Transport Aircraft

You'll have to ask the Tánaiste about that one.

Presumably the skeleton crew left behind will be purely to maintain lockdown and security on the main base of operations. If it comes to it.

It's rumoured that Embraer will be bringing a KC-390 demonstrator to Ireland after this month's Farnborough Air Show.

The real experts say we could have a huge role to play bringing humanitarian aid to where it's needed most. The numerous overseas aid NGOs have lobbied govt for some time in this regard.

It would strengthen our status as a neutral state, in their opinion. Their T&Cs though suggest any markings other than national flags be minimal, and colour schemes if possible be neutral, rather than military. (I.e white or light grey- not camouflage).

That said, we have had many aircraft visit as demonstrators over the years, and nothing ever came of it except more rumours.

We were Definitely Getting Alpha Jets.

We were definitely getting Super Pumas.

We were Definitely getting Fokker F27 Maritime Patrol aircraft.

We are definitely getting Pilatus PC21s. etc.

They aren't deciding on the colour, they are advising what is best in the circumstances. In some of these places the sight of another camouflaged aircraft can be seen by many as yet another invasion, and they take to the hills, and those who need help most don't get it.

Said it before, will say it again:

Brazil is in a diplomatic and trade partnership, ie BRICS, whose interests are counter to those of the European Union and NATO.

Ireland should not be investing money with Brazil, and especially not to buy military equipment from them. Yes, I'm well aware other EU/NATO members have procured the 390, but in my opinion they shouldn't have done.

An Airbus A400 is similarly capable and similarly priced. The money, if it is to be spent, should be invested in Europe, with a European maker.

But we all know its unlikely to be in any event.

I don’t see an issue. Fokker Technologies, which produces numerous types of aircraft components, is still around, though it is currently owned by GKN Aerospace. The biggest issue I see is space, and more importantly airspace capacity. The space issue stems from the fact that the former Fokker factory is now a business park without any real airfield access, though I do believe that this could be rectified pretty quickly if needed.

The bigger issue is the airport at which this factory/business park is located. That’s Amsterdam Schiphol, one of Europe’s busiest airports and one that is at, or beyond, capacity anytime the wind does not allow operations from the three north/south runways. You can see the old factory on Google Maps just to the right of Runway 36R or immediately south of Runway 04. This would mean a new greenfield site, ideally at an airport that has enough space around it to take the needed infrastructure.

There was one here in 2017 - I think they got a look at it that time.

If only there was some sort of show they could go see it at, or maybe they already are heading to Farnborough too…

Farnborough, Fairford, then hitch a ride back to Baldonnell in it.

Thats what the new command structure is designed to change, among other things.

The CHoD will be exactly that, no longer the Sec Gen, who at the moment is effectively the most senior defence and intelligence advisor to the Government. With no actual qualification to be.

When the CHoD becomes "accounting officer", ie the one answerable for the DF in all its facets, once he has a capital budget and wants a certain ship or plane, it will be very hard to politically deny him that. Anymore than the Govt should or would interfere with an operational matter like new ambulances for the HSE, or a new interpretive centre for the OPW