of that windfall to do accommodation and facilities for personnel and families generally.

And the DF medical centre at the Don, and the national Army HQ too, if they could get their feckin act together and make a decision on some of these important elements in the re-org.

Out of curiosity when the Casa go out on Maritime patrol. Where do they fly out of? Do they operate out of any of the regional airfields even for refuelling?

I....

Actually nevermind, I really can't be arsed.

You raise some interesting points and scenarios. Clearly the answer must be that the AC must be more than a token number of "show ponies" but have an appropriate amount of aircraft to be a credible deterrent so that "Jonny Russian" does not even think of giving them the two fingers. I'm not suggesting arming up to the RAF level....but perhaps as many as 16 interceptors.

BTW...nobody has suggested acquiring out of date gear as you seem to assume.

Likewise I would argue that the navy needs at least one ship with war fighting capability for interception / shadowing the likes of the Admiral Grigorovitch.

So much for the other thread drawing off the usual BS.

The Poll was mine not theirs.

The irony of attacking the posters not the post complaining about exactly that.

We can't patrol our borders at sea or in the air. Regardless of any fantasy war scenario we have an obligation to police our territory.

Even if we disagree other countries are asking us to get our house in order.

We've had loads of incidents you're just ignorant of them. We've had terror war since the foundation of the state. We've also been bombed from the air for example. Afghanistan is just another example of how ignorant of the subject you are. No offence.