Ireland's "real" Air Force

[Silver]

Well guys,it's official, the minister has spoken - The RAF is Ireland's "real" Air Force !!!

From a dail debate on defence (19 Feb 2003) -

Mr.McGinley -
"If the Minister got a phone call this afternoon that an aeroplane loaded with explosives was headed towards a target here, what would be our capacity to intercept that aeroplane ? Would we have to call on some of our neighbours to do the needful ?

Mr. Smith -
The security services have planned for such events and it would be improper to discuss those plans in public. However, it is clear that outside assistance would be required.

(Go to - http://www.gov.ie/debates-03/19Feb/Sect3.htm for the full debate)

There we have it guys, a government minster has actually admitted that the RAF are our "real" defenders.

[Silver]

I'm really suprised that there haven't been replies to this post yet.
Here we have a Minister admitting ,for the first time, that the RAF are our real protectors !!!

Ok, we all talked and thought about this before - but now a Minister has actually publicly admitted that this is the case !


:confused: :confused: :confused:

[EagleEye]

He's just stating what we already knew. It no surprise and this will be the way its going to be for a long time to come, unless the government are willing to spend € 200+ million on the Aer Corps.

[conco]

Perhaps the embarassment he incurred in the Dail will prompt him into some action to get us interceptors. NO sovereign country should rely on a foreign military for protection.

And he's gonna be killed (verbally) by SF.

[sledger]

Speaking of our real "Air Force" heres the current state of play regarding equipment and what is currently serviceable from Smith.

The Air Corps at present have 17 fixed wing aircraft and 13 helicopters as follows:

(a) Six Cessna aircraft of American design and French manufacture are held. These are army co-operation aircraft with some offensive (air to ground) capability and with training capability which are all serviceable at present.

(b) One Beech Super Kingair twin-engined turbo-prop aircraft which is used for the Ministerial Air Transport Service and twin-engined pilot training and is serviceable at present.

(c) One Gulfstream IV aircraft which is used for transport of Ministers and officials. This aircraft is serviceable at present.

(d) Two CASA CN 235 aircraft which are used mainly for fishery surveillance purposes. One is serviceable at present and one is on scheduled maintenance and is expected back into service this week.

(e) Seven Alouette 111 helicopters are held. They are used for search and rescue, air ambulance and other services and have proved valuable in security operations. Three are currently serviceable. Three are on scheduled maintenance and are expected back in service in March 2003. One requires major overhaul in France which will take some time.

(f) Two Gazelle helicopters which are used for pilot training. One is serviceable at present. The other aircraft is unserviceable due to crash in 2002 and beyond economic repair.

(g) Four SA 365F Dauphin helicopters which are used for search and rescue. Two are serviceable and two are on scheduled maintenance. Both are expected back in service in March 2003.

(h) Seven Siai-Marchetti SF 260 W aircraft of Italian manufacture which are being used for basic pilot training, of which three are currently serviceable. Four are on scheduled maintenance with one scheduled to return to service during this week.

A contract was signed on 18 January 2003 for the supply of eight turbo propeller training aircraft for the Air Corps. These aircraft will replace the Siai Marchetti aircraft in the pilot training role. These aircraft will be delivered in 2004. In addition, two helicopters and one fixed wing aircraft owned by the

Garda Síochána are flown by the Air Corps. The two helicopters are currently serviceable. The fixed wing is on scheduled maintenance and is expected back in service by 21 February 2003.

[Goldie fish]

When you read it like that,you have to be ashamed..

18 aircraft Currently servicable!
And thats no big deal in this time of increased tension!

[Rommel]

Anyone who has to fight, even with the most modern weapons, against an enemy in complete command of the air, fights like a savage against modern European troops, under the same handicaps and with the same chances of success.

- Erwin Rommel

[Thorpe]

It goes to show how much the tools in power (government) how much resect or lack of, they have for the people who fly for us. The biggest crime of all is that they are failing to provide proper SAR cover for the country and we rely on RAF interceptors for our air cover. It really sickens me and saddens me.

[²°°³Soldier]

Originally posted by Thorpe
The biggest crime of all is that they are failing to provide proper SAR cover for the country and we rely on RAF interceptors for our air cover. It really sickens me and saddens me.

Just think how inadequate the pilots of the Air Corps feel with their hands tied behind their backs in this matter

[Thorpe]

I would think the aer corps pilots very sick and diaheartened so Im not surprised they are leaving the service and join Ryan air:(

[John]

From the Sunday Independent

Story Link

Government's secret plan to ask Britain for help if attacked

Minister admits we need outside aid

THE Government has drawn up a top secret plan to ask British military forces to come to our aid in the event of a terrorist attack from outside the country.

Under the contingency plan, the Republic would rely on RAF Tornado fighters being scrambled from British bases to intercept and shoot down a hijacked airliner heading for a target here or flying towards Britain.

The British taxpayer would have to pay for providing protection for Ireland because successive Irish governments have failed to equip the Defence Forces adequately to deal with threats to our airspace.

Earlier Defence Minister Michael Smith made a unique admission in the Dail effectively that the Republic is reliant on protection from a foreign military power which went unpublicised.

He told Fine Gael's Dinny McGinley on February 19 that the security services had planned for September 11 style attacks but said that it would be improper to discuss the plans in public.

Mr Smith admitted: "However, it is clear that outside assistance would be required."

Yesterday, Mr Smith refused to say which foreign power he expected to provide assistance though it is believed to be Britain.

Mr McGinley said he would demand clarification in the Dail to see if the Government had entered into an agreement with another country for assistance and whether that would come from Britain, America or Nato.

Government sources said Mr Smith's statement reflected reality, though he had made the admission in an "unplanned remark".

The Republic has no jets to defend our airspace and relies on six Bofors RBS-70 surface-to-air missile launchers and a Giraffe surveillance radar.

Recently 32 L-70 radar guided anti-aircraft guns and eight Flycatcher radars were bought second hand from the Royal Netherlands army to boost our defences.

The Minister recently told the Dail that the Office of Emergency Planning was taking the lead role in emergency planning to meet the new threats from global terrorism but said there is no reason to believe Ireland is a direct target.

Mr Smith said yesterday that we had limitations in dealing with the 'nightmare' of a 9/11 style terrorist attack. It was an "extreme circumstance" that had "never happened before" but we would seek assistance from "whoever is closest" to the incident.

He does not intend to reveal more details about the plan to the Dail, saying that security matters were best served by being managed by the security services themselves.

Mr McGinley, however, said Ireland was a soft target because we did not have the wherewithal to defend ourselves. There were many questions left unanswered by the Minister and he intended to raise them in the Dail.

DON LAVERY

[Come-quickly]

Hear, hear

But it won't make a dent in public stupidity. lets face up to reality Irish people actually blame the army, air corps and naval service for not being adequately equipped when they vote in the politicians who won't fund us....they actually are just asking to be killed.