Transport Aircraft

As usual we use equipment to it is close to being clapped out, to an extent it shows the amazing value for money the DF across all arms provide on a shoestring…

Try as I might I'm still not seeing the connection between a portable AC External Power substitute and airframe life. (BTW It's not a traditional starter unit - they use compressed air)

This seems a very prudent piece of kit to prevent excessive battery wear for in-the-field operations, without access to a Ground Power Unit. Using something like this has zero to do with airframe life. Nothing to see here.

Photos on Twitter suggest our first CASA might be at the Paris air show:

https://twitter.com/Michaelkelly707/status/1670511097353256961

Bollox to air shows, get it over here and get it in service, it's already taken an eon ffs. Airbus must have a demo model someplace else.

Yes, but the national flag is on the tail. This is one of ours.

Any word on the new AGS aircraft tender award.

Can i ask what the air corp helicopters are for ?

Alright scheduled transporting of building materials off shore might be a bit much ,

But other than that those are general purpose workhorses .. they're purchased to work , if they shouldnt be hauling a bambi bucket then so be it -

I dont have a problem with the dept of defence billing relevant departments or entities for work done ,( especially if a share of the money goes to a maintenance fund , )

They do do all that, but their primary role is Army operational support and training and the movement of troops and equipment, within the State.

They also undertake designated security duties, such as border patrol and ATCP taskings as required.

They would also work with the Naval Service on joint interoperability exercises. Who knows, one day maybe we'll even have a ship they can land on again.

Two separate PINs were issued for the choppers and for the plane.

There will be no obligation to submit a package tender for both aircraft types as that would be restrictive practice and illegal under EU procurement law.

And so the procurement of either, is fully independent of the other.

Did the second casa arrive secretly?

Ireland is going to widen the number of tasks in which it participates in the Nato-led Partnership for Peace from 15 to 22.

The Cabinet on Wednesday approved seven new areas in which Ireland will participate in Partnership for Peace programmes between 2024 and 2028.

The new tasks will include operations in intelligence, cyber security and air evacuations.

The proposal was brought to Cabinet on Wednesday by the Tánaiste, and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence, Micheál Martin. He told colleagues that Ireland would particularly focus on cyber security.

At present, Defence Forces personnel participate in 25 tasks spanning maritime, air and general capabilities. They take part in programmes that improve interoperability and have also fully participated in joint peace operations.

In terms of air evacuation, the Defence Forces now have two Casa CE95 aircraft that have airlift capabilities to allow for medical evacuation.

Ireland’s participation in Partnership for Peace has become a point of contention politically in the past year following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Some Opposition parties and anti-war groups have asserted that the Government is diluting Ireland’s traditional policy of military neutrality.

Ireland joined the Partnership for Peace framework in 1999 and insists it operates within that framework on the basis of its military neutrality.

Speaking of all this I saw a big auld C-17 Globemaster on final to the Don over the M50 on Monday.

That cooperation agreement on air evacuations sure does yield quick results!

Sure about that?

A Belgian A400 was in for a quick visit the other day aswell