Door Opened For Some Irish Air Force Whifs!

[AeroplaneDriver]

The long anticipated report on the revamping of the Irish Armed Forces is out.  And it calls for a dramatic increase in spending and forces, including three new ships, long range air transport and 12-24 fighters to patrol Irish airspace.  The Irish Air Corps will also be rebranded as the Irish Air Force it seems. 

So whiffery potential here...?

IAF Voyagers?  757s or 767s from the used market?  A few IL-76s from Ukraine as they reequip with western gear?

IAF Typhoons?  Where are those RAF Tranche 1 machines going when they retire in the near future?  Second hand F-16s as European air forces get their F-35s?  Second hand Mirage 2000s?  Rafale?  Grippen?  Second hand F-18Cs? 

I fear that my Irish Hawk 200 will be out of contention by this point. 

Max Decal need to start producing decals for us whiffers!

[kerick]

Does the Irish Armed Forces even have armor? It seems our government will give away Abrams tanks to just about anyone. Do our troops need them? Who cares!

[Dizzyfugu]

At least they did. Ireland operated some Churchills and Comets after WWII, but today there are AFAIK no tracked vehicles anymore, Mowag Piranhas are the heaviest land weapons. I think that Scorpion recce tanks were the last tracked vehicles in Irish Army service.

[PR19_Kit]

Not before time.

I've a great admiration for the IAC, with very limited resources they've done a superb job over the years, and with Mr. Putin trying to take over the World, the Irish need all the help they can get.

[zenrat]

IIRC the Irish had at least one Rolls Royce Armoured Car.

Mr Putin might like to offer the new IAF some cut price Sukhois.  That would put the cat amongst the pigeons.

[Sport21ing]

In a what-if that Ireland joined WWII, imagining:

- P-51D Mustangs, P-47D Thunderbolts, B-26 Marauders, Short Sunderlands, HP Halifax
- M4 Shermans,, M5 Stuarts

[zenrat]

In a what-if that Ireland joined WWII, imagining:

- P-51D Mustangs, P-47D Thunderbolts, B-26 Marauders, Short Sunderlands, HP Halifax
- M4 Shermans,, M5 Stuarts

Or;

- Me 109s, FW 190s, Ju-88s, BV-222s, FW-200s
- Panzer IVs, Panthers
- Operation Sealion across the Irish Sea with simultaneous landings in Cardiff and Liverpool.  Guderian repeating his Ardenne Blitzkrieg move through the Forest of Dean...

[perttime]

Does the Irish Armed Forces even have armor?

As far as I can find out, Mowag Piranha is the closest thing to armour now. They may have used other APCs on UN missions.

[Mossie]

Yep, along with some tactical vehicles.  Previously they used Scorpions, Panhard AML and Panhard M3.

[The Rat]

Already have one on the bench, started last week. Retro idea, Gloster Javelin anti-shipping job. Primer is on.

[Nick]

The Irish Navy needs a major upgrade or two. How about a pair of Type 23 frigates second hand or even some brand new German Baden types?

They'll want a decent attack helicopter too so how about a Eurocopter Tiger? Australian cast offs?

[scooter]

The long anticipated report on the revamping of the Irish Armed Forces is out.  And it calls for a dramatic increase in spending and forces, including three new ships, long range air transport and 12-24 fighters to patrol Irish airspace.  The Irish Air Corps will also be rebranded as the Irish Air Force it seems. 

So whiffery potential here...?

IAF Voyagers?  757s or 767s from the used market?  A few IL-76s from Ukraine as they reequip with western gear?

IAF Typhoons?  Where are those RAF Tranche 1 machines going when they retire in the near future?  Second hand F-16s as European air forces get their F-35s?  Second hand Mirage 2000s?  Rafale?  Grippen?  Second hand F-18Cs? 

I fear that my Irish Hawk 200 will be out of contention by this point. 

Max Decal need to start producing decals for us whiffers!

IAF Strike Eagles.  They get air dominance and strike capabilities, plus they can set up the OTU/OCU at Lakenheath.

[Rheged]

Eire doesn't have a huge population, so the availability of  personnel to run any new kit will be a consideration. I'm assuming that the force improvements are for national self defence rather than offensive or foreign peace-keeping operations.

A couple of dozen  Typhoons with a  commercial training/maintenance  contract with the R A F  are a possibility  as are Merlins for ASW work and/or Wildcat Lynx.  Three or four Atlas (A400m) sorts out the transport requirement, and it is an aircraft widely operated in European forces so maintenance should be no problem.    Ideally, sharing a P8 Poseidon fleet (and possibly even bases) with the RAF makes sense for both parties. 

Three or four River class or Samuel Beckett patrol ships would be a  quick and relatively cheap addition to maritime capability  without needing a huge increase in sailors.  In the longer term, Type 32 frigates built in Ireland might be an option.

If the ground forces need  armoured mobility they might consider buying a job lot of  second hand Warrior APCs . 

[AeroplaneDriver]

Eire doesn't have a huge population, so the availability of  personnel to run any new kit will be a consideration. I'm assuming that the force improvements are for national self defence rather than offensive or foreign peace-keeping operations.

A couple of dozen  Typhoons with a  commercial training/maintenance  contract with the R A F  are a possibility  as are Merlins for ASW work and/or Wildcat Lynx.  Three or four Atlas (A400m) sorts out the transport requirement, and it is an aircraft widely operated in European forces so maintenance should be no problem.    Ideally, sharing a P8 Poseidon fleet (and possibly even bases) with the RAF makes sense for both parties. 

Three or four River class or Samuel Beckett patrol ships would be a  quick and relatively cheap addition to maritime capability  without needing a huge increase in sailors.  In the longer term, Type 32 frigates built in Ireland might be an option.

If the ground forces need  armoured mobility they might consider buying a job lot of  second hand Warrior APCs .

A Merlin buy would be nice if the RN could tag along and add a few extras into the production lot.  Another 4-5 for the RN sure would ease the burden a bit.  Especially with the number of escorts forecast to grow in the the next decade. 

[jcf]

Mr Putin might like to offer the new IAF some cut price Sukhois.  That would put the cat amongst the pigeons.

Continuing their old tradition of selling aircraft with reduced capabilities to outside customers?