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Defending the Irish airspace

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  • In case any of you have used up your free articles this month:


    Sir, The basic premise of the “Gaping gap’ in Ireland’s airspace defence” article is misleading, as it was over the recent months during which The Irish Times has been trying, with enviable persistence, to push the idea of the Russian air force being a threat to Ireland and international aircraft traffic in the North Atlantic.

    Russian military aircraft have been carrying out routine training missions in the region of the North Atlantic for many decades (so do military aircraft of other countries). The flights take place in international airspace.

    The aircraft at no point enter the sovereign airspace of Ireland, nor there are any plans to do so.

    The issue of air travel safety has always been the top priority for Russia both in civilian and military aviation. The missions we have mentioned are no exception. They are carried out in strict accordance with all International Civil Aviation Organisation rules and regulations.

    There is no reason, nor any intent, on the part of Russia to “provoke Ireland”. Both countries enjoy a positive and respectful relationship, which is advancing steadily in many areas. We do appreciate the important voice of Ireland in world affairs as well as its prominent place in the global economy, and we see the clear potential for the development of bilateral trade and economic cooperation.

    This time the issue of Russian “air threat” is played up in the context of discussions in Ireland on the future of its Defence Forces – an important and serious issue for any country. One thing we object to is the attempt to create a Russian “connection”. Russia does not and should not have anything to do with Irish defence planning.

    One might conclude from the article that there is a different view in the UK political and military establishment, which is not content with ruining its relations with Russia and wants Ireland to follow suit, paying in the process at least part of the bill for British anti-Russian paranoia. – Yours, etc,

    YURIY FILATOV,

    Ambassador of

    the Russian Federation

    to Ireland,

    Dublin 14.

    Comment


    • I'm torn.
      Who to believe.
      European defence Analysts
      or
      the Ambassador who recently tried to expand his Nations embassy in a Dublin Suburb to four times its current size but failed to do so because of objections from the Irish security and intelligence services..
      For now, everything hangs on implementation of the CoDF report.

      Comment


      • Originally posted by na grohmiti View Post
        I'm torn.
        Who to believe.
        European defence Analysts
        or
        the Ambassador who recently tried to expand his Nations embassy in a Dublin Suburb to four times its current size but failed to do so because of objections from the Irish security and intelligence services..
        We are just confused, those planes were not part of Russia Military and were infact full of "Tourists" looking to visit Ireland's Many Cathedrals.
        It was the year of fire...the year of destruction...the year we took back what was ours.
        It was the year of rebirth...the year of great sadness...the year of pain...and the year of joy.
        It was a new age...It was the end of history.
        It was the year everything changed.

        Comment


        • Meanwhile those nice Russians have apparently fired warning shots and dropped bombs on one of the RN Destroyers in the Black Sea today…

          Comment


          • Originally posted by Sparky42 View Post
            Meanwhile those nice Russians have apparently fired warning shots and dropped bombs on one of the RN Destroyers in the Black Sea today…
            #fakenews

            Comment


            • Originally posted by DeV View Post

              #fakenews
              According to the MOD it is indeed.

              Comment


              • The MOD line is they were cruising in international waters, just 3 miles from a live fire exercise.
                I'm sure that happens all the time.
                For now, everything hangs on implementation of the CoDF report.

                Comment


                • Came across this report from late last year on the real costs for Austria for operating their Eurofighters. It seems that they are not as expensive as everyone think, €60-64m p.a. It seems that the hourly costs are close to the Drakens which they replaced. The article goes on to say government ministries etc spent 3 time as much on advertising, most going to the companies that complained the most about the Eurofighter costs! (Sorry it is in German, but there is always google)

                  Wir haben die wichtigsten Zahlen aufbereitet und stützen uns dabei auf Rechnungshofberichte und parlamentarische Anfragebeantwortungen.

