Defending the Irish airspace

[na grohmiti Commander in Chief Find all posts View Profile Close na grohmiti]

Do you think FF/FG would risk the Greens taking the hump and bringing down the government?

The greens won't bring down the govt for something they have no interest on. They'll abstain if anything, or schedule the debate on the specifics (if at all) when they are all away at a foreign green party think in, and because of pairing, the govt won't lose.
Lets be honest here, SF and Labour have declared in principle their support for LOA2 and 3 once Pay and Conditions is tackled. Once this is enshrined in any spending increase, you could get a pass.
But this isn't something that will face a dail vote. This won't go further than Cabinet approval, the initial non-fiscal recommendations will be commenced, with the house forewarned of an increase in the defence vote and why.
The opposition will suggest amendments. Some will be agreed to. Some won't. Then you'll see how the numbers fall, and if the Greens are willing to risk political suicide (again) for something they have expressed zero interest in.

[na grohmiti Commander in Chief Find all posts View Profile Close na grohmiti]

And the next Government being Sinn Fein who would pull us out of PESCO, EDA, PfP and the whole EU if they get the chance

As NI demonstrates, In opposition SF say one thing. In government they do the opposite. Their stance in this area has changed dramatically in the last week or so. Look at the recent neutrality debate. SF were much more measured than usual. Even MLMcD has softened her tone to Micháel

[DeV Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close DeV]

As NI demonstrates, In opposition SF say one thing. In government they do the opposite. Their stance in this area has changed dramatically in the last week or so. Look at the recent neutrality debate. SF were much more measured than usual. Even MLMcD has softened her tone to Micháel

They are populist in opposition, compare ROI stances with NI in Government

they were anti-EU in RoI until Brexit

[DeV Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close DeV]

The greens won't bring down the govt for something they have no interest on. They'll abstain if anything, or schedule the debate on the specifics (if at all) when they are all away at a foreign green party think in, and because of pairing, the govt won't lose.
Lets be honest here, SF and Labour have declared in principle their support for LOA2 and 3 once Pay and Conditions is tackled. Once this is enshrined in any spending increase, you could get a pass.
But this isn't something that will face a dail vote. This won't go further than Cabinet approval, the initial non-fiscal recommendations will be commenced, with the house forewarned of an increase in the defence vote and why.
The opposition will suggest amendments. Some will be agreed to. Some won't. Then you'll see how the numbers fall, and if the Greens are willing to risk political suicide (again) for something they have expressed zero interest in.

SF have changed their stance then because they were anti-militarisation

[Flamingo Hostage Find all posts View Profile Close Flamingo]

Populist at the moment is Anti-Putin, Pro help and support to Ukraine "within reason".

SF are very good at reading the entrails...

[Sparky42 Colonel Find all posts View Profile Close Sparky42]

Populist at the moment is Anti-Putin, Pro help and support to Ukraine "within reason".

SF are very good at reading the entrails...

And deleting anything on their website that suggests otherwise...

[apc Sergeant Major Find all posts View Profile Close apc]

Do you not think that any offer of aid from the USA would not be conditional on NATO membership

[DeV Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close DeV]

Do you not think that any offer of aid from the USA would not be conditional on NATO membership

Even FMS agreements have advantages

look at the list of countries that get the Excess Military Articles list…. One that jumps out is Moldova


https://www.dsca.mil/sites/default/f...020-06-15.xlsx

[apc Sergeant Major Find all posts View Profile Close apc]

I suppose if you want to be tied into American equipment, get out the begging bowl

[CTU Captain Find all posts View Profile Close CTU]

To a certain extent though, the same questions are being asked. Is a lower cost light fighter derived from a jet trainer a suitable stopgap measure while you await delivery of a moore modern type, and the infrastructure it requires?

From a Polish perspective, would it not also be similar to the war time plans the RAF had with the T1A Hawks in the closing stages of the cold war, where they would have had Tornadoes doing Long Range Intercepts and the Hawks doing Point Air Defence.

[apc Sergeant Major Find all posts View Profile Close apc]

A link to QRA over Scotland from 2009 to 2019 gives an idea about how many times we may have to react if we do have Mach 2 capable aircraft that can do QRA
https://assets.publishing.service.go...2019_12082.pdf

[Silver Sqdn. Ldr Find all posts View Profile Close Silver]

To a certain extent though, the same questions are being asked. Is a lower cost light fighter derived from a jet trainer a suitable stopgap measure while you await delivery of a more modern type, and the infrastructure it requires?

I agree. The FA-50 is the best fighter / trainer option out there for the AC. Down the line, a move to Gripens or similar could be looked at

[na grohmiti Commander in Chief Find all posts View Profile Close na grohmiti]

By the same logic though, you could say a Leased Gripen C/D is a good stopgap until the E/F you purchased is delivered. The logistics required to get them operational is not much different than getting a KA50 into the Air Policing role.
We don't need a jet trainer to train fast jet pilots. We don't have the same security profile as Poland.

[gaff85 Private 3* Find all posts View Profile Close gaff85]

And you can be guaranteed, any contracts signed will have Iron clad, training for both Aviators and technicians, ample supply of spares inbuilt, otherwise the Dept Procurement team are useless.

[apc Sergeant Major Find all posts View Profile Close apc]

And you can be guaranteed, any contracts signed will have Iron clad, training for both Aviators and technicians, ample supply of spares inbuilt, otherwise the Dept Procurement team are useless.

nah we will just wing it, in fairness how much more difficult can it be to operate a MACH 2 fighter than a prop plane , if we get the MACH 2 fighters can we do QRA straight away, ooh its so exciting