Door Opened For Some Irish Air Force Whifs!

Geoff · February 13, 2022, 08:09:39 AM

They did have a plan to invade Ulster during "The Troubles". There is a good U Tube video it comes to an end with RAF Phantoms using cluster bombs

I think the word used was "massacre"

Sport21ing · February 13, 2022, 11:16:08 AM

a TL-191 with a Irish government-in-exile

Old Wombat · February 14, 2022, 02:09:54 AM

Quote from: Geoff on February 13, 2022, 08:09:39 AM
They did have a plan to invade Ulster during "The Troubles". There is a good U Tube video it comes to an end with RAF Phantoms using cluster bombs I think the word used was "massacre"

Saw that a while ago. Very good. No stupid decisions/actions on either side*. Viable military actions. Predictable outcome.

[*: Except, perhaps, for the Irish decision to invade Northern Ireland in the first place.]

Geoff · February 15, 2022, 09:10:42 AM

Quote from: Old Wombat on February 14, 2022, 02:09:54 AM
[*: Except, perhaps, for the Irish decision to invade Northern Ireland in the first place.]

Well I think the basic idea IIRC was to have a place of safety for the catholic population was a good idea - but minus several thousand points for execution, ie. starting a war they could not win.. The IRA and UDA would take up arms and all hell would have been let loose. It did give me the idea that the IAAC needed more helicopters and APCs perhaps M-113's, Marder's? Perhaps with an Argentine TAM type turret for anti-armour use. Dread to think of the cost though. A Kanonenjagdpanzer off the shelf would work better I suspect. Note to mods no more politics - sorry and to McColm

As for new a/c I think the Alpha Jet would work The Luftwaffe sold some to Portugal as a replacement for the G-91's. Hmm IAAC G-91's

Doug K · February 15, 2022, 11:41:30 AM

If they are serious about fast jet the Gripen makes the most sense I think. If it's good enough for Sweden.... It's NATO compatible so coordination with the RAF would be easier. That's my theory for the Royal Scots Airforce in a couple of years anyway 😉

Geoff · February 15, 2022, 01:13:20 PM

Sounds like a good idea

Mossie · February 15, 2022, 01:25:28 PM

Backtracking the concept forty or fifty years, I'm thinking F-5E to upgrade the Magisters.

scooter · February 15, 2022, 02:17:43 PM

Quote from: Mossie on February 15, 2022, 01:25:28 PM
Backtracking the concept forty or fifty years, I'm thinking F-5E to upgrade the Magisters.

F-106 C/Ds - the proposed export version, with F-102 avionics

AeroplaneDriver · February 15, 2022, 03:40:57 PM

Leonardo are offering a combat version of the M346 for the requirement. Interesting option.

I'd wager if it happens it ends up being 12ish recently retired ex-RAF Tranche 1 Typhoons or recently retired F-16s from somewhere upgrading to F-35s.

Nick · February 16, 2022, 01:16:58 AM

I wonder why BAE haven't offered up a new Hawk variant for Ireland?

The pressing need for Ireland is military radar so that they can see who and what is in their airspace. At the moment it's done by the RAF who can track aircraft that have their transponders turned off. It's quite possible for the Russian Air Force to fly straight across Ireland without Dublin having a clue.

Dizzyfugu · February 16, 2022, 02:05:11 AM

I have been wondering what happened to the F-21s (actually early IAI Kfir C.1s with retrofitted small fixed canards) that were leased by the USA from Israel as aggressors in the early Nineties? Maybe they were sold/handed over to Ireland...?

Nick · February 16, 2022, 07:16:25 AM

If the Irish Air Force do get modern jet fighters then the only snakes in Ireland will be Sidewinders.

The Rat · February 16, 2022, 08:40:14 AM

Quote from: Nick on February 16, 2022, 07:16:25 AM
If the Irish Air Force do get modern jet fighters then the only snakes in Ireland will be Sidewinders.

jcf · February 16, 2022, 10:37:54 AM

If it was a few years ago, before certain recent developments, I could almost
see some sort of co-operative agreement covering operations and maintenance
for a squadron's worth of Typhoons. A kind of lease, if you will.

jcf · February 16, 2022, 11:58:24 AM

Quote from: Nick on February 16, 2022, 07:16:25 AM
If the Irish Air Force do get modern jet fighters then the only snakes in Ireland will be Sidewinders.

Well, if they get F-16s and maybe some AH-1Zs ...

Hmm, maritime patrol PH-1ZL (Long Range)*: increased internal fuel (larger/longer stub wings?),
capability to carry larger external fuel tanks, search/fire control radar in place of gun turret (rather
than mast-mounted Longbow)**, maybe Israeli Spike missiles because of their 30 kilometer range,
other weapons options the same as the AH-1Z.

Used for general patrol of coastal waters out to 100km, anti-shipping and fisheries patrol.

*Pronounced as "Pizzle" by the crews, of course.

**Or perhaps keep the gun by using flat panel radar assemblies on the sides and belly (built onto
the avionics bay doors for the side mounted panels?) and Longbow for fire control.