Fighter jets for the Air Corps?

Military procurement often takes years. You're laughing at something which is perfectly normal.

You're argument we are so remote as be unreachable. All obviously wrong. We've have incidents in recent years including this year. So your dates are wrong also.

@delusiondestroyer An interesting opinion and worth discussing

You present several options

Option 1 Ireland defends itself against a potential agrgessor (you name Russia) and comes off much worse in a bun fight

Option 2 Ireland does nothing

Option 3 Ireland cosies up to the RAF

Your premise in Option 1 is that Ireland cannot defend itself against any likely aggressor. However, if, your example, Russia. was attacking Ireland there are a few things to note. A. It is highly unlikely to attack Ireland unless part of a much wider conflict. In such a scenario it will only have a fraction of its air power to throw at Ireland. B. Only Russia’s relatively small fleet of long range bombers can approach Ireland with malicious intent, no Russian fighter has near the range to get to, and operate over Ireland. They can hurt Ireland, yes, but they could actually be tackled with a fairly modest fighter force when working at such long range without escorts. Let's say the Russians send twenty Bear and Black Swan bombers every day to attack Irish targets. Any, even modest, airforce such as Ireland could field, would get a couple of those every day, and soon deplete the VVS, with the liklihood of few losses on our side.So your suggestion that Ireland cannot realisticly defend itself from, say, Russia, in the air is not really correct.

Option 2 is the ostrich in the sand approach. It works, until it doesn’t. Governments should make assessment of threat and protect their citizens. I am nearly 70 years of age and I have never had my house burn down but I still pay home insurance.

Option 3 is not that easy a fix. You may not be aware of this, but the RAF has, in total, only about 125 combat aircraft, to cover everything. In a major war they have not enough aircraft to cover Ireland. They have in the past actually asked Ireland for assistance with maritime patrol. Basically the problem is our allies (that I what they are, we are not, and have never since 1945, really entirely neutral) expect us to do more. Sure they will base fighters in Ireland, but they will want us to contribute to western defence in a different way, like say building ourself a fleet of anti-submarine frigates. Having a decent fighter force, and an upgraded navy, actually makes us more neutral.

Part of the reason why Sinn Fein have now started to jump on the bandwagon of a fighter force for Ireland is that it is dawning on them that in a multipolar world the only form of actual neutrality is armed neutrality and Ireland is just about big enough and rich enough to do that credibly, although it probably means in real terms tripling our defence spending. Alas the days of neglecting our security are probably over.

mentions that the procurement for aircraft is ongoing alongside ships and radar.

seems the noise is finally getting louder on this front and I hope the meek media we have in this country for once pushes this more and more

Exactly, that's not how we tender for military equipment. We lay out our requirement, and the bidder comes to us with their proposals, and THEN we may visit their sites elsewhere.

This has been in the pipeline for 20 years now. Its a bit late to be travelling the world kicking tyres.

in the late 1990s Michael smith stood up every month telling about the New ships being built for the Navy (while the old ships were starting to show their age). The Air Corps were getting long range medium lift helicopters too, Like the S92, Super Puma or EH101.

Every month he spoke about it as if we were getting a ship and a helicopter a month. At the end of his term a total of 2 ships (Roisin and Niamh) were delivered. The Helicopters were cancelled because they fecked up the tendering process and it was either cancel or be sued by the unsuccessful bidder.

In the end it was a good decision, as no other military has chosen the type to date for troop transport, though it is in widespread civilian use for SAR.

LOL Govt has spent billions on many things (including the military) other than housing over the last 20yrs. It not like its a priority for them either. Seems to have no effect on them being re-elected time and time again.

Another tankie who knows far more than those in Irelands military, the overseas military who have studied & advised Irelands defence situation for decades & other worldwide defence experts.

Where do these tankies get their expertise from, perhaps they've studied or even written a report of their own, or just follow the usual PBF Wallace / Daly crusties who support Putin.

Put 'em on ignore, they wish the abolition of any Irish Defence capability, I call them traitors.

We are already "armed". We have always been "armed" since the foundation of the state.

The irony of your comment is Ireland is depending on Europe for its security.

I did (with sources) you just aren't able and/or unwilling to understand/acknowledge any of it. The reasons aren't my creation. They are from the defence and govt sources tasked with such analysis and expertise. You're not disagreeing me, you're disagreeing with them.

People have talked about lots of different types of air policing and defence issues. It's you who are solely focused on Russia (and Nuclear war) for some reason. Russia is an issue due to their actions no doubt but they aren't the only issue. So why are YOU solely obsessed with Russia. If you feel your posts can be ridiculed, then maybe consider why. I've just pointed out you constantly post factually incorrect statements.

The Irish state has had military aviation since 1922.