                  Comment


                  • Originally posted by EUFighter View Post
                    Came across this report from late last year on the real costs for Austria for operating their Eurofighters. It seems that they are not as expensive as everyone think, €60-64m p.a. It seems that the hourly costs are close to the Drakens which they replaced. The article goes on to say government ministries etc spent 3 time as much on advertising, most going to the companies that complained the most about the Eurofighter costs! (Sorry it is in German, but there is always google)

                    https://www.doppeladler.com/da/oebh/...wahren-kosten/
                    Or translated into math thats €64m ÷ €56000 cpfh ÷ 15 airframes = 76.2 annual hours per airframe or just over 6 hours per month per airframe which means across the fleet they're flying just 1143 annual hours which six Gripen E's or F-16V's would do at a canter for a fraction of that. They must have very few mission qualified pilots sustaining even BLOC at that rate. Sounds like a starved budget to me. Fly more like the other Typhoon operators and the CPFH would come down.

                    Comment


                    • Originally posted by Anzac View Post

                      Or translated into math thats €64m ÷ €56000 cpfh ÷ 15 airframes = 76.2 annual hours per airframe or just over 6 hours per month per airframe which means across the fleet they're flying just 1143 annual hours which six Gripen E's or F-16V's would do at a canter for a fraction of that. They must have very few mission qualified pilots sustaining even BLOC at that rate. Sounds like a starved budget to me. Fly more like the other Typhoon operators and the CPFH would come down.
                      From another site, I think they only have about 12 pilots and fly weekday daytime with only 1 plane at night time, and an average availability of 4-5 planes out of the 15. They are short pilots and ground staff.

                      Comment


                      • Interesting to see in a related article on that site how to cut costs they decided to use their ancient Saab 105 2 seat trainers in the Air Surveillance role, cheaper per flying hour than Eurofighter. Pilots also get to keep their flying hours above minimum at much lower cost.
                        Unfortunately as they reach end of life Austria has decided not to replace them in the Jet trainer or Aerial surveillance role. This means Eurofighter crew must now travel to Germany to train, at a higher cost per flying hour than either their own Eurofighter, or the SAAB. Because the Eurofighter is now the only aircraft doing Air Surveillance, it will also cost more per year to operate. Those wishing to stay current must also build up hours on the Eurofighter.
                        The Lack of a Eurofighter trainer in Austrian service seems to have been a mistake now.

                        No SAAB 105 successor, no decision at eurofighter | DOPPELADLER.COM
                        For now, everything hangs on implementation of the CoDF report.

                        Comment


                        • In hindsight not buying the Gripen to replace the Draken may have been the bigger mistake for the poor old Austrians.

                          Comment


                          • Originally posted by Anzac View Post
                            In hindsight not buying the Gripen to replace the Draken may have been the bigger mistake for the poor old Austrians.
                            Didn't make the grade on the technical specs it seems. Even more surprising given their history working with SAAB. Saw one of their Drakens in action in the early 90s. Even the paint scheme was cool. It looked like alien technology.
                            Still plenty of questions I'd say regarding the process that ended up with them operating Eurofighter.
                            For now, everything hangs on implementation of the CoDF report.

                            Comment


                            • Originally posted by na grohmiti View Post

                              Didn't make the grade on the technical specs it seems. Even more surprising given their history working with SAAB. Saw one of their Drakens in action in the early 90s. Even the paint scheme was cool. It looked like alien technology.
                              Still plenty of questions I'd say regarding the process that ended up with them operating Eurofighter.
                              Gap in the market for an European Advanced Jet Training School ???

                              could we suggest Shannon?

                              Comment


                              • Originally posted by na grohmiti View Post

                                Didn't make the grade on the technical specs it seems. Even more surprising given their history working with SAAB. Saw one of their Drakens in action in the early 90s. Even the paint scheme was cool. It looked like alien technology.
                                Still plenty of questions I'd say regarding the process that ended up with them operating Eurofighter.
                                I’d imagine some backhanders made the difference…

                                Comment

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