There is no credible requirement now or for the forseeable future for Ireland to operate an air defense capability. Period. To do so would justifiably turn off the public on defense expenditures, except for the plane spotters, and doom future procurement of truly necessary equipment.
Give up this pointless fantasy and get back to the real requirements - battlefield support helicopters and tacitical airlift.
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Why would the IAC need fighters?
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Guest repliedThe IAC then should disband and just become a branch of the Army, like the infantry. Sea patrol could be transfered to the coast guard or Sea Fisherie. Transport could be rented out. The Army could have 2 Army Avation Companies, one operating PC-9s and the other Helos for troop trans/army co-op/medvac duties.
More money could then be spent on Army eqiupment. Body armor, better commo equipment, more training time, better pay, more schools and the like. The Avation companies could even be reserve units, saving even more money.Last edited by Guest; 1 December 2005, 16:24.
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That it is. We have a fishersy protection box of 200Nm(open to correctio). I would rather see the Navy getting new ships and the Aer Corps getting more helis then jets coming on line. Maybe we will get jets somewhere down the line, thats a choice the lads in the Don and those in HQ will have to make. For the moment the Aer Corps main role is in support if the Army.
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Guest repliedWhat is the point of the having the IAC at this time? I have read that the SAR service are being rented out. Why not rent out transport services also. I know under the EU Ireland has to patrol about a lot of water with 2 CN-235s, but that could also be rented out. Only the PC-9s hold a role that is military only.
Something I have always wondered about the IAC, why do they use only training aircraft as thier main combat aircraft. I believe it has been like this since the Vampires where first bought. Wasn't the Seafire the last 'combat aircraft' used. Saving money by having a dual use aircraft is my only guess.
The reason I bring this subject up is what else is there to talk about in a Air Corp forum. The IAC has about what, 30 aircraft. Taking about VIP planes and the like seems pretty boring.
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ldman60119 , I don't know how long you have been observing this board, but this is an old discussion at this stage. Sure it would be great if Ireland had a squadron of some fast jets, but there really is no need for them and no infastructure to operate them.
Personally, I would like to see a few, but the powers that be don't see the need for them and so will not be getting them until something does happen where we needed them, didnt have them and lives are lost. It's how things operate here, and it is a sad fact, but a fact none the less.
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Guest repliedThe Lithuanian Air Force is using L-39s for thier AD. A cannon pod and some AA-2s might not be the best weapons, but its better than nothing. Ireland could not do better? Ireland was piss poor 30 years ago, but what about now?
Austria was the same way, saying they could not afford any new aircraft. They are per capita one of the richest countries in Europe. Finally when the Drakens where ready to fall out of the sky, they bought some Eurofighters. And for the meantime they are renting Swiss F-5Es. Could Ireland not rent some F-5E?
As far as a Soviet attack, it was very possible in the Cold War. There is no doubt that NATO would of used Irish ports in a war. After the Cold War a lot of information came out about this. Also if the Soviets wanted to attack shipping off the Irish coast if Ireland remained neutral, do you think they would of not ingnored that neautrality. NATO would of provided air cover nevertheless, to protect their own interests. The Soviets would of probaly used Tu-22s/Tu-95s for this without fighter escort because of the range. A few F-5E would of been able to defend against this, not the Fouga Magisters and a few 40 mm AA guns.
But shouldn't a nation have enough pride to at least protect thier own airspace. How much would it really cost to buy some Mig-21s? You could but 100 of them cheap, and only fly 5 and use the rest for spares. I am talking about using them for strictly air defense. They don't have to go all over the world. Russia will have spare parts for these planes for years. Or they could buy some F-7s from China. What do these go for, 4-5 million a pop? The cost per hour is not very much. Any Mig-21/F-7 opition would not be to expensive and would provide a reliable aircraft for years to come.
The PC-9s are good enough for some kind of terrorist attack using a light aircraft or helicopter. They are also good for taking out small craft in the waters around Ireland. A Mig-21, F-5E, etc could take out anything faster. You never know what position Ireland will take in the future in the war on terror, and what the response of the terrorists will be.
I am not a member of the Irish Military. I am a US Army National Guardsman. Have been in the Guard for different states since I was 17 in 1992. I am in the Infantry and an Iraqi vet. My first few years in the Guard I was in ADA. Served on a M163 crew and then Avenger. Doing that in the guard got boring so I switched to infantry which I really love. Our unit used Bradleys, but spent most of the time in Iraq walking.Last edited by Guest; 1 December 2005, 15:41.
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Look, we all know the real reason we need jets lads...and we have known for quite som time...its....
TO PICK UP CHICKS!!!
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Oh my god. This is as bad a topic as wings. They should be called zombie topics. No matter how many times you kill them, they just keep on fucppin comin back, hunting for brains.
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I think someone should respond but you really should inform yourself a bit more. Unless your taking the piss of course which happens all too often round these parts...
Originally posted by ldman60119Why would the IAC need fighters?
Originally posted by ldman60119The RAF or USAF would protect Ireland against attack,
Originally posted by ldman60119they have been doing it for 60 years.
Originally posted by ldman60119What would the IAC of used against an attack by the Soviets in say, 1985. A Fouga Magister?
Originally posted by ldman60119The IAC should buy some old Mig-21s, L-39s or whatever is faster than an airliner, just to have something to intercept an aircraft.
Originally posted by ldman60119Have five of them with one of them on a 15 minute alert.
Originally posted by ldman60119This way you could say Ireland is protecting its own airspace.
Originally posted by ldman60119Or buy some SAMs.
Originally posted by ldman60119The IAC would never be able to stop a determined attack by say the RAF or anybody for that matter.
Originally posted by ldman60119So the Irish military should just continue to equip thier Army with the latest toys, since that is its best deterent.
Originally posted by ldman60119The IAC should stick to light attack, Surv. and transport.
In reality that type of investment will only come after a major incident has happened. Sad but true.
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ldman60119
go learn something about aircrafts, then come back and post.
BTW , if you come across an L-39[anv version] faster then an airliner, let me know, I will buy one, incidently I dont have a [red] cent to my name.
